Greetings Mustangs!
We are about to begin the last week of school before the February break! Monday (02/14) is Valentine's Day and it is also a white day. Just a reminder to all that Friday (02/18) will be our next early release day with students getting dismissed at approximately 11:30. We will be running a modified schedule on Friday which will be pushed out to all students and staff by Wednesday (02/16). The February break will run from 02/19 - 02/27. We will return to school on Monday (02/28) and it will be a maroon day.
Recognition: Our cheerleaders are the Class D State Champions! They put on an impressive performance at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday (02/12) capturing back-to-back State titles (Class C State Champions last school year, and now Class D State Champions)! A very special thanks to the coaches (Mr. Brandon Ouellette and Mrs. Laurie Gifford) for all the time, energy, and effort they put into working with our team. We are so very proud of this incredible accomplishment! Well done Mustangs!
Our Wrestling team participated in the Regionals at Fryeburg Academy on Saturday (02/12). This was an all-day event which had 3 of our wrestlers participate. I’m glad I had the opportunity to get over to Fryeburg for part of the day to watch all three of our wrestlers compete in a couple of matches each. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a wrestling meet and I must admit I was quite impressed with our team! I’ll be doing a special edition of The MA Express! once the Winter Sports Season is officially over in which I’ll be highlighting the athletic accomplishments of all our winter sports teams/student athletes.
Despite the loss to Lewiston High School on Saturday (02/12) in the Class A Northern Regional Semi-Final girls ice hockey game, St. Dom’s had a decent season and earned the right to play the top seeded Lewiston team with our very own Abrianna White as the St. Dom’s goalie. Congratulations to Abrianna and the Saints on a great season! As mentioned above, there will be a recognition of Abriana in that special edition newsletter coming out once the winter sports season is completed for all teams. Stay tuned!
Civil Rights Team: Our Civil Rights Team is up & running! They have had two meetings to date, with their next meeting scheduled for Monday (02/14) at 2:30 in the Art Room with Ms. Darrell and Mr. Shain. Our team is part of the Maine Civil Rights Team Project (CRTP) whose mission is to increase the safety of elementary, middle, and high school students by reducing bias-motivated behaviors and harassment in our schools. ALL students are invited and encouraged to be part of this team! For more information, please connect with Ms. Darrell and/or Mr. Shain. Thanks!
Mask Wearing: Masks must be covering both the mouth and nose. It is extremely important that we are all on the same page with this expectation. As always, your cooperation with this expectation is greatly appreciated!
Pooled Testing: Just a reminder that RSU 2 will be offering pooled-testing. For MA, we are scheduled to begin on the Wednesday after the February break (03/02). If you are interested in participating, please complete the online registration form that was emailed to all parents/guardians two weeks ago. If you need a hard-copy of the form, please call (207)933-4416 to request it. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Again, this is 100% voluntary/optional. Thanks!
Guidance Update:
New College Acceptances:
Crystal Frandsen: USM, UMF, UMA
Lauren Desrosiers: CMCC
Upcoming Events:
Monmouth Academy Sophomores will participate in the ASVAB on March 11, 2022.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in the Gallup Poll from February 28, 2022 through March 18, 2022. For more information please see Mrs. Knowlton.
Volunteer Opportunities:
The Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed are busy gearing up for our annual Winter Nature Day Camp held over February vacation and are looking for volunteers that would enjoy spending time with our young campers (3rd-5th graders) and playing outside during the winter months. For more information see Mrs. Knowlton!
Educational Opportunities:
Consider Engineering is a challenging and rewarding four-day summer program for high school Juniors to get a taste of college life and what it takes to be an engineer. Be one of 108 students from Maine and around the U.S. invited to spend four days at the University of Maine participating in exciting engineering experiments, problem-solving challenges, and great networking with faculty, practicing engineers, and fellow campers—at no cost to you. For more information, see Mrs. Knowlton!
Each year, the Maine State Board of Education accepts applications from current high school sophomores in one of Maine’s two Congressional Districts who are interested in filling the student seat that will be vacated at the end of the school year.
In 2022, the State Board will accept applications from Sophomores who attend school in Maine’s Second Congressional District. That includes Monmouth Academy! Applicants must be in good academic standing and willing to serve on the Board for two years.
Application materials will be made available on the State Board of Education website. Please click on this link: https://www.maine.gov/doe/about/leadership/stateboard/student
The Senate Page Program is an excellent opportunity for students to receive firsthand experience with the legislative branch of our government. It is a challenging, yet rewarding, opportunity for mature, hard-working students. Pages will work until the Senate adjourns daily, so candidates need to be self-motivated with excellent academic records. For more information visit this website.
Becoming a Guest School Staff Member: Are you interested in becoming a guest school staff member? Please click on the following link for more information: https://www.maine.gov/doe/substitute
Yearbook Update (from Dr. Ross): Hello Senior parents and families! Each year the Monmouth Academy yearbook offers parents the chance to create a personal ad, otherwise known as a Personal Display of Affection (PDA), that will show up in the yearbook. You can add however many pictures and messages that will fit to congratulate or recognize your student. You have the option to design the ad yourself or to submit photos and messages to me and we will create an ad for you. All PDAs will be sent to you for approval before publication. Materials and payment are due by February 14.
You can order your PDA by emailing me (eross@kidsrsu.org); sending information and money into the school; or going online and searching for Monmouth Academy and choosing to create a personal ad (https://yearbookforever.com). You can design your own PDA or submit photos and messages for the yearbook staff to design it for you.
We offer the following sizes:
Full Page = $150 (up to 24 photos)
Half Page = $80 (up to 12 photos)
Quarter Page = $50 (up to 6 photos)
Eighth Page = $30 (up to 3 photos)
Let Dr. Ross know if you have any questions or would like to order a PDA today.
Attention Senior Parents: Yearbook is looking for photos for our Then and Now pages. We need photos from anytime growing up of the seniors as well as any fun ones you have from high school. Please email them to eross@kidsrsu.org.
We need any photos from this year. Sports events, students hanging out, activities that are done outside of school. Please send them to eross@kidsrsu.org if you want them in the yearbook.
Jr/Sr Privileges: Juniors and Seniors must meet specific criteria in order to have privileges. This criteria is explained in the paperwork that must be signed by the student and parent before a student is given privileges. Juniors and Seniors with privileges are reminded that they are required to sign out (in-person; on their own) from the Main Office. Students are NOT allowed to sign other students in or out. Also, during school hours (7:43 - 2:26), the only entry/exit doors students should be using are the front lobby doors. This is for safety, security, and accountability purposes. Students (and staff) should NOT be letting anyone in from any other door during school hours; and it is EXTREMELY important that we are ALL abiding by this expectation. Note: In the event we are required to evacuate the building, students and staff should use the nearest exit to evacuate (regardless of the time of day). In advance, I thank you all for your understanding and cooperation.
Athletics (subject to change):
Mon (02/14): Boys hockey vs. Gardiner at the Ice Vault in Hallowell (8:20pm)
Tue (02/15): Girls basketball playoff game AT North Yarmouth Academy (7:00pm)
Wed (02/16): Boys basketball playoff game HOME against Traip (6:00pm)
Sat (02/19): Boys hockey vs. Messalonskee at the Ice Vault in Hallowell (7:40pm)
Respectfully,
Mr. Ted Finn, Principal