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Family Newsletter for Monona Grove High School
~ May 2020
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A Message From Dr. Brost
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Dear Parents:
We hope that your family is well and that you have access to resources needed to get through the health crisis. Please connect with our school counselors, psychologist, social worker, or administrators if there is anything we can assist you with.
The May newsletter traditionally contains information regarding final exams, end-of-year recognition ceremonies, and graduation. With schools closed for the rest of the year, sadly we now know that we will not be able to salvage any of our student activities, concerts, recognition ceremonies, etc. At this time, there are still a number of important items that we do not have answers for; the biggest being the Class of 2020 commencement. We are in the process of planning something we can do virtually. If the Safer at Home order is removed on May 26 and the state goes to Phase One, we are only allowed gatherings of 10 or fewer. Phase Two allows for gatherings of 50. We would have to get to Phase Three sometime in the next couple of months to host a traditional graduation ceremony. Public Health of Madison and Dane County has informed us that this is very unlikely and that schools should plan for virtual graduation ceremonies. When we have a plan for some type of recognition, distribution of caps and gowns, and distribution of diplomas, we will communicate it out. A process for seniors to turn in Chromebooks, textbooks, and clean out lockers also needs to be determined.
The last day of virtual learning for seniors will likely be Friday, May 29. The week of June 1 will be used to enter senior grades, turn in materials, and finalize processes for graduation. Underclassmen will continue with virtual learning through Friday, June 5. Final Exam week, June 8 - 11, will be used to wrap up year-end processes. Awards and scholarships for senior recognition will be determined and distributed to students through the mail.
Progress Reports will be posted in Infinite Campus the week of May 11. I will send an email when they are available. They will simply indicate whether each student is Passing or Failing the course at this time. Please communicate with the teacher if you have any questions regarding the status of your student in a class. A reminder that students must complete ALL Knowledge and Skills assignments to be passing and to earn credit for a class. This is a crucial time for seniors to make sure they are in good standing in all classes.
The school-closing order goes through the end of June. We will not know what summer activities can be offered, in even July and August, until the next phase of the health crisis is announced. We are working on plans to have Summer School online. We don't know the status of Jump Start, summer camps, music practices, weight lifting, or other typical summer activities at this time.
We appreciate your patience and flexibility. Stay healthy and take care.
Sincerely,
Paul Brost, Ph.D.
Principal
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Grab-n-Go Breakfast and Lunch
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 The School Nutrition Department is providing "Grab & Go" lunch and breakfast meals for children during the school closure. The pre-packaged meals are provided free for children age 18 and under. Families can visit https://www.mononagrove.org/welcome/coronavirus.cfm for details and distribution sites. The link will be updated, so families should revisit the link for any changes in the coming weeks. |
| Silver Eagle Senior Spotlights |
All graduating seniors should have received an e-mail on Monday, April 27th about gathering information for senior spotlights. The spotlights will contain some or all of the following: student name, yearbook picture, answers to questions about their time at MG and their future plans. The spotlights will be featured in three places: the high school daily video announcements, the high school website, and the district Facebook page. You can find the link to the survey
here, but it must be completed by the student using their school email address.
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News from the Student Services Department
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Talking to Your Family About the Coronavirus
As we continue to navigate the days ahead, we encourage you to continue talking with your student(s) as a family. Some suggestions include:
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Stick to the facts. It can be scary to hear about a disease outbreak, but learning the facts can help ease your mind.
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Help your student remain calm, and assure them their risk is low.
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Remind your family that when we are prepared for difficult situations, we make informed decisions and have more control.
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It's important that we avoid assumptions or stereotypes about who you think may be sick. Viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds. A person's race does not make them more or less likely to be sick or to get sick.
Additional resources for talking with your family:
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The National Association of School Psychologists have an entire page of resources on this topic
here
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Teen Resources
- list of resources for mental health, self care, mindfulness, anxiety & depression, parenting and more.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams 2020
This year's AP Exams will:
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Be available for students to take at home.
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Be delivered to students online, and, in most cases can be taken with a smartphone, laptop, desktop, tablet, or Chromebook.
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Include only free-response questions.
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Be approximately 45 minutes long.
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Be open book/open notes, but will not permit consultation with other students or teachers during the test.
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Only include topics and skills most AP students had already covered by early March.
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Give students the opportunity to earn college credit if they receive a qualifying score.
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Have the support of college admissions officers who review applications, and college faculty who decide whether college credit is awarded.
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Please note that this description does not pertain to AP Art and Design courses and Ms. Butler is working with these students directly.
Please be sure that your student is checking their email and on-line class platforms regularly as teachers are corresponding with their students about updates as well as continued learning and content review. Additionally, The College Board has been sending updates to students directly. These are very important to read for students and families to stay current. Also, please make sure your student's email is accepting correspondence from The College Board as this is how they will obtain their testing codes on exam dates.
While we strongly encourage students to take the AP Exams that they have signed up and been preparing for, if you and your student feel that this is not in their best interest,
for this year only
, students can opt out of the exam and receive a full refund. The student must email both the AP teacher as well as Susan Bishop and include the name of the exam that they are no longer taking, the name for the refund of the check to be written as well as the address to send the check.
ACT Results and Score Reports
Students who have questions about how and when they will receive their ACT score reports from state testing in February are asked to see page 3 of their
"Taking the ACT Test"
booklet that was distributed during pre-administration bubbling. Most score reports are received between 5 - 8 weeks after the test date. Score reports are mailed from ACT directly to the homes of students.
If a student already has an ACT web account,
they should wait at least 1 week after they receive their paper score report to check for their State testing scores.
If a student does
not
have an ACT web account, they must wait until
after
they receive their mailed score report before creating an account.
ACT with writing score reports are mailed 5-8 weeks after the test date. To create their account, students will need to enter the ACT ID from their paper score report.
Senior News
Senior Recognition Night
As the senior class begins their final weeks of high school, we recognize that many of their end of year experiences and celebrations may look different this year. The Monona Grove High School administration and staff - along with our generous scholarship sponsors - want to celebrate the Class of 2020 and recognize their many accomplishments! While we cannot gather together to celebrate, all scholarship and award recipients will receive a congratulatory letter and a printed copy of the Senior Recognition Night program in the mail.
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.
Financial Aid Offers...Now What?
Are you confused by your financial aid offer or wondering how to fill in the gaps between a financial aid offer and the cost of tuition? Karla Weber, Communications Manager at the UW-Madison Office of Student Financial Aid, shares information regarding next steps in making decisions related to financial aid. Also, remember that your best resource to answer your financial aid related questions is the financial aid office at the college where you will be attending in the fall.
The offers of financial aid have arrived - now what?
After submitting applications and lots of waiting, your students are likely getting their offers of financial aid. Now your family needs to make some BIG decisions - where do you start?
Identify the sources of financial aid your student is being offered. Remember anything labeled "Grant" or "Scholarship" is the good stuff - that's free money that never needs to be repaid. These funds ultimately reduce your out of pocket cost for college. "Work-study" is an employment program. Your student will need to work to earn the dollars they've been offered through the program. Anything labeled "Loan" is money that will eventually need to be repaid - sometimes with interest. Always take a "Subsidized" loan first - the interest on subsidized loans doesn't begin accruing until after your student finishes their degree-program.
If your student applied to more than one school - compare their offers of financial aid. Start by taking each school's tuition and cost for housing and subtract their individual offers of FREE money (grants/scholarships) from that total. The remaining amount is what will have to be covered through other financial means, whether that be taking out educational loans, working, etc. This remaining amount is often called the "Net Price" and is the number you want to compare between schools - which school will provide you with the lowest Net Price?
If what your student has been offered isn't enough, families of undergraduates have two additional loan options they can pursue:
* Federal Parent Loan for Undergrad Student (PLUS). This is a federal loan that the parent of a dependent undergraduate can apply for and receive. Some schools include this loan in their offer, others don't. Why? It's not a guaranteed loan and requires a separate application and basic credit check through www.studentloans.gov.
* Private Educational Loans. Some schools may have a preferred private loan lender list. Otherwise, we encourage families to start with the bank/credit union you're already a member of to see what educational loans they offer. In general, private loans can vary drastically in terms of interest rates, repayment terms, etc. Make sure you do thorough research before you agree to take out any private loans!
Please also make sure to take some time in the coming months to talk to your students about money management and budgeting. Studies have shown that students learn the most about managing money from their parents. Does your student have a checking or savings account? Do they understand credit and/or credit cards? If you don't talk to your student about money - who will?
It is also never too late to save for college. If your student has a summer job, have him/her save some earnings each week to have spending money when they get to campus.
And, don't forget that the Financial Aid Office at the schools your student is considering are truly your BEST resource to help you through the process. There's also great, general financial aid information online through the Federal Student Aid website - www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Other Information:
We understand that there is a great deal of uncertainty among high school seniors regarding changes that are being made to accommodate remote instruction. Due to the worldwide and nationwide circumstances, colleges recognize that there may be changes in class and grading structures. While we cannot speak to all universities, many have reached out to counselors to assure us that they are there to support you during this time and they ask that you contact them directly with any questions or concerns. Colleges are sharing that it is unlikely that offers of admission will be revoked as long as students complete all graduation requirements, so please work hard to finish the year strong, regardless of the new circumstances.
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| News from the Athletic Department |
At-Home Workout Plans
Do you have a student-athlete that is missing after-school strength and conditioning? Students can access at-home workout plans by following the Monona Grove Strength
Instagram account. The account name is mghsstrength.
There is also a
Google Sheet with cycles 1 and 2 of at-home workouts as well as sprint training.
MGHS Summer Camps
Summer Camps have been postponed due to social distancing guidelines. If allowed, we will host camps in July and early August, and communication will be shared district-wide with dates and registration details.
Fall Sports Registration
Online registration for Fall Sports will open in early July, and registration will, once again, be completed through Infinite Campus. Fall Sport Practice Start Dates are as follows:
Pre-season parent/athlete meeting dates for Fall Sports will also be sent via Infinite Campus, so please keep any eye out for that message.
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| Read More to Stay Active |
Reading is good for you. Did you know that sustained reading--the kind of reading we do when we read novels--not only builds and exercises the "thinking" brain, but also that part of the brain responsible for muscle memory and physical agility?
Researchers believe that this is, in part, due to the fact that when we read we imagine ourselves immersed in the action being described. At a time when students may be struggling to find opportunities to be physically active, reading may be a way to connect and exercise in a whole new way.
The MGHS library offers students thousands of ebooks and digital audio books available 24/7, 365 days a year. Below are a number of links worth using this school year, this summer and beyond.
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| Madison Public Library Access |
Want to use the public library's free ebooks when they're closed, but you don't have a library card? The Madison Public Library staff has set up a virtual library card to meet the needs of the community during the public health emergency. Fill out this
short online form to get your virtual library card. Within 48 hours of submitting your form, you will have instant access to over 71,000 ebooks and audiobooks, over 50 online magazines and many more free online resources.
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| Virtual Summer School 2020 |
Monday, June 22 -- Friday, July 17
(no class Friday, July 3)
Monona Grove High School provides summer school for additional academic
support for students who did not pass a specific course and need credit remediation. This year, summer school will be held online. Registration for the credit recovery classes at MGHS summer school will continue to be done through our MGHS counselors in Student Services. Parents will receive communication from the student services department stating that your child needs to sign up for summer school and how to register.
In addition to credit recovery classes, MGHS will offer an ACT prep class. Registration for this course will occur through our Student Services department, please email [email protected] to register.
We are still hoping to offer our Speed, Conditioning & Agility and Weight Training sessions, but it will
NOT
run through summer school. Registration for those sessions will be done through the MGHS Athletic Department. Please watch the
MGHS Athletics webpage
for more information on how to sign up for Speed, Conditioning & Agility and Weight Training (if it's happening).
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| Principal Hiring Update- Finalist Forums |
On Wednesday, April 29th,
a panel of teachers, staff, students, parents and community members participated in a virtual forum with each finalist for the high school principal position. The panelists were: teachers and staff Scott Groff, Paul Kelly, Jason Roth, and Jill Bertera; parents Cathy Bernards and Loreen Gage;
and students Imani F. and Henry W.
The finalists are:
Jonathan Rouse
4K-12 Curriculum Coordinator and MG21 Charter School Middle Campus Administrator, Monona Grove School District (2 years)
Previous administrative experience:
Principal, Riverside Middle School , Watertown, WI (3 years)
Assistant Principal, Sun Prairie High School, Sun Prairie, WI (6 years)
Mitch McGrath
Assistant Principal, West High School, Madison, WI (16 years)
Previous administrative experience:
Principal, Marshall High School, Marshall, WI (3 years)
Assistant Principal, LaFollette High School, Madison, WI (1 year)
Assistant Principal, Portage High School, Portage, WI (3 years)
Adam Kurth
Principal, Cedarburg High School, Cedarburg, WI (4 years)
Previous administrative experience:
Principal, Luxemburg-Casco High School, Luxemburg, WI (2 years)
Assistant Principal, West Bend East and West High Schools, West Bend, WI (3 years)
Each candidate forum was recorded and the combined forum playlist is available for viewing
here
. After viewing the candidate forums, you are invited to share your feedback through this
candidate feedback survey
. Any member of our community is welcome to provide feedback; members of the public can access this information on
our website
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The survey will remain open through Sunday, May 3.
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| MG21 Liberal Arts Charter School |
 MG21 is a public charter school for students in grades 6 through 12. It is part of the Monona Grove School District. Applications are now being accepted for the 2020/21 school year. Learn more and apply online at:
www.mg21.org
There is a virtual information session being offered on Wednesday, May 6th at 6:00 p.m. Check out the website for more information. The application deadline is Friday, May 22.
The 10th Anniversary Open House originally scheduled for April 7th has been postponed until September 2020.
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2019-2020 Calendars and Schedules
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District Student Calendars:
Click
HERE to view the English version.
Click
HERE to view the Spanish version.
District Events Calendar Link:
Athletics Calendar Link:
MGHS CALENDARS MAIN PAGE IS
HERE
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