FRIDAY FOCUS

Thank you to those of you who took time to participate in our school climate survey as part of our equity audit. We had hundreds of responses from both staff and parents/caregivers, and we hope to hear from more voices. While we had originally noted that the survey would close September 29, the survey will now be open through TODAY, October 24, in order to allow even more parents/caregivers and staff members to share their feedback.

If you haven’t yet done so, click here to take the school climate survey:

• Parents/caregivers

The phone number used to send school text messages has changed. SMS text messages from Monomoy will now be sent using a new number: 97178.

This change was made to improve the reliability and speed of text message delivery. We encourage you to save the new number (97178) to your contacts so you recognize messages from Monomoy right away.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we make this transition.

Monomoy's Integrated Preschool program serves children ages 3-4 who have been found eligible for special education services due to a disability who learn alongside more typically developing students, called community friends. Community friends help to model age-appropriate social, play, language, and learning skills. The district currently has limited openings for community friends. These openings are due to a slight increase in the number of students with disabilities, allowing the district to add peers to maintain the required balance.

The open spots are in the three-year-old afternoon session of the integrated preschool program. The program is held four days per week for 2.5 hours each day, and is housed at Harwich Elementary School. Community friends attend the integrated preschool at no cost; however, transportation is not provided.

Families interested in applying for one of the community friend student placements should contact Erin Cronen, MRSD Early Childhood Coordinator, at 617-314-8937 or ecronen@monomoy.edu. If more applicants apply than there are available spots, a lottery will be held.

Learn more about the Monomoy SEPAC at https://www.monomoy.edu/sepac

Each month, the district will feature a staff member in our Staff Shoutout series. Staff members can be nominated by students, parents/caregivers, and colleagues for outstanding positive contributions to our schools using the simple form at www.monomoy.edu/staffshoutout. Nominations for October are now open! Any staff members nominated in September can be nominated again, except for the honoree, Jessica Friedman of MRHS.

The Animal Welfare Club and the Young Women's Club are combining forces to help two organizations: Independence House in Hyannis and The Purple Leash Project funded by Purina and Red Rover. The goal is to help domestic abuse survivors keep their pets when they escape and go to shelters. Studies show that half of domestic abuse victims stay in their situation because they don't want to leave their pet or pets. Many times, the pet(s) themselves are abused as well. Most shelters in the U.S. cannot take pets; the Purple Leash Project wants to change that.

Independence House already can take pets so we'll send them money for pet supplies. We are also collecting pet toys, pet food, clean towels, clean sheets, and small blankets here at school. There are collection boxes all around the ground floor. The rest of our funds are going to the Purple Leash Project. On Sept. 30 in our high school auditorium, the two clubs met with a representative from Purina to learn more. Purina will match all the money we send them!!

We are asking the Monomoy community to donate the items already mentioned, to purchase baked goods at upcoming bake sales at school games and at the next two Saturdays in the Harwich Stop and Shop, and, of course, monetary donations! Please make out checks to M.R.S.D. with Purple Leash Project in the note space. Please mail them to Attn: Animal Welfare Club, M.R.H.S., 75 Oak Street, Harwich, MA, 02645.

Members of the Animal Welfare Club made over $1,000 at last Saturday's bake, beanies, and shells sale!!! All the funds are going to the Purple Leash Project created by Purina and Red Rover. There will be another sale this coming Saturday at S & S in Harwich for the Purple Leash Project, which is helping domestic abuse survivors keep their pets. This sale will be hosted by the Young Women's Club. Purina will match whatever we make!! Please stop by and buy some treats!

In the photo(l to r): President Arden Gingras, Lily Gingras, and Carys McCarty. Not pictured: Lily Holmes

Many thanks to Paul Niles and The Friends of Pleasant Bay for giving Sandscript and the Creative Writing class a grant to visit Pleasant Bay last week. Mr. Niles, Co-Founder and former Director of the Lighthouse Charter School and the head of the Friends' Education Committee, taught our students many things about the Bay that most of us didn't know!! Our student writers took photos and wrote; most of their work will be published in a booklet that will be available for perusal throughout the Monomoy and Pleasant Bay community. Many thanks also to Mr. John Dickson, the MRHS teacher, who suggested we visit the campus of Pleasant Bay Community Boating, as he is a Board Member, and Dorothy Bassett, Executive Director of PBCB, and a Chatham High graduate. It takes a village!

https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/

On October 2, 2025, I went to the Family Table Collaborative to volunteer. I noticed that everyone there was really friendly, and they wanted to be there. I also noticed that everyone was really dedicated, and I felt the sense of community in the room. One last thing I noticed is that every role played its part and that no matter what, people were always persevering, especially if the veggies were low or if we needed more plastic lids. I learned so much, too, such as that there are many different reasons as to why people volunteer. I talked to a woman named Susan, and she said that she does it to give back to the community, but she delved in deeper by also mentioning that she was retired, and wanted to continue being active in some way. The sense of community and volunteering was perfect. She said it gave her the opportunity to meet new people and make new connections. I agree that volunteering is an amazing experience and the perfect way to meet new people who might be good friends. Before I volunteered at Family Table Collaborative, I have had some experience volunteering, so I felt eager and excited to start. After we were done, I felt very satisfied, yet sad that it was over. But overall, I had an amazing experience volunteering at the Family Table Collaborative.

“When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.” This quote, to me, means that people need to be thoughtful and if they have any extra food that is non-perishable, and they will not eat it, they should consider others and donate the food. It is important that we do not waste food, but give it to people who need it. Accessibility is a problem. We need to work together as a community to stop nutritional insecurity.

On October 23, 2025, I went to the Family Table Collaborative to volunteer. I noticed that everyone was cheerful and welcoming. Everyone wanted to be everywhere at once, and help where they could. I learned that nutritional insecurity is not when someone cannot buy food, but instead that they cannot buy the right food for various reasons. Before I went I was nervous, and did not know what to expect. Now, I view volunteering as a great way to help the community, and help others in need.

This quote means to me, no matter how wealthy you are, you can always help others. Also, don’t be so closed off, but instead be welcoming to people that have less than you. This connects to today's volunteering because there were many older people there helping out. One of the reasons that they were there was because they thought that they had too much time on their hands. So instead of sitting around, they decided to come and help the community.

Today I learned about volunteer work. The volunteer work is to help the community. Before I went I was scared, after this experience I would like to do it every day. The quote connects today like the people at the Family Table Collaborative work. They work for the community to help the community.

On October 2nd, I went to the Family Table Collaborative to volunteer. I noticed that the volunteers there were very happy and friendly to everyone. They were not strict or very serious and there was a great vibe at the Family Table Collaborative. I learned that the food that they use to give to people mostly came from Whole Foods. Before I went to the Family Table Collaborative, I felt excited but a little nervous. After I realized that what I did was very impactful and super important to my community.

The quote, “When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence”, means to share your resources, food, and things to others, instead of keeping them to yourself and not sharing. This quote connects to what I discovered at the Family Table Collaborative because the volunteers decided to share food resources with people with food insecurity. I learned that one of the volunteers decided to join the Family Table Collaborative because it was a great thing to do in her spare time, to give and share with others in need, and to always give back, so it connects to the quote “When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence.

I went to the Family Table Collaborative to volunteer. When I arrived, I noticed how welcoming and organized everything was. People were working together with a sense of purpose, and it felt like everyone knew they were part of something meaningful. I saw food being prepared, packed, and shared, not just as meals, but as care and support for the community. There was no judgment, just kindness and teamwork. It reminded me that even small actions can make a big impact when done with heart. I learned how much effort and planning go into ensuring others are cared for. I also learned that many people in our communities need help, and that help doesn’t always come from big organizations; it often comes from everyday people giving their time. Before volunteering, I felt nervous and unsure of what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I would be helpful or just in the way. But after volunteering, I felt proud and more connected to my community. I realized that doing something for others made me feel stronger and more grateful for what I have. The quote “When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence” means that when you’re fortunate, you should share instead of shutting people out. It connects to what I discovered today because the Family Table Collaborative is a longer table. Instead of turning away from those in need, they create space for everyone to feel seen, fed, and valued. It showed me how powerful giving is and how sharing what we have can help bring people together.

On October 23, 2025, I went to the Family Table Collaborative to volunteer. When I was there, I noticed that there were many volunteers. When I talked to them, Anne said she was a retired nurse and she volunteered to help people in need, like she did when she was a nurse. Other people there were still working jobs and volunteering on other days, which I thought was very impressive. Everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves, and they liked talking to us. They asked me about school, sports, and extracurricular activities. When I told them about everything, they were excited to know about me. They then shared stories about when they were students and how different it was then compared to now. At the Family Table Collaborative, I learned about food contamination and why it is important to always wear gloves. I learned how to package food safely, and how they do things there. I lifted many boxes and helped move things out to cars, which they appreciated a lot. Before this experience, I did not fully understand why someone would volunteer, now I see that it is about being with people and helping out the community.

The quote “When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence.” means that if you have everything you need, don’t push people away, invite them in by making a longer table to include them. The higher fence part means don’t block people from your help,instead invite them to join you.

I went to the Family Table Collaborative to volunteer. When you first walk in, you're not really sure what to expect. You hear things like everyone wants to go again, and that you'll have fun. As you emerge into the old dining room, you are met with nothing but happy faces and laughter that fills the room. You learn what it's really like to be a part of a community. You learn what the true feeling of expectancy is when you're surrounded by nothing but joyful individuals. When you need help, someone jumps in right by your side. You're doing an amazing thing with amazing people. I was putting food in boxes, and I couldn't see behind me, but I didn't have to see to know that everyone had a smile or a happy expression filling their face. I could hear the conversations from kids at school who never talked or from adults to teenagers. There was never once a feeling of unhappiness or disrespect. You are treated as an equal. Being able to volunteer here taught me such important life skills. Things that you can't just learn by sitting and doing nothing.

The quote "When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence." reflects exactly what they are doing at the Family Table Collaborative. There are people who have the skills and the opportunities and want to give back. Instead of keeping to themselves with what they have, they really do make a bigger table. They use their extras to become someone's only. Today has shown me that I might have what I think is okay, but to someone else, it could be everything. Volunteering today showed me that what I have can always be contributed to someone else.

Two MRHS students are in the main cast of "Ghost Story": Zoey MacBride (9th grade) and Juliet Seeley (8th grade).

Two additional students from Monomoy are in the ensemble: Milo Nickerson (MRHS 8th grade) and Aria Nickerson (4th grade) from Harwich Elementary School.

Capeness Arts and Spectacle presents "Ghost Story" running Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:00pm and Sundays at 5:00 at the 204. Tickets are $24 in advance online at the 204 website or in person at the door. 204 Sisson Rd, Harwich.

The Harwich Chamber of Commerce is looking for student volunteers to help at the Toast of Harwich at the Wequassett Resort on November 21 from approximately 5 to 9 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering, email Cyndi Williams at cyndi@harwichcc.com.

The Chatham Elementary PTO is organizing its annual Halloween Parade through downtown Chatham and needs high school volunteers to help! The parade will be held Thursday, October 30, starting at 3:45 p.m. Please email chathampto@monomoy.edu if you would like to help with this fun event.

Tickets for Thursday, November 13

Tickets for Friday, November 14

Tickets for Saturday, November 15

Don't Forget to Order This Year's School Pictures

ENJOY 10% OFF your order!

CODE: F2510OFF

EXPIRES: July 31, 2026

Redeem Now

Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card! More about the Smilesafe program here.

MRHS is on Instagram at @monomoyhighschool!

Check your calendars! Ghostbusters is playing next Friday at the high school!

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5uweSVECfMZ5odwuO2tsfQ1vZMQB09B6-GLGf5AK1Z4NGjw/viewform

Hello All- You will be receiving a letter towards the end of November. This message is to serve as advanced notice. Full payment will be expected by March 1, 2026.

All students enrolled in AP classes are expected to take the culminating exams in May 2026. Earning scores high enough on these tests could potentially lead to college credit. In addition, this exam takes the place of the course final. Exam fees are determined by the College Board; each exam is $99.00 (For those who are eligible based on household income, the cost is $40.00 per exam)

• One exam: $99.00

• Two exams: $198.00

• Three (or more) exams: $297.00

We were able to reschedule our financial aid presentation for next Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 PM - virtual. It will be a live event with the ability for question and answer. We are fortunate to have Linda Dagradi join as as a MEFA ambassador. Dr. Dagradi has years of experience working in public education and in financial aid services higher education.

The event will be held via google meet. While this event is geared toward the Class of 2026, this event is open to all Monomoy families as it is so important to start planning early.

The event should take approximately 90 minutes with opportunities to ask general questions.

FAFSA application is open for current seniors! Please be mindful of checking with each college on their financial aid requirements and which schools require the CSS profile.

MEFA is a great resource and we encourage all families to explore the MEFA website for guidance in the financial aid process.

Thank you and we hope to see you virtually next Wednesday.

MRHS Financial Aid Webinar LIVE

Wednesday, October 29 · 7:00 – 8:30pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hec-gvbt-qws

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 321-586-0973‬ PIN: ‪540 238 974‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/hec-gvbt-qws?pin=4661522781626

Any senior interested in attending Cape Cod Community College is invited to attend an Open House December 5th. Seniors can pick up a permission slip in the guidance office!

• Monday, October 27: Dean College
• Tuesday, October 28: Johnson & Wales
• Thursday, October 30: Westfield State University
• Friday, October 31: Emerson College

Just a reminder that juniors and seniors can have up to three absences excused for college visits. Please submit proof of visiting to Mrs. Peterson in the Main Office.

Learn more about starting at CCCC. Sessions are for prospective 4Cs students of all ages -- parents/caregivers are welcome too!

• Empowering Access and Support: Understanding Accommodations in College, Tuesday, October 28 at 6:30pm-7:30pm

Audrey Brewer, Grade 8, abrewer@monomoy.edu

Lindsay Ginnetty, Instructional Leader, Grades 9-12 (last names A-F), lginnetty@monomoy.edu

Caitlyn Hall, Grades 9-12 (last names G-N), chall@monomoy.edu

Jonathan Bennett, Grades 9-12 (last names O-Z), jbennett@monomoy.edu

Follow us on Instagram: @MonomoyGuidance

Wishing you health and safety, The MRHS Counseling Team

The Boston Globe has announced its 2024-2025 Scholastic Awards, and Monomoy Regional High School was recognized in the top 3 in its division. The awards honor the schools with the best performance in the previous academic year, based on their regular-season win percentage. The divisions are based on enrollment size, and MRHS is in the Ames Division 4.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Monomoy’s high school athletic programs as a whole had the 3rd best winning percentage in the state in Division 4, after Norwell at No. 1 and Lynnfield at No. 2.

MRHS athletics teams had a fall record of 64-34-5, and winter record of 36-41-1, a spring record of 100-40-0,and an overall record of 200-115-6, for a win percentage of 63.24.

Congrats to the Varsity boys soccer team on their 2-1 victory this week, defeating Nauset for the first time in program history

The high school and middle school winter sports registrations are open on Arbiter Registration. Here is what you need to know for the high school and middle school winter sports season.

HIGH SCHOOL

1. Meet The Coaches Night is Monday November 24th at 6:00pm in the MRHS Auditorium

2. The first day of practices and tryouts is Monday December 1st (Practice schedules will be posted to the MRHS Athletics website and coaches will provide)

3. All student-athletes must be registered on Arbiter Registration prior to the first day of practices/tryouts

4. All student-athletes must have an up to date physical on file with the school nurse. They can be emailed to the school nurses and/or our Head Athletic Trainer Taylor Sliney at tsliney@monomoy.edu.

5. All student-athletes must have an up to date ImPACT Test with Taylor prior to the first practice. You can reach out to Taylor to schedule it.

6. All student-athletes must complete the free online Concussion in Sports and Implicit Bias courses at nfhslearn.com and send the certificates to tsliney@monomoy.edu

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Winter Sports Offered

Boys and Girls Basketball (A and B teams for both)

1. Meet The Coaches Night is Tuesday December 2nd at 6:00pm in the Middle School Auditorium

2. The first day of practices/tryouts is Monday December 8th (practice and game schedule will be on the MRMS Website under Athletics)

3. All student-athletes must be registered on Arbiter Registration prior to the first practice/tryout

4. All student-athletes must have an up to date physical into the school nurses at mrms_nurse@monomoy.edu and or Taylor Sliney, our Head Athletic Trainer at tsliney@monomoy.edu

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to the Athletic Office. We look forward to a great winter season! Go Sharks!

Mon. 10/27

• V/JV Boys Soccer @ 12:45
• V/JV Girls Soccer @ 2:30
• Unified Basketball @ 2:30

Wed. 10/29

• V/JV Girls Soccer @ 12:30

Follow us on Instagram for game results, scores, updates, and more!: @monomoyathletics

To report your child's absence, tardy, or upcoming dismissal please use the following link:

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/attendance

Did you know? Past issues of the Friday Focus can be found on our website:

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/news/friday-focus

Monomoy Regional High School operations and activities are guided by Monomoy Regional School District policies and school-specific procedures. The MRHS Handbook is a resource for families and students, providing information and guidelines for a variety of topics. If you have additional questions not covered here, contact MRHS at (508) 430-7200.

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/parent-caregiver-resources/school-handbook

Email: mrhs@monomoy.edu
Website: mrhs.monomoy.edu
Location: 75 Oak Street, Harwich, MA, USA
Phone: 508-430-7200

MRSD Latest News/Updates: https://www.monomoy.edu/our-district/latest-news

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monomoyschools

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monomoyregion

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@monomoyschools

Official Monomoy Regional SD App: Download from App Store or Google Play