FRIDAY FOCUS

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 March are now open! Any staff members nominated previously can be nominated again, except for those already honored this year.

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.

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.

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.

Game on, Sharks! Get ready for an incredible night when the world-famous Harlem Wizards take on our very own Monomoy staff - this fun event for the whole family is Friday, March 27, 6:30 p.m., at Monomoy High. Get your tickets before they sell out! This event benefits the Monomoy High Class of 2028.

• Tuesday, March 31: Grade 8–ELA Session 1
• Wednesday, April 1: Grade 8–ELA Session 2

• 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

On Thursday, SAIL and Unified PE students, alongside their teachers, hosted a wonderful SAIL Family Luncheon. The event began in the SAIL classroom with appetizers and a beautifully produced video by Ms. Shields, highlighting our SAIL students, their peers, and teachers. The video captured many meaningful moments, both in school and out in the community, and truly showcased the genuine connections between the students, community members and staff.

Following the video, guests enjoyed a delicious meal planned, shopped for, and prepared entirely by the students. The luncheon provided a special opportunity for students, families, and staff to connect, socialize, and simply enjoy one another’s company. The room was filled with smiles, laughter, and a strong sense of community connection.

This memorable event was made possible through a mini grant from Cape Cod Five Bank, for which we are incredibly thankful.

Have you ever wondered what happens on Early Release Wednesdays? This time is dedicated to giving our teachers the opportunity to connect and collaborate on student growth and achievement - across departments, across grade levels, and even across buildings!

This block of time gives our educators the ability to work together to ensure that every student has what they need to succeed. Teams can meet to clarify what students should learn in upcoming units and create shared assessments. This ongoing collaboration helps ensure consistent learning experiences and clear expectations for all students across the district.

• 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

The Monomoy Early Childhood Council thanks the many engaged student volunteers who helped at the recent STEAM Night at HES! Thanks to Annaleigh Massey, Tommy Carey, Gia Mercurio, Brooke Anderson, Rhyden Welsh, Maggie Braz, Margaret Powers, Sophia Durant, Davion Dawkins, Maddy Swett, Daejah Williams, Thomas Chase, Quinn Eldredge, and Lee Stockwell.

~Monomoy Early Childhood Council

We will be putting snacks out twice a day—once in the morning and once in the afternoon. If there are no snacks available, that means we are out.

Recently, we have seen an increase in students coming in to ask staff for snacks. This is causing class disruptions and leading to low inventory. To help maintain a smooth learning environment, please do not enter classroom or interrupt staff to request snacks.

We love this snack station and want it to continue to be successful, but we all need a reminder—including us. Snacks will only be put out during passing times, not during class. I hope this helps both parties.

https://www.cciaea.org/through-young-eyes.html

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• 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

A district-wide showcase of visual and performing arts. Free entry!

https://amandanewcomb1.wixsite.com/mrhsvpa/sparkroom

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

• Table requests are due by Friday, March 27th.

• Song requests are also being collected — if your student has a must-play song, we encourage them to submit it!

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.

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

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!

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.

• 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 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

MRHS is on Instagram at @monomoyhighschool!

Hello AP Nation-

I sent out an earlier draft of our testing schedule- here is the real deal!

Due to the week off from the storm and conflicts with multiple exams being scheduled

For the same day, some exams have been pushed to the late window. Please remember to submit payment to Mrs. Casey for the examinations. We still have a number of students in this boat.

-Mr. Jonathan Bennett, AP Coordinator

Monday, May 4

• Biology—8:45am—A258

Tuesday, May 5

• US Gov & Pol—12pm—A158 & A159

If you missed the Understanding Financial Aid Packages presentation, you can watch a recording of it here!

https://mrhs.monomoy.edu/guidance-counseling/college-planning/financial-planning/understanding-financial-aid-packages-march-2026

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

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

WORK PERMIT APPLICATION

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

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

Mon. 3/30
V/JV Softball @ 1:45
V/JV Baseball @ 2:15

Tues. 3/31
V Boys Lacrosse @ 12:15
V Boys Tennis @ 2:30
V Sailing @ 1:30

Wed. 4/1
V Softball @ 2:15
V/JV Girls Lacrosse @ 12:15

Fri. 4/3
V/JV Softball @ 2:45

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!

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