FRIDAY FOCUS

There is an increase in Pneumonia and Pertussis cases in Massachusetts. This is not cause for alarm or panic, however, we want all to be aware so you can take measures to prevent yourself and family members from becoming ill!

Mycoplasma Pneumonia (the type most commonly being seen in MA lately) is spread from person to person via respiratory droplets. Symptoms could be cough, fever, sore throat, feeling tired, short of breath, headache. Many symptoms are the same with a cold or other general illnesses. If your child has any of these symptoms that are not improving within a reasonable timeframe or seem to be becoming severe, please have your child seen by their pediatrician or go to one of the urgent care offices. Handwashing and cough covering are important for preventing spread. Children should stay home and not attend school while symptomatic.

Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough” is a highly contagious vaccine preventable respiratory illness. Pertussis illness begins with mild upper respiratory symptoms, and can progress to severe episodes of cough, often with a characteristic sounding respiratory whoop. The cough is often worse at night. Pertussis cases and symptomatic close contacts should stay home until they have completed five days of antibiotics. Please make sure your families TDaP vaccines are all up to date, as pertussis is a vaccine preventable disease.

Hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol based hand sanitizer, and covering one’s mouth when coughing and sneezing are the best ways to help spread respiratory illnesses. Thank you for doing your part in helping us keep our school community healthy and safe!

Click here for more information.

The Mass Literacy Guide has been empowering educators since 2020 with practical strategies and resources for preK-3 literacy. Now this hub of early literacy information includes a section designed specifically for families and communities. Families and community members can use the site to learn more about reading and writing instruction and how to support it at home.

Monomoy Regional High School junior Maggie Powers has been named as the student representative on the Monomoy Regional School Committee. In Massachusetts, young leaders are able to represent their fellow students before their district’s school committee. Student representatives are invaluable and knowledgeable contributors, participating in powerful discussions during school committee sessions.

“Maggie is a remarkable young person and we are thrilled to have her representing the student body with a seat at the School Committee table,” said MRHS Principal Jennifer Police. “At Monomoy, we value and amplify student voice, and this is a very real way our students can have agency in the decisions that affect them directly.”

Maggie joined the Monomoy Regional School Committee at its meeting on November 21, 2024, and will attend all regular business meetings during the school year.

Please see the complete list here: https://www.monomoy.edu/post-details/~board/latest-news/post/monomoy-regional-high-school-announces-first-quarter-honor-roll2024

MRHS music students have begun festival season as of this past Wednesday with the All-Cape and Island Music Festival auditions and Monomoy cleaned house! ALL 27 who auditioned are in!

Representing MRHS in the Treble Choir: Maria Eduarda Lopes, Lilly Ghilardi, Delaney Bowers, and Emory Hines

In the SATB Mixed Choir: Leyla Holmes, Asher Porter, Raine Christakis, Gizelle Wilson, Payton MacRoberts, Boden Mabile, David Mitchell, Dante Rosetti, Faye Viprino, and Ben McGrath

In the Orchestra: Alexa Babes-Deal - violin 1 (5-B) , Wellington Holmes - French Horn - principal , Charlotte Skinner - oboe - principal, and Riley Martin - clarinet - principal *principal means top score in their instrument

In the Concert Band - Liv LeBlanc - flute (1-6), Jillian Stevenson (1-2), Mackenzie Bowers - Alto Saxophone (1-1), Ben McMullen - Alto Saxophone (2-1), Morgan Crowe - trumpet (3-2), Timothy Gray - Baritone Horn (1-1), Bobby Teele - Tympani, Thomas Marchio - Guitar, Christopher Marchio - piano

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE AWESOME MUSICIANS!

Thank you to the amazing Denise Creedon for creating a beautiful cake for the cast and crew of Puffs. The students and staff enjoyed every detail of her creative work along with every bite of that delicious cake! The cast and crew would also like to thank the school community for coming out to support their show. -Mrs. Rachel Barnes

The Harwich Chamber of Commerce is looking for student volunteers to help at the Toast of Harwich at the Wequassett Resort on November 23 from approximately 5 to 9 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering, email Cyndi Williams at cyndi@harwichcc.com

Many thanks to Nicole Sheridan, Program Director, at the Emerald Hollow Therapeutic Riding Center in Brewster for her wonderful presentation to members of the Animal Welfare Club. We were taught so much about the great work the Center does for children and adults with autism, Down Syndrome, PTSD, and physical disabilities. We were encouraged to pet and groom the horses as part of a typical therapy session. It was a very special trip, and again, we can't thank Ms. Sheridan enough! Many thanks to horses Ginger and Tigger, beautiful rescues!

-Beth Howe and Lisa Forte-Doyle

Co-Advisors

The Harwich Elementary PTO is in need of student volunteers to help at its annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 14. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845A9AA22A6FDC52-52389772-hesholiday#/.

If you have any questions, email Mrs. Jordan at jjordan@monomoy.edu.

The Diversity Club, with the help of donations from the community, Stop and Shop, and Google . Org Teen Mental Health Initiative, can distribute individual bags of food on Fridays. They are handed out at the end of the day and are available to anyone who needs them. Pick up in the Main Office lobby as you are heading out to your bus!

MRHS has joined with Outer Cape Health Services to offer additional support to our school community. This new project aims to increase access to community supports and clinical services for students and their families. The service will provide onsite access to OCHS navigator services and tele-behavioral and telemedicine appointments. The school-based OCHS Navigator will work alongside school personnel to help students and families to access locally-based services and resources. The Navigator program will support students in connecting to the resources that they need to improve health, wellness, and academic engagement. Navigators will provide customized case management services, ensuring that students and families are connected to the supports that they need. To learn more, click here or speak to the school's nurses or counselors.

More Information below:

• Senior Special: High School Class Rings | Herff Jones
• Class Rings, Yearbooks & More for Graduation | Herff Jones

SENIOR PORTRAITS

• LIFETOUCH/PRESTIGE PORTRAITS: If you got your photo taken with Lifetouch/Prestige Portraits please login to your account and select your chosen pose for the yearbook. If you need help doing this please see Mrs. Francesconi in the Main Office and she will select it for you. I will need the 4-digit pose code you prefer.
• OTHER PHOTOGRAPHER: If you filled out the senior exemption form to provide your OWN senior portrait, please make sure to email your portrait to me anytime and definitely by Friday, November 22nd.

BABY PHOTO

• Email to Mrs. Francesconi (kfrancesconi@monomoy.edu). DUE: Friday, November 22nd.

SENIOR PARAGRAPH & QUOTE

• Fill out the Google Form. DUE: Friday, November 22nd.

ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK

• We are offering a $10 discount on yearbooks for seniors until 12/31/24. Be sure to get yours! More details on how to purchase on the checklist attached.
• If you need financial assistance to purchase a yearbook please email Mrs. Francesconi (kfrancesoni@monomoy.edu).

As mentioned above, all items for the yearbook are due by Friday, November 22nd! This deadline is incredibly important so we can meet our own deadlines with the yearbook publisher. Anything turned in after the deadline will not make it into the yearbook. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Senior Yearbook Checklist is attached.

Best Regards,
Katie Francesconi
MRHS Yearbook Advisor

Student Council is excited to announce our Thanksgiving Food Drive. From November 1-15 we will have multiple boxes around the school where you can drop off canned food. Every donation will be going to the Family Pantry of Cape Cod.

• Go to GiftItForward.com
• Enter Fundraising Code: MONOMOMA001

Or, see a Robotics Team member to order!

Student Council is hosting a toy drive! We are accepting donations from December 2-13.

Monomoy Interact Club is collecting warm clothing for Cape Cod residents via the StreetReach program. We'll have boxes outside the high school library and cafeteria. Adult clothing only (new or gently used.)

The College Planning Night will be December 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the MRHS Auditorium. While geared toward the class of 2026, all grades are welcome to attend.

Cape Cod Community College and its Pathways Program is offering on-campus support on December 6th from 9-1:00.

Please email Mr. Burke at sburke@monomoy.edu if you are interested in checking out 4c’s on the 6th. There will be transportation and we will be meeting with admissions representatives and the financial aid office at the Hyannis campus. You are not committed to attending 4c’s if you go to this event.

The Pathways Program is set up to help students explore, apply, and prepare to attend 4c’s next year if that is something that might be of interest to you. Meeting with the college on December 6th does not mean that you are committing to attending next year, but if it might be in your plans, you should check it out.

The Pathways program puts you ahead of others when it comes to selecting and placing into classes next year, and provides you with an opportunity for extra scholarship money in addition to financial aid support.

Are you interested in applying to Cape Cod Tech? On Tuesday December 3rd from 9am-1pm, we will be hosting a field trip to CCT! Students will be able to tour the school and learn more about the tech programs.

Please stop by the guidance office to pick up a permission slip. A signed permission slip is REQUIRED to attend the field trip and must be returned to Ms. Beebe by 11/25/24 at 3:15pm. Email Ms. Beebe with any questions/concerns at jenna.beebe@monomoy.edu.

• FAFSA is open! https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

• Seniors with December and January deadlines, please be checking in with your school counselor!

The final SAT test date for 2024 is Saturday, December 7. You must register by Friday, November 22nd.

(Late registration deadline is November 26, 2024. Additional fees may apply.)

This USNA Admissions Event on November 30th in Falmouth, MA. They will have MIDSHIPMAN, Blue & Gold Officers, Congressional Staff, and more. Open to 9, 10, 11 and 12th grade high school students, parents, and college students interested.

INSTAGRAM: @MonomoyGuidance

Wishing you health and safety,

The MRHS Counseling Team

Follow us on instagram: @monomoyathletics

Click here to access the Monomoy All Sports Booster Club's merch store: https://monomoy-merch.printify.me/products

To report your child's absence, tardy, or upcoming dismissal please use the following link:

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/attendance

Did you know? Past issues of the Friday Focus can be found on our website:

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/news/friday-focus

Monomoy Regional High School operations and activities are guided by Monomoy Regional School District policies and school-specific procedures. The MRHS Handbook is a resource for families and students, providing information and guidelines for a variety of topics. If you have additional questions not covered here, contact MRHS at (508) 430-7200.

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/parent-caregiver-resources/school-handbook

Email: mrhs@monomoy.edu
Website: mrhs.monomoy.edu
Location: 75 Oak Street, Harwich, MA, USA
Phone: 508-430-7200

MRSD Latest News/Updates: https://www.monomoy.edu/our-district/latest-news

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monomoyschools

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monomoyregion

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@monomoyschools

Official Monomoy Regional SD App: Download from App Store or Google Play