
Husky Nation Highlights
Community Newsletter - October 1, 2023

Visit our Amazon Wishlist for PBIS at Monterey Highlands! Donations for raffle prizes are welcome and ship directly to school. Students demonstrate positive behaviors, earn Husky Bucks and enter into monthly raffles to win an excellent prize!
Construction Updates 🚧
In case you missed it, please see notes and slides from our Coffee w/Mr. B and the AP meeting this past week. Our special guest was Mr. Keith Matsuo, AUSD Director of Construction. Here are a few highlights:
- As of Friday 9/29, most structural and electrical work is complete on the solar arrays
- On Sat, 10/21, power at Highlands will be shut down to link the arrays to our electrical grid
- The Lower Blacktop sustained damage during construction and will need to be completely replaced. Work is expected to begin in October to remove and dry out the Lower Blacktop.
- The electronic marquee project is moving forward. The marquee will rise 14 feet above the blacktop at Gate 4.
- Upon completion, the Lower Blacktop will be freshly resurfaced, feature ample shade, include the electronic marquee and will be repainted for activities. Citizen access to the blacktops will also resume (after hours and on weekends) upon completion of construction.
- A chilled, filtered bottle refill station was added in the Cafetorium hallway for student use (shown above). Outdoor refill stations are still planned but that work is now postponed to Summer 2024.
- There will NOT be a Halloween Parade this year due to ongoing construction and blacktop condition. Students will be allowed to wear their costumes all day on Friday 10/27.
Structural and electrical work is 90% complete
Our panels will eventually be fitted with padding as shown in this example
While the Lower Blacktop is being redone, the Marquee will come up at Gate 4.
Are you excited about the Marquee?
Traffic Safety 🦺
Monterey Park Police Department's Traffic Division will continue to be a presence at school to improve traffic safety. 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 use the Valet.
- Please do NOT park in any staff stalls or in a handicap stall without a valid placard.
- Do NOT jaywalk on Casuda Canyon. This is extremely unsafe. There are 3 crosswalks near school.
- Starting October 9, we will be coning off the red area near the Pavilion Gate and crosswalk. Please do NOT park here (see photo above). Thank you for understanding.
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.
✏️ 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 🎃
Event and volunteer opportunities will be announced soon. If you are interested in 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.
PTA Association Meeting 10/11 at 6:30PM
The PTA will hold an Association Meeting in the School Cafetorium on October 11 at 6:30PM. All Families Welcomed! Meet fellow students and parents and stay informed of PTA events and activities. We hope to see you there!
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.
- Students are invited to submit artwork or videos showcasing a talent, hobby or interest. Student may use this link to upload an entry: http://bit.ly/Husky-Spotlight
- The ASB Cabinet produces our monthly Wonderful Wednesday assembly. October's theme is Embracing Honesty featuring 4th Grade! Check it out below!
Student Activities 🎒
ASB Spirit Day - Dress like a Staff Member!
ASB Spirit Day - Dress like a Staff Member!
PBIS Ice Cream Social
PLUS Advisers - Ms. Chan and Mrs. Orozco
Peers Leaders Uniting Students (PLUS)
Friendship Bracelet Trading at Lunch
Spooky Grams Volunteers
ASB is having a spooky gram sale in the Breezeway from 10/9 - 10/12. We are looking for some parent volunteers to assist our ASB board members with selling Spooky Grams. As this is an ASB fundraiser, funds raised will go to the benefit of ALL grade levels. If you are interested in volunteering for this fundraiser, please fill out the form below.
Upcoming Fundraisers 💰
Benefitting all Monterey Highlands students
- Spooky Grams sale from 10/9 - 10/12
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.
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 Replacement Cost 💻
Parent Portal Update: Student Device Asset Information Screen
information below excerpted from AUSD Newsletter - 9.22.23
We're excited to introduce the AUSD Device Asset information screen in the Powerschool Parent Portal. This new feature provides detailed information about the devices assigned to students. To access this information, simply log in to the parent portal and click on the 'assets' link in the left panel. You'll find a list of devices issued to your student, displaying relevant device details. If you have any questions about the device(s) listed, please contact your child's school site.
District technology devices are assigned to each student within Powerschool. All lost or damaged devices are the student's responsibility and are to be paid for at the time of loss or damage. Payments are made in the school office. Failure to pay for lost or damaged devices may result in withholding school privileges and report cards. (BP 3515.4, BP 5131.5, EC 48904).
Chromebook Replacement Cost: $350.00
Attendance Counts! 🏆
- Mrs. K. Wang (5th) - overall winner with 98.91% attendance
- Mrs. Acosta-Martin (6th)
- Mrs. J. Wang (5th)
- Ms. Perez (4th)
- Ms. Lim (6th)
- Mr. McNeil (5th)
- Ms. Adams (5th)
Attendance Interventions ⚠️
Please report the reason/excuse for an absence to our school registrar, Mrs. Rebecca Rodriguez, within 10 days of the absence.
Absences without an excuse will automatically be unexcused (U). Any tardy in excess of 30 minutes is considered a truant tardy (TT).
Attendance interventions are as follows:
- 3rd unexcused absence or truant tardy - 1st Truancy Letter is mailed home
- 4th unexcused absence or truant tardy - 2nd Truancy Letter is mailed home, parents are requested to appear for School Attendance Review Team (SART) at school
- 5th unexcused absence or truant tardy - matter is referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) and the District Attorney
Upcoming Dates 📆
- 10/2 - 8th Grade Promotion Parent Meeting on Zoom @ 6pm
- 10/3 - Board of Education Meeting
- 10/4 - English Language Advisory Committee (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 Fundraiser @ The Habit (Garfield/Main)
- 10/20 - Student of the Month (Cafetorium) @ 8:00am
- 10/21 - Anticipated power shut off for solar array linkage to power grid
- 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: Be Kind to Your Mind!
- 10/27 - End of Trimester 1
- 10/27 - Spooky Bash! 👻
- 10/30 and 10/31 - Pupil Free Days
- 10/31 - AUSD Food and Wellness Fair
- 11/3 - PTA presents Dia de los Muertos
Monterey Highlands School
📥 Email: highlands@ausd.us
🌐 Website: www.montereyhighlandselementary.org
📍 Location: 400 Casuda Canyon Drive, Monterey Park, CA, USA
📲 Phone: (626) 570-6220