Husky Nation Highlights

Grades TK/Kinder, 2nd, 5th and 8th will be screened.

Contact RN Rochella Rivera if you have any questions.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This annual observance highlights the contributions and talents of individuals with disabilities to the workforce.

By recognizing the importance of inclusion and accessibility, NDEAM promotes opportunities for all people to reach their full potential.

National Walk to School Day is on October 2, 2024. The Partnership for a Walkable America started the event in 1997 to raise awareness about the need for walkable communities. The day's goals include improving health, reducing traffic, and lessening environmental impact.

On Wednesday, 10.2.24 at 7am, join us at Casuda Canyon Plaza (corner of Casuda Canyon and Garvey in the Mathnasium shopping center) as Monterey Park Police Department escorts students, staff and families to school!

The following staff member(s) were recognized for AUSD's "Spotlight" or "Beyond the Call of Duty" badges. Thank you for all you do for Husky Nation!

Lightspeed Parent Portal

The Lightspeed Parent Portal is available for guardians. This tool will allow guardians to monitor their child's most recent web browsing activities (on a school device). Guardians will be able to opt into receiving weekly reports of their student’s internet usage and analytics. They will also have the ability to create a Lightspeed Parent Portal account, which will allow them to view their child’s browsing history for the last 7 days.

Step 1: Opt in to receive the usage reports

Step 2: Review the Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide

Chromebooks

• Please make sure Chromebook are charged daily. Teachers do not have extra chargers or extra devices in the classroom.

• Please remind your student(s) to take care of their Chromebook by packing it inside their backpack. They should not be etching on the Chromebook or adding stickers or decals to the unit.

If a Chromebook or charger is not working properly, damaged, and/or lost, please have the student report to their classroom teacher right away.

OFF and AWAY Policy

AUSD is adopting the policy of “OFF and AWAY” for cell phones/electronics this school year.

• Cell phones should be “OFF and STORED AWAY” during school hours.

• Airpods/wireless earbuds need to be OFF and STORED AWAY during school hours.

• Smartwatches should be on school mode or airplane mode during school hours.

• Kindly refrain from texting or calling your student during school hours. Call the office if you need to relay a message.

Character Strong is our schoolwide social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. We are continuing our implementation of this curriculum this year! Our weekly student-led Monday Messages in October will connect to the theme of Responsibility. Students in every homeroom exemplifying this theme will be recognized at the end of the month during our Student of the Month breakfast.

While we will not have a schoolwide Dia de Los Muertos event this year, we will be building an altar/ofrenda to acknowledge our loved ones who are no longer with us.

If you would like to participate, you can drop off photos of loved ones (including pets) to the office. Please be sure to write your full name and your child's name on the back of the photo so that we can return it to you.

The altar will be on display from 11/4 to 11/15.

The deadline to submit your student's creative work is almost here!

Don’t miss the chance for your child to showcase their artistic talent. The final deadline is October 2 at 11:59 PM.

All participants with eligible entries will be entered into a raffle to win a $10 gift card for Yogurtland. In addition, all participants with eligible entries will receive a participation ribbon. All category winners in each division receive a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd award ribbon and certificate, with the 1st place recipient receiving a medallion.

Encourage your kids to unleash their creativity and submit their masterpieces! Visit bit.ly/mhreflections for more information on how to participate and to submit your entries.

Interested in being a judge? Let us know by clicking or tapping here!

Mark your calendars! Our next PTA Association Meeting is happening on October 9 at 6:00 PM in the Cafetorium, and we’re celebrating Halloween early!

Date: October 9

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Monterey Highlands Elementary Cafetorium

Halloween-themed crafts for the kids, food and refreshments for the whole family, and sweet treats for everyone! We'll also cover important updates for our school community. An agenda for the meeting is available here.

It’s a perfect blend of business and Halloween fun! We can’t wait to see you there!

Mark your calendars for October 25 from 4-8 PM for an evening of thrills and chills! Join us for:

• Delicious food
• Fun games
• A spooky haunted maze!

More exciting details to come, but right now we need VOLUNTEERS to help make this event a frightfully good time! Volunteers are needed to help decorate the maze, event setup, cleanup, and run game booths. If you're able to lend a hand, please sign up here.

Let’s work together to make this year’s Spooky Bash the best one yet!

Now through October 4, your membership makes a difference! We’ve set exciting goals and rewards to give back to our Huskies.

Membership Rewards:

• Various reward tiers unlocked as we grow!
• When we hit 500 members, the PTA will purchase a giant outdoor chess set and new sports equipment for our Huskies to enjoy!

Raffle Alert: For every parent, relative, or friend who joins the PTA, the student linked to them will earn 1 entry into a raffle for awesome prizes! The more family and friends who join, the more chances your child has to win! More information about rewards and raffles is available here.

Support our school and help us reach 500 members! Join today by clicking here.

We are grateful for our volunteers. Here are some of our volunteer needs at this time:

Ongoing PTA Volunteer Opportunities:

• Interested in helping plan and organize our PTA events? Let us know by submitting your interest here! (PTA)
• Interested in being a judge for our Reflections Art Program? Let us know by submitting your interest here! (PTA)
• Interested in volunteering for Spooky Bash? Sign up here! (PTA)
  

Ongoing School Volunteer Opportunities:

• Morning Valet: Please sign up here if you are interested in lending a hand!
• Husky Store: We're looking for volunteers to help open our Husky Store on Nov 21/22! Please contact Mr. Perez, School Counselor if you are interested!
• Library: Our Library continues classroom visits and lunch hours! Contact Mrs. Sarah Taylor, our Librarian, if you are interested in being a Library Volunteer!

If you feel your child may need some support, check-ins or possibly a referral for counseling services, please connect with our Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Mr. Christian Perez - perez_christian_1@ausd.us.

The Associated Student Body (ASB) oversees all fundraising and school activities at Monterey Highlands. The ASB Cabinet meets most weeks to review activity and fundraising requests.

Useful ASB Information:

• ASB Fundraiser Request Form
  
• ASB Approved Fundraisers

ASB produces our monthly Wonderful Wednesday virtual assembly. In the month of October, 6th Grade teaches us how to show Responsibility. Our morning PA messages to start the week will also focus on this theme.

The Apollo Afterschool program publishes a newsletter periodically to update everyone on their fun and exciting programs. Enrollment is open!

• 10/1 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 5-6pm
  
• 10/2 - MPPD presents National Walk to School Day (meet at Casuda Canyon Plaza) @ 7:00am
• 10/2 - PTA Reflections Submissions are Due at midnight
• 10/3 - Safety Committee on Zoom @ 3pm
• 10/3 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 5-6pm
• 10/4 - Parent Engagement Meeting - PBIS and LEAD on Zoom @ 9am
• 10/8 - AUSD Board of Education Meeting
• 10/8 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 4:30-6pm
• 10/9 - Parent Engagement Meeting - English Learner Night, Cafetorium @ 5:30pm
• 10/9 - PTA Association Meeting, Cafetorium @ 6:00pm
• 10/10 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 5-6pm
• 10/11 - Minimum Day (Site Professional Development)
• 10/11 - 4th Grade Walkthrough CA On-Site Experience
• 10/11 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 5-6pm
• 10/15 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 4:30-6pm
• 10/16 -School Site Council Meeting on Zoom @ 1:15pm
• 10/17 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 5-6pm
• 10/17 - Great California Shakeout Earthquake Evacuation Drill
• 10/17 - 8th Grade Field Trip to MKHS to see Fall Play: "FOOLS"
• 10/18 - Mock Trial Practice @ Library, 5-6pm
• 10/31 - AUSD Food Fair (please call school office to RSVP)

📥 Email: highlands@ausd.us
🌐 Website: www.montereyhighlandselementary.org
📍 Location: 400 Casuda Canyon Drive, Monterey Park, CA, USA
📲 Phone: (626) 570-6220