Monroe Messages
Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
Use Infinite Campus Portal to Check Grades and Attendance for Your Student
Monroe County Schools offers parents and guardians the opportunity to track grades and attendance through Infinite Campus.  You can learn more about the Infinite Campus Portal for Parents here. 
 
Students may also login to the portal using their own credentials to track their own progress.   
 
The Infinite Campus app is available for download through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.  Download the app to your smartphone, and make sure you turn on notifications within the app so you get push notifications immediately if your child is marked tardy or absent. Contact your student's school for assistance.
Mary Persons defeated Morrow 62-12 at the Pitt Friday night. Our dogs move to 3-0 on the young season! Congrats to the football team, band, cheerleaders, and fans on a GREAT night to be a Bulldog! The Bulldogs are at home again on Friday, September 7 against Lovett.


September is National School Attendance Month.  Every day counts, and it's important for students at every age to be present for school.  Often times, parents of very young children -- PK, K, and 1st -- have the mindset that missing a day doesn't matter, but indeed, each day is important.   
 
Attendance is essential to school success, and students, parents and schools do not often realize how quickly absences, excused and unexcused, can add up to academic trouble. Chronic absence,  missing 10 percent of a school year, or just 2-3 days every month, can translate into third-graders unable to master reading, sixth-graders failing courses, and ninth-graders dropping out of high school. Some low-income students, who must depend on school for opportunities to learn, are especially harmed when they miss too much instruction.
 
Chronic absence is an alarming problem preventing children from opportunity to learn and succeed. It affects 5 million to 7.5 million students, more than one in 10, nationwide. This is not just a problem in middle and high school: It starts in kindergarten and preschool.
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO
  • Talk about the importance of attendance.  Make the expectation and show your child good attendance at your work and your life activities.
  • Know Monroe County Schools' attendance policies and procedures.  You can find each school's student handbook on the school's website.  Ask questions if you need clarification.
  • Stay on top of your child's academic progress.  Check progress reports.  Use the Infinite Campus app to get attendance and progress information.  Signup for Remind messages.  Many of our schools and individual teachers offer this free texting service. 
  • Set a regular bed time. Establish and stick to routines.
  • Organize clothing and items to go to school the night before.
  • Don't let your child stay home unless he or she is truly sick.  Keep in mind complaints of a stomachache may be anxiety versus a reason to stay home.
  • If your child is sick, take measures to help him or her get well so return to school is as swift as possible.
  • If your child seems anxious about going to school, reach out to teachers and counselors so we can help you and your family.
  • Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up.  Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent if you need assistance.
  • Avoid medical appointments if at all possible when school is in session.
  • Avoid vacations and extended trips during the school year. Check our website for our school year calendar so you and your family can plan accordingly.
  • If your child is absent from school, we will be calling your contact numbers to make sure you are aware of this.  Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in Infinite Campus.  You can contact your child's school registrar, and she can update your information.
  • Looking for ideas to encourage your child to attend school?  Contact our parent coordinators who can help and direct you to community resources as well.
Source:   Adapted from http://www.attendanceworks.org. 


Message from Monroe County Schools Nurses:
Check Your Cabinets for Recalled Cereal
On June 14, 2018, the Kellogg Company recalled Honey Smacks cereal. 
  • Do not eat recalled Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal in any size packaging.
  • Check your home for the recalled cereal and throw it away, or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
    • Even if some of the cereal was eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest of it away or return it for a refund.
  • If you store cereal that looks like Kellogg's Honey Smacks in another container without the packaging and don't remember the brand or type, throw it away.
    • Kellogg's Honey Smacks is a sweetened puffed wheat cereal.
    • Thoroughly wash the container with warm, soapy water before using it again, to remove harmful germs that could contaminate other food.
  • Retailers should not sell or serve recalled Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal.
    • Recalled Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal has a "best if used by" date from June 14, 2018 through June 14, 2019. The "best if used by" date is on the box top.
    • The recalled 15.3 oz. Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal has a UPC code of 38000 39103. The recalled 23.0 oz. Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal has a UPC code of 38000 14810. The UPC code is on the bottom of the box.
  • Most people infected with Salmonella develop the following signs and symptoms 12-72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria: diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps. Contact a healthcare provider if you think you got sick from consuming recalled Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal.
Adapted from:  https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/s0615-honey-smacks-salmonella.html.



Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas. Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX   Dr. Mike Hickman   25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029   478-994-2031  Student and Athletic Title IX Jackson Daniel  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  Student 504 Jenny Rooks 25 Brooklyn Avenue Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved.