
Husky Nation Highlights
Community Newsletter - September 24, 2023

Traffic Safety
Monterey Park Police Department's Traffic Division was at drop-off several times this past week. We understand ongoing traffic safety enforcement will continue. Our safety measures are intended to calm congestion and ensure a safe drop-off for students and timely arrival for staff.
Some reminders to avoid a warning or ticket:
- There is NO drop-off directly in front of Gate 1. Please go through the Valet if you come up the hill to drop off your child. Do NOT stop, park or unload your child in front of Gate 1. This is the designated area for our school buses to unload students.
- Please do not park in any staff stalls. It is essential to school operations for staff to arrive safely and promptly in order to prepare school for students.
- Do not park in unmarked stalls, red curb areas or in any area where you are blocking a parked car or the school bus.
Do not enter the staff lot for drop-off (handicap exempt). Please use the Valet.
No stopping, drop-off or parking in this area. This blocks handicap parking and the school bus.
Never stop, drop-off or park in the red. This is impedes first responders and security personnel.
Fall Photos
Fall Pictures are this week! Our photo vendor continues to be Lifetouch. For fall photos, students are expected to wear their uniforms. Student on a uniform waiver must continue to follow dress code.
- Thursday, 9/28/23 is for Grades TK - 3rd
- Friday, 9/29/23 is for Grades 4th-8th
- Makeup day(s) will be announced later after scheduling
✏️ PTA CORNER 🍎
Reflections Arts Program 🎨
Explore the arts and express yourself! This year’s Reflections theme is “I am Hopeful Because…”
Get creative and submit to one of the many categories including dance choreography, literature, photography, film production, music composition, and visual arts. All grades are welcome to submit. Please visit bit.ly/MHReflections for more details.
All participants with eligible entries will be entered into a raffle to win a $5 gift certificate for PTA’s Holiday Shop (to be held on December 14-15). In addition, all participants with eligible entries will receive a “See’s Candies” lollipop and a participation ribbon. All category winners in each division, receive a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd award ribbon and award certificate, with the 1st place recipient receiving a marble plaque.
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 at 11:59PM.
Interested in volunteering as a judge? See the “Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities” section below for details.
Spooky Bash – Grade-Level Participation & Planning 🎃
The Spooky Bash Committee is off and running planning and coordinating this year’s Spooky Bash. Any grade-levels that wish to participate in a fundraising activity must indicate their interest by September 27 at 5PM. If interested, please email bebebarba@gmail.com.
If you are interested in joining the Spooky Bash Planning Committee or volunteering at Spooky Bash, please see the “Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities” section below for details.
Curious about what Spooky Bash is? Learn more by checking out our FAQ.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities 🤝
We are grateful for our volunteers. Here are some of our volunteer needs at this time:
Ongoing:
- Morning Valet (School) - mornings (7:30am-8:00am)
- Husky Pop-Up Store (School) - monthly at recess (9am-11am)
Email Ms. Chan (school counselor) if you are interested. - Spooky Bash Planning Committee or Volunteers (PTA)
- Reflections Art Program Judges (PTA)
- Dia de los Muertos Volunteers (PTA)
📒 ASB ANNOUNCEMENTS 📢
Mr. Calvin Ly, Adviser
The Associated Student Body (ASB) oversees all fundraising and school activities at Monterey Highlands. The ASB Cabinet meets weekly on Fridays to review activity and fundraising requests.
Useful ASB Information:
- Parents or teachers interested in creating a fundraiser can complete this Google Form Link.
- Upcoming ASB Spirit Day: Wednesday, September 27, 2023: Dress Like a Staff Member
- ASB Cabinet also produces our monthly Wonderful Wednesday assembly. October's theme is Embracing Honesty featuring 4th Grade! Check back soon for the next edition!
Upcoming Fundraisers 💰
Benefitting the 8th Grade Class of 2024 Promotion Activities 🎓
- The Habit in Alhambra (Garfield/Main), October 18, 4-10pm
(in-person, print out or present flyer on your phone)
8th Grade Parent Meeting - 10.2.23 @ 6pm (Zoom)
Join us as we continue planning 8th Grade Promotion for the Class of 2024.
The meting will be held virtually at 6pm at this link: zoom.us/my/mh.principal
If you can't make it, don't worry! We will meet again soon to continue planning. Please email Mr. B if you are interested in working on the 8th Grade Parent Committee.
Mental Health Lesson (Gr 4-8 only)
Senate Bill (SB) 224 requires schools to provide mental health education for students. AUSD will be utilizing a lesson developed by Erika's Lighthouse, a highly respected mental health education and advocacy organization.
- Parents/guardians in Grade 4/5 may OPT-IN to have students participate by clicking this link.
- Parents/guardians in Grade 6 may OPT-IN to have students participate by clicking this link.
- Parents/guardians in Grade 7/8 may OPT-OUT by clicking this link.
A presentation on the lessons was posted to the Monterey Highlands website last week. You can view that presentation here at this link. This is the last week we can accept consents for students to participate in this important mental health and wellness experience.
Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP ☕
Please RSVP if you plan to attend this meeting so we may prepare light refreshments.
You may use the Google Form link below to submit questions for Mr. Matsuo ahead of this meeting.
Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP
- Our special guest will be Mr. Keith Matsuo, Director of Construction for AUSD.
- Mr. Matsuo will provide updates on our current (and future) construction projects.
Friday, Sep 29, 2023, 08:00 AM
Monterey Highlands Cafetorium
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Helpful Huskies!
Huge shoutout to our 8th Grade Husky LEAD-ers: Jayden, Justin, Nicholas and Andrew who volunteered their mornings before school to assist our Little Huskies with breakfast service.
📸: Mr. McNeil
Chromebook Care 💻
Please encourage your child to take good care of their AUSD Chromebook.
At this time, we are replacing lost/damaged devices with gently used Chromebooks only. We are not currently issuing any new devices until our inventory is replenished by AUSD.
Please let your child's teacher know if a device or charger is damaged or lost.
Reminder from the Office 📝
If your child is absent from school and you are requesting classwork/homework to make-up, please make sure to email your child's teacher and request work from your child's teacher.
The front office is not responsible for contacting the teacher regarding makeup work.
Once you email the teacher, they will gather the homework and leave it at the front office for the parent to pick up. Please confirm with the teacher that work is ready before picking up any makeup work at the office.
AUSD Food and Wellness Fair - 10.31.23
Monterey Highlands is once again hosting the 19th Annual AUSD Food and Wellness Fair on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. This is a pupil-free day. As the host site, Highlands community members may attend either Session 1 or Session 2.
Please contact the school office to RSVP.
Join us, bring the kids! 👨👩👦
Grand Prize Raffle 🎁
Attend Session 1️⃣ or 2️⃣!
Upcoming Dates 📆
- 9/27 - School Site Council Meeting (on Zoom) at 1:15pm
- 9/27 - Anticipated end of solar array and electrical work (Blacktop will remain closed)
- 9/27 - Spirit Day: Dress like a Staff Member!
- 9/28 - Safety Committee Meeting (Zoom) at 3pm
- 9/28 - Fall Pictures (TK-3rd) - uniform
- 9/29 - Fall Pictures (4th-8th) - uniform
- 9/29 - Coffee Talk w/Mr. B & the AP featuring Mr. Matsuo (Director of Construction)
- 10/2 - 8th Grade Promotion Parent Meeting on Zoom @ 6pm
- 10/3 - Board of Education Meeting
- 10/4 - ELAC Meeting #1 @ 6pm (Cafetorium)
- 10/11 - PTA Reflections Student Submission Deadline @ 11:59pm
- 10/11 - PTA Association Meeting @ 6:30pm
- 10/18 - 8th Grade Fundraisder @ The Habit (Garfield/Main)
- 10/20 - Student of the Month (Cafetorium) @ 8:00am
- 10/24 - Board of Education Meeting
- 10/24 - Monterey Park Town Hall (Cafetorium) @ 6pm
- 10/26 - Safety Committee Meeting (Zoom) at 3pm
- 10/23 to 10/27 - Red Ribbon Week
- 10/27 - End of Trimester 1
- 10/27 - Spooky Bash! 👻
- 10/28 - Anticipated power shut off for solar array linkage to power grid
- 10/30 and 10/31 - Pupil Free Days
- 10/31 - AUSD Food and Wellness Fair
Monterey Highlands School
📥 Email: highlands@ausd.us
🌐 Website: www.montereyhighlandselementary.org
📍 Location: 400 Casuda Canyon Drive, Monterey Park, CA, USA
📲 Phone: (626) 570-6220