Here is a reminder – as if your kids would let you forget.  The last day of the 2014-2015 school year will be this Friday, June 5, and students will have a one-hour early release.  It’s always nice to get a one-hour jump on summer vacation.  Have a safe summer everyone and we will see you back at Monroe Public Schools when school resumes on September 8.  

SURVIVORKIDS CAMP

SURVIVORKIDS CAMP

The food service staff members from Sodexo at Monroe Public Schools will hold a garage sale at the Riverside Early Learning Center, 77 N. Roessler St., Monroe, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30.  Profits from the sale will go to the Gleaners Food Bank for its back pack food program which benefits a number of Monroe Public Schools students.  When attending the sale, please approach from either W. Elm Ave. or N. Roessler St., since the Roessler St. bridge is closed to through traffic.

Only a few open spots remain for youngsters wanting to register for the 2015 Safety City at the Riverside Early Learning Center, 77 N. Roessler St.  The program is open to children either attending kindergarten or Young 5s or preparing to do so in the fall.  The sessions run from June 15 through June 26.  The first session filled up quickly and only a few openings remain in the 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. sessions. 

            Registration is $55 per child for the two-week sessions and continue until all spots are filled.  In-person registrations are accepted only at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building, 1275 N. Macomb St.  Persons also can mail in registrations to the administration building but please put “Attention Safety City” on the envelope if you mail in your payment. 

            For more information, call 734-265-3000. 

Next week, the Monroe Public Schools Transportation Department will conduct its final bus evacuation drills of this school year.  On Monday, May 18, we will practice the drills in the morning drop only for the elementary schools.  On Tuesday, May 19, evacuation drills will be performed at the morning drop for Monroe Middle School buses.  The evacuation drill for Monroe High School buses will be held Wednesday, May 20, in the morning drop only.  Students must know what is expected of them so they can respond quickly, in a safe and orderly fashion.  All drills will take place at the schools where students are dropped off in the morning.  Parents with questions can call 734-265-3300. 

Congratulations to the Monroe High School Expressions and the Generations of Sound both of which received good ratings when they competed recently at the State Choral Festival at Central Michigan University.  “What a great group of kids we have in the choirs at Monroe High School,” said MHS’ Director of Vocal Music Cate Windelborn.  “They gave beautiful performances.  We were honored to be invited and to participate in this very prestigious festival.  We had an amazing day.”  To hear recordings of the choirs performing at various times, please click on this link.  http://mhswindelborn.weebly.com/performance-recordings-2015.html

Due to forecasted inclement weather in the area, there are a number of cancellations in our district this afternoon and evening (May 11.)  All extended-day programs for math and reading in the elementary schools are cancelled for today.  All after-school tutoring programs at Monroe High School, Monroe Middle School and Orchard Center High School are cancelled for today.  In addition, there will be no GED classes tonight at Orchard Center.  All other school events scheduled for tonight, including all sports and the Custer spring concert at Monroe High School, have been cancelled.  

Monroe Public Schools will have a one-hour early release this Wednesday, May 13.  There will be no school on Wednesday for Orchard Center High School.

Jalisa McQueen, a junior at Monroe High School, is one of only 40 students nationwide chosen to attend the University of California-Davis Young Scholars Program (UCD-YSP,) June 21-August 1.  In addition, she was offered a $6,000 scholarship for the program.

            “This is the premiere program of its type in the United States and Jalisa is so deserving of this honor.  During her summer vacation this year, she will have the same types of experiences that she would have during her first years of college,” said Monroe High School science teacher Kristen Hovest.

            The UCD-YSP is a summer residential research program design to expose 40 high-achieving high school students from across the country to the world of original research in the natural sciences.  The program has an emphasis on the biological, environmental and agricultural sciences.

            When in the program, Jalisa will work one-on-one with research faculty and research groups in state-of-the-art laboratories for six weeks.  She will work on an additional project and a journal-quality paper and symposium presentation about her work.  Besides the scientific research, the UCD-YSP strives to introduce participants to the climate and culture of living and working on a university campus.

Everybody is s suspect in “CLUE the Musical” to be staged this coming weekend by the Theatre Company of Monroe High School.  The show will be presented four times.  This engaging and interactive musical is based on the popular board game, CLUE.  The plot concerns a murder at the mansion, occupied by several people.  The audience is asked to solve the murder.  Cast members are Mary Stehulak, Austin Bray, Zachary Everly, Jarod Kimble, Michaela Foulkrod, Krissy Castellese, Haley Langmeyer, Taryn Michaels, oseph Pilgrim and Curtis Jewell.  The show will be presented four times.  Dates and times for the show are:  Friday, May 1 – 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 2 – 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 3, 7 p.m.  The show will be presented at the Monroe High School Auditorium.    “The end is determined by audience members who select the murderer, murder weapon and location of the murder,” said Sue Sacks, Monroe High School drama teacher who directs the production.  “Based on the cards drawn, the show has 216 possible endings, with interchangeable dialogue between the characters that is delivered as the story unfolds.”  This show is presented as a dinner theater with a dessert buffet served during intermission.  Tickets are $15 each and can only be bought or reserved before the performance.  To purchase or reserve tickets, please call 265-3538.