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Dear Miramonte Community,
I am thrilled to announce Katie Watson and Stephanie Brady as the recipients of the 2023-2024 AUHSD Educator of the Year and Employee of the Year awards! Ms. Watson is an esteemed math and science teacher who is beloved by her students and colleagues. She also co-leads the Miramonte Link Crew, which focuses on integrating and supporting 9th Grade students at Miramonte. Ms. Watson’s dedication to fostering student well-being and academic growth is exemplary, and her professionalism and positivity are infectious. Her ability to forge positive relationships with students, staff, and parents alike has truly made her an outstanding educator within the Miramonte community, and I am so proud that she has won this highly competitive district-wide award!
Equally deserving of recognition is Mrs. Brady, our College and Career Center Director, who has elevated the CCC to new heights with her expertise and unwavering commitment. Through her tireless efforts, Mrs. Brady has created a safe and supportive environment where students and families feel informed and empowered in navigating their post-secondary journeys. Her student-centered approach, coupled with a focus on wellness, has transformed the College and Career Center into a beacon of positivity for many students and the envy of schools across the Bay Area. Mrs. Brady is so deserving of this award, and I am grateful that her hard work and excellence have been recognized!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Ms. Watson and Mrs. Brady, as well as to all of the finalists at Miramonte and across the district who also impact our school communities so positively. To send along a congratulations or a thank you note to Ms. Watson, Mrs. Brady, or any staff member, please click here to view our staff directory.
Finally, please be sure to remind your children that tonight we have the Mardi Gras Dance at Miramonte, and are hosting the Women’s Soccer NCS Championship game between #1 Miramonte and #2 Cardinal Newman High School! Have a great weekend, and GO MATS!
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Dear Miramonte Families,
Thank you to all for attending the Parents' Club meeting this week. Many thanks to AUHSD Associate Superintendent John Walker, Principal Ben Campopiano, Sal Avila, and Ellen Zapalac for sharing updates on the master schedule, new ethnic studies course, and Wellness Center. The presentation may be viewed here.
Save the date for our next Parents' Club meeting on Wednesday, April 17. More details to follow.
Thank you to our fabulous Staff Appreciation team for showing our teachers and staff the love last week and providing the lovely spread of treats.
The Parents' Club board is excited to announce our new DEIB Co-Chairs, Roxanne Christophe and Karen Severo. Roxanne and Karen will work with the district on initiatives and events for our students and community. Please visit the DEIB website to learn more and volunteer for future events.
We hope your students are planning to attend tonight’s district-wide Mardi Gras dance, which is hosted by Miramonte’s BSU and Leadership. Purchase tickets here.
GO MATS!
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February 23: Deadline to submit spring Athletic PE contract (info)
February 23: District-wide Mardi Gras Dance; 7-9:00 p.m.; MHS Gym (tickets)
February 24: Latin Certamen State Qualifiers
February 27: Parent Ed Webinar: Challenge Success presents The Well-Balanced Student; 4:00 p.m.; (register)
February 29: Deadline to register for CSF (info)
March 1: Career Month Begins (for students)
March 1: Evacuation Drill during Academy (for students)
March 1: AUHSD Governing Board visit to MHS
March 2 & 3: Public Speaking GGSA State Qualifiers
March 6: AUHSD Governing Board Meeting; 7:00 p.m.; district office
March 6: CCC: Financial Aid Night - Virtual
March 8 & 9: Spring Musical: Footloose (tickets)
March 9: Public Speaking SF Bay Nationals Qualifier
March 9: SAT @ MHS
March 14: Class of 2026 Moms' Social
March 15: End of Third Quarter
March 15: Deadline to drop a class
March 15 & 16: Spring Musical: Footloose (tickets)
March 15 & 16: Public Speaking Congress National Qualifier
March 18: Staff Development Day; No school for students
March 19: Parent & Student Ed: Robert Paylor presents Paralyzed to Power 7:00 p.m.; Acalanes HS Theater (RSVP)
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ONE-Miramonte Fundraising | |
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So far this year, 58% of Miramonte families have given a gift of any size to ONE-Miramonte.
We aim for 100% participation. Why? Because all students benefit from the academic classes and programs that donations to ONE-Miramonte help fund. ONE-Miramonte dollars pay for extra class sections and provide supplemental funding for every class on campus. ONE-Miramonte does not fund luxuries or non-essential items at Miramonte. Donations provide the funding that allows Miramonte to continue to be one of the best high schools in the state, despite receiving the lowest level of funding from the state.
We understand that the $1,500 per-student ask is not affordable to all families. We gratefully accept gifts of any size. All donations to ONE-Miramonte are put to use this school year and benefit all students — even yours!
The ONE-Miramonte fundraising team is working on an email for St. Patrick’s Day about the reasons why we’re lucky our students attend Miramonte. Please let us know here why you appreciate Miramonte and we’ll include you in our message!
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Questions about Miramonte fundraising? Please contact Jill Hughes, VP of Miramonte fundraising, at VPFundraising@mhspc.org. | |
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Mardi Gras Dance Sponsored by Miramonte BSU & Leadership
Miramonte’s BSU and Leadership are hosting a district-wide Mardi Gras dance for all AUHSD students on Friday, February 23, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Along with dancing and an awesome DJ, there will be a 360 open-air video booth, a place to hang out with friends, and an airbrush tattoo artist! Tickets are $10. Purchase tickets here.
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Volunteer and make a difference at our school! Sign up here!
We are extremely lucky to have so many enthusiastic parents who generously give their time to our school community. We have some volunteer jobs that are a great fit for busy parents and some that are perfect for those with the time or inclination to take a bigger leadership role. Questions about volunteering? Contact Meredith Moss or indicate your interest on this form.
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Visual & Performing Arts News | |
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"Holding Out for a Hero," "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Almost Paradise" … yes, it’s almost time for FOOTLOOSE!
Get ready to kick off your Sunday shoes and cut loose at Miramonte High School’s high-energy performance of Footloose! Join us for a toe-tapping, hip-shaking journey that'll have you dancing in the aisles and cheering for more. With electrifying music, exhilarating choreography, and a 90-member cast and crew that's ready to rock, this year’s musical production is sure to make you feel like you've been transported straight to the heart of the '80s. Don't miss out on the fun - grab your tickets before they sell out and prepare to let loose with Footloose!
Purchase tickets here. Show times are Friday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 9, 7:00 p.m.; Friday, March 15, 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday, March 16, 4:00 p.m.
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Advertise your business in the Miramonte Musical Footloose program. $25 for business card size, $50 for a half page, $100 for a full page. Send your PDF or JPEG ad to Heather Cousins by Monday, February 26, at 8:30 a.m. | |
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Schedule Changes
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The deadline to drop a class without it appearing on the student transcript is Friday, March 15.
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Junior Meetings
Junior meetings are underway! Counselors will spend the next two months calling in all juniors for a check-in. This meeting typically lasts between 15-20 minutes as we go over senior year course requests and post-high school plans. Remind your juniors to come ready with their questions!
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California Scholarship Federation (CSF) registration is now open!
CSF is an honor club at Miramonte that acknowledges the high academic achievement of students. Eligibility is determined through a point system based on the last semester’s course load and specific semester grades. Have your student fill out the application on the Web Store to determine if they are eligible. Registration is open for the month of February.
Email Sylvie Shawn with any questions or if you need a fee waiver.
Fill out the application and pay the dues here.
| Follow us! Parents and students can follow the new @miramontecounseling Instagram account for information, news, and advice from the counseling department. | |
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Attention Senior Families: Then and Now Photos due by Friday, February 23
Yearbook is currently collecting submissions from senior families for Then and Now photos. Then and Now photos show your senior student, either on their own or with a group of other Miramonte students, when they were young, and then a current photo recreating the original of the students now. If you would like to submit Then and Now photos, please use this Google form. Please upload two photos: one from back then and the recreated photo from now. Please also provide all students' first and last names in the photo. Submissions are due by the end of the day on Friday, February 23.
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It was a pleasure to host the Parents’ Club meeting in the Student Union and Wellness Center on Wednesday! Parents are always welcome to reach out if you have any questions or concerns or just want to know more about the various services and resources available in the Wellness Center.
Today at lunch, we had our monthly therapy dogs visit- and the kids loved it! Even though the last two weeks have been shorter than usual, they have been packed! It’s amazing to see the impact interacting with these fuzzy friends can have on our students.
Next Friday, we will be participating in the Global Day of Unplugging and encouraging students to commit to unplugging in order to do something specific- coffee with a friend, going on a nature walk, taking your dog on a walk, etc. Maybe your entire family will want to participate! Check out this link to join the movement. We will also be launching our annual ScreenTime Challenge. During the week of March 4- 8, students will earn raffle tickets for prizes if they choose a social media app and show that they reduce their usage throughout the week. Kids who don’t use or have smartphones will also have opportunities to earn raffle tickets! Please encourage your students to participate.
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Class of 2024 News
Graduation Yard Signs - purchase by Thursday, February 29
Graduation yard signs are now for sale on the Web Store. $20. Sales are open until Thursday, February 29. Signs will be distributed in mid-April.
Questions? Contact the Class of 2024 Parent Advisors
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Class of 2027 News
Casa Orinda Chicken Dinner Fundraiser - Monday, February 26
Take the night off from cooking and order your fried chicken dinners to go from Casa Orinda! The meal includes fried chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, and a biscuit. This is a fundraiser to support the Class of 2027. Anyone can order, and it’s not limited to Class of 2027. Place your order on the Web Store, then choose a pick-up time on the Sign-Up Genius. The deadline to order is Sunday, February 25.
Chipotle Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 13, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Guac on! We’ve partnered with Lafayette Chipotle to help raise money for our class. You can order online (website or app) or in person and 33% of sales will be donated back to our class. Order details can be found on our Linktree and via this flyer. Make sure to use this code (3DQFG7D) when you place your order.
Questions? Contact the Class of 2027 Parent Advisors
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Stunt Team Fundraiser - purchase by Friday, March 15
Please support the Miramonte Stunt Team’s spring fundraiser with See’s Candies. The deadline to order is Friday, March 15. All items will ship directly after ordering, and all orders will arrive before the Easter Holiday. Purchase See’s Candies here.
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Next AUHSD Board Meeting
The next AUHSD Board Meeting is on Wednesday, March 6. The agenda will be posted here on Sunday, March 2. The meeting is held at the district office, with the public portion beginning at 7:00 p.m. You may also watch the live broadcast here.
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The remaining Wednesday meeting dates for this school year are March 20, April 17, May 1, May 15, and June 5 | |
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Lamorinda Arts Council High School Visual Arts Competition
The deadline to submit for the 21st Annual High School Visual Arts Competition is coming up fast! All artwork must be received by Friday, February 23. Find all the information here.
Mark your calendars for the Student Exhibit showcasing the creativity of the young artists in our community! The exhibit opens at the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library on Sunday, March 3.
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Acalanes High School Blood Drive
Acalanes HS is holding a blood drive on Tuesday, February 27, in the small gym at Acalanes HS. Anyone 16 years and older can sign up for a donation appointment at this link. Sixteen-year-olds need a signed permission form to donate. Donors will receive a complimentary shirt and a $20 Amazon gift card. Questions? Contact Katherine Walton.
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Contra Costa County Office of Education – Media Contest
Calling all middle and high school students in Contra Costa County! Here's an incredible opportunity to showcase your creativity. Create a short video, social media post, or artwork highlighting the fact that most young people are NOT users of alcohol, tobacco/vaping, cannabis, or prescription drugs. More info here. Submit entries here by Friday, March 29.
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Lamorinda Idol 2024
Lamorinda Arts Council is sponsoring the upcoming "Lamorinda Idol 2024". The program will run from April to August this year. Registration opens on Monday, April 1. Find registration deadlines, rules, audition information, and more at this link. Questions? Contact Aubrey Peterson.
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Connect with the Parents' Club: | | | | |
