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Dear Miramonte Community,
As we head into this Halloween weekend, I wanted to encourage you to talk to your children about their health and safety at Halloween house parties and other off-campus events. Our district has seen an uptick in issues at house parties this year, and there was a serious incident recently in Walnut Creek involving a shooting at a party that some district students attended.
A few things to consider:
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High school students across the country are increasingly experimenting with fentanyl, including the latest “rainbow” fentanyl, and this trend has increased recently in East Bay communities.
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On Halloween it is especially important for teens to drive and ride safe, and Orinda police will be actively patrolling streets for dangerous drivers.
- Parents can be held liable and accountable for incidents that occur at their homes. This has been proven true in courts across the country every year.
Finally, we are encouraging all students to dress up this Monday (our staff will be joining in on the fun as well!), and have shared with them the Halloween Costume Policy so we can have an extremely positive day. Have a wonderful Halloween weekend and GO MATS!
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Dear Miramonte Families,
Did you see the recent article in Lamorinda Weekly featuring Miramonte's very own student/teacher rock band, the Matador Express? It's one more example of the special culture we have at Miramonte, where our teachers and administration are always looking for new ways to inspire our students' boundless creativity.
There are many upcoming events on campus, so please make sure you check out the calendar below. On Wednesday, November 9, Miramonte will host the district-wide Latinx & Indigenous People Heritage Festival (details below). Be sure to come out and experience this fun and educational event!
Enjoy the Halloween weekend!
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October 27-28: Fall Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream; 7:00-9:00 p.m.; MHS Theater (tickets)
October 29: Fall Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream; 2:00-4:00 p.m.; MHS Theater (tickets)
October 31: Halloween (costume policy)
October 31: Winter sports begin
November 1: Parent Ed: College Admissions; 12:00-1:00 p.m. (details)
November 2: AUHSD Governing Board Meeting; 7:00 p.m.; District office
November 3: Parent Ed: Internet Safety Night; 6:30 p.m., Acalanes Theater (details)
November 5: Public Speaking Congress 2 Tournament
November 7: Will follow Wednesday/Friday schedule
November 7: Athletic Boosters Meetings; 6:00 p.m.; MHS Library
November 9: Parents' Club Meeting; 9:30 a.m.; location TBD
November 9: College Sports Commitment Ceremony; lunch period; MHS Quad
November 9: Latinx & Indigenous People Heritage Festival; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; MHS Student Union (details)
November 10: Parent Ed: Restoring Youth Mental Health; 4:00 p.m.; online (details)
November 10: Deadline to purchase AP Exams
November 11: Veterans Day; No school
November 12: Public Speaking Debate 2 Tournament
November 13: Miramonte Jazz Band joint concert; 5:00 p.m.; Del Valle Education Center Theater
November 15: Parent Ed: Connecting With Your Teen; 6:00-7:00 p.m.; Zoom (details)
November 16: Linksgiving (for students)
November 16: AUHSD Governing Board Meeting; 7:00 p.m.; District office
November 17&18: Performers for Progress; 7:00-9:00 p.m.; MHS Theater
November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break
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BECAUSE YOU GIVE –
Latin is a flagship program at Miramonte! Not many public high schools offer Latin, but Miramonte is able to offer Latin 1 through Latin 5, including AP Latin. Magister Matt Davis and Magistra Jennifer Mullowney teach Latin at Miramonte and run the popular Latin Club. Latin students learn vocabulary and grammar, of course, but they also study ancient mythology and read the works of Ovid, Ulysses, Cicero, and Caesar, among others. The students also publish finished the first edition of “The Consul”, the Latin Club newsletter w
This past Saturday, for the first time since 2019, Miramonte Latin students, Magister, Magistra, and parent chaperones traveled to St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco to participate at Ludi, the fall Nor-Cal Latin convention for the California Junior Classical League. Financial support from ONE-Miramonte helped to underwrite some of the costs for buses and registration fees for Ludi.
At Ludi, students engaged in a full day of Latin-related activities: students took academic tests, competed in sports, played certamen (Latin quiz bowl), practiced spirit cheers, attended lectures given by university professors and other experts on the ancient world, and made new friends. Our Miramonte Latin Delegation represented our school exceptionally well at Ludi. Congratulations to all of the contest winners. Ite, Mats!
When asked what support from ONE-Miramonte means to the Latin Club, Co-Consuls Megan Chui and Jessica Millmoe said:
Salvete Parentes!
Latin Club sent over 160 students and 28 chaperones to the regional Latin convention, Ludi, at St. Ignatius thanks to your donations! To prepare, students were required to attend one study session on one of four topics- mythology, vocab, daily life, and grammar. In addition, students learned spirit cheers during class and taught them to other schools.
Outside of Ludi, students are donating food to the local food bank!
Gratias tibi ago for your donations!!
Here’s what Miramonte Class of 2021 graduate and former Co-Consul of the Latin Club Xander Deanhardt had to say about his time studying Latin at Miramonte:
Latin was far and away the best class I took in high school all 4 years I took it. It's such an interesting subject because there is no better way to understand how the languages we have today work. The community surrounding Latin is one of the most vibrant there is, and if you immerse yourself in it, it makes learning Latin just that much more fun.
Miramonte Latin is one of the MANY engaging programs supported by your donations to ONE-Miramonte. BECAUSE YOU GIVE, our students’ academic experiences are enriched by participating in one of the largest and most active Latin programs in the entire state.
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School Supply Drive for Afghan Refugee Students
Advocacy for Immigrants and Refugees is hosting a School Supplies Drive for Afghan refugees in our area until Saturday, November 5. Please leave any donations in the marked boxes around campus. Find more information here.
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AUHSD Latinx/Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Festival
On Wednesday, November 9, Miramonte is hosting AUHSD's Latinx/Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Festival! It will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Miramonte Student Union, with food, performances, and many booths showcasing a variety of cultures. Find more information here.
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The Ins & Outs of the College Admissions Process - deadline to register is today!
The Moraga Rotary Club is hosting an event, co-sponsored by AUHSD and the Moraga School District, on Tuesday, November 1, 12:00-1:00 p.m., titled "The Ins & Outs of the College Admissions Process". Annie Wells will be sharing insights into the college admissions process. Location, registration information, and additional details can be found on their website. The deadline to register is today, Friday, October 28.
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Internet Safety Night
Acalanes High School and Acalanes Parents' Club invite all AUHSD parents and guardians to an Internet Safety Night on Thursday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the Acalanes Theater. From online trolling to social media, what parents need to know for their new high schoolers as well as those getting ready to graduate and what happens in college and the postgraduate world. Find more details here.
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Challenge Success - Online Panel Discussion: Restoring Youth Mental Health
Challenge Success is holding a free virtual event on Thursday, November 10, 4:00 p.m. on restoring youth mental health. Find more information and registration details here.
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The Miramonte Players present William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream playing October 27-29. Tickets are available at showtix4u.com.
There is something for everyone in this mystical, magical, romantic, zany comedy! You will not want to miss the work of our talented Advanced Drama and Stagecraft students!
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First-Year Students
Counselors are starting meetings with first-year students to discuss how their transition to high school has been going, things they are enjoying, how they are utilizing academies, etc. We value this opportunity to get to know students a little bit more!
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Check with Your Student about Club Meetings
Did your student sign up for a club on Club Day? Ask them if they have attended any meetings yet! We encourage all of our Matadors to engage with their community here on campus.
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Seniors
- Please remind your student that application workshops are being held each academy session in the College and Career Center.
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If your student is applying to college, they should begin ordering transcripts on the Web Store. On the Web Store, they need to list the name of the college(s) they are applying to completely (ex. University of Oregon; not U of O), but do not need to provide an address.
- UC and CSU schools do NOT need transcripts ordered unless specifically requested by the school.
- If your student qualifies for a testing fee waiver, they are also eligible for a transcript fee waiver. Please have them approach their counselor with any questions or concerns.
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Last week during Academy, the Wellness Center hosted a presentation on Substance Abuse and Harm Reduction. On Wednesday of this week, the AUHSD Parent Education Series continued with a presentation on the Power of Parents in Navigating Substance Use and the Fentanyl Epidemic with Teens. While we recognize the difficulty of this topic, awareness and knowledge are key to interacting with your teens on this subject. We encourage you to watch this video to learn more about the latest Fentanyl crisis. Fentanyl crisis: A look inside a SoCal DEA lab Communication with your teens plays such an important role in keeping your kids safe!
Additional upcoming Parent Education opportunities come from TUPE (Tobacco Use Prevention and Education) and include:
The Wellness Center is here to provide resources and support to your students. Reach out if you have questions or to refer a student for counseling support.
Have a safe and happy Halloween weekend!
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Boosters Needs Your Help!
Become Part of The Team Behind the Teams!
Miramonte Boosters Club is a critical funding mechanism for Miramonte Athletics. Thanks to member donations, Boosters is able to purchase much-needed equipment, gear, and supplies for all of our athletic teams. More importantly, the club helps pay for the salaries of personnel, such as the athletic trainer and strength/conditioning coach.
The entire school depends on the Boosters’ Club to pay for big-ticket capital purchases!
Boosters donations are used to fund the following:
- Athletic Trainer
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Sports Medicine Supplies
- Weight Room Equipment
- Equipment for every MATS sports team including balls, nets, training aides, etc.
- Capital expenditures such as scoreboards, cheer mats, wrestling mats, ball boundary safety nets, gym wall pads, goals and bench covers.
We seek 100% of families with student-athletes to join the Boosters’ Club!
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The Miramonte Cheerleading program helps keep school spirit alive year-round by enhancing game excitement and crowd involvement at sporting events, as well as performing at rallies and other school events throughout the year. There are three different cheerleading programs: sideline cheer (football & basketball season), competition cheer (winter), and stunt/sport cheer (spring). Currently, sideline cheer is in full swing with football games tonight at Acalanes and next Friday, November 4, at Campo (Senior Night).
There are 34 athletes on the sideline cheer team this year (22 varsity and 12 JV). Halftime shows are a highlight for the team, and there are several athletes that are very skilled at breakdancing and stunting.
This year the team held open tryouts for the competition cheer squad (many of the sideline cheer athletes also do competition cheer). Their first competition is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, in Roseville, and will involve more complicated dancing routines.
Stunt cheer (in the spring) is a fun sport focused on technique where athletes perform a stunt, pyramid, or jump routine for a point. There are six stunt, six pyramid, and six jump routines. Stunt teams from various schools compete against each other doing the same routine, and the team who performs it the best gets a point. Miramonte competes in a fairly large league of at least eight teams, with the top two qualifying for NCS.
Practice times are on Monday from 4-7 p.m. (sideline), Tuesday 4-7 p.m. (competition), and Wednesday 4-6 p.m., 6-8 p.m. (both teams). Courtney Gosney is the cheer coach. She is also the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Principals and the Athletic Director and a testing coordinator at Miramonte. Follow the team on Instagram @miramontecheer. Go Mats!
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Winter Sports Start on Monday, October 31
The following Winter Sports start on Monday: Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Soccer, and Wrestling.
If you have not already done so, please see this document for instructions about how to register via SportsNet.
Please reach out to the individual coaches for any try-out or program information. Contact information can be found on the Miramonte Athletic Booster Website.
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Senior Yearbook Ads – due by Friday, November 4
Congratulate your senior student with a personalized message in the yearbook! See the flyer for information. The deadline to purchase a senior ad is Friday, November 4. Spots are filling very quickly, and ads are sold on a first come, first served basis. If we sell out before the deadline, the submission window will close.
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Class of 2024
Boo Fest needs your donations! Please sign up to bring baked goods and/or decorations to support this fun event on Monday, October 31.
Questions? Contact the Class of 2024 Parent Advisors
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Job Opening for Students
If your student is looking for a part-time job, let them know that Gopher Club is looking for workers to supervise kids. Applicants must be aged 17 or older. Find more information here.
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Connect with the Parents' Club: | | | | |
