FRIDAY FOCUS
Monomoy Regional High School's Weekly Newsletter
Monomoy's January Staff Shoutout honoree is Michelle Davis - congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! Michelle is an instructional assistant at Monomoy Regional Middle School, and was nominated by her colleagues in the Grade 5 team. Some of their comments include:
- “Her wealth of knowledge allows her to truly meet the needs of all students, and she does it with professionalism, authenticity, and care.”
- “Michelle is real with kids, and that connection makes a difference.”
- “My classroom is more efficient, positive, and inclusive because of her.”
- “Her ability to identify student needs and offer a vast array of strategies to support student growth is so greatly valued.”
- “We are so lucky to have Michelle at MRMS!”
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 February are now open! Any staff members nominated previously can be nominated again, except for those already honored this year.
Monomoy Regional School District’s preschool programs are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Monomoy offers two preschool programs, suited for a range of students.
Monomoy’s Pups Preschool program is designed to meet critical developmental needs of young children in a school-day program designed to support all families in our community with access to high-quality preschool programming. The Pups program is located at Chatham Elementary School, is full day, five days a week, and is open to families in Chatham and Harwich. Children who will be age 3 or 4 before September 1, 2026, are potentially eligible for the program. Visit the Pups Preschool website to learn more and complete the interest form.
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 peers. Peers help to model age-appropriate social, play, language, and learning skills. The Integrated Preschool is located at Harwich Elementary School and offers morning (7:50 a.m.-10:20 a.m.) and afternoon sessions (11:35 a.m.-2:05 p.m.), four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday). Children living in Chatham and Harwich who will be age 3 or 4 before September 1, 2026, are potentially eligible for the program. Visit the Integrated Preschool website to learn more and complete the interest form.
It's National School Counseling Week! This week, we celebrate our school counselors - through their dedication and care, our counselors amplify student success by supporting students’ academic achievement, well-being, and future planning.
February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans throughout history, highlighting their role in shaping the nation and society at large, and reflecting on their struggles and triumphs.
Each year, Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter presents one Monomoy Regional High School senior with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Award for Academic Excellence. This award is given to the high school senior who has distinguished themselves in the pursuit of excellence during their high school career. In selecting the award winner each year, Dr. Carpenter looks for not only academic success within the classroom, but for demonstrations of leadership and initiative within the school and the greater community. Monomoy counselors and administrators help with this selection, and for 2026, the team has selected Thomas Chase to receive the Award for Academic Excellence.
Thomas was presented with the award at the School Committee meeting on January 29, 2026. Dr. Carpenter shared the following remarks when bestowing this honor, which include comments from his counselor:
There is just no way to capture what an amazing young man that Thomas is. Currently holding the number 1 spot in his senior class, there is a great possibility that Thomas will be the valedictorian come June. Thomas has always impressed me with his academics and drive, but more than that, it is his character. He is truly one of the nicest, kindest, and humble young men I have been fortunate to work with and to learn from.
In addition to his academic achievements, Thomas is a leader in our school community. Very active in our Project Lead the Way Program, Thomas knows his future pathway will be as an engineer and he has taken advantage of the coursework that he can to help him achieve his goals. Last year, an engineering teacher was on a leave and Thomas took it upon himself to learn the curriculum and teach not just his class but assist the other sections as well. He would learn the materials and write lesson plans for the substitute teacher. No one asked him to do this, but Thomas knew that there was valuable time that would be lost if he did not step up - and step up he did. Thomas also took his love of robotics and engineering to our middle school. Thomas coordinates with middle school staff and since November 2024, he travels to Monomoy Middle School before school and helps middle schoolers learn robotics prior to starting his own school day. Thomas has created a wonderful mentorship program that he will be passing on, truly leaving his mark.
Thomas has a full plate outside of the classroom – he is an athlete and a scholar, he is a teacher and a student, he is a leader and a uniter. Thomas is the Class President of his senior class, earning the respect of his peers to be elected into this position. He is a captain of the golf team, captain of the Robotics team, an officer on Student Council and most notably, an Eagle Scout through Boy Scouts of America. In his 10th grade year, Thomas’s Eagle Scout project consisted of building a 350+ foot fence for a Civil War Memorial in a local cemetery. I must also mention that he was the one of two students chosen in 8th grade for Project 351, completed an FBI Camp in the summer of 9th grade, and in 10th grade was nominated to participate in the HOBY program. He also squeezed in a school STEM trip to Japan in spring of 2024. He was also the recipient of the Harvard Book Award; an AP Scholar with Distinction; the Math Department Award - there is no doubt that he has put the work in.
Outside of school, Thomas has worked alongside his father, a master electrician, for the past five years as an electrical apprentice, and will enter college with more work/trade experience than many of his peers.
What is more important than his resume, though, is his character. He takes pride in all that he does, he treats people with so much respect, and he is just one of the most mature, kind, and talented students I have ever worked with.
Without a doubt, Thomas is going to make our world a better place – he is one incredible young man.
Congratulations!
SO PROUD to announce that Senior Emory Hines (her third All-State) and Freshman Zoey MacBride will representing MRHS at the MA All-State Music Festival in March in the Treble Choir!
Get your tickets for the spring musical, "The Addams Family": https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/schoolevents
SANSCRIPT is celebrating all sorts of love this month. Their writing is on display upstairs. Check it out!
Members of Sandscript, our creative writing club, attended and participated in Bourne High School's Fifth Annual Poetry Slam and workshop!!! Sponsored by Mass Poetry, the event was fabulous! Two wonderful professional slam poets from Boston shared their work with, facilitated the workshops, and mc'd the slam. Many thanks to Bourne High School for hosting and welcoming us and many thanks to the MRHS writers who bravely presented their work in the Slam: Kyra Howard, Abbey Crownshaw, Davion Dawkins, Corinne Pina, Lillian Williams, and Quinn Viprino. Many, many thanks to Special Ed teacher and professional author/poet, John Bonanni, for joining us and safely driving us!!
Learn more about the Monomoy SEPAC at https://www.monomoy.edu/parent-caregiver-resources/sepac
Patrick Jordan
Pat Jordan joined the track team as a sophomore with no prior running experience. We quickly realized Pat had the tenacity to run the 400 hurdles and we took our time to develop an understanding of the event. By junior year, Pat was starting to get stronger and figure out the event. He would work tirelessly day after day to improve his step count, master technique, and compete at higher and higher levels. This culminated in an automatic state qualifier, and a significant place improvement on his seeding at the outdoor state meet. In addition, when we needed a runner at the last second to fill our 4x400, Pat quickly volunteered with absolute confidence that he would get the job done, and helped lead the team to a state medal performance. These accomplishments are a testament to his dedication and relentless work ethic. This indoor season, as a senior, Pat has been a reliable member of 4x400 and 4x800 relays, and scored at the league meet in 55m Hurdles and was on the winning 4x400 relay. Pat has stepped up his training this winter in pursuit of breaking the 60 sec barrier in the 400m Hurdles outdoor. His confident but humble approach to training is the perfect mixture of an athlete who will succeed at his long term goals. Pat applies this same work ethic to his school work, and aspires to be accepted at a top tier school for academics. - Coach Adam Syty
Lucy Cortese
Lucy Cortese is an 8th grade student in her first season of indoor track. Lucy is a dedicated athlete who wants to work hard and succeed at the highest level. Lucy is open to running any event, and has run events from the 55m to the 800m for us this season. This openness has given Lucy the chance to excel in the 600m, where she is currently ranked 7th in D5. She is also a reliable member of our 4x200 relay (ranked 2nd in D5) and often has the fastest split on our 4x400 relay (ranked 6th in D5). Lucy is a coachable athlete who seeks feedback and is always open to corrections and advice. When not running, I often find Lucy working studiously on classwork, pursuing her own research to obtain her diving certification, and sketching naturalistic scenery. - Coach Adam Syty
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!
The Monomoy Booster Club is hosting a Comedy Night Fundraiser to support our student-athletes! The event will be held Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Pelham House Resort. Find more information and get tickets at https://www.funny4funds.com/events/monomoy-booster-club-comedy-show-fundraiser/1636. We hope you can join us!
Senior Parents! Are you looking for the perfect graduation gift for your senior? The Monomoy All Sports Booster Club is offering you the opportunity to purchase a brick with your student's name and Class of 2026 that will be installed around the concession area at the Monomoy Athletic Complex Turf.
The cost of the brick is $125.00 and can be paid via Venmo once you have placed your order. If you would like to place an order, please email Boosterclub@monomoy.edu with your order. Each brick is 4x8, has two lines of print (students name, up to 21 characters) with Class of 2026 as the second line.
The deadline to place your order is Friday, May 1, 2026.
Please see the attached flyer for more information. If you have any questions, please email Boosterclub@monomoy.edu
Thank you!
The Monomoy All Sports Booster Club
Seats are limited. Applications are required. Apply here: https://www.capecod.edu/nurse-assistant/
If you have questions, we’re here to help! Call Martina Groves-Williams, CNA Lead Instructor/Coordinator, at 774-330-4013 or email mgroveswilliams@capecod.edu.
Super Bowl Sunday is happening this weekend... but before you turn on the Pat's, we've got something for teens to do! Hope to see you at The 204 before the game (you'll have plenty of time to get home before kick-off and if you're not into football, this is a great escape from all the football talk!).
Contact Us!
Email: mrhs@monomoy.edu
Website: mrhs.monomoy.edu
Location: 75 Oak Street, Harwich, MA, USA
Phone: 508-430-7200