FRIDAY FOCUS

Earlier this month, Monomoy students in Grades 3-7 had the opportunity to learn about digital safety through interactive presentations by Richard Guerry of the Institute for Responsible Online and Cellphone Communication, and families and community members also enjoyed an evening Parent University session. Topics included how to be smart and safe when gaming, using social media, and communicating online, and how to be good digital citizens. Many thanks to Children's Cove for bringing this excellent speaker to our schools.

If you missed the event, or want to reinforce this important information, you can find a video replay and other resources on a dedicated MRSD website through IROC.

Note: It is highly recommended the videos provided for Students & Parents are previewed before showing them to children under 11.

Workshop Replay:

Visit: https://www.iroc2.org/729.html [This site best viewed on a pc vs mobile]
Username: MRSD
Password: Community

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.

Did you know that you can use tools right in your web browser to translate any website you are visiting?

• The Monomoy website has translation tools accessible by clicking the button at the upper left corner of the site.

• When visiting any website, you can set your browser to translate the content.

• Aspen is our Student Information System, where you can see your student’s grades and other important information. Aspen allows users to change the default language from English to Haitian Creole, Spanish, or Portuguese. If you need translation to another language, you can use your browser settings to do so.

• We have shared details and instructions on our website for how to adjust these settings.

• You can find more information on our website about other translation tools we have available in our schools.

If you have problems using any of these tools, please email webmaster@monomoy.edu.

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.

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.

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

Get your tickets for the spring musical, "The Addams Family": https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/schoolevents

Monomoy SHORE Food Pantry was proudly nominated to participate in the Stop & Shop Bloomin’ 4 Good Program! For the entire month of February, we will receive a $1 donation for every specially marked $11.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet purchased at the Stop & Shop located in East Harwich.

Flowers brighten someone’s day and this month, they can also help support our neighbors in need. Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with family and friends, posting on social media, and encouraging others to participate.

The specially marked bouquets can be found in the store’s floral section. To learn more about the SHORE Food Pantry program please reach out to Shana Grogan @ sgrogan@monomoy.edu.

Thank you for supporting Monomoy SHORE Food Pantry and our community!

At the beginning of semester two, I began teaching a new class titled Outdoor Adventure. This class is based around cooperative learning, being outside, teamwork, and (as the title states) outdoor adventure learning.

The hope of any teacher when teaching a new class is that it will go smoothly, that the students will be interested, and that the learning will occur not just in the moment, but will carry over into the real world. I began with an idea on winter survival. After attending Mr.Millen and Ms. Sheptyck’s professional development I felt I could weave an activity like their activity into my curriculum. After doing some research and thinking about how to make it cooperative I settled on what I called Operation Whiteout. My roster consists of 15 boys. 8th grade to seniors. I wanted to mix in a social experiment aspect as well as a team challenge. In short, the class was split into three different teams. Each team had a “personality” to embody (the nice group, the chaos group, the evil group). Within that each team member had a role. Each group needed to build a snow fort through working together as a team, building alliances, trading, etc. Tools were given out, but everything had a cost. For example, using a shovel meant you only had one arm. Occasionally I might pick someone to be blind. Participants received adversity out of their control while still needing to work as a team to get the challenge done. After quite some time working on their forts I am happy to share with you what they have produced in the pictures below.

On Wednesday February 11, as a class we began to debrief the activity. Before I get into that, I want to reflect on it out loud to you from my own perspective. As I stated above we all have hopes for our classes as teachers. Whether the bar is high or the bar is low, we have way we want or envision it to go. Truthfully, I wanted them to build a fort and work as a team. Those were the two things I wanted to see. However as our Varsity soccer coach says “Given the opportunity, most of the time, kids surprise you to the upside.” I could not have been more shocked by how stoked all the students were to go outside and build a fort. Moreover, I was very impressed to see how each team took on their team identity and their individual roles. They came in everyday ready to go. Any time I would see one of them in the hall, it is all they could talk about. And that made me happy, but also the fact they actually overcame the adversity in the class, negotiated with their team and other teams, and were all very resourceful, was even better. In my own personal experience as a teacher I can say that sometimes I see us/myself get too used to what we see from students in our classes. Whether that be expecting certain behavior, or consciously or unconsciously fostering students to do the same thing over and over. With these boys I saw a totally different side of most of them. The focus on the task, the excitement, and the want to go outside, get away from screens and actually work to achieve their goal was very impressive. It reminded me that there are many ways to teach. There are many ways to engage a student. Sometimes we forget that. We can be so focused on delivering curriculum in a timely manner or whatever our perceived (or real) limitations are we forget that we are here to bring out the best in them. Overall I was very impressed by their work.

Lastly in the class debrief today almost all the students were able to identify good teamwork, bad teamwork, and also what a good teammate is. One student described a good teammate as “someone who is willing to put themselves aside for the good of the team. Even if putting themselves aside means they take a step back or have to give something up, a good teammate always has the best interest of the team and can start over or move on if that is what is really needed.”

As we all go into vacation I would challenge everyone to wake up everyday and ask themself “What can I do today to be a better teammate?”

-Coach Legg

Sandscript hosted an Open Mic for all interested students this week! Students shared their own writing, jokes, stories, and even their own lyrics to a song they made!

The SAIL and SHELLS program got together Thursday to celebrate Valentine's day and Janeese's Sweet 16! Ms. Oliver and Ms. Uzelli were also twinning! A wonderful time was had by all!

It's time for the annual Shamrock Shimmy at Harwich Elementary School - student volunteers are needed to help with the fun! The family dance will be Friday, March 13, from 4:30-7 p.m. at HES. Sign up here if you can volunteer!

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

• Senior Final Exam Schedule

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!

• Go to YBpay.lifetouch.com
• Enter code 9900726
• Enter your student info

If you require financial assistance to purchase a yearbook please reach out to Mrs. Katie Francesconi at kfrancesconi@monomoy.edu

Learn more about the Monomoy SEPAC at https://www.monomoy.edu/parent-caregiver-resources/sepac

MRHS is on Instagram at @monomoyhighschool!

Register here: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration

Monomoy students planning on attending CCCC - Placement Testing will be March 20 at MRHS.

• Cape Cod Foundation Scholarships: The deadline to apply is March 1 at 11:59 PM. Staff will begin reviewing third-party uploads for completeness when we return to the office on Monday.
• Video Tutorials for Students: We’ve updated and refreshed two video tutorials for students:
• Scholarship Portal and Application Overview Tutorial
• Next Steps After a Universal Application is Submitted Tutorial
• Cape Cod Association Scholarships: The deadline for high school seniors is April 1 at 11:59 PM, so there is still plenty of time to apply. Please note that this requires a separate application through our online scholarship portal.
• Other Resources:
• Postsecondary Success Series – Video presentations from industry experts on important topics related to postsecondary success.
• Student Emergency Financial Relief Program - For students from Barnstable County enrolled in a postsecondary program who encounter urgent, unanticipated financial hardship and need help with immediate needs, such as food, housing, medications, and transportation assistance.

• Scholarships officially open Feb 1 and Close at 6 pm on April 1 – start your profiles anytime!
• Scholarships are available for students who reside in Chatham or Harwich or who are graduating from Monomoy Regional HS
• Click here for: Seniors General Instructions
• Click here for: Checklist for Seniors
• All information is available at Monomoy Dollars for Scholars Website: http://www.monomoy.dollarsforscholars.org/

Reminders for students:

1. You must use an email not connected to their HS so we can reach you after graduation AND you should check it often it is our only means of communication with them
2. Please respond to the welcome email that you “Got It” so that we can assist you after they have completed their application
3. Tell your references to not use the student’s name in the reference as the awards committee receives all information anonymously for confidentiality and fairness.

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

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

Meet The Coaches Night for all players and families is Monday March 9th at 6pm in the MRHS Gym

The first day of practices/tryouts is Monday March 16th.

High School spring sports offered:

Baseball, Softball, Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Track and Field, Girls Track and Field, Unified Track and Field, Coed Sailing, Girls Golf

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

2. All student-athletes must have an updated physical into the school nurse or our Athletic Trainer Taylor Sliney prior to the first practice. (Physicals can be sent to the school nurses at mrhs_nurse@monomoy.edu or tsliney@monomoy.edu.)

3. All student-athletes must complete a SWAY baseline concussion exam prior to the first practice. SWAY is a new software for us so ALL spring athletes will have to complete the test. This will replace ImPACT testing. Attached is a document with more information.

4. All student-athletes must complete and send to Taylor a pre-participation head injury form.

5. All student-athletes must complete the free online courses Concussion In Sports and Implicit Bias. Both can be found at nfhslearn.com.

If you have any questions regarding physicals, SWAY testing or the free courses, please reach out to Taylor Sliney at tsliney@monomoy.edu

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

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

Annual Service Academy Information Night on Friday, May 1st, 2026, from 6 to 8 pm at the Maritime Conference Center on the campus of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. They will have representatives from West Point, the Naval Academy, the US Air Force Academy, the US Merchant Marine Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, as well as Mass Maritime. Students and their families are welcome to attend—as well as counselors/teachers/school personnel who want to know more about the process! We do ask that folks pre-register for our planning purposes.

--Michael Jackman, District Director

Office of Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09)

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