The thermometer may not show it but the back-to-school and fall seasons are approaching and that means football, and it also means flag football for second- and third-grade players.

     The Community Education Program of Monroe Public Schools is offering flag football for second- and third-graders this year, to share with them the fundamentals of flag football and the chance to play in scrimmages.  The six weeks of sessions will start Sunday, Sept. 13, at Navarre Field.

     Registration is open now.  Cost to register is $25 and that includes a tee shirt for participants. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted for payment.  Persons can fill out the attached flyer and mail it in or stop by the Community Education office in the Monroe Public Schools Administration office, 1275 N. Macomb St.

     Deadline to register is September 11.

Click on this link for a registration blank and more information --  http://monroepublic.cyberschool.com/view/2027.pdf.

     Fourth- to sixth-grade girls who have always wanted to be a cheerleader can do just that in the Monroe Junior Cheer Program, sponsored by the Community Education Department of Monroe Public Schools.

Practices start the week of August 24.  After practicing once a week for several weeks, the cheerleaders will cheer at the Monroe First Downers Junior Football games at Navarre Field on Saturdays in September and October.  

     Registrations are being accepted through August 28.  The cost is $30 and includes a tee shirt.  Payment can be made at the Administration office of Monroe Public Schools, 1275 N. Macomb St. Cash, checks or credit cards can be used for payment.

     For a registration blank or for more information, please click on this link  http://monroepublic.cyberschool.com/view/2174.pdf

     The highly successful Allies in Monroe (AIM) mentoring program at Monroe High School will be back for the 2015-2016 school year and plans are to expand it to include even more “matches” of students and adult mentors, which are called “allies.”

     In its first year, the AIM program – the only one of its kind in Monroe County – grew from 58 students and their “allies” in the first trimester to 131 “matches” by the time the third trimester rolled around in the spring. 

     In addition, the program will be led this year by Monroe High School teacher David Henry, who last year – in the first year of the program – was a mentor to an MHS senior who achieved his AIM goals all three trimesters, one of only four students in the school to do so. 

     AIM is an academic incentive and mentoring program open to all MHS students.  It is designed to enhance student achievement, increase the number of students furthering their education after high school and improve student-staff-community relationships.  It also is designed to enhance the overall MHS college-going culture.  During the 2014-2015 school year, more than 100 MHS students achieved their AIM goals at least once, qualifying them to earn a $200 scholarship.

     “Our first year was successful beyond all goals that we had when we started the program,” Mr. Henry said.  “We were able to use a large number of staff people as ‘allies’ in the first year and our goal is to repeat that.  However, we also want to build on that staff participation and add to it by expanding our appeal to more community members and groups to come in and be an ally for one of our students.

     “We want our students to know that someone believes in them,” Mr. Henry said.  “The students who were involved last year found that they had to be persistent to be successful but that when they were, that hard work paid off.”

     Because the program is not funded by Monroe Public Schools but by an independent board, community financial support is critical to the program’s success.  “Angels” are people, Foundations, businesses and organizations that can provide the financial support that is the monetary incentive for the students.  Those interested in supporting this program, should contact Mr. Henry at 734-265-3400

     AIM is one of the many programs at Monroe High School which focus on helping your child succeed. 

Monroe High School registration for students is set for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.  Letters were sent recently to the residences of all registered students.  Registration day is important since a number of time-consuming activities are taken care of to eliminate as many in-school interruptions as possible.  At registration, these materials will be collected before students will receive their schedules.

• Updated student registration form
• Free and reduced lunch applications
• Outstanding books, materials and fines (students may not get schedules if they still have outstanding books)
• Physical forms for athletics (if applicable)
• Student insurance information
• Dress code/hall sweep pass letter signed by parent.

          After handing in these materials, students will be able to pick up their schedules, have their pictures taken and receive their MHS photo ID cards, receive their handbooks and locker assignments and buy their parking permits (for juniors and seniors only.)

The girls’ softball field on which former Monroe High School girls’ softball coach Vince Rossi spent countless hours during his 32-year tenure as head coach now bears his name.

     The Board of Education of Monroe Public Schools voted Tuesday night (August 11) to rename the MHS girls’ softball field, Vince Rossi Field.  While a number of facilities in the district are named after individuals with exemplary contributions to Monroe Public Schools, the renaming in honor of someone still living is rare at Monroe High School.  A dedication ceremony is being planned for next spring.

     “A committee of softball parents thought it was important to rename the field during Coach Rossi’s lifetime so he could enjoy this well-deserved honor,” said Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Martin.  Per district procedure, the question of renaming the field was reviewed three times by the board before the final vote.  “Coach Rossi was that rare individual who not only could coach his teams to winning records but he also, as a Monroe High teacher, urged them to excel academically as well.”

     Although his school-record of 807 wins likely never will be matched and his coaching legacy of 22 league titles, 11 district titles, six regional crowns and three final-four appearances in the state tournament were enough to have him elected to the Monroe High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Michigan High School Athletic Association, there was something that made him even prouder as a leader of student-athletes.

     “Vince was a stickler for good performance in the classroom, too, and 22 of his teams achieved academic all-state honors,” said Monroe High School Athletic Director John Ray.  In fact, a number of his former players became school teachers and entered other advanced professions.

     The field which has been renamed Vince Rossi Field also was developed during Coach Rossi’s tenure and under his leadership.  One of the finest fields in the region was built with a considerable number of individual and corporate donations as well as countless volunteer hours of “sweat equity.”

     But even more work is being done now, because the field is undergoing major improvements to the dugouts, field entry points for participants and the actual infield surface making it much easier to drain after rainfall.  Plans also are moving forward for a new scoreboard.

Monroe County residents will have two opportunities Saturday (August 8) to help “stuff the bus” with school supplies as part of the “Supplying Our Future” Backpacks for Kids in Monroe County. 

               School buses will be parked and set up to accept the school supplies donations at the Kroger store, 3462 Sterns Rd., Lambertville, and at Cricket Wireless, 1263 N. Telegraph Rd.  Collection times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday in each location.

               The Back Pack Coalition expects to distribute 1,200 back packs to children in Bedford, Monroe and Dundee prior to the start of school.   Roughly 60 percent of all of the backpacks distributed will go to children who are Monroe Public Schools students, so please so by and stuff the bus if you can.  

Any school supplies donations will be accepted, including back packs, pencils, paper, rulers, crayons, and scissors. Think of it this way – the same kinds of materials you would purchase to prepare your own child to start school are the items which will be accepted. 

NashIcon 98.3 radio Monroe is a co-sponsor of the drives.  School buses were donated by Bedford and Monroe public schools.     

Monroe High School will be open to register new students from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., August 12 and 13. 

          When coming to school to register, you must bring these items

Your original birth certificate with the raised seal

Proof of residency, such as driver’s license, utility bill, etc.

A parent/guardian photo identification

Your transcript from your previous school which is needed so the counselors can schedule your classes. 

          Persons with questions should call Monroe High School at 265-3400.  

               Make sure you join your Monroe Public Schools family this coming week at the Monroe County Fair, where once again the district will host a booth.  The booth is in the air-conditioned MB&T Expo Center, next to the Monroe Bank & Trust booth, a fair neighbor for several years.

           Throughout the week, children will get a chance to “dig” Monroe Public Schools in the sand box as they search for various prizes.  The booth will feature award-winning projects from Monroe High’s Career and Technical Education program.  A 72-inch TV will scroll newspaper headlines about the many great things that have occurred at Monroe Public Schools over the last year.  Every afternoon, Monday through Saturday, visitors to the booth will get a chance to check out a virtual reality helmet.  The MHS competition robot will be displayed and robotics students will staff the booth several nights to talk about robotics at Monroe schools.

          This year, a number of new faculty and staff also will be in the booth so people can stop and say hello.  Here is the schedule:

Monday, Aug. 3 – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., new Custer School principal Lisa McLaughlin and new district speech pathologist Emily Kressbach; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., new Monroe High School Principal Sandy Kreps,

Wednesday, Aug. 5 – 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Kaitlynn Arnholt, and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Rachel Dyer.  Both are new math teachers at Monroe High School.

Thursday, Aug. 6 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Martin; and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. new Transportation Director Frank Henry and new elementary school music teacher Franny Valdez.

Friday, Aug. 7 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monroe Public Schools deputy superintendent Julie Everly and new Monroe Middle School assistant principal Nicole Shaughnessy.  MMS Principal Cindy Flynn also will be at the booth from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., that day.

          In addition, Orchard Center High School Principal Chantele Henry and Raisinville School Principal Mary Ann Cyr will be at the MPS booth from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, August 4.

Cathy McDonald has been appointed as a new assistant principal at Monroe High School.  Her appointment was affirmed Tuesday night (July 28) by the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education.

     Mrs. McDonald, who has her bachelor degree in Education from the University of Toledo, her Master of Arts Degree in teaching from Marygrove College and her Administrator Certificate from Concordia University, has since 2008 been a middle school language arts and social studies teacher at East Middle School, one of the top-performing schools in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district. 

     “We’re excited to have Cathy McDonald join our staff.  She comes from a top-performing school and has had a number of leadership roles already as a classroom teacher,” said Mrs. Julie Everly, deputy superintendent, Monroe Public Schools.  “She also has championed various educational initiatives which have been recognized nationally.  We have a tremendous amount of momentum going at Monroe High School and Cathy will be one of our major players in the continued shift to a college- and career-going culture.”  

     In her new assignment, Mrs. McDonald succeeds Kim Diven who retired at the end of the 2014-15 school year.

     While at East Middle School, Mrs. McDonald was head of the English Language Arts Department, served on the district’s recent Facility and Boundary Study Steering Committee as her school’s representative, was a leader in the professional learning communities and served on the Diversity Council. 

     She also has teaching experience at Harper Woods Secondary School and student taught at several Toledo- and Sylvania, Ohio-area schools.  In her career, she has made several presentations at national conferences of various groups in which she is active.

     A Monroe High School graduate is coming home.  Frank Henry, who has spent his 35-year career in the transportation field, has been appointed to head the Monroe Public Schools Student Transportation Department. 

     His appointment was made by the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education at its July 28 meeting.

     Mr. Henry, who also attended Monroe County Community College, has been transportation supervisor for the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities for the last six years.

     He has been in various forms of institutional transportation working with major companies as his customers since 1979. 

     “We are pleased to have someone of Frank’s experience join our staff,” said Jerry Oley, executive director, Operations for Monroe Public Schools.  “He has led teams ranging in size from five to 250 people, both locally and on a regional basis.  He has considerable experience in developing, implementing and documenting policies, processes and procedures.  But his strong dedication to customer service is what stands out and is so important in pupil transportation.”

     In his career, Mr. Henry also was the Operations Truck Team Leader/Manager of the Highway Division for Alliance Shippers.  He was terminal manager for Nationwide Truck Brokers in Newport and served 11 years as Regional Manager for Huffy Corp., during which time the region was honored as the company’s region of the year in 1984.

     During his time in transportation, Mr. Henry earned recognition from his customers, including the Visteon Outstanding Achievement Award.  He also was nominated for the Visteon Corporate Horizon Top Award. 

     Mr. Henry succeeds Shelley Cormier who retired in June.