Monroe News

Having a house full of family and friends at the holidays is one of my favorite things, and it has certainly been a full house at Monroe over the past couple of weeks! We have hosted a plethora of events from athletics, activities, music concerts, to articulations with our colleagues at WNHS as we prepare our 8th grade students for high school. Coming up next week, we will celebrate our winter spirit week (see picture below for details) and host an all school assembly on Friday!

While there is much to celebrate, we recognize this time of year is not necessarily easy or joyful for everyone. Please check in on one another and spread kindness within our community. If you're looking for opportunities to connect and contribute, please check out the resources listed here.

Coming in the new year, Monroe will be launching Academic Hour twice per week after school. To learn more about this opportunity and how it may impact your student, please check out the full description below. Additionally, look forward to information sent in the new year about promotion, building construction updates, and future opportunities for student performances in the winter play (Wizard of Oz: The Deleted Scene) and the talent show.

From our Monroe family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Ashley Huettemann
Principal

Starting after winter break, Monroe is proud to begin hosting an after school Academic Hour twice per week, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4pm. The purpose of this time is to assist students with academic support, provide time to complete missing assignments, and provide a focused and structured study session. Academic Hour is by invite only; we will invite students who are falling behind in their classes by either missing a series of assignments or earning a D and/or F in more than one class. According to preliminary data, we have about 90 students who would qualify for this support, which tells us that this Academic Hour idea is necessary and an important step to implement for student learning. We will prioritize by highest need as we can accommodate up to 30 students per session.

How it works:
On Fridays and Tuesdays, we will send email invitations to students and parents requesting student attendance at the Academic Hour the following day (Monday or Wednesday). These emails will come from my (Ashley Huettemann) email address. Students attending should report to room 125 after the 3pm bell. Ms. Skibbe will help students get organized, make a plan for the hour, and provide assistance as needed. Students can be picked up or take the activity bus home at 4pm. Please be sure your student knows their home address; they need that information when they take the activity bus.

How you can help:
As a school, we can strongly encourage attendance. As a parent, you can require your student to attend! We appreciate your partnership and support as we try to develop strong habits in middle school that will set them up for success in high school and beyond.

Final notes:
Receiving an invitation to Academic Hour is not a disciplinary consequence. Rather, it is an early warning sign and is intended to be an opportunity for improvement. As a reminder, you have daily access to see your student's missing assignments and updated grades in ParentVUE.

Congratulations to our band and orchestra musicians for their outstanding performances as a part of the ILMEA festival!

Congratulations to our 8th grade fast paced language arts classes for their hard work on their short stories. Thank you to our supportive parents for joining us for the publishing party!

Students took a look at live specimens under the microscopes this week and conducted a phospholipid bilayer lab. Students are engaging in discovery and inquiry learning!

Students in Performance Seminar and Drama Exploration visited Jefferson Early Childhood Center this week to put on a performance for the students!

Jeriah Aviles: Jeriah is so kind and well mannered. He is always asking great questions and is eager to learn more!
Analiese Barbera: She is dedicated to her studies and doing her best. She is kind and respectful to everyone she meets. She is excited to learn and grow.
Jack Dawson: Jack is such a sweet student and always puts his best effort forward. He works hard and is kind to all of his teachers and classmates.
Ayden Hyder: Ayden is a hard working student, very kind and has a great sense of humor! He brings great vibes to the classroom.
Landon Meister: He is a hard-working, kind leader. He is always positive and excited to learn.
Aaniya Patel: She works hard to complete her assignments. She is very respectful and kind to her classmates and teachers.
Audrey Stark: Audrey is a very hard working student, has a great attitude and is a voracious reader.
Anaiah Thorat: Anaiah is a great student who works hard and always helps those around her to succeed.