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Family Newsletter for Monona Grove High School
~ October 2017
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A Message From Dr. Brost
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Dear Parents:
The school year is underway and students have gotten into their new routines. Progress Reports will be available on Infinite Campus the week of October 9. I will send you an e-mail when they are ready. Please stay in touch with your student's teachers and guidance counselor if you have any concerns.
The Fall Academic Awards Banquet will be held on November 13th at 7:30 p.m. To qualify for an award students must earn 6, 12, or 18 points. Students are awarded points each semester based on their GPA: 3.0-3.49 = 1 pt 3.5-3.74 = 2 pts 3.75-4.0 = 3 pts. Award winner lists will be posted in the Guidance Office window for students to check their status.
Last October I noted that the high school enrollment was gradually increasing. Our enrollment last fall was 987 students. This year we have 1025. Next year, another large class will enter the high school. We are then expected to level off for a number of years. I do not anticipate any difficulties with high school space in the near future as our facility will accommodate the recent moderate increase.
Some fall sports are already nearing post-season play. We are proud of the commitment our student athletes make to their sport and the classroom. A number of clubs are also very busy and many have high levels of participation. If your student is not already involved in a co-curricular activity, it is not too late to join! We have a number of clubs and winter sports registration is around the corner. We know that students who are involved in activities beyond the school day tend to feel more connected to school and have better academic outcomes.
Seniors should be working on and completing college applications. Whether attending a two-year, or four-year college, it is advantageous to be organized and get information submitted well before deadlines. School counselors can assist with any questions about application processes. It is important to note that Financial Aid Night is on October 4 at 6:30 p.m. This process starts earlier than in the past. You can now submit applications for financial assistance before the end of the fiscal year.
It is a joy to work with MGHS students every day. Thank you for instilling kindness and respect in your family. We want all students to get off to a good start, so please let us know if there is anything that our staff can do to provide academic or emotional/social support.
You are invited to attend the Parent/Educator Forum at 6:30 p.m. on October 16. Please e-mail or call us at 221 - 7666 with any questions or concerns.
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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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,
October 16th.
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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News from the Student Services Department
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 is assigned a counselor based on the student's last name:
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Ms. Bishop has A-G
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Mr. Groff has H-O
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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.
Senior Meetings
- All seniors are asked to schedule your senior meeting with your school counselor as soon as possible. We will discuss your post high school plans and answer your questions. Also, remember to review the post-secondary planning powerpoint that was sent to you in early September.
Letters of recommendation
- Many of you plan to ask your teacher, employer, coach or counselor for a letter of recommendation. Quality recommendations take some time to write! Please request your
letters at least two weeks - preferably more - prior to your deadline.
Scholarship Information
Scholarship information can be found on the MG website in the student services tab under "Post-Secondary Planning". It's up to the students to check this regularly for updates. Most colleges/universities also offer their own annual scholarship opportunities to incoming freshmen. Students are highly encouraged to explore these by contacting their future school(s) of choice or by visiting school websites.
Save the Date!
Financial Aid Night for Junior and Seniors and their parents/guardians
Wednesday, 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!
College Goal Wisconsin
College Goal Wisconsin is a free event where families and students get expert assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Financial aid officers from local colleges will be available to answer questions and help families through the process of applying for financial aid.
After a quick overview, families and students move to a computer lab to complete the online FAFSA form.
On Wednesday, October 25th, DeForest will be hosting College Goal Wisconsin beginning at 6:00pm at DeForest Area Middle School. DeForest Area Middle School address is:
404 Yorktown Road DeForest, WI 53532.
Click on the following link for the list of items students/parents should bring: Items for FAFSA
See attachment for more information or visit http://collegegoalwi.org/
PSAT for Sophomores and Juniors!!
The PSAT will be held at Monona Grove High School on Saturday, October 14 from 7:30 am until approximately 11:30 am. Students may begin checking in at 7:40 a.m. at the main entrance of the building. Please bring your student ID, #2 pencils, and approved calculator.
HOW DO I PREPARE?
When you registered for the PSAT, you received a PSAT Student Guide. Please review this carefully before taking the test. It includes a sample of a complete exam which you can self score as well as additional information about the National Merit Scholarship Program. Additional information can be found at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10
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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
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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
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Online Athletics Registration is up and running!
Monona Grove High School has moved to an online registration process for athletics. The online registration will take place through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
A message will be sent to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal Inbox the week of October 2. Please click on the flagged message labeled "Winter Sports Athletics Registration" to complete the online registration process.
All forms will now be completed online, except the Physical/Alternate Year Card. These should be turned into the High School Main Office. Payments can also be completed through Infinite Campus, or turned into the Main Office.
Winter Sports Registration
The pre-season athlete meeting for parents and students will be held on Monday, October 30 in the Monona Grove High School Auditorium. The meeting will start in the auditorium at 6:00 pm.
This meeting is designed to inform both parents and student athletes of the expectations Monona Grove High School holds for their athletes.
Winter Sport Practice Start Dates are as follows:
- Boys Basketball - Nov. 13
- Girls Basketball - Nov. 6
- Gymnastics - Nov. 6
- Hockey (Boys & Girls) - Nov. 6
- Boys Swim - Nov. 13
- Wrestling - Nov. 13
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.
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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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| Welcome New Staff Members |
MGHS is Include articles on topics of interest to your readers, relevant news and events. If you find an interesting article on the Web, you can easily ask the author's permission to summarize the article and link to it from your newsletter. Drive traffic to your website by entering teaser text for the article with a link to your website for readers to view the full text.
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| Silver Connections Perform at State Capitol |
The MGHS varsity show choir, Silver Connection, performed at the State Superintendent's State of Education Address on Thursday, September 21, at the state capitol.
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| MGHS Homecoming Court |
Congratulations
to the 2017-18 MGHS Homecoming Court! Nicole Benedict, Tatem Capouch, Claudia Duval, Maya Erickson, Jordyn Metcalf, Hugh Counsell, Taylor Duncan, Austin Elmer, Bronz Geissler, Lucas Gerlach, Eric Storms
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| Yearbook Orders |
Yearbooks are not included in student fees and must be paid for separately.
Payments can be made in IC by adding the fee and making a payment or sending a check to the Main Office. Deadline to order a yearbook is October 26.
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| Annual Meeting and Budget Hearing |
The Monona Grove School District Annual Meeting and Budget Hearing will be held on
Wednesday, October 4
, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Room 310 of the District Office, 5301 Monona Drive. All district residents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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| Graduation Orders |
Midwest Scholastics will meet with seniors on October 30 regarding graduation announcements, caps and gowns. Please be sure to ask your senior for ordering information.
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| Parent Teacher Conferences |
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held November 8 and November 16. Your student's teachers will send you a sign-up sheet via "Sign-Up Genius" to schedule your conference time.
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| Student Fees |
If you haven't done so already, please be sure to pay your student's fees for the 2017-18 school year.
Checks can be mailed to school or parents can pay online in the parent portal.
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| Fight Hunger Day Support |
Attending an all day College Connections Forum at Madison College on September 14th didn't stop staff from the MGHS Student Services team from wearing orange in support of Fight Hunger Day!
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| Youth Apprenticeship KickOff |
In early September, Monona Grove High School Youth Apprenticeship students got together to eat donuts and kick off the school year. Many have already begun working and taking their related courses. This year we have Youth Apprentices in the following areas: Nursing, Construction, Automotive, Pharmacy, Engineering, Biotechnology, Veterinary, Information Technology, Management and Marketing. These students are going to accomplish some amazing things this year!
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| MGEF GALA |
Mark your calendars for Saturday November 4th! The Monona Grove Education Foundation's 4th Annual Gala will be celebrating and honoring Rebecca Fox-Blair, the executive director of -
MG21, Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for the 21st Century. Get your tickets now at the MGEF website.
Fox Blair has changed countless lives through patience, persistence and passion. She has helped to establish Monona Grove's charter school, MG21, implementing a program that has made immeasurable strides in achievement for many students. In turn, we are delighted to honor her commitment to our students and her incredible ability to shape our world through her work with students at this year's Gala.
In year's past the Gala has featured a silent auction. This year that auction will be replaced with an on-line auction. The on-line auction will begin on October 20th. Items confirmed for the auction include VIP fan experiences for MG Athletics, student pieces from the Art and Tech Ed departments, Aldo Leopold bench from MG 21, restaurant certificates, Milwaukee Bucks tickets and so much more. Be sure to check out the MGEF website for details.
Please join us on
November 4th
at the East Side Club in a celebration of Rebecca, our 16-17 innovation grant winners, and our fantastic school district. For more information click HERE to visit the MGEF website.
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