FRIDAY FOCUS

Public Schools Week celebrates the incredible impact of public schools. Public schools are more than classrooms – they’re community hubs! From family engagement to partnerships with local organizations, public schools bring people together.

A great way to make some extra money and stay on your child's school day schedule. Bus drivers needed for large and small bus transportation. All training is provided by the Collaborative. For more information, please speak with Lisa Stobbart at 508-420-6950

The Mass Literacy Guide has been empowering educators since 2020 with practical strategies and resources for preK-3 literacy. Now this hub of early literacy information includes a section designed specifically for families and communities. Families and community members can use the site to learn more about reading and writing instruction and how to support it at home.

Each year, Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter awards one Monomoy Regional High School senior 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 2025, the team has selected Lucy Bates to receive the Award for Academic Excellence.

Lucy was presented with the award at the School Committee meeting on February 27, 2025. Dr. Carpenter shared the following remarks when bestowing this honor, which include comments from her counselor:

Lucy Bates is one of the best students I have ever had the privilege to work with. Lucy holds the number one spot in her class and is projected to be the valedictorian for the Class of 2025. She is well-rounded, hard-working, responsible, incredibly gifted, and truly just a wonderful human being. As a counselor, there are students that will forever leave an imprint in your heart and Lucy is one of them. She is well respected by both staff and peers alike. A scholar, an artist, an athlete, a leader – Lucy wears many hats and has many skills and talents.

Last spring, she was the recipient of the Harvard Book Award and was the only student chosen by the Mathematics Department for recognition for Academic Excellence. Lucy is an AP Scholar with Honor and a member of all of our honor societies – the National Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society, and the National Chinese Honor Society. Lucy was the captain of the Varsity Soccer Team and has held a spot on the team for the past four years. Lucy is also a Varsity Lacrosse player and will be leading the team in the spring as one of the captains. Lucy has been named the Lacrosse Unsung Hero award for the past two years. She is currently serving as a Class of 2025 Officer and will play a large role in coordinating senior activities. This year, Lucy was voted in by her peers to be part of the HOPE Squad – Monomoy’s chapter of a national school-based suicide prevention and awareness program. Her classmates identified her as someone trusting and empathetic.

Lucy has a very full plate outside of the classroom. She maintains employment year round and her ability to balance academics, athletics, and employment is remarkable.

This past spring, Lucy was the MRHS representative for the HOBY Leadership Program. While Lucy takes advantage of many in school programs, she has sought out independent experiences also. She applied and was accepted into the Cape Cod Climate Ambassador Program during her sophomore year and worked with a committee of students across the Cape to engage in conversation about the climate. She found an internship in a Med Spa over the summer where she could have some exposure to a medical setting. She independently tutors a young student in Mandarin on her own time. When there was space in her schedule, Lucy coordinated with her AP Calculus teacher to assist in the Calculus 1 class – she looks to help others whenever she can.

Her career interests lie in medicine and I know one day she will be called Dr. Bates. Her future is bright and she will make any place better.

Congratulations!

The MRHS Jazz Band took home a silver medal at the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education Cape Cod/Coastal District Senior Jazz Festival this past Tuesday. Sophomore Chris Marchio received an award plaque today with the news that he was chosen the Most Valuable Player of the Division 2 School Jazz Bands. We are SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR JAZZ BAND!

In celebration of Black History Month, all our Spanish II students engaged in a meaningful project highlighting the lives and achievements of Afro-Latinos and African Americans. Each student researched an inspiring figure, learning about their contributions to history, culture, and society.

As part of this project, students designed posters showcasing their chosen individual’s accomplishments while also practicing Spanish grammar by writing verbs in the present tense. This interactive approach allowed them to deepen their cultural awareness while strengthening their language skills.

The final product, a vibrant display in our school that honors the legacy of these historical figures. It was an enriching experience that combined language learning with cultural appreciation, making Black History Month even more meaningful in our Spanish classrooms.

Be sure to check out our mural and celebrate the inspiring stories of these remarkable individuals!

In February, we helped make Valentine's Day Gifts for the students in Best Buddies, and for the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and janitors at MRHS!

Key club member also volunteered and worked with the elementary school kids by helping at the Valentine’s Sweethearts Dance.

In December we had some members volunteer at the yearly Santa Cookie Event: Members dressed up as elves, and helped children make cookies, while being with Santa during the Holidays!

In the fall, Key Club members helped set up, volunteer, and clean up at the Annual Chatham Oktoberfest!

Beach Cleanup: Before winter, a group of Key club members picked up trash from a local Chatham beach.

The Key Club also took part in a Holiday Bazaar, the Elf Movie event at the Orpheum Theatre, and wrote cards for Veterans!

Here are some teamwork pics of "The Floor is Lava" game with the SAIL students and their buddies in Unified PE!

James Allison, Rain Christakis, Sophia Cohrs, Sarah Groves, A’olani Hill, Hailey Tamasco, and Chloe Thompson all volunteered at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster. They supervised and served as docents in the Marshview Room and the Science Rocks Center. Jean Seymour, Volunteer Coordinator at CCMNH, raved about their willingness to go above and beyond!

Conor Kent, Marek Punty, Tristan Smith, and Levi Woodland volunteered on Thursday at the Family Table Collaborative, packing more than 600 meals for distribution for those experiencing nutritional insecurity.

We are so proud of these students and their commitment to community service!

I love my Internship at the Brewster Police Department because it is an amazing opportunity for me to see what it would be like to work at a police department. I enjoy getting to help others and going on ride-alongs. I see and experience what it is really like to do the job. I also get to sit in on Dispatch and learn how to put information into the system. As someone who is interested in a criminal justice career, this has been the perfect opportunity.

What I love about my internship with Ms. Friedman is the knowledge it offers about the basics of the human body. Since I initially took the class last year, the reinforcement of so many ideas and the ability to lead and have more of a teaching position with the ideas has really helped me prepare for nursing school next year. I have had the opportunity to work on labs, everyday assignments, and dissections with my peers. I have also been lucky to have Ms. Friedman as my mentor, who has been a fantastic inspiration over the past two years.

Please get your tickets here: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/allartsnight2025

The event is FREE but your ticket is required. Thank you!

Prom tickets are on sale! Flier attached. Please purchase prom tickets online: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/MRHS2025seniorprom

Thank you,
Lindsay Ginnetty & Caitlyn Hall
Class of 2025 Advisors

The Harwich PTO is hosting its annual Shamrock Shimmy family dance and needs student volunteers to help out! The event will be held Saturday, March 15, from 3-5 p.m. Volunteers are needed for setup and for various activities during the dance. If you would like to volunteer, complete the form here.

Direct Links:

Mama Mia Tickets

Youth Arts Month Online Exhibit, MAEA (Starting March 17)

All Arts Night FREE Concert Ticket Registration (March 19)

Empty Bowls, Full Hearts (5PM) Tickets | Empty Bowls, Full Hearts (6:15PM) Tickets

Cape Cod Art Center, Beginnings Online Exhibit (March 28- April 9)

FOR MORE DETAILS AND LINKS PLEASE CLICK THE PDF of the FLIER ATTACHED BELOW!

Get your yearbook today! We expect them to sell out this year!

If you need financial assistance to purchase a yearbook please email Mrs. Francesconi (kfrancesoni@monomoy.edu).

MRHS has joined with Outer Cape Health Services to offer additional support to our school community. This new project aims to increase access to community supports and clinical services for students and their families. The service will provide onsite access to OCHS navigator services and tele-behavioral and telemedicine appointments. The school-based OCHS Navigator will work alongside school personnel to help students and families to access locally-based services and resources. The Navigator program will support students in connecting to the resources that they need to improve health, wellness, and academic engagement. Navigators will provide customized case management services, ensuring that students and families are connected to the supports that they need. To learn more, click here or speak to the school's nurses or counselors.

Thanks to a huge donation from Solis in Harwich Port, The Gift of Thrift has great shoes and some awesome clothing. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our community and SOLIS.

The Diversity Club, with the help of donations from the community, Stop and Shop, and Google . Org Teen Mental Health Initiative, can distribute individual bags of food on Fridays. They are handed out at the end of the day and are available to anyone who needs them. Pick up in the Main Office lobby as you are heading out to your bus!

The Monomoy Class of 2027 is hosting the Harlem Wizards at the High School on Friday, April 4.

Tickets go on sale this week. Limited seats available: Ticket URL: https://www.harlemwizards.com/tickets/harwich

Monomoy Regional High School is proud to present Empty Bowls, Full Hearts, a fundraiser to benefit the Family Table Collaborative of Cape Cod.

You or the whole family can enjoy a delicious homemade soup dinner in a charming ceramic bowl made by MRHS students, on placemats made by the HES and CES students! To accompany the soup, there will be Pain D'Avignon bread, Pelham on the Rise cookies, and Dunkin' coffee. While you eat, enjoy concerts from both the MRMS and MRHS choirs and participate in a raffle with fantastic prizes facilitated by the Family Table Collaborative.

5PM Seating Tickets: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/emptybowlsfullhearts5pm

6PM Seating Tickets: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/emptybowlsfullhearts615pm

To register for the SAT’s, students must sign up through College Board. Two test dates remaining for the spring.

For rising juniors and seniors who are interested in Dual Enrollment at Cape Cod Community College in the future, there will be an info session on March 11 during Jawsome B. Please see your email to register for a spot.

ELA: Grade 10

Session 1: March 25

Session 2: March 26

ELA: Grade 8

Session 1: April 15

Session 2: April 16

MATH: Grade 8

Session 1: May 6

Session 2: May 7

SCIENCE: Grade 8

Session 1: May 15

Session 2: May 16

MATH: Grade 10

Session 1: May 20

Session 2: May 21

CIVICS: Grade 8

June 2

Physics and some Biology: Grade 9

Session 1: June 4

Session 2: June 5

Seniors need to be actively working on scholarships. Scholarships that MRHS is notified of are posted in Naviance.

https://capecodchildrensplace.com/program-offerings/ - click on the link for the interactive calendar!

INSTAGRAM: @MonomoyGuidance

Wishing you health and safety,

The MRHS Counseling Team

• Winter Sports Awards Night: Sunday, March 9th at 6pm - MRHS Auditorium
• Meet the Spring Coaches Night: Monday, March 10th at 6pm - MRHS Gym

Spring sports are right around the corner. Here is all the information you need in order to participate in spring sports at the high school.

High School:
High School spring sports begin Monday March 17th.

High School Meet The Spring Coaches Night is Monday, March 10th at 6:00pm in the MRHS Gym.

1. Arbiter Registration is open. All student-athletes must be registered on Arbiter Registration prior to the first tryout/practice.
2. All student-athletes must have a current physical on file with the school nurse or our Head Athletic Trainer Taylor Sliney. Taylor's email is tsliney@monomoy.edu.
2. All high school student-athletes must have a current ImPACT Test with our Head Athletic Trainer Taylor Sliney, prior to the first practice.
3. All high school student-athletes must complete two free courses at nfhslearn.com. Concussion in Sports and Implicit Bias and submit their certificates to Taylor Sliney at tsliney@monomoy.edu.
4. All student-athletes must submit a signed pre-participation head injury form to Taylor prior to the first practice.

If you have any questions regarding clearance, feel free to email Taylor or myself at any time.

Karen Guillemette, CAA
Director of Athletics

For tickets, to donate, or sponsor, please visit: https://www.funny4funds.com/events/monomoy-booster-club-fundraiser/1432

Click here to access the Monomoy All Sports Booster Club's merch store: https://monomoy-merch.printify.me/products

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

Updates, school news, pictures & MORE!

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