The Monroe Public Schools Board of Education will meet tonight on the fourth Tuesday of the month, as regularly scheduled. But there will be some changes in times.  The board workshop will begin at 5:30 p.m.  A hearing on the proposed 2015-2016 budget is set for 7 p.m. and the board meeting begins at 7:15 p.m..

The Monroe Public Schools Board of Education will meet tonight on the fourth Tuesday of the month, as regularly scheduled. But there will be some changes in times.  The board workshop will begin at 5:30 p.m.  A hearing on the proposed 2015-2016 budget is set for 7 p.m. and the board meeting begins at 7:15 p.m..

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.  

Graduation exercises will be held outside at the Monroe High School football field tonight at 6:30 p.m. as planned.  No tickets will be required for entry.  However, it would be wise to bring an umbrella and something like a towel or cushion to sit on since there is a possibility of scattered rain this afternoon.  Persons who do not care to sit outside can still view the ceremonies on closed-circuit television in the air-conditioned Monroe High School Auditorium.   The MHS parking lot will open for graduation parking at 5 p.m. today.  In addition, a shuttle will run starting at 5 p.m. from the north parking lot at Monroe County Community College to the MHS parking lot, and will take attendees back to the MCCC parking lot after the ceremonies.  

If you cannot make the ceremonies, please join us via YouTube by clicking on this link

http://mpactstudio.org/live/

The live stream will begin about 6:15 p.m. 

SURVIVORKIDS CAMP

SURVIVORKIDS CAMP

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.  

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. 

Monroe Public Schools Board of Education President Robert Yeo was re-elected board president for 2015, his third consecutive year to hold the post, at the board’s organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 13.

Larry VanWasshenova was re-elected vice president of the board. Board member Ryan Philbeck was elected secretary and MPS Business and Finance Director Katherine Eighmey was re-appointed board treasurer.

The school board also decided Tuesday night that it will continue to hold its regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. The board also approved the 2015 meeting schedule for its committees. The 2015 meeting schedule is posted on the MPS website http://www.monroe.k12.mi.us .