Husky Nation Highlights

On Friday, January 10, 2025, Monterey Highlands will host a series of events tied to National Milk Day. This day is part of a AUSD initiative to promote healthy habits and nutrition with our students. We have several events planned for the day!

• Mobile Dairy Classroom: TK-3rd grade students will be able to see a live cow and hear about how milk is made.
• Farmer's Market: TK-3rd grade students will be able to shop a real mini Farmer's Market and learn about how fruits and vegetables are grown directly from a real farmer! Each student will get a small to-go bag to sample produce.
• Smoothie Bike Demonstration and Tasting: 1st-8th grade students will be able to sample a nutritious, healthy smoothie made from fresh ingredients and blended by human bike power! Student leaders from ASB and PLUS will power the blender bikes to help provide smoothies for students at recess.

We're excited to announce that the Alhambra Board of Education will be recognizing several Husky Nation students on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 4pm at the District Office in the Board Room.

Each season, the Board recognizes outstanding student achievement in a variety of activities. For Fall 2024, the Board will be recognizing:

• The 2024 Mock Trial Team for a stellar inaugural season and excellent performance in Round 1 of the LA County Mock Trial Competition
• The 2024 "Off and Away" Poster Contest winners - Abby Chen and Chloe Suh, both 5th graders at Highlands

The ceremony is open to the public. Husky Nation community members are welcome to cheer on and celebrate our students!

We can't wait to host our inaugural school-level round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee!!

The following students will compete in the live bee on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 1:30pm in the Cafetorium. This event is open to the public (no tickets) - seating is first come, first served.

Best wishes to our competitors! One winner from Grades 4/5 and one winner from Grades 6-8 will move on to District Level Spelling Bee competition!

Calling all mathletes, problem-solvers, and curious minds!

Date: January 15

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Monterey Highlands Cafetorium

Kick off the evening with our PTA Association Meeting from 5:30-6:30 PM (agenda available here), then dive into an exciting Math Night from 6:30-7:30 PM—brought to you in collaboration with Mathnasium of Monterey Park!

• Delicious Food & Refreshments
• Fun Math Games & Activities
• Awesome Prizes

Come for the numbers, stay for the fun! Let’s make math an adventure for the whole family. Don’t miss it!

Calling all passionate professionals and Tradespeople!

Monterey Highlands Elementary PTA is gearing up for an incredible 2025 Career Day, and we need YOUR expertise to inspire our students!

• Are you enthusiastic about your career?
• Do you have a unique story to share?
• We want a diverse range of speakers!

Join us in shaping young minds and broadening horizons. Whether you’re a scientist, artist, entrepreneur, or have a fascinating career journey, we want to hear from you!

Speakers will present to 4-5 classes for 10-15 minutes each, with 5 minutes reserved for questions. Career Day is targeted for our intermediate (4-5) and middle school grades (6-8).

Date: February 21

Time: 8:00-11:00 AM

Interested in being a Speaker? Let us know by simply completing this Form. Let's empower the next generation together!

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

Ongoing PTA Volunteer Opportunities

• Interested in speaking at our Career Day? Let us know by clicking here! (PTA)
• Interested in serving in our nomination committee to assist in identifying candidates for next year’s PTA Executive Board? Let us know by emailing president@mhpta.net (PTA)
• Interested in helping plan and organize our PTA events? Let us know by submitting your interest here! (PTA)

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 January, 3rd Grade teaches us how to show Perseverance. Our morning PA messages to start the week will also focus on this theme.

Our Wonderful Wednesday video is coming soon!

Please join Mr. B and our Leadership Team as we update 6th and 8th grade parents on current fundraising levels and progress towards goals. The meetings will be held virtually and recorded in case you can't make it.

• 6th Grade Parent Meeting - Mon 1/13 @ 5pm - zoom.us/my/mh.principal
• 8th Grade Parent Meeting - Mon 1/13 @ 6pm - zoom.us/my/mh.principal

Monterey Highlands is always bustling with activity! Here's some of what our students were up to lately!

• Highlands Service Club (HSC) students wrote greeting cards to senior living in assisted living homes. This was a partnership with the nonprofit Letters Against Isolation.
• Winter Instrumental Concert - we had a wonderful concert featuring our 6th Grade String Ensemble, a stunning Violin Duet Interlude and our 7th/8th Grade Advanced Symphonic Orchestra! Thank you everyone for attending!
• WSGV First Lego League - on 12/14, several teams from AUSD schools (including Highlands) competed at the Southern Calfironia First Lego League Qualifier and Regional Competition. The Tidal Technicians Team features 6 Highlands students who will be competing at the SoCal Tournament on 1/19/25. Best of luck!!

Thank you to all who made that possible! Mrs. Pam Wong (2nd Grade) collaborated with one of her parents, Mr. Paul Lam (MKHS Wood Tech Teacher) on designing new planters to replace rotting, broken planters in our Education Garden.

With help from PTA Campus Beautification funds, lumber was purchased and transported to Mark Keppel HS. MKHS Woodshop students built and assembled the new planters!

Finally, the AUSD Grounds Team demolished and removed the old planters and installed the new ones over break! Thank you to all that made this project possible.

*We are actively looking for a large donation of soil to help refill these planters. Please reach out to Mr. B if you are interested or have a connection in the community.*

• No Adventures on 1/15/25 - please pickup your child at dismissal
• Adventures Art Walk on 1/29/25 - in the Cafetorium, more info coming soon!

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

Interested in the Options for Learning program? The state-funded preschool next door to us also has before and afterschool care options. Come by their Open House table for more information. Flyers are attached.

• 1/6 - School Reopens, Welcome Back!! 😁
• 1/8 - Therapicasso Art Wellness Workshop + Ambassador Info Meeting, Husky Spaw
• 1/9 - Safety Committee Meeting @ 3pm on Zoom
• 1/10 - National Milk Day Celebration
• 1/13 - Parent Meetings for Fundraising Updates - zoom.us/my/mh.principal
• 6th Grade @ 5pm, 8th Grade @ 6pm (both meetings will be recorded)
• 1/14 - AUSD Board of Education Meeting
• Mock Trial Team recognized @ 4pm
• Board Meeting @ 6pm
• Location: 1515 W. Mission Rd, Alhambra, CA 91803
• 1/15 - NO ADVENTURES (Staff Training) - pick up your child at dismissal!
• 1/15 - Husky Nation Spelling Bee, Cafetorium, 1:15pm
• 1/15 - PTA Association Meeting + Math Night, Cafetorium, 5:30-7:30pm
• 1/16 - National History Day Info Session, Library, 4-5pm
• 1/20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - NO SCHOOL
• 1/22 - School Site Council Meeting on Zoom, 1:15pm
• 1/23 - Talent Show Rehearsals, Cafetorium, 2:30-4pm
• 1/27 - Pupil Free Day for Staff Development - NO SCHOOL
• 1/27 - Adventures Day Camp, 8am-5pm
• 1/27 - Options Open House, Outside Gate 1, 12-3pm
• 1/28 - English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting, Library, 8am
  
• 1/29 - Adventures Art Walk, Cafetorium
• 1/30 - Student of the Month (Perseverance), Cafetorium, 8am
• 2/4 - AUSD Board of Education Meeting, 6pm
• 2/5 - Therapicasso Family Art Night, Cafetorium, 4:30-6:30pm
• RSVP required, more info to follow
• 2/7 - 8th Grade Individual and Panoramic Pictures

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