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.

Monomoy's multilingual families, staff, and community are invited to the next meeting of the Multilingual Parents Advisory Council meeting! Connect with other families, learn how to help support your student at school, and share your experiences, needs, and ideas. The meeting will be held Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. in the Monomoy Regional High School cafeteria. All are welcome.

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.

• Big Ad Lucem shout out to ELA colleagues Rachel Barnes and Doug Walsh for allowing me to share a few minutes of history with their 8th grade classes about the way Latin and Greek roots have impacted the English language. I know how difficult it is to free up teacher time on important content but I think that our students know a little bit more about our beautiful English language. -Bob Smeltzer

The Monomoy Regional High School Jazz Band has brought home multiple gold medals in recent competitions. At the Massachusetts Association of Jazz Educators’ Cape Coastal District Festival on March 3, the Jazz Band earned a gold medal, which qualified them for the State Finals on March 14, where they again earned the gold medal. Thanks to those impressive achievements, the musicians will next perform in the MAJE Gold Medal Showcase at the Hatch Shell in Boston on Sunday, May 3.

The MRHS Jazz Band is led by retired Berklee College of Music professor Wayne Naus, who donates his time to work with an ever-growing group of students. Student members of the MRHS Jazz Band include: Joshua Bassett, Calvin Boule, Mackenzie Bowers, Barbara Braz, Cameron Colby, Lucy Cortese, Jackson Craig, Emerson Gingras, Timothy Gray, Thomas Hereford, Wellington Holmes, Jameson Lapsley, Livia Leblanc, Ana Luiza Lopes, Maria Eduarda Lopes, Boden Mabile, Christopher Marchio, Casey-Ann McKella, Benjamin McMullen, Maeve Muldoon, Jillian Stevenson, Georgia Storey, Jude Strimaitis, Robert Teele, Joseph Thonus, Faye Viprino, Kellan Whitney, and Owen Wilder.

Last week, the MRHS Hope Squad attended the 3rd annual Hope Squad Summit at 4Cs, hosted by Sharing Kindness. We met with the other 13 Cape and Islands Squads for a full day of connection and learning. They played and worked with the other Hope Squads, listened to a powerful personal testimonial by Emma Benoit (a young woman who survived a suicide attempt as a teenager), and won Hope Squad Jeopardy. As we all are, these students are beautiful works in progress. They're learning how to take care of themselves and support those around them.

Watch this Sharing Kindness video about Hope Squad; look out for our Vice President Emma Gogol!

On Wednesday, March 19th, the Oak Street students took a trip down to the culinary room to make homemade pizza. It was an exciting adventure for everyone in the program and brought a good amount of social and culinary experience. We started by purchasing all the ingredients needed to make the pizzas on Tuesday at Shaws in Harwich. We then prepared all the ingredients and assigned roles for each job that was needed. We assembled the pizzas and put them in the oven to cook. This process took about an hour but was a tremendous success. The pizza was enjoyed by the whole class just in time for lunch!! -- Griffin Jamieson

Our students have been busy getting their hands dirty in all the best ways! They’ve started growing vegetables for the raised planters out back, which they’ll be tending throughout the summer. There are even potatoes growing in laundry baskets—proof that creativity is alive and well in SAIL!

But if you ask the students what they’re most excited about… it’s the Pekin ducks. The countdown is definitely on!

We also want to give a big shoutout to Ms. Oliver, the brains (and energy!) behind it all. She’s the one who dreamed up these projects and made them happen—right down to gathering every last supply. She’s always saying, “Thanks for supporting my crazy ideas,” but honestly… there’s nothing crazy about them. They’re thoughtful, creative, and give our students incredible hands-on learning experiences.

So this time, Ms. Oliver… Thank you for bringing these awesome ideas to life!

We just wanted to share how absolutely amazing the middle and high school students were who volunteered at the Shamrock Shimmy. They were kind, beyond helpful, and always ready to jump in wherever they were needed. I think a few of them may have even gotten up and shimmied a bit themselves!

From the face painters, to the tattoo table, to the snack helpers, and our one friend who grabbed a broom and jumped right into snack clean-up patrol, we were truly blown away by their enthusiasm and willingness to help.

These students are setting such a wonderful example for the next generation and should be incredibly proud of themselves. We certainly are grateful for them!

Thank you for helping connect us with such a fantastic group of volunteers: MRHS students Ada Riker, Paula DeOliveira, Breonna Mody, Olivia Eldredge, Abigail Meyer, Paige Bennett, Jillian Dittrich, Maggie Powers, Thomas Chase, Tyler Layton, Patrick Jordan, Mia Zimmerman, Owen Cloney, Lauren Gabri, and Megan Gabri, and MRMS students Emma DeMarco, Grace DeMarco, and Emelia Roy.

~The Harwich Elementary PTO

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.

The Animal Welfare Club took their annual trip to HES and CES last week to talk to first and second graders about animal care. Many thanks to the teachers who welcomed us into their classes and thanks also to our wonderful club members who presented so beautifully to the children: Club President Arden Gingras, Lily Gingras, Lily Holmes, Isabella Hardy, and Nova Campion.

Student volunteers needed to help run hands-on learning stations at the Monomoy Family S.T.E.A.M. Night on Wednesday March 25 at the Harwich Elementary School. All Harwich and Chatham families with children ages 3 - 6 (preschool and Kindergarten age) are invited to this no cost event. Set-up begins at 3:30pm, the event is 5 - 6:30 followed by clean up, ending around 7pm. Community Service hours certificates will be provided. Use this link to sign up.

• 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!

• 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!

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.

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

Massachusetts had the highest scores nationwide for all 2025 AP testers!

Monomoy certainly contributed! For the Monomoy Regional High School 2025 graduating class, 72% of seniors took at least one AP Exam during high school, 43% of seniors scored a 3 or higher, and 29% of seniors took 5 or more AP exams during high school.

Here is some helpful information as we head into Exam season!

• Your Guide For Advanced Placement Exams: This is a great article from MEFA discussing the upcoming AP Exams and their benefits. The official schedule for 2026 exams should be in our next Friday Focus!

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

Here is the link for 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

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

Tues. 3/24
V Boys Lacrosse @ 2:30

Fri. 3/27
V/JV Boys Lacrosse @ 2:00

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!

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

Join the Harwich Community Center for "Ask Gen Z" -- a live panel of teens and young adults (ages 13–25) on Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. During the event, the panel will answer questions submitted by the community and spark some great conversations. If you would like to be on the panel for this event, sign up here.

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