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Family Newsletter for Monona Grove High School
~ September 2017
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A Message From Dr. Brost
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Dear Parents:
Welcome to the 2017 - 2018 school year! The high school staff is looking forward to working with students and having another outstanding year at MGHS. We are excited to welcome 12 new teachers this year. Mr. Kling will be introducing new staff to our students during Friday announcements over the next few weeks. We are also excited to have Lynn Nelson join our office staff. Lynn has worked in the school district for a number of years and will now greet you when you enter the office.
There are two important opportunities that are new to students this year:
- Chromebooks - Every student will be issued a Chromebook during the first week of school. Even though we have had these available at school for many classes in the past, we are excited that students will have access to their own Chromebook throughout the school day and at home. It is crucial that students remember to charge their devices every evening so they are ready for the next school day. Please assist your student in getting into this routine. They need to have these devices charged and with them for every class just as they do pen and paper.
- ACP - On the second Wednesday of every month, there will be an additional 30-minute class period when students will engage in Academic and Career Planning (ACP) with the assistance of a teacher. In addition to the information that students already receive in some of their courses and through communication with their school counselors, they will now use software to engage in such activities as reviewing interest inventories, researching careers, and determining post-secondary education requirements. As parents, you also have access to this same information through our web site.
The high school staff will be focusing on three primary continuous improvement strategies this year; Growth Mindset, Student Engagement, and Building Community. As always, our work will be supporting the school district's strategic plan. Students will also continue to SOAR; being Scholarly, Organized, Accountable, and Respectful. This includes being on time to class, coming prepared, completing all homework on time, and treating everyone with respect.
Homecoming will be the week of September 25 with a pep assembly on September 29 and the dance on September 30. The class officers will be working hard to plan all of the details that go into this week. Encourage your student to listen to announcements and get involved.
Seniors should be filling out their college applications and scheduling appointments with their school counselors for post-secondary planning. Some colleges begin taking applications on September 15 and there can be an advantage to applying early depending on the school. Counselors can assist families with accessing resources and making informed decisions.
Back-to-School Night will be held on Wednesday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m. This is a chance for you to run through your student's schedule and meet teachers.
All parents are invited to attend the Parent/Educator Forums with me at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month in the IMC. The first meeting is on September 18. We are looking forward to a great school year. Thank you for supporting your student's education.
Sincerely,
Paul Brost, Ph.D.
Principal
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| Office Hours |
The hours for the MGHS Main Office and Student Services Office are
7:30 a.m - 4:00 p.m.
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| Senior Pictures and Ads for Grads |
Senior pictures and Ads for Grads
must be turned into the high school office by Friday, September 29, 2017, in order to make the deadline for the 2017-2018 yearbook.
The digital photo can be on a CD or emailed to [email protected]. Write your child's name in permanent marker on the disk. Most photographers have this option available and will send pictures to us directly. Some photographers charge for a CD or for the digital image. Please check with your photographer. A printed senior picture will not be accepted .
Please remember that no hats or weapons can
appear in any of the pictures and
senior pictures must be from the waist up.
Please make sure you have your pictures taken in plenty of time before the September 29 deadline. Photographers need several weeks to get proofs back from the lab. If your child takes their pictures the week before September 30, you will not be able to meet our deadline.
If you do not make the deadline, you will not be able to have your child's senior picture or Ad for Grad in the yearbook.
If you have any questions, you can call Ms. Dames at 608-316-1855 or e-mail her at [email protected].
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2017-18 Student Calendar
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Click
here to view the 2017-18 school calendar.
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Parent Educator Forum Meeting
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All parents/guardians of MGHS students are welcome to attend the Parent Educator Forum meeting on Monday,
September 18.
Parent Educator Forum is an informal meeting in which Dr. Brost gives a brief overview of current issues in education and events occurring at the high school, occasionally followed by group discussion. There is no formal agenda, it's an opportunity for parents to have contact with high school staff, without dues or volunteering. Typically, we meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 in the IMC (library) for about an hour. This is a great opportunity to meet with Dr. Brost in a small group setting, hear what's going on at the high school level and discuss issues!! Parents interested in what is discussed can email Lisa Stangler at [email protected] to get notes from our most recent meeting. We'd love to see new faces!
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Homework Help
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The Overtime Program is a program for students who need a place to do homework after school and for students who need extra time to complete an assignment or get extra help in a class. Some students may be assigned to Overtime by their teachers if there is a need.
Overtime takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 in the IMC. Please encourage your student to take advantage of the Overtime Program if they need additional help with an assignment or in one of their classes.
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News from the Student Services Department
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Students are encouraged to build a relationship with their school counselor during their high school years. Passes for appointments during school hours may be obtained by stopping in Student Services. Each student has been assigned a counselor based on the student's last name. Ms. Bishop has A-G, Mr. Groff has H-O and Ms. Burke has P-Z.
In addition, the Student Services Department includes Ms. Macias, School to Work Coordinator (co-op and apprenticeship information), Ms. Frain, School Social Worker, and Ms. Smith, School Psychologist. All are available to meet with students and parents to help with academic, career, social and emotional needs.
Student Services welcomes all students! Please remember to stop in to make an appointment.
Jobs Information
All jobs and contact information can be found on the Student Services website.
PSAT for Sophomores and Juniors!!
The PSAT (preliminary scholastic aptitude test) is scheduled for
Saturday, October 14 from
7:30-11:30 a.m. at MGHS.
The PSAT is an optional test.
This is a national test date and therefore the only test date we offer the PSAT at MG. If you have an unavoidable scheduling conflict on
October 14,
or are on Free/Reduced lunch, please see Mr. Groff in Student Services before signing up.
You may register for the test from
September 11-15 in the Main Office. The cost is $20.00. When you pay, you will receive a Student Guide with practice PSAT.
Financial Aid Night for Juniors and Seniors and Parents/Guardians
Wed, October 4, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, MGHS Auditorium
Juniors and seniors and their parents/guardians are invited to join us on Wednesday, October 4 at 6:30 pm for Financial Aid Night in the MGHS Auditorium. Karla Weber from the UW-Madison Office of Student Financial Aid will be here to provide families with a general overview of the financial aid process as well as to share information about important updates. The window to complete the FAFSA opens on October 1, 2017 - come learn the most current financial aid information from an expert in the field!
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| What are Pocket Points? |
Monona Grove High School has joined over 250 college and High School campuses around the country and joined Pocket Points. Pocket Points is an app for your smart phone that helps students gain points towards incentives and coupons, just for staying off of their devices during school.
The program is free, voluntary, and only allows students to gain points from
7:45 to 3:15
,
Monday
through
Friday
, while they are in the actual high school building. For every twenty minutes that a phone is locked, the student will receive 1 point. The points are redeemable for incentives from teachers in the building, as well as the school store.
Incentives include 2 for 1 movie tickets and free popcorn with a purchase at the concession stand. Points can also be redeemed at local businesses. If you own a local business and are interested in having coupons available for MGHS students, please contact Mr. Roth at the High School.
If a High School student does not have a smartphone, but wants to take part in the school incentives, they can contact Mr. Roth to set up the program.
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| Let's Eat!! |
Students may leave the school campus for lunch, but each student is expected to be back to school in time for their next class. If students stay at school for lunch, they may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch in the cafeteria. Students are expected to eat only in the designated lunch area unless permission is granted for a specific reason.
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| News from the Athletic Department |
Check out our new athletics website!
The Monona Grove High School Athletic Department has a new website that is now up and running! The new site features upcoming events, scores from sporting events, photo galleries and more.
You can visit the new site at
http://mononagrovehs.rschoolteams.com/
. The link is also available by visiting the "Athletics" tab on the Monona Grove High School website.
Sign up to be notified of changes to sporting events!
Have you ever wondered if a sporting event or activity has been cancelled due to weather? Click on "Notify Me" on the top banner of the new athletics website to sign up for notifications of changes to sporting events.
MGHS waits until approximately 2:00 p.m. to cancel a sporting event.
Winter Sports Registration
The 2017-18 Winter Sport Parent-Athlete Meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 30 at 6:00 p.m.
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| Visit the Eagle's Nest - Now Online!! |
Show your spirit! Visit the
Eagle's Nest for proud parent t-shirts, stadium blankets and much more!
featured products!
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| Chromebook Care |
Check
this out for the tips on
caring
for your Chromebook!!
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Infinite Campus Information
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Is your Infinite Campus Information Up to Date? Do you have a change of information such as a new doctor, a new e-mail address or phone number? It is very important that all of your information is up to date on Infinite Campus. Please log into your Parent Portal and enter the new information.
Infinite Campus Mobile App
Parents may access Infinite Campus on their mobile devices. The mobile app information can be found at the bottom of the parent portal window. The District ID is GJGZMY.
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Reminders from the Attendance Office
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 24 hour Attendance Line:
608-316-1393
The Attendance Office is open from 7:00-3:30. Parents may call before or after school and leave a message regarding their child's attendance.
Parents are required to call the Attendance Line prior to 10:00 A.M. on the day of the absence.
Please be sure to indicate the student's name, grade, date of absence and reason for absence when calling.
Students must have absences excused within 24 hours after they return or the absences will be considered unexcused.
The MGSD recognizes a positive relationship between good school attendance and success in school and employment.
A student's attendance in school becomes part of his/her permanent school record and is often the subject of inquiry by employers. Most importantly, however, is the need for students to be in school to interact with the teacher and with other students as they gain the knowledge that is necessary for successful completion of the course of studies Monona Grove High School provides.
Excused Absences
Parents may excuse, in writing, a student for any reason
PRIOR
to the day of the absence. (Wis. Stats. 118.15(3)(c). If an excuse is not given prior to an absence, the school, not a student's parent, excuses an absence. Monona Grove High School will excuse a student from school for the following reasons:
- personal illness;
- illness in the family for which the student is required at home;
- funerals and weddings;
- religious holidays;
- legal obligations;
- dental, medical, and orthodontic appointments;
- family vacations that cannot be scheduled during non-school times or other family approved vacations or school visits with prior approval; and
- an emergency situation which must be reviewed by the assistant principal.
Unexcused Absences
The school will not excuse an absence for any reason other than those listed above. Specifically:
- single period absences for illness when the student fails to report to the Nurse's Office
- absences related to vehicle problems during the school day
- oversleeping
- absences due to working on other school work will not be excused unless it's a school-sponsored field trip.
Parents will be notified of unexcused absences by phone or mail. Students with unexcused absences from classes or study halls will be assigned one, two-hour after school detention per period missed.
Leaving School Early
Monona Grove High School is a closed campus except for the following occasions: lunch, cooperative education programs, medical/dental appointments, sudden illness, or open campus students. During passing times, students must remain on school grounds. All students wishing to leave school must obtain permission from their parent, the assistant principal, or the school nurse in case of illness. Students will not be allowed out of class for illness unless they are going home. At that time, the student must sign out in the Attendance Office and receive an out pass. If he/she plans to return to school, he/she must sign in upon returning. Students are not allowed to have other students drive them anywhere during the school day.
Planned Absences and Vacations
Occasionally a student will know in advance that he/she will be absent from school. This can be excused if, and only if, a planned absence form is
completed prior to the absence. This requires that the student notify his/her teachers of the planned absence so that school work missed during the absence can be given to the student. This must be done at least three days prior to the planned absence. Planned absence forms are available in the Attendance Office and are required for absences of 2 or more days.
If forms are not completed and returned before the student leaves, the absences will be unexcused.
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