Monomoy Staff News

Congratulations to October's Staff Shoutout - Jack Dunford! Jack is a custodian at Harwich Elementary School. Congratulations to Jack on this well-deserved honor! He was nominated by a colleague and by a caregiver, and they said:

“Jack went out of his way to fix the merry-go-round on the preschool playground, allowing our students to be able to play on their favorite playground equipment. He was thanked by the children, but deserves to be recognized for his cheery, always willing to help attitude!”

“Both of my kids love that Jack will take the paper bags from certain lunch options and make characters out of them. My kids tell me how nice he is and how much they enjoy this little thing that he does for them to make it special!”

Each month, the district will feature 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 November are now open! Any staff members nominated previously can be nominated again, except for those already honored this year.

MRMS teachers got in on the fun at the school's recent Fall Fest pep rally! The students loved seeing them join in the festivities 🍩

Two important updates on the development of the FY2027 Budget:

• Health Insurance rates: The rates will be set by the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group. A key decision for the group will be whether or not, and how, to cover GLP1 medications. The outcome of this decision could have a significant impact on future premiums. The group will make a final decision in February. If you have questions or concerns, contact Business Manager Michael MacMillan.
• The MRSD Capital Plan contains information about the upcoming facilities projects that are forecast for our buildings, along with estimated timelines and costs.

We're excited to gather together for a day of learning on November 10! Here is the PD Catalog for for the day, with the full schedule.

All sessions will be located at MRHS. You do not need to sign up for sessions on Vector; we will provide everyone with completion hours after verifying attendance.

To review your sessions in this catalog, locate your position title on the first page and click on the link to be directed to your page. Room locations and session titles/descriptions are included. Lunch will be provided by the district in the MRHS cafeteria and will include vegan and vegetarian options.

A new Benefits Guide is now available! Get to know the plans and incentives that are available for you!

A reminder: If you have a student who is homeless, in foster care, whose parents are migrant workers, or who has parents in the military, please connect with the school counselor to ensure we are communicating with families about the available resources to support their needs. If you have concerns about a student, please include Melissa Maguire, Director of Student Services, in your communications with building administration and counselors.

Did you know? Monomoy staff and students have free access to Canva For Education accounts! Canva is a versatile digital design platform that's both professional and easy to use. It’s not just for graphics - students and teachers can also edit PDFs, create videos, presentations, and infographics, and even collaborate on projects in real-time. It’s a flexible tool for teaching design, creativity, and communication skills across subjects like art, technology, geography, and English. The district has full access to Canva's professional suite through our district account.

• Canva Portal - Log in with Google (Monomoy email account)
• Canva For Teachers: Getting Started Guide
• Canva PD Slide Deck (by Patrick McGovern)

Great news! We have officially certified our October 1st state reporting collection with DESE. This crucial milestone ensures our student, staff, and schedule data are accurately submitted, directly impacting our state and federal funding.

A huge thank you to everyone who cooperated promptly with the Monomoy DESE Data Team. Our attention to this process made all the difference!

At its most recent meetings on October 9 and October 23, 2025, the Monomoy Regional School Committee took the following actions:

• Received presentations on the MRHS Best Buddies Leadership Conference request and on National ESP Day
• Voted to approve new policies: Policy Files: ADDA - Fingerprint Policy, File IM-MSP - Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy, File BEDC - Quorum, File BEDD - Rules of Order, File BEDF - Voting Method, File BEE - Special Procedures for Conducting Hearings, File BGB/BGC - Policy Adoption/Policy Amendment
• Voted to send a reply letter to the Harwich Select Board regarding the regional agreement
• Voted to approve the FY27 Capital Plan as presented by the Business Manager
• Received the October 1, 2025 Enrollment Report Dr. Carpenter reviewed the October 1, 2025 enrollment numbers for the district. The total enrollment for the district was 1,666 students, down 4.7% from last year's total enrollment, which follows the trend Capewide of declining enrollment.
• Received presentation on Budget - 5 Year Outlook from Business Manager
• Received updates on the Superintendent search process
• Reviewed draft policies: File IKF - Competency Determination Graduation Requirement, File BDG (CHB) - School Committee Review Procedures, File BGE - Policy Dissemination
• Voted to approve prior year encumbrances

You can find School Committee video recordings, agendas, and more on our website.

We know you’ve got big plans, creative ideas, and amazing moments coming to life in your buildings and classrooms this year — and we want the whole Monomoy community to know about them!

📸 Snap it. Share it. Celebrate it.

Send your photos/videos and stories to jjordan@monomoy.edu so we can celebrate them — from everyday moments to special events.

✅ When you send:

Give us all the details — who, what, when, where, and why — so we can share the full story

❓Questions? Reach out to Joy Jordan at jjordan@monomoy.edu.

Let’s share what makes our Shark Family the best — one story at a time! 🦈 ✨

Did you know? As an employee of Monomoy Regional School District, you have access to our Employee Assistance Program, which provides free, confidential support! Find more info on our website.