
Husky Nation Highlights
Community Newsletter - January 28, 2024

Gate 5 will open this week AM ONLY 🔑
Gate 5 (Barranca @ Casuda Canyon) will reopen in the mornings starting this week on Tues 1/23/24. Due to short staffing, we will have Gate 5 closed at dismissal. We hope to fully reopen Gate 5 soon Thank you for your understanding.
Annual Title 1 and ELAC Meetings 📘
This week, we are hosting two meetings that will explain Monterey Highlands' Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) Goals for 2023-24 (recently approved by the AUSD Board of Education). SPSA goals will drive school programming in the areas of: academic achievement, English Learner proficiency, improving school culture and increasing parent/family engagement.
- Title 1 Annual Meeting - Tuesday, January 30, 8am on Zoom - zoom.us/my/mh.principal (meeting will be recorded and posted on MH YouTube Channel).
- English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC) Meeting #3 - Wednesday, January 31, 8am in Cafetorium (in-person). Translation will be provided.
PTA Reflections Arts Winners going to STATE! 🎨
The following students placed at First District PTA's Reflections Competition. First Place (Outstanding Interpretation) winners will be advancing to the STATE competition!! Congratulations!! We're so proud of your wonderful artwork and how you expressed yourself with this year's theme: "I am Hopeful Because".
Photography
- Marisa Park - Middle School - Honorable Mention
Music Composition
- Aaron Zheng - Intermediate - Honorable Mention
- Queena Yang - Middle School - Outstanding Interpretation (advancing to State)
Literature
- Desiree Chong - Middle School - Outstanding Interpretation (advancing to State)
✏️ PTA CORNER 🍎
Husky Fun Run – Kickoff is on 1/29 👟
Our Husky Fun Run kicks off on January 29! Our goal is to raise $30,000 for library updates, campus beautification, and PTA programs, and we need your help! The first step is to register your student on MYBOOSTER.COM by searching for our school name. Registering is easy and free!
Registration is the first step to help our school reach our fundraising goal this year. Students get a FREE prize just for being registered, as well as entry into two raffles, including a Grand Prize Raffle for a chance to win an iPad. More information about our various prizes and incentives is available here, and in our FAQ.
Head to MYBOOSTER.COM now to register, share, and give. Thank you for your support!
We are also looking for Cleared Volunteers to help on the day of our Fun Run event, Tuesday, February 6, 2024, to slice and bag oranges and bananas for snacks, to help with water station cups, and to help cheer on our runners! If interested in volunteering, please click here.
Lunar New Year 2/8 🐉
As we usher in the joyous festivities of the Lunar New Year, your PTA is excited to bring a special celebration to our school community. This year’s Lunar New Year Program will feature engaging craft stations for students, a captivating campus-wide art project, and a wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn more about this culturally significant holiday. Please note that we have a new date for our Lunar New Year Program – Thursday, February 8.
To make this celebration a success, we're calling on our fantastic community for volunteers to assist with decorating, managing craft stations, and ensuring a smooth cleanup. Let's come together to create lasting memories for our children and celebrate the diversity that makes our school so vibrant! If interested in volunteering, please click here.
PTA Now Accepting Nominations for 2024-2025 Executive Board! ✨
Attention all Monterey Highlands Parents, Guardians, and Teachers! We are now accepting nominations for the 2024-2025 Executive Board. Our PTA plays a crucial role in supporting our school and ensuring the best possible experience for our children. We need your help in identifying dedicated and passionate individuals to lead the way.
For more information and to submit nominations, please click here. Nominations must be submitted by March 1, 2024. The election will take place on April 10, 2024.
Don't miss this opportunity to have a voice in shaping the future of our school. Get involved and make a difference! Thank you!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities 🤝
We are grateful for our volunteers. Here are some of our volunteer needs at this time:
Ongoing:
📒 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:
- Fundraiser Request Form and Fundraising Calendar.
- This is the current list of ASB-Approved Clubs
- Check out the latest Wonderful Wednesday video from ASB! January's theme is Being Fair featuring 8th Grade students! Check out the video below!!
ASB Approved Fundraisers 🤑
Panda Express Fundraiser for 6th Grade Outdoor Science School 🔬
- Thursday, Februrary 1, 2024
- Virtual fundraiser applies to orders any time and anywhere on 2/1/24
- Apply code 920654 in the Fundraiser Code box during online checkout at www.pandaexpress.com or via App
Valentine Gram Fundraiser for 6th Grade Outdoor Science School 🔬
- All week Februrary 5-9, 2024 in the breezeway at Recess and Lunch
- Students will write a message for their gram which will come with a sweet treat!
- All grams are $1 each
Clothes Donation Fundraiser for 6th Grade Outdoor Science School 🔬
- Saturday, Februrary 24, 2024 from 10am - 1pm (revised date)
- Clean out your closets and help 6th Grade go to Science Camp!
- Please enter the bus circle/valet to drop-off your items.
- Items should be washed and bagged in large trash bags, if possible
- School staff will be present in the valet circle to assist with unloading and collecting items
Support 6th Grade!
Online code = 920654
Support 6th Grade!
Valentine Grams
Highlands ASB
8th Grade Parent Committee - 2.5.24 (rescheduled)
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.
Moved? Please Update Your Address 🏡
If you have moved outside Monterey Highlands boundaries, you will need to complete a permit for your child to remain enrolled at Monterey Highlands. You can find more information about permits at the AUSD website.
🚨 City of Monterey Park Construction 🚧
Please be advised that several public works projects are happening at the same time in the immediate vicinity of the school. This may impact traffic at dropoff and dismissal. Please give yourself plenty of extra time to get to school and be mindful of City contractors.
All construction projects are being managed by the Monterey Park Public Works Department (phone: 626-307-1320, Construction Update website).
- Street Resurfacing - Here's a map of impacted areas.
- NEW: Slurry Seal - Here's a map of the impacted areas. Many roads around campus including Casuda Canyon and Pat Carroll (including the entire parking lot) will be resurfaced. Please note: roads will NOT be painted until slurry is cured (paint will come later). Parking will be marked out by "tabs". Park cautiously! Tentatively work will be 2/10 - 2/12 (no school on Monday).
Please do not call the school office for any updates on construction.
East Playground (near Tennis Courts)
Storage Area near Pavilion
The City has moved a storage bin for playground equipment on Th 1/18/24. This will free up parking near the Tennis Courts.
West Playground (near Pavilion)
Paving Work on Hillside Streets
Monterey Park Public Works Department
phone: 626-307-1320,
Slurry Seal of Casuda and Parking Lot
This is currently scheduled Sat 2/10 thru Mon 2/12 (no school).
Upcoming Dates 📆
Don't forget - College Wear Wednesdays and Fun Fridays (Husky Spirit Wear) continue!
- 1/29 - PTA Husky Run Fundraiser begins
- 1/30 - Coffee w/Mr. B and the AP (Annual Title 1 Meeting) on ZOOM
- 1/31 - English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC) Meeting (in-person) at 8am
- 2/2 - English Learner Reclassification Breakfast @ 8am in Cafetorium
- 2/5 - 8th Grade Parent Meeting @ 6pm on Zoom
- 2/5 to 2/9 - 6th Grade Fundraiser Valentine Grams Pre-Sale in Breezeway
- 2/6 - PTA Husky Run on the Lower Blacktop!
- 2/8 - PTA's Lunar New Year Celebration (all day in the Cafetorium)
- 2/9 - CA School Parent Survey closes
- 2/10 to 2/12 - Anticipated slurry seal of Casuda Canyon and Pat Carroll including parking lots
- 2/12 - Lincoln's Birthday Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
- 2/13 and 2/14 - 8th Grade Fundraiser Valentine Pop-Up Store
- 2/15 - Minimum Day (Certificated Staff PD)
- 2/16 - Minimum Day (Report Card Prep), End of 2nd Trimester
- 2/19 - President's Day Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
- 2/24 - 6th Grade Fundraiser Clothing Drive from 10am-1pm @ Valet Bus Circle
- 2/29 - PTA's Career Day
Monterey Highlands School
📥 Email: highlands@ausd.us
🌐 Website: www.montereyhighlandselementary.org
📍 Location: 400 Casuda Canyon Drive, Monterey Park, CA, USA
📲 Phone: (626) 570-6220