FRIDAY FOCUS

As we continue to navigate the winter months, we want to remind everyone about the importance of preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses. The health and well-being of our students, staff, and families are our top priority, and we all play a role in ensuring a safe and healthy school environment. If your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness, such as the flu or other respiratory infections, please let us know so we can take necessary precautions to protect the health of other students and staff.

Here are a few key guidelines to help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses:

1. Stay Home When Sick: If your child is feeling unwell or showing symptoms of illness (such as a cough, fever, sore throat, or fatigue), please keep them at home to rest and recover. Consult with your child's healthcare provider for guidance if you have concerns.
2. Practice Good Hygiene:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces.
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not available.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the elbow of your arm to prevent the spread of germs.

3. Wear Masks When Appropriate: While masks are not mandatory, we encourage their use if a student or staff member is feeling unwell or has any symptoms of respiratory illness.
4. Cleaning and Disinfection: We have increased our cleaning protocols in high-touch areas throughout the school.
5. Stay Up-to-Date on Vaccinations: We encourage families to stay current on recommended vaccinations, including the flu vaccine and Dtap and/or the Tdap booster, which protects against pertussis. If your child is due for vaccination, please contact your healthcare provider.

We appreciate your commitment to keeping our school community healthy. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the health office.

Thank you for helping to protect the health and safety of our Monomoy community.

Healthy regards,

Monomoy Health Services Team

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.

Dear Seniors and Families,

Prom tickets are on sale! Flier attached. Please purchase prom tickets online: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/MRHS2025seniorprom

Volunteers are needed for the After Prom Planning Committee. If you are interested in helping plan the after prom party, please attend the next meeting on Thursday, January 16 at 5:30 at the Chatham Community Center.

The Senior Class is hosting a Bake Sale at Stop and Shop in Harwich at Saturday, January 18 from 10:00-2:00. We are in need of donations so please sign up below if you are able to donate any baked goods: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FACA62DA7F4C70-54127370-class

Thank you,
Lindsay Ginnetty & Caitlyn Hall
Class of 2025 Advisors

Prom tickets will be $70 from Thursday, January 2nd to Friday, January 17th. The price will increase after this early bird special ends. Save money and get your tickets early: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/MRHS2025seniorprom

The Class of 2025's Senior Prom will take place at Wychmere Beach Club on Friday, April 11, 2025. All seniors are invited and may bring up to 1 guest. Dress formally. The Grand March will begin at 5:30pm followed by dinner and dancing. Seniors will need to arrive at Wychmere by 5pm. If you are bringing a guest who is not a current student at MRHS, you must submit a permission slip to the Main Office by March 7th. Permission slips will be available sometime in February. Please check your email for updates.

Get your yearbook today! We expect them to sell out this year!

If you need financial assistance to purchase a yearbook please email Mrs. Francesconi (kfrancesoni@monomoy.edu).

What I love about my internship at the school, which is Best Buddies, is I get to help with projects, help organize for different events, going to different things with students outside of school, and just having quality time with everyone. I have truly loved getting to get to know each and every one of the students, and they are just amazing to hang out and work with. I love being able to just have fun, share laughs, and put a smile on their faces so easily. I truly feel amazing knowing I can be here and show support to all these lovely people. The best crew is right here, and I am just the luckiest to get to be with them all!

I have really been enjoying my internship at Harwich Elementary School! I have two extremely knowledgeable and helpful mentors, Mrs. Silvester and her classroom assistant Mrs. Corrway. This opportunity has given me not only a chance to see if I would like to pursue this career after college but also something to look forward to every day. As I am in one of the kindergarten classes, at such a young and developmental age, it is very interesting and exciting to see their growth from the beginning of the year to now. This internship has had so many ups and very few downs, it truly has been a great experience and opportunity for me.

The Sandscript Club is hosting a Jawsome Open Mic on Monday the 13th during both Jawsome A and B. Students, and even staff, can read a poem, sing a song, tell jokes, play an instrument, or tell/read a story. Students need to sign up in MyFlex! The Open Mic will be in Mrs. Doyle's room, A237.

Many thanks to Alexandra Sequin of Sequin Animal Care for visiting this week's Animal Welfare Club meeting with her rescue dog, Loki. We learned so much about how well Loki manages on three legs. We learned about his background and his rescue, as well as how Alex started her successful business in animal care. As always, we were reminded that a life with animals is a life enriched!

The SAIL students made homemade hummus this week!

The Gift of Thrift now has shampoo, deodorant, soap and other toiletries available to any student, thanks to a generous community donation sponsored through the Donor Choice organization. All items are available at the Gift of Thrift on the second floor.

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.

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.)

• There will be a meeting with Dollars for Scholars on Tuesday during Jawsome for seniors to received instructions on how to complete the application.
• Please be checking Naviance for local scholarships.

Grief/Bereavement Group offering for MRSD students beginning in January. In partnership with local organization “Sharing Kindness”, this 6-week support group will occur at school during the day and is open to any MRSD student grieving the loss of a loved one. If you would like more information and/or if your student is interested in the opportunity, please reach out to Ms. Giorgio.

All students enrolled in AP classes are expected to take the culminating exams in May 2025. Earning scores high enough on these tests could potentially lead to college credit. In addition, this exam takes the place of the course final. Exam fees are determined by the College Board; each exam is $98.00. For those on free and reduced lunch, the cost is $40.00 per test.

• One exam: $99

• Two exams: $198

• Three (or more) exams: $297

We request a non-refundable* payment by February 3, 2025. Checks should be made payable to MRSD, which should be given to Mrs. Casey, Guidance Assistant.

* All Parents/Guardians of AP Students will receive an email and snail mail regarding AP examination fees with additional information.

BUILD CONFIDENCE IN STEAM!
This fellowship aims to expose young women to a variety of careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) and promote diversity in these fields.

O-STEAM student fellows will work with a predominantly female team of researchers to explore a variety of STEAM-related activities. The team will explore challenges that are unique to women in science. In seeing themselves represented, our teens can gain a sense of belonging.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
We welcome students who are:

· Interested in being in a female-identified space,
· Current residents of and students in Massachusetts, and
· Current high school sophomores and juniors.

* No experience required *

FREE OPPORTUNITY
The fellowship award includes travel to and from Woods Hole, food, and accommodations. There is no cost to the participants.

LEARN MORE AT THE INFORMATION SESSION!
Have questions about the program? Get answers at our Zoom session on
Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6 p.m.

» Register for info session

» Download the program flyer (color version or gray version)

HOW TO APPLY

Learn more about the fellowship and how to apply on the O-STEAM webpage. Applications are due by March 14, 2025. Notifications will be made in April 2025.

CONTACT

Email Grace Simpkins, gsimpkins@whoi.edu, with any questions.

https://capecodchildrensplace.com/program-offerings/ - click on the link for the interactive calendar!

INSTAGRAM: @MonomoyGuidance

Wishing you health and safety,

The MRHS Counseling Team

Mon. 1/13

V Girls Hockey @ 10:30

Fr. Girls Basketball @ 3:00

Tues. 1/14

Fr. Girls Basketball @ 3:00

Tickets for the Andrew James Lawson Invitational at TD Garden are on sale and must be purchased by January 8th. Purchase your tickets now to see our Varsity Boys Basketball team play Bourne at TD Garden on Saturday January 11th at 4:00pm!

Tickets are $25 dollars and are valid for the entire day's worth of games. We hope to see a huge crowd at the Garden for a great game and a great cause!

A link to the tickets is below and available on our Monomoy Website.

https://am.ticketmaster.com/tdgarden/buy/lawson2025?promocode=TEFXU09OTU9OT01PWQ==

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

Follow us on Instagram for game results, scores, updates, and more!: @monomoyathletics

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

Updates, school news, pictures & MORE!

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