Just in time for the start of school for students who may need them, Old National Bank has donated several large containers of school supplies for students in Monroe Public Schools. The supplies included backpacks, paper, markers, pencil boxes, rulers and hygiene products such as tissues and hand wipes.
Here Jim Treece (left,) Retail Banking Center Manager for Old National Bank in Monroe, presents a cloth bag of pencil holders and some back packs to Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barry Martin.
Mr. Treece said the school supplies were donated by bank employees and customers and neighboring downtown Monroe merchants. It was the first year the local bank has had such a campaign.
“We are very thankful to our friends from Old National Bank. These supplies will certainly help the district provide supplies to the students who need them,” Dr. Martin said. The school supplies donation is part of a larger Tools for Schools campaign sponsored by Old National Bank. In that contest, grants of $1,000 and $5,000 are available for schools simply by having the most people vote for “your” school on-line at oldnational.com/toolsforschools or by garnering the most “likes” on Old National’s Facebook page.
It is indeed rare when an author of a text book makes a stop in a class room where his texts are used to teach but that is exactly what Michael Fitzpatrick (left), author of “Machining and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Technology,” did September 3 when he visited MHS teacher Tim Smith (right) in his classroom to see where the lessons will be taught.
Mr. Fitzpatrick’s book, which is his third version of it, will be used in Mr. Smith’s classes for the first time this school year. “The book is to be looked at like another tool in your tool box. It is a published text for digital-brain students,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said. He explained that too many times students are asked to put away their cell phones in class but in this case, the phone actually helps learning and is needed because throughout the book there are numerous QR codes which when scanned can take the student to a website for more information.
Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Smith became acquainted when they attended a number of Haas HTEC Educators training conferences in recent years. Both have similar backgrounds – both came out of the “trades” to become teachers. In fact, Mr. Fitzpatrick even videotaped part of a lecture to students while he was in Monroe for Mr. Smith to use when he starts to teach the class.
“In my 45 years in the business, the Monroe High machine shop is the most organized, best maintained and best set up I have ever seen in a school, high school or college,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said.
A Back-to-School newsletter is now out and is being distributed with various pieces of information, tips and schedules needed for the soon-to-start school year. It also includes a piece from Dr. Martin, our superintendent, about how the word, TROJANS, describes what we as Monroe Public Schools, offer to our students and families. A copy is attached to this posting. Enjoy, and we will see everyone back in class on September 8. Have a safe weekend.
Thursday's edition of the Monroe News contained the bus routes for this coming school year. The routes also can be found here by clicking on the "Bus Routes" icon on this web site. If you want to see the information published in the Monroe News, click on this link. http://www.monroenews.com/news/2015/sep/03/monroe-schools-announces-bus-schedule/
Just as children are returning to school comes the return to Community Education with the release of the fall classes catalogue. Some old favorites are back but the list of nearly 80 classes includes some first-time offerings which are bound to be very popular.
“We are very happy with the classes we have this fall and we are confident the community will be, too,” said Amy Poley, Director of Community Education. “It doesn’t matter if you want to keep fit with some of our exercise classes, learn a new hobby or want to check out some of our special programs, we strive to have something to appeal to almost every interest.”
Among the nearly 80 classes that are available are 12 arts and crafts, 12 special programs, 10 fitness and recreation, 10 children’s-related offerings, eight sewing and needlecraft and six water-related classes.
Back again this fall are belly dancing, digital camera and homemade herbal remedies, as well as kickboxing/bootcamp, Tai Chi, aqua dancercise, crocheting, knitting, sewing and a taste of preschool and other classes, too. The drop-in swim at Monroe Middle School has been changed to make it even more popular, flexible and affordable.
New offerings this fall term include simple ways to manage diabetes, CPR/AED and first aid, and a discover scuba diving experience.
“The discover scuba diving experience is a one-night class which is offered five times during October so people who always have wondered about scuba diving can check it out to see if they might want to pursue it further,” Mrs. Poley said.
All classes must be prepaid and there are various ways to register. Phone registrations are accepted by using Visa, Mastercard or Discover only at 734-265-3170. You can register by mail by completing the registration form in the catalogue and sending it with a check or money order made payable to Monroe Public Schools and mailing it to Community Education, 1275 N. Macomb St., Monroe, MI 48162. Registrations will be taken in person at the Community Education office from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., daily.
Persons who may not have received a catalogue can pick one up at the Community Education office at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building. It is also is displayed on line on the Monroe Public Schools website at http://monroepublic.cyberschool.com/files/user/506/file/MPS%20Fall%202015%20-%20revised(1).pdf
The Monroe High School Band will take its annual tour of the Monroe Public Schools’ elementary schools on Thursday, September 17.
As in the past, the 95-member band will travel from school-to-school and give a 10-minute concert at each school, playing in the school’s parking lot, play ground or front lawn. The marking band will perform three of its fall songs, ending the concert with the MHS fight song.
At each stop, teachers bring their students out to enjoy the “big kids” playing music in the band.
Here is a reminder to all MHS parents: Parent meetings will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. today (Sept. 1) Items on the agenda are the Harvest Party and SAT/PSAT Parent Link.
The bus schedules and routing information now are available on-line and will be printed in the Thursday edition of the Monroe News. Check out the schedules here on our website. Click on the bus routes icon and follow the prompts. If you have transportation questions you may contact the Transportation office at 734-265-3300 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The courtyard at Arborwood South Elementary School has in the middle a pond with fish, several trees and shrubs and a mallard box in one of the corners and even a 12-foot by 6-foot wooden stage, and during the school year, it has all kinds of “Eagles” in and out of it. But it now has a special Eagle. As in Eagle Scout, that is.
Fifteen-year-old Monroe High School sophomore Jarrod Kimble, who was an Arborwood Eagle when he was in elementary school, is responsible for building the stage and working long hours with family and friends to weed and mulch several nature areas inside the lush courtyard. At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 6, he will receive his Eagle Scout rank in Eagle Court of Honor ceremonies at St. Mary’s Church Parish Life Center.’
Jarrod said that much of the work on the stage and on the weeding and mulching was done last year.
“My grandfather is a certified professional engineer and he helped me to design the stage so it was nice and sturdy. We also decided to clean up the area around the pond in the center of the courtyard. We were surprised that we found fish in there,” Jarrod said. To help the fish in the pond, he saw to it that a new pump and piping were installed. Two of the areas that he cleaned up were so overgrown by underbrush that it was spreading and killing the grass.
“We even built a Mallard house for ducks who are migrating, too” Jarrod said. “It might not look like much but the Mallards seem to like it,” he said.
Jarrod wanted to do something for his Eagle project that would have a positive impact for the youth in the area. Because he had attended Arborwood as a child, he felt especially connected to the project.
The whole project which has led to Jarrod’s Eagle Scout recognition cost about $1,300, all of which he raised.
“We hope this project has made a positive impact for the students and staff at the school and that the stage will be used for years to come,” said Jeff Kimble, Jarrod’s dad. “We really appreciate the support Jarrod got from the school administration who really helped our son to succeed and the help he received during the work.”
The entire stage is painted white with about 30 green fleur-de-lis, the symbol of Boy Scouts, adorning it.
During the school year, it did get used a number of times.
“My mom (Arborwood South Teacher Dawn Kimble) has brought her class out and the students have used the stage to act out some of the scenes in the books they have read. You also can sit on it and read to your students sitting in the grass,” Jarrod said.
Jarrod is a member of Boy Scout Troop 519 sponsored by St. Mary’s Church and plans to mentor younger Scouts. He also is active at Monroe High School on the wrestling team and as an active member of choir and drama.
He is the second MHS student in less than six months to earn the Eagle Scout rank. The other was Grant Prater whose Eagle Scout project was a clothes closet that benefited Monroe Middle School.
For those of you who enjoy Monroe High School choral music AND plan ahead, have we got good news for you.
Monroe High School Choir director Cate Windelborn has released a list of the award-winning choirs’ performance dates. The list is so large, there are times she must feel almost like a travel agent as well as the choir director.
Not only will the choir perform in such places as the University of Michigan and in New York City, but the schedule includes stops at Greenfield Village and Grand Rapids, Howell and Holt, too, and many other places in between.
However, if you want to catch the Monroe High School vocal groups locally, there are five chances to do that, too, this school year and four of them are free.
Here is the schedule of local performance dates:
Oct. 15 – Fall Vocal Concert, 7 p.m., MHS Auditorium.
Dec. 11-12 – Madrigal Dinners, 6:30 p.m., St. Paul’s Church (paid ticket required)
Dec. 20 – Holiday Concert, 3 p.m., MHS Auditorium.
March 10 – Pre-Festival Concert, 7 p.m., MHS Auditorium
May 24 – Spring Vocal Concert, 7 p.m., MHS Auditorium