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Monticello
January 2025 Newsletter
Upcoming Events
Jan 6th First Day Back To School 7:50am
Jan 7th PTO Meeting 5:30pm in the office
Jan 14th Site Base Meeting 7am LGIC
Jan 20th No School - MLK Holiday
Jan 24th No School - End of Semester - Records Day
Jan 27th First day of practice for girls basketball and girls bowling
Jan 31st School Social - For Students That Have Level 3 or 4 in Work Completion in January
Feb 4th PTO Meeting 5:30pm Office
Feb 14th No School - Weather Make-Up Day
Feb 17th No School - Presidents Day
Feb 20th Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony
Staff Spotlight
Ms. McClung
Ms. McClung is a lifelong resident of Longview and a proud graduate of Mark Morris High School. She has been passionate about working with children since her high school years, gaining experience in daycares, schools, athletics, and the Community House. Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in the local sports community, coaching soccer and track at Mark Morris.
In 2023, Ms. McClung completed her teaching program at Lower Columbia College and has spent the past two years substituting across the district. While most of her student teaching took place in elementary classrooms, her experiences coaching and substituting have fueled her passion for working with middle and high school students. She is thrilled to embark on her journey in middle school education and is currently completing a long-term substitute position in 8th grade Health and PE. Ms. McClung is eager to connect with her students and see what the school year has in store!
1st Semester Report Cards
Semester Grades Jan 23rd
As we approach the end of the first semester, please note that grades will be finalized on January 24th. The official end of the semester is January 23rd. We encourage students to check in with their teachers to discuss their current grades and to ensure they are on track. You can also monitor your child’s progress by checking Skyward Family Access.
Skyward Family Access
Skyward is an online platform that allows parents to stay updated on their child's academic progress. It provides real-time information on grades, attendance, schedules, food service balances, and more. You can also access a calendar and message center for easier communication with teachers.
Click here to access Skyward Family Access
Monticello Grading Procedures
In our school, we use standards-based grading, which helps give a more detailed picture of your child’s progress in specific skills and knowledge. Unlike traditional grading, which often combines a student’s behavior and effort with their academic performance, standards-based grading focuses only on their understanding of the content. Here’s how it works:
- 4 – The student demonstrates consistent, in-depth understanding of the grade-level standards.
- 3 – The student shows a clear understanding of the grade-level standards.
- 2 – The student shows some understanding of the grade-level standards, but needs additional support.
- 1 – The student shows limited or no understanding of the grade-level standards and requires significant support.
- 0 – The student has not attempted to show evidence of understanding.
Additionally, we assess students’ work completion and respect in class separately from their academic scores, so those aspects will not impact their content scores. This system allows us to pinpoint specific strengths and areas for improvement, so we can better support your child’s learning. If you have any questions or need clarification about how your child is performing, please feel free to reach out to their teacher. We are here to help!
Back To School Reminders
Attendance Is Important!
We are excited to announce the launch of our 90% and above Attendance Campaign, which will take place throughout the month of January and beyond. Our goal is to encourage regular attendance and recognize the efforts of those students who consistently show up and engage in their learning.
Why Attendance Matters
In Washington State, students who miss more than 10% of school days are considered chronically absent. We know that regular attendance is key to academic success, so we want to reinforce its importance and celebrate students who make attending school a priority.
Kicking Off the Campaign
To start, we will recognize and celebrate students who have maintained at least 90% attendance since the beginning of the school year in August. Currently, 334 out of 518 students (about 64%) have achieved this milestone. These students will receive a special ticket for a free ice cream during lunch as a reward for their excellent attendance! Our hope is that this recognition will inspire all students to prioritize their attendance and take ownership of their learning.
Fresh Start in January
Throughout the month of January, we will give all students a fresh start. We will track attendance and award tickets to students who attend school at least 90% of the time during the month. This means students can miss no more than one day in January to qualify. We encourage all students to aim for this goal! We look forward to working together to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed academically by attending school regularly.
Appropriate School Language
As part of our commitment to maintaining a positive and respectful school environment, we are focusing on promoting the use of appropriate language at school. We have observed an increase in inappropriate language this year, and we believe that by working together, we can encourage a more respectful atmosphere where all students can thrive.
Why This Matters
Using respectful, appropriate language is essential in creating a positive school culture where everyone feels valued. This initiative is about helping students develop a strong academic vocabulary while fostering an environment of mutual respect. It is also important that all students understand what language is appropriate within the school setting and how their words affect those around them.
What We're Doing
To kick off this initiative, during the first advisory lesson in January, students will be reminded of the importance of using school-appropriate language. We will reinforce these expectations in all classrooms and throughout the school.
From January 6th–10th, we will be making announcements and providing additional reminders to students about the importance of using respectful language. If a student is heard using inappropriate language, a staff member will have a brief conversation with them to explain why such language is not acceptable at school.
Next Steps: Accountability and Reflection
Starting the week of January 13th, we will implement a more structured approach. Students who continue to use inappropriate language will be asked to attend a special lunch with the principal on the following Friday. This lunch will provide an opportunity for reflection and discussion about the importance of using respectful language at school.
Your Support Matters
We encourage families to discuss the importance of using respectful language at school and reinforce these expectations at home. Together, we can help our students understand the value of communication that is both respectful and appropriate. If you have any suggestions or questions about this initiative, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your support in making our school a positive, respectful place for everyone.
Does Your Student Need Winter Weather Clothing?
Cold Winter Weather
Now that winter is here, it's essential to dress appropriately for the weather. The school doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for students who wish to have breakfast. For those not having breakfast, we recommend arriving around 7:45 or 7:50 a.m. to avoid waiting outside or in the courtyard before school begins.
During lunch, students will be required to spend a portion of their break outdoors. Please ensure you bring a warm coat or jacket, and consider packing gloves and an umbrella to stay comfortable. We do have the Family and Community Resource Center located at Monticello to help support students in need of warm clothing. Please give Mr. Rios a call at 360-575-7055 or email him at mrios@longview.k12.wa.us
December Students of the Month
The following students were recognized by their teachers for demonstrating the 4 character traits that we emphasize at Monticello. Being Responsible, Being Respectful, Being Safe & Being a Learner.
Winter Concerts
We are incredibly proud of our band, choir, and orchestra students for their outstanding performances at the winter concerts. Throughout the year, they steadily improved, and their hard work truly paid off. It was a joy to see their efforts come to life on stage. Check out some of the pictures below from their winter performances.
Athletics
Girls Basketball
The first basketball practice for 7th and 8th grade girls will be on January 27th right after school. Students that are interested in participating need to have their paperwork completed online before they can practice. If you have any questions, please contact our athletic secretary at 360-575-7041 or by email at crogers@longview.k12.wa.us
Girls Bowling
Schedule:
Feb 5th Vs Cascade
Feb 19th Vs Mt Solo
Feb 26th Vs Cascade
March 12 Vs Mt Solo
March 19 Post Season Tourney
Knowledge Bowl
Afterschool Clubs
Clubs
Mondays
- Yearbook Club in Room 150
Wednesdays
- Hope Club - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
Thursdays
- Newspaper Club in Room 200
PTO News
Monticello Spirit Wear
The PTO is still looking for volunteers to help out in the student store. If you are interested, please contact Heather Peterson-Woodruff, our PTO President, at the following email address mailto:heatherbethpeterson@hotmail.com
We are also looking for chaperones for our spring dance & 8th grade end of year celebration. You must be CHAMP approved by the district to help. Forms can be found online. Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for January 7th at 5:30pm in the office.
Monticello Mission Statement
MONTICELLO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Email: smerzoian@longview.k12.wa.us
Website: https://monticello.longviewschools.com/
Location: 1225 28th Ave, Longview, WA, USA
Phone: 360-575-7056
Facebook: facebook.com/monticellomiddleschool