FRIDAY FOCUS
Monomoy Regional High School's Weekly Newsletter
Published: April 3, 2026
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Monomoy March Staff Shoutout: Stephanie Coles
"Ms. Coles goes above and beyond for her SHELLS students!"
"She brings unwavering dedication, creativity, and heart to everything she does. Her commitment to ensuring that each student builds independence, confidence, and real-world skills is evident in her classroom and in every interaction."
"Wherever you find her, you can be sure she is promoting skill development, scaffolding for increased independence, or supporting an inclusion opportunity for her students."
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.
Kindergarten Registration is now open!
We’re excited to welcome the next class of Sharks! Monomoy has opened online registration for incoming Kindergarten students at Chatham Elementary School and Harwich Elementary School. All children residing in Chatham or Harwich who reach the age of 5 before September 1, 2026, are eligible for enrollment in Monomoy’s Kindergarten program for the 2026-2027 school year.
To access the link to register, the list of needed documents, and other information, visit Monomoy’s Enrollment page.
The necessary documents must be uploaded to the registration portal in order for the enrollment to be processed.
Students should be registered by April 15, 2026, in order to be scheduled for a Kindergarten Screening appointment in May.
Students who currently attend Monomoy’s preschool programs do not need to register for Kindergarten, as their enrollment will roll over.
Families needing assistance with the online registration process, including translation support or access to technology, can contact Central Registrar Roberta Simmons at rsimmons@monomoy.edu or 857-777-5863 to schedule an in-person appointment.
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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Upcoming 10th Grade Health Screenings
10th Grade Parents/Caregivers,
We are writing to inform you that mandated health screenings for all 10th-grade students will take place over a two week period starting on April 8, 2026. If you would like to opt your child out of these screenings, please notify your child’s school nurse in writing by April 7th, 2026.
To minimize disruption to core academic subjects, students will be briefly pulled from their History classes to complete these screenings. The process is quick and includes routine checks for vision, hearing, height and weight (BMI).
If your child wears glasses or contact lenses, please ensure they are bringing them to school on a regular basis.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school nurses at (508)430-7200 x3 or mrhs_nurse@monomoy.edu.
Healthy regards,
Cheryl Dufault BSN, RN, NCSN
Sara Sears BSN, RN, NCSN
Upcoming MCAS Testing Dates
- Tuesday, April 28: Grade 8–STE Session 1
- Wednesday, April 29: Grade 8–STE Session 2
- Tuesday, May 12: Grade 8–Math Session 1
- Wednesday, May 13: Grade 8–Math Session 2
- Tuesday, May 19: Grade 10–Math Session 1
- Wednesday, May 20: Grade 10–Math Session 2
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- 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 Annual Pops Concert: Tuesday, April 14 at 7pm
Get your tickets here: https://www.msbtickets.com/monomoyregionalhighschool/event/MRHSPopsConcert2026
Spirit Week: April 13-17
Chatham Rotary Student of the Month
Congratulations to Hoku Hill who was selected as the Chatham Rotary Student of the month! She spoke to the group about her involvement with Interact Club, Hope Squad, Monomoy's cheer and sailing teams and her leadership role at the upcoming Rotary Youth Leadership event in May.
Pictured here (L-R): Rotary President Doug Gratten, Hoku Hill, Christy Hill and Betsy Casey, Interact advisor.
SAIL students weekly review
Our SAIL students had a wonderful and engaging visit to The Victorian this week, where meaningful connections continue to grow between our students and the residents. The experience has been both heartwarming and enriching as students practice social skills, build relationships, and bring joy to others in the community.
On Wednesday, the group shared a fun-filled morning playing games with balloons and pool noodles, creating lots of laughter and teamwork. They also enjoyed a lively round of trivia, which sparked conversation and friendly competition among everyone involved. Gloria and Janet for the win!
The SAIL staff also played some April Fools jokes with the students beginning with all of us wearing pink and blue. That afternoon, students broke open a pinata filled with blocks and April Fools notes instead of candy! And lastly, Ms. Z served up some brown E’s for the kids!
Student volunteers needed for Town of Harwich events
- Harwich Tour de Trash, Saturday, April 25, 8:30am -11am, email ausowski@harwich-ma.gov to sign up
- Harwich Health & Environment Fair, Saturday, April 25, set up 9am, general help during event 11am-2pm, break down 1-3pm, email jennifer.singleton@harwich-ma.gov to sign up
Volunteers needed for Harwich herring run monitoring
The 2026 Harwich volunteer herring count began on April 1. Volunteers are still needed for shifts throughout the season. Volunteer herring monitors provide vital information to natural resource managers and scientists to understand and protect herring. Being a counter also offers a great opportunity to enjoy a quiet moment in nature on the edge of Hinckleys pond or to witness the chaos of the herring run in full swing as fish fight their way to their spawning ponds. Please consider signing up to help with this important effort! Sign up here: https://harwichconservationtrust.org/volunteer-interest/.
Congratulations to MRHS music students
March was a busy month for our MRHS music students!
- With a phenomenal run of the Addams Family musical, and the Jazz Band winning gold at the MAJE State Finals.
- Congratulations to pianist Chris Marchio '27 gor being named the Most Valuable Player for Division 2 schools at the MAJE Cape Cod/Coastal Senior Festival Competition for the second year in a row!
- Additonally, four MRHS musicians successfully auditioned for the All-Cape and Islands Jazz Festival. Juniors Chris Marchio (Piano), Welly Holmes (1st Trumpet), and Ben McMullen (Guitar) will be in the Festival Big Band, and senior Jillian Stevenson (Clarinet/Tenor Sax) will be in the Jazz Combo of six musicians. The performance will be on April 30th at Nauset Regional High School!
Upcoming Arts Events
CCMA Through Young Eyes 2026
https://www.cciaea.org/through-young-eyes.html
- Exhibition Dates: March 27th - May 17th, 2026
- Artwork Drop-off: Member's Meeting at CCMoA, Thursday, March 19th at 4:30 pm or by Special Arrangement
- Museum Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm & Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm
- Artists' Reception: Saturday, March 28th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm
- Pickup of Art and CCIAEA Members' Celebration: Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 4:30 pm or by Special Arrangement at CCMoA
Monomoy All Arts Night: Thursday, April 9
A district-wide showcase of visual and performing arts. Free entry!
Join us for Art Club!
Seeking Artists, Designers, Makers for SparkRoom
Friends of the Arts (FOTA) Volunteers Needed
MRHS goes to Italy in April 2027
On Thursday, Monomoy's School Committee approved student travel to Italy for April Break of 2027. I am super excited to share this news with you! The trip will feature 3 nights in Sorrento and 3 nights in Rome, and all of the trip details can be found at this website.
There will be an in-person registration and information event on Thursday April 2nd at 6:00pm at the High School in Room 217. If you are certain that you would like your student to travel with us, you are welcome to register at that same link to secure a spot before the meeting.
This news comes at a great time. A feature post that I wrote about this past February's trip went live with the travel company's (ACIS) website last night. You can read all about my insights on that trip here. The biggest takeaway is: travel is transformative!
I hope there are some Italian-themed discussions at home this weekend, and I look forward to seeing many of you next week at the information and registration event.
All best,
Sara Peters
Latin Teacher
World Languages Instructional Leader
Monomoy Regional High School
2026 Senior Prom Information
PROM EVENT OVERVIEW
Location: Wychmere Beach Club
Date: Friday, April 10th
Schedule for the evening:
5:00 PM – Student Arrival for Grand March
5:30 PM – Grand March Begins
6:30 PM – Dinner & Dancing
- Students are expected to be in school on Friday, April 10th, if they plan to attend prom. Students attending prom may be dismissed after the second block with permission. A dismissal permission slip will be shared soon. Please note that dismissal calls on the day of prom will not be accepted.
- We are looking forward to a beautiful and memorable evening for the Class of 2026. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
After Prom Details
We’re excited to share that a wonderful group of Monomoy parents is organizing this year’s After Prom celebration at the Chatham Community Center. This event provides a safe, fun, and supervised space for students to continue celebrating after prom—and they are looking for additional volunteers to help make it a success.
The event will run until 3:00 AM, and any amount of time you’re able to give—whether for part of the night or the full event—would be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up using the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448A4AA2EA6F4C52-63028043-after#/
We are sharing this information on behalf of the parent organizers and encourage anyone who is able to get involved. Your support helps ensure a safe and memorable experience for our students.
Thank you for your continued support of the Class of 2026!
Best,
Mrs. Oliver & Ms. Lee
Class of 2026 Advisors
2026 Senior Graduation Newsletter & Senior Calendar
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!
UPDATED NEWSLETTER: 3/27/26
We have added the Senior Stroll event information to the newsletter. This event will take place from 9:30-11:30am on Thursday, May 21.
Order your yearbook today!
To order your yearbook:
- 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
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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Young Women's Club Mother's Day Tea Party: Sunday, May 3
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AP Exam Schedule 2026
Monday, May 4
- Biology—8:45am—A258
Tuesday, May 5
- US Gov & Pol—12pm—A158 & A159
Wednesday, May 6
- Eng Lit & Comp—8:45am—A202
- Physics—12pm—A209
Thursday, May 7
- Statistics—12pm—A233 & A234
Monday, May 11
- Calculus AB—8:45am—A222
- Seminar—12pm—A217 & A256
Tuesday, May 12
- Pre-Calculus—8:45am—A218 & A219
Wednesday, May 13
- English Lang & Comp—8:45am—A231, A233, & A234
Thursday, May 14
- Comp Sci-CSP—12pm—A149
Friday, May 15
- Enviro Sci—8:45am—A179 & A181
- Comp Sci-A—12pm—A149
Monday, May 18
- European History—8:45am—A217, A256, & A258
Tuesday, May 19
- US History—8:45am—A158, A159, & A165
Friday, May 22
- Psychology—12pm—A231, A233, & A234
'Understanding Financial Aid Packages' presentation recording available
If you missed the Understanding Financial Aid Packages presentation, you can watch a recording of it here!
Financial Aid Info
Students attending Cape Cod Community College
If you are planning on attending CCCC in the fall and participate in the free college programming, students must complete either the FAFSA or the MAFSA. https://capecod.edu/free/
Scholarships
As a reminder, seniors have access to Naviance which is where many local scholarships are posted.
- All seniors have an account and should check under the “Colleges,” then “Scholarship Search” tabs.
- Mrs. Casey can mail transcripts and letters of recommendation (with completed applications) to the scholarship organizations. Letters of recommendation are confidential and will not be given directly to the students. Please allow adequate time for items to be gathered and mailed as appropriate.
Monomoy Dollars for Scholars - Deadline April 1, 2026
Monomoy Dollars for Scholars application is open and the deadline for completion is 6:00 PM on April 1.
Applications must be started by March 25, 2026. No exceptions.
A volunteer from MDFS will be in the guidance office on Wednesday, March 18 from 12pm-1pm to provide support to students. Please encourage your students to attend if they need assistance.
Cape Cod Association - Deadline April 1, 2026 https://capecodassoc.org/application/
https://www.capecodfoundation.org/financial-assistance-landing-page/
Additional Resources
- The Financial Aid 101 Presentation is posted on the MRHS Website. Please reference the video here for more information.
- MEFA has a broad range of financial aid information available on their website, as well as frequent webinars/virtual presentations in the evenings and on-demand. Click here to sign up for their newsletter.
Sincerely,
MRHS Guidance and School Counseling Department
SAT Test Dates
Register here: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration
Resources for Grieving Families and Teens
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 Athletics Schedule: Week of 4/6
MRHS Athletic Dismissals: Week of 4/6
Mon. 4/6
V/JV Girls Lacrosse @ 11:15V Boys Tennis @ 12:15
V Boys Lacrosse @ 3:00
Tues. 4/7
V Boys and Girls Track @ 1:15
V Girls Lacrosse @ 2:15
Wed. 4/8
V/JV Baseball @ 12:15
V Girls Tennis @ 2:45
Thurs. 4/9
V Sailing @ 1:45
V Girls Tennis @ 2:15
V Softball @ 2:30
V Boys Lacrosse @ 2:30
Fri. 4/10
Fr. Baseball @ 2:30
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!
MASBC Buy a Brick for your senior
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
Monomoy Athletics on Instagram
Follow us on Instagram for game results, scores, updates, and more!: @monomoyathletics
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Harwich Youth and Family Services Events
Service Academy Information Night: Friday, May 1
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)
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