FRIDAY FOCUS
Monomoy Regional High School's Weekly Newsletter
Published: May 29, 2026
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Monomoy Regional School District seeking tutors
Monomoy Regional School District is seeking tutors to support elementary, middle, and high school students. These are paid positions with a flexible schedule (typically before or after school) that is set between the tutor, student, and family. The rate is $39.04 per hour, plus 20 minutes of paid planning time for every hour of tutoring. To apply, complete the Tutor Information Form on the Monomoy website. Contact Faith Rushnak at frushnak@monomoy.edu with any questions.
Bus Registration for 2026-2027
Please complete the transportation form in the Aspen family portal to let us know whether or not your student will be riding the bus for the 2026-2027 school year. Submitting this information now will help us make sure we have the right number of buses, on the right routes, with the right stops! There is no need to sign up for the bus just in case, if you don’t think you’ll need it. If circumstances change, your student can always be added later. Please submit your responses as soon as possible, and no later than May 30. Find more information, as well as step-by-step directions with photos, on our website.
Nominate a Monomoy staff member for a Staff Shoutout
Each month, the district features 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 at www.monomoy.edu/staffshoutout. Nominations for May are now open! Any staff members nominated previously can be nominated again, except for those already honored this year.
Free English classes for adults
Monomoy is excited to offer free English classes for multilingual adults in our community. These classes would be held twice a week for four weeks, located at Monomoy Regional High School. We are hoping to gather information about how many people are interested, and about which nights of the week are most convenient. If you would like to participate in these classes, please complete the brief form on our website. We also wanted to share that the Massachusetts Department of Education offers free online academic and English language courses for adults, as well as GED courses.
Middle School Renovation Project Updates
As work begins on Phase 1 on the Monomoy Middle School Renovation Project, with the siding and windows being replaced, we are planning for Phase 2 - replacing the roof. The roof replacement work is necessary to protect our Towns’ investment in the middle school and the work currently being done to install new windows and siding. The roof project must be approved at Town Meeting in both towns next month, and at the ballot, in order to move ahead. You can find Phase 1 project updates, Phase 2 information, and a number of frequently asked questions on our website.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter's Retirement Events
With the upcoming retirement of Superintendent Scott Carpenter from Monomoy Regional School District, a committee of volunteers has been planning events to recognize this milestone - all members of the school community are invited to participate. There is additional information on the website here, as well as links to tickets and RSVP.
Special Education Workshops
Our district is a member of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and we have access to monthly workshops under an All-Access Pass. You can find the full calendar of events, as well as links to register, at https://fcsn.org/events/. You can register for multiple workshops at that link. Once registered, you will receive a link for the virtual session.
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Memorial Day observance
At the Town of Chatham's Memorial Day observance, MRHS 8th-grader Melaya Rose read a poem titled 'I Remember' by William H. McRaven.
Upcoming MCAS Testing Dates
- Tuesday, June 2: Grade 9–Science Session 1
- Wednesday, June 3: Grade 9–Science Session 2
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- Thursday, June 4: Grade 8–Civics Session 1
- Friday, June 5: Grade 8–Civics Session 2
MRHS Theater Company presents: Macbeth
The Monomoy Regional High School Theater Company is proud to present William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy of ambition and prophecy. Join us for a special outdoor production of Macbeth set against the natural backdrop of our campus.
Performance Dates & Time
- Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Friday, June 5, 2026
- All performances begin at 6:00 PM
- The performances will be held at the outdoor Amphitheater, located directly outside of the school Library.
Admission
There are no tickets required for these performances. We will be accepting free-will offerings to support the Friends of the Arts (FOTA). Your generous donations help provide essential grants for props, costuming, and student theater initiatives.
2026 Yearbooks for Sale
Order your yearbook today!
Yearbooks are scheduled to arrive in the middle of next week! Did you purchase yours yet? YEARBOOKS WILL SELL OUT! We only have 24 left.
Online ordering is now closed but we have yearbooks available for sale in person until supplies last!
If you would like to purchase a yearbook, please bring a $90 payment (cash or check made out to MRSD) to Mrs. Katie Francesconi in the Main Office. (Seniors' yearbooks are discounted to $80.) If you require financial assistance, please email me: kfrancesconi@monomoy.edu.
We hope you enjoy the 2026 yearbook!
Athletic Director Karen Guillemette honored with MIAA award
At the Massachusetts Celebration of Girls and Women in Sports Day on May 19, 2026, Monomoy Regional School District Athletic Director Karen Guillemette was recognized with a Massachusetts Women in Athletics Distinguished Service Award.
The event is held annually by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to celebrate the many opportunities girls and women have to compete in sports throughout the Commonwealth and the nation. The keynote speaker, Rachel Duranwood, Boston Legacy FC Soccer Engagement Lead and former NWSL professional, spoke about the impact of combining elite athleticism with dedicated mentorship.
In presenting Guillemette’s award, it was noted that since joining Monomoy Regional School District in 2016, Guillemette has been the driving force behind a historic transformation of the district’s PreK-12 Wellness and interscholastic athletic programs. Under her leadership, Monomoy saw the successful introduction of several key programs that have become staples of the Monomoy Regional High School’s identity, including: Girls Volleyball, Girls Lacrosse, Indoor Track & Field, Unified Basketball, and Unified Track & Field. By establishing these programs, Guillemette built a culture where young women are empowered to lead, compete, and excel. This expansion has been a game-changer for the district, turning Monomoy into a destination for premier female talent in the region.
Through strategic mentorship of her coaching staff and a demand for excellence, Guillemette led Monomoy to be ranked as the third-winningest athletic program in Division 4 statewide last year. Her work has also extended to the middle school level, where she introduced cross country, golf, and lacrosse to create a sustainable competitive pathway for younger students. By elevating club sports to varsity status and preserving hockey through strategic regional co-ops, she has ensured that Monomoy students remain in-district, fostering an unparalleled sense of Shark pride.
Superintendent Scott Carpenter noted that in over three decades of school administration, he has rarely seen an Athletic Director impact a community so profoundly. "Karen has not only championed opportunities for girls and young women but has instilled a sense of omnipresent pride throughout our entire school community."
In addition to Guillemette, the Massachusetts Women in Athletics Distinguished Service Awards honorees also included Patricia Rivero Gonzalez, Retired Athletic Director, Newton South High School, Laura Whittaker, ELA Teacher, Varsity Softball & JV Field Hockey Coach, and Stoughton High School Student Athletes.
Monomoy Regional High School announces Term 3 Students of the Term
At the end of each marking term, Monomoy Regional High School educators nominate students they have seen exemplifying the skills and attributes of the district's Portrait of a Graduate, qualifying them as Students of the Term. The 2025-2026 Term 3 honorees are as follows:
Creative and Critical Thinkers
Arts – Bobby Teele
ELL – Deborah (Maya) Ndemno
English – Mia Zimmerman
History – Callie Meader
Math – Davion Dawkins
SAIL/SHORE/Best Buddies – Jenna Zaloom
Science/Tech/Engineering – Sean Garland
Wellness – Xeleca Beckford
World Languages – Maeve Maguire
Communicators & Leaders
Arts – Ella Cutter
ELL – Joao Lage
English – Payton MacRoberts
History – Annaleigh Massey
Math – Dominic Silvester
SAIL/SHORE/Best Buddies – Kurtc Seymour
Science/Tech/Engineering – Lillian Chase
Wellness – Maria Lopes
World Languages – Isabella Ferron
Independent & Confident Learners
Arts – Jonathan Michniewicz
ELL – Fabiola Gideon
English – Emily Saliba
History – Lauren Legendre
Math – Joel Felippe-Mejia
SAIL/SHORE/Best Buddies – Hailey Viera
Science/Tech/Engineering – Madeline McCauley
Wellness – Grace Whitney
World Languages – Molly Giorgio
Engaged Citizens
Arts – Paula De Oliveira
ELL – Tanisha Patel
English – Abigail Meyer
History – Addison Goley
Math – Lee Stockwell
SAIL/SHORE/Best Buddies – Jaxx Tileston
Science/Tech/Engineering – Gavin Varley
Wellness – Victoria Guzman
World Languages – John Rodgers
Monomoy Regional Celebrates Completion of 2026 Advanced Placement Exams
Students successfully navigated the new fully digital AP exam format, demonstrating continued commitment to rigorous college-level coursework.
The MRHS Advanced Placement Program is proud to announce that our students, ranging from grade 9 to 12, officially completed the 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) exam administration. Running from May 4 through May 27, 2026, our students showed resilience, dedication, and academic excellence across a wide array of sixteen academic subjects. Here are the numbers!
- 223 students completed AP Exams
- 508 enrollments in MRHS AP courses (Many students took multiple courses)
- 496 Exams Completed
This year's exams marked a major milestone as the College Board fully transitioned most AP exams, including AP Seminar and AP Research, to the secure digital Bluebook application.
“We are incredibly proud of our students for rising to the challenge this AP season,” said coordinator Jonathan Bennett. “Their dedication to mastering college-level content—especially as we transitioned to fully digital testing formats—shows the strength of our academic programs and the hard work of our educators”
Official AP Exam scores will be released to students and higher education institutions in early July 2026. Students can view their scores online via the College Board AP Students Portal. Exam scores may help students earn college credit once they have enrolled in college or university. Each university maintains its own policy for AP course credit.
Shark Shoutout
A BIG SHARK SHOUT OUT to EL teachers Mimi van der Burg and Casey Mecca who visited my sophomore classes to teach us about the true life experiences of their grandparents (and in Mimi's case, her mother's also) during WWII in Europe. Whether being terrorized by Nazi's or Stalin's Red Army, the families of these teachers suffered, and Miss Mimi and Ms. Mecca poignantly brought to life the history, the fear, and the resilience of their relatives in 1940's Europe. THANK YOU SO MUCH! -Lisa Forte Doyle
Sandscript club publishes annual "Celebrating Pleasant Bay" booklet
Sandscript has just published its "Celebrating Pleasant Bay" booklet, which will be available for perusal in the high school and middle school libraries, as well as the town libraries in Harwich, Brewster, and Chatham. Many thanks again to The Friends of Pleasant Bay and Pleasant Bay Community Boating for granting us the funds and the venue to experience the beauty of the Bay, to then write about it, and to also photograph it.
Other Sandscript news: Congratulations to Corinne Pina for being elected President of Sandscript for next year and to Emma Eldredge for being elected Vice President. They are planning great things for one of the oldest co-curricular clubs in Chatham/Harwich/Monomoy schooling history. Sandscript was created in the mid 1970's and is still going strong! The new edition of SANDSCRIPT the magazine will be coming out soon and will also be available in our school and town libraries!!
Italy Trip 2027
Registration remains open for next year's 8th-12th graders for April 17-24 2027. Visit www.acis.com and use Trip ID: 351018 and Trip Leader: Sara Peters to see the itinerary, payment information, and to register. The trip price listed on the website remains locked until July 1, 2026. Questions? Email speters@monomoy.edu
New course offering: Latin and Greek Roots
Volunteers needed for Monomoy Early Childhood Council Book Drive
The Monomoy Early Childhood Council is teaming up with the Harwich Children’s Fund to promote early literacy, ensuring every child has the opportunity to own high-quality books. From May 29 to June 7, shoppers at participating bookstores can donate a new book in exchange for a prize drawing entry. The Monomoy Early Childhood Council needs volunteers to staff tables during peak hours (Friday–Sunday). Please review the slots on the online registration form and click the button to sign up. Keep an eye out for a follow-up email with additional details.
SPARK offers financial assistance for driver's education
Is your child looking to take driver's ed lessons? The Rotary Club of Harwich-Dennis offers financial assistance to students who qualify. Speak to their guidance counselor for the application and more information.
Seeking Artists, Designers, Makers for SparkRoom
2026 Senior Graduation Newsletter & Senior Calendar
Graduation is 8 days away!
We are looking forward to celebrating our Class of 2026 at their graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 6 at 6:00 PM on the MRHS Turf Field. We have included detailed information for our seniors and their families regarding end-of-year responsibilities, schedules, and graduation event details. Please review this important information and let us know if you have any questions.
The 2026 Senior Newsletter includes:
Senior Obligations Checklist
Graduation Ceremony Information
Schedule of Upcoming Senior Events
Check out the MRHS Graduation website for this information and any updates as the end of the year approaches.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school with any questions. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026!
UPCOMING SENIOR EVENTS:
Graduation Rehearsal #1: Wednesday, June 3
Senior Breakfast: Thursday, June 4
Hosted by the Freshmen: Class of 2029. 10am in the cafeteria.
Graduation Rehearsal #2: Thursday, June 4
MANDATORY rehearsal for all seniors. 10:30am-12pm.
Pick up records and caps and gowns: Thursday, June 4
Immediately following rehearsal, go to the Main Entrance lobby to pick up your school records and your caps and gowns. All school obligations must be met by this day before you can pick up your cap and gown.
A CAP AND GOWN HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR EVERY SENIOR!
Senior Convocation: Thursday, June 4
6:30pm in the auditorium. Seniors will receive an invitation to the event if they are receiving an award or scholarship. Seniors attending should arrive by 6pm. Please RSVP to Mrs. Casey in the Guidance Office.
Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony: Saturday, June 6
6pm - MRHS Athletic Turf Field
There are no admission tickets to the ceremony. All are welcome!
Seniors are expected to arrive at MRHS by 5:30pm and should be lined up by 5:45pm.
Graduation Ceremony Photography Information
PRE-PAY OPTION & SIGN UP TO GET PHOTO NOTIFICATIONS
- Purchase an optional AdvancePay credit before the ceremony. This gives you free shipping on your order of $35+ after the event. Visit PhotoDay to get started!
Once your event images are ready, please allow 2-3 business days for processing, you’ll receive a text when they are ready to view and order.
Text 467142GY26 to 90738* or visit https://my.photoday.com/g and enter your phone number followed by your access code to get started.
If purchased, your AdvancePay credit will be applied to your order! Just sign in with your phone number at check-out.
Monomoy Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
Learn more about the Monomoy SEPAC at https://www.monomoy.edu/parent-caregiver-resources/sepac
Attendance Matters - in every class!
MRHS students are marked present or absent for each class. Students who exceed 10% absence in classes are at risk for losing credit in that class. For example, students may lose credit if they have:
- 5 absences in a term course
- 9 absences in a semester course
- 18 absences in a full-year course
- By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th-grade test scores
- Chronically absent high school students had an average GPA of 2.8 vs. non-chronically absent classmates who had an average GPA of 3.5
- When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating
Follow MRHS on Instagram!
MRHS is on Instagram at @monomoyhighschool!
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Email Reminder
EMAILS! It is so important that students are checking their emails regularly, especially the seniors. The Monomoy email will be de-activated so please be encouraging seniors to update any colleges or scholarship sources to their personal email.
One final chance to take the SAT: Saturday, June 6
Register here by Friday, May 22: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration
Work Permits
The last step with the work permits is bringing the completed copy to the main office at the high school. Work Permits are needed between the ages of 14-17.
https://www.monomoy.edu/parent-caregiver-resources/work-permit-application
School Counselors
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
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MRHS Athletic Dismissals: Week of 6/1
Monday 6/1
V Softball @ 12:45 for D4 Round of 32 Tournament Game
Get Monomoy merch!
The Monomoy All Sports Booster Club now has an online merchandise store!
Grab spirit wear for the whole family and support our student-athletes at the same time.
Shop now: https://nausetscreenprinting.printavo.com/merch/monomoy-sharks/
Every purchase helps support all Monomoy sports programs - thank you for backing our Sharks!
Monomoy Athletics on Instagram
Follow us on Instagram for game results, scores, updates, and more!: @monomoyathletics
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Get summer food support
SUN Bucks applications are now open! SUN Bucks is a food benefit for families with children during the summer months, previously known as Summer EBT. SUN Bucks provides a $120 lump-sum summer benefit per school-aged child for income-eligible families. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance in partnership with DESE and with assistance from schools. All enrolled students identified as meeting the income eligibility standards for free or reduced-price lunch during school year 2025-26, either through an NSLP household paper application or direct certification, are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks. Students identified as homeless, migrant, runaway or participating in Head Start are also automatically eligible. Students who do not meet the aforementioned criteria can apply for SUN Bucks benefits through DTA by visiting www.DTAConnect.com.
Cape Cod Foster Closet
YOU can make an immediate difference in the life of a foster child.
Donate here: https://capecodfostercloset.org/donate-to-the-cape-cod-foster-closet/
We are actively seeking donations for our annual Celebrate Summer Giveaway. Please check out our Target Wishlist and consider purchasing an item for a child in foster or kinship care.
Our general needs include short sleeve pajamas, sneakers of all sizes, and shorts for teens in sizes men’s XS-3XL. Our ongoing needs can be purchased on our Amazon Wishlist or by shopping at your favorite store!
Please call or text us with any questions 508-514-7125.
Please Note: as of May 2026 we are NOT accepting donations of infant/toddler furniture.
MRHS Attendance Form
To report your child's absence, tardy, or upcoming dismissal please use the following link:
Friday Focus Archive
Did you know? Past issues of the Friday Focus can be found on our website:
MRHS Student/Parent Handbook
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
Contact Us!
Email: mrhs@monomoy.edu
Website: mrhs.monomoy.edu
Location: 75 Oak Street, Harwich, MA, USA
Phone: 508-430-7200
Monomoy News & Social Media
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