The MA Express!

Greetings Mustangs!

I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable February break. When we return to school on Monday (02/28), it will be a maroon day and believe it or not, we’ll be getting ready to move into the month of March on Tuesday!

PLEASE TAKE NOTE (From acting Superintendent Gilbert):  Based on new CDC guidelines, schools in counties with low or medium risk may be mask optional.  Kennebec County meets the criteria for medium risk which means Hall-Dale and Monmouth schools will be mask optional starting on Monday (02/28).  We will be addressing masking in Dresden and Richmond at the Board meeting on Thursday (03/03).

 When we were last in school (Friday - 02/18), students in grades 9 - 11 had the opportunity to participate in a round robin activity as we kicked off the 2022-2023 course registration process.  Students were given a green form to complete after each content area presentation and were asked to bring that form home to get their parent/guardian signature so that we can begin the next phase of the scheduling process (which includes individual meetings between the school counselor and each student).  Students should return their green forms to their advisor who will in turn get those forms back to the Guidance Department this week.

Students who were not in school on 02/18 will receive that green form and access to the 2022-2023 Program of Studies during advisory on Monday (02/28) from which they can make their course selections.  They will have until Thursday (03/03) to complete that form and to return it to the Guidance Department.  Individual meetings with Mrs. Knowlton and all students in grades 9 - 11 will take place between 03/08 - 03/14.

Recognition:  Our boys basketball team qualified to play in the Class C basketball tournament with a solid victory against Traip Academy just before the February break.  They went on to play at the Augusta Civic Center and defeated St. Dom’s in the Quarter-Finals and Waynflete in the Semi-Finals.  They played a tough game against Dirigo on Saturday (02/26), losing to Dirigo in the Finals.  We would like to congratulate the boys basketball team and the coaching staff for a great season.  We are very proud of you!

Congratulations to MA VEX Robotics Teams 93303F (Megan Burnham, Izzy Hamann, Luke Harmon, and Sam Schultz) and 93303Z (Dalton Delorme, Zeke Delorme, Ben Hamann, and Jake Umberhind) for their strong performances at Saturday's tournament.  93303F made it to the semifinals and earned the Design Award, and 93303Z advanced all the way to the finals.  Both teams qualified for the State Championship, so now all four MA teams will compete at States on March 5th.  Well done, MA VEX!

The Cony/Monmouth/Erskine/Mt. Blue/Richmond boys hockey team played three regular season games over the break (winning one; tying one; and losing one).  They finished their season 7-7-1 and played in a prelim game losing to Presque Isle on 02/26.  I’d like to give a shout out to the four young men from MA who contributed to the strong efforts put forth by the Cony Co-Op team this season!  Well done!

Civil Rights Team:  Our Civil Rights Team is up & running!  They have had two meetings to date, with their next meeting scheduled for Monday (02/28) 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!

Say NO to Bullying!  Quote of the week:  “Strong people don’t put others down; they lift them up.” (Michael P. Watson).  If you see any type of bullying taking place, please report it to a staff member immediately.  Thank you!

Winter Carnival Is Coming!  Winter Carnival - 2022 is scheduled to take place during the week of 03/14.  Our Student Government has been planning the activities that will be taking place; and we will actually begin the sign-up process for these activities on Wednesday of this week (03/02).  The Freshmen class will be meeting during P1 in Mr. Warren’s room, and the Sophomore class will be meeting during P7 in the Library. The Juniors and Seniors (due to flexible schedules/privileges/CATC) will sign up on their own outside of school hours.  More information about WC week will be coming out shortly, so please check your email often and listen to the announcements each day.

Pool Testing:  Just a reminder that RSU 2 will be offering pool-testing.  For MA, we are scheduled to begin on Wednesday (03/02).   If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.  Again, this is 100% voluntary/optional.  Thanks!

Guidance Update:

Upcoming Events:

  • Monmouth Academy Sophomores will participate in the ASVAB on 03/11.

  • Students will have the opportunity to participate in the Gallup Poll from 02/28 - 03//18. For more information please 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.

  • Attention all students interested in CATC programs for the upcoming school year: Please make sure that you email Mrs. Knowlton to let her know which program you are interested in no later than 02/28/22. Mrs. Knowlton will be setting up interviews with Mrs. Huckey for March and needs to have this information. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Knowlton!

 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):  

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.

 Dates to Note:

02/28 =  Maroon Day; Civil Rights Team Meeting (2:30; Art Room)

03/01 =  White Day

03/02 =  Maroon Day; WC sign-ups: P1 Grade 9 in Mr. Warren's room; P7 Grade 10 in the Library

03/03 =  White Day

03/04 =  Maroon Day

03/05 =  Vex Robotics State Championships

 

I hope you all have a GREAT week!  Take care and stay well.


 Respectfully,

 Mr. Ted Finn, Principal