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Dear Miramonte Community,
This week was Environmental Spirit Week and our Leadership students did a fantastic job bringing awareness to Earth Day and the environment, and bringing extra joy to campus. Also, a special thanks to the Miramonte Parents’ Club and all of our student, staff, and community volunteers for making the annual Campus Beautification Day a great event!
This Wednesday was Administrative Professionals' Day, so I’d like to give a huge shout out to our amazing professionals who keep Miramonte’s offices running smoothly every day. We have an amazing team of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals… so, when you see or talk to them next, please share your appreciation for their hard work supporting our community!
A few other things to know …
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AP testing begins on Monday, May 6, so please click here to view all the testing details including the student schedule, what to bring, what not to bring, and other details to help your child prepare.
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The Boosters’ athletic facilities meeting that was scheduled this week had to be postponed because of Monday’s lockdown. The new date/time is Monday, May 6, at 5:00 p.m. Click here for more details and please take our athletic facility survey. All parents, student-athletes, coaches, and future Matadors are encouraged to attend.
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Senior parents… please check out our flier listing all upcoming senior events including graduation.
Have a great Friday, see you tonight at Liar, Liar and the lacrosse game, and Go Mats!
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Dear Miramonte Families,
Thank you to all the students and families who helped with Campus Beautification last weekend. Volunteers mulched, weeded, and planted new trees and succulents around campus. Many thanks to Rod Rios for leading this project for our community and to Alissa Lillie and Claudia Vetesi for assistance! We hope you will join us again next year.
Don't miss the Spring Drama Production One Acts – Liar Liar, April 24-27 in the Miramonte Theater. Purchase tickets here
Do you know an incoming 9th-grade family? Invite them to attend the Matador Showcase on Tuesday, May 7, from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. We will have food trucks, a Panel Discussion, a Q&A with Miramonte Staff and student leaders in the Theater, and a Sports Fair in the gym.
Check out the Calendar-at-a-Glance below to stay up to date on all the upcoming events in May! GO MATS!
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April 22-26: Environmental Spirit Week
April 24-27: Spring Drama Production: One Acts – Liar Liar; MHS Theater (tickets)
May 1: AUHSD Governing Board Meeting; 7:00 p.m.; District office
May 3: AUHSD event: Fiesta Latina; 7:00-9:00 p.m.; Las Lomas High School
May 6: Athletic Boosters Club facility meeting; 5:00 p.m.; MHS Library
May 6-10: Staff Appreciation Week
May 6-17: AP Exams (info and schedule)
May 7: Matador Showcase for incoming 9th-grade families; 5:00-8:00 p.m. (flyer)
May 8: CCC: State of College Admissions Presentation; 6:30-8:00 p.m.; MHS Theater
May 10: Spring Band Concert; 7:00-9:00 p.m.; MHS Theater
May 11: Junior Prom
May 14: CCC: Financial Aid Webinar: How to Maximize Financial Aid; 6:30 p.m. (register)
May 15: Parents' Club Meeting; 9:30 a.m.; Room 221
May 15: AUHSD Governing Board Meeting; 7:00 p.m.; District office
May 17: Broadway Showcase; 7:00-9:00 p.m.; MHS Theater
May 19-24: Senior Week
May 22: Voter Registration Event; lunchtime
May 27: Memorial Day; No School
May 28: Class of 2024 Cap & Gown Parade
May 28-31: Spring Semester Final Exams (schedule)
May 30: Class of 2024 Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal; 1:00 p.m.
May 31: Class of 2024 Graduation; 5:30 p.m.; Stadium (info)
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ONE-Miramonte Fundraising | |
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Drama is among the many classes and programs at our school that are supported by donations to ONE-Miramonte!
Miramonte offers Drama 1, 2, Honors, and Advanced classes, and interested students can participate in several theater productions a year. The Miramonte Players, celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year, put on a fall play and a spring musical every year. Drama students at all levels do a big Shakespeare project in the middle of the year. And this weekend, April 24-27, you can come to see the Spring One-Acts, which are written and directed by senior Honors students as their capstone project.
Theater productions at Miramonte are unique in that they are student-led! Drama teacher Ms. Heather Cousins, who is also in her 25th year as a Miramonte teacher, directs the fall play and directs the musical in collaboration with choir teacher Ms. Meredith Hawkins and band teacher Mr. Tom Dwyer. But stagecraft students create and run the sets, props, costumes, lighting, sound, video, and publicity. Giving students this level of independence to create the magical shows you see on stage allows them to express their creativity, problem-solve, and take ownership of the show in a way that creates a meaningful learning experience!
Because you give to ONE-Miramonte, drama and stagecraft students have an opportunity to explore their creativity, collaborate with each other, and create the wonderful theatrical productions we see on our stage. The performing arts are an important part of a well-rounded education, and parent donations ensure that Miramonte students continue to have these opportunities.
Why are the performing arts important at our school? Click here to read what some of our talented Drama students have to say.
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Questions about Miramonte fundraising? Please contact Jill Hughes, Parents' Club VP Fundraising, at VPFundraising@mhspc.org. Why does the Parents' Club have to fundraise each year? Check this out to learn why. | |
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Welcome Incoming 9th-grade Families!
A big Miramonte welcome to our incoming 9th-grade families receiving the Matador News for the first time! We're thrilled to have you join our high school community in August. By including you in our newsletter for the remainder of this school year, we hope to give you just a small glimpse of what goes on here at Miramonte. The Matador News, sent every Friday, will help you stay informed and engaged throughout your student's high school experience. Important announcements, upcoming events, helpful resources, and so much more—the Matador News has you covered! Go Mats, and go Class of 2028!
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Campus Beatification Day 2024 Was a Huge Success!
If you do enough SMALL things right, BIG things can happen. And, wowza, did we ever do a whole lot of small things right last Saturday!! The BIG thing we all hope to achieve is a beautiful campus that we are all proud of!
On our Campus Beautification Day, well over 75 parents and students showed up to distribute over 50 yards of bark, plant 4 trees, weed whack 1500 square feet of overgrown grass and weeds, weed 8 planters and plant beds, plant 3 large planters with new succulents, remove an unbelievable amount of old tape and cobwebs off of the windows, walls, and columns of the Quad, and pick up trash all around campus.
Many thanks to Parents' Club volunteer Rod Rios for organizing this event, to Alissa Lillie and Claudia Vetesi for their assistance, and, of course, to all of the parent and student volunteers who lent a hand to beautify our campus on a gorgeous Saturday morning.
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Matador Showcase: Incoming 9th-grade Families, This is a Night Just for YOU!
On Tuesday, May 7, Miramonte welcomes all incoming 9th-grade students and their families to Matador Showcase: Explore Your Future at Miramonte High School. The event will begin with food for purchase (taco truck and ice cream; cash and Venmo) in the Quad from 5-8 p.m. Then, a panel discussion and family Q&A will follow at 6-7 p.m. in the Theater. The event will finish with a sports fair in the gym from 7-8 p.m. This expanded event is a wonderful opportunity for families to get their questions answered, to meet our amazing staff and student leaders, and to learn about our athletic teams. Please RSVP by Saturday, May 4, and submit your questions here. We hope to see you there!
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Blast From the Past
Wow, can you believe it? The Miramonte Parents' Club has been supporting our school for over 50 incredible years! From organizing fantastic school events to raising funds and generously volunteering time and expertise, we've always tried to help make Miramonte shine. Oh, and there was that time back in 1978 when we were asked not to return to Moraga Shopping Center.
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Visual & Performing Arts News | |
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Spring Drama Production: One Acts – Liar Liar
The Miramonte Players present their Advanced Honors Projects, Liar Liar, on April 24-27 at 7:00 p.m. in the Miramonte Theater. Tickets are available now on showtix4u.com.
Original scripts are written and directed by the following Honors students, performed by Advanced Drama students, and produced by Stagecraft students:
- "Wereghostzompirestein" written and directed by Maya Taylor and Diego Aguilar: April 24, April 26
- "The Promise" written by Lauren Wagner and directed by Abigail Gardner: April 24, April 26
- "Fullest House" written and directed by Ivan Smith: April 25, April 27
- "Hell Hath No Fury" by written and composed by Maple Davis, directed by Soren Van Loben Sels, and choreographed by cast: April 25, April 27
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College & Career Center News | |
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Juniors – Requesting Letters of Recommendation
A reminder to juniors requesting letters of recommendation from counselors and teachers for college applications next year: there is important etiquette to follow in this process. After you’ve inquired about their policy for writing letters of recommendation, make sure you request politely and in person. Remember, you are asking for a favor, and as such, you need to do so respectfully (and be prepared for teachers to potentially say no). This is an important skill to learn, and we encourage families to help their student practice requesting a letter by role playing at home!
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Sophomore Meetings
Sophomore meetings are underway! We value this time to check in with our sophomores to see how they are doing in general, academically, and socially. It is also a good time to address specific academic challenges, questions your student may have, and look ahead to junior year.
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AUHSD Summer School
If your child earned a D or F in a high school graduation requirement course this year, they may be able to remediate the course during summer school. See a counselor for an application or visit the district website!
- Summer school will be held this year in one, 5-week session.
- Classes begin Tuesday, June 11, and end Friday, July 12
- Location: Acalanes High School
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DVC Career Academies
Sophomores and juniors, are you looking for a summer program that is affordable and close to home? If so, DVC has a great option for you to explore! DVC Career Academies are week(s) long offerings that run all summer long! These are the types of programs that colleges love to see and you will earn college credits upon completion!! If you would like more information, please click here.
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Follow us!
Parents and students can follow the @miramontecounseling Instagram account for information, news, and advice from the counseling department.
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Class of 2025 fundraiser: Graduation Lei for the 2024 Graduate in your life!
Purchase a Lei for your favorite 2024 soon-to-be graduate, their friends, or someone special in the class of 2024. Choose from purple orchid, white orchid, or marble kukui nut—or all three! Flown in fresh from Hawaii before graduation and distributed to the graduates as they line up for their ceremony. Be sure to let your graduate know who the lei is from! Purchase graduation lei here by Wednesday, May 1.
Questions? Please contact Julie Mercer or Kirsten Odmark
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Class of 2024 News
Grad Night 2024 tickets on sale now!
Grad Night is a long-standing tradition for our graduating seniors. Immediately following the Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 31, seniors will be taken to a surprise location for a memorable celebration. Grad Night tickets are on sale here, and the last day to purchase is Friday, May 17.
Ticket scholarships are available so all seniors can attend. Please contact Associate Principal Danny Caravalho about scholarship tickets.
Find more information in the 2024 Grad Night FAQs. If you still have questions, please email miragradnight2024@gmail.com.
Online Auction for VIP Graduation Seats and Parking Now Open
Bidding has started in our online auction featuring two sets of VIP Graduation seats and parking. Enjoy your choice of seats and easy parking.
Questions? Contact the Class of 2024 Parent Advisors
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Class of 2027 News
It’s getting hot out there! Time for our Loard’s Ice Cream Fundraiser!
The Class of 2027 is partnering with an Orinda icon on Wednesday, May 29! The Loard’s fundraiser runs all day and 20% of sales will be donated to the Class of 2027. These fundraisers are great as they help fund the large and small class events over the next four years. Please stop into Loard’s for your sweet treat on Wednesday, May 29! We appreciate your support in advance.
Questions? Contact the Class of 2027 Parent Advisors
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Next AUHSD Board Meeting
The next AUHSD Board Meeting is on Wednesday, May 1. The agenda will be posted here on Sunday, April 28. 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 May 15 and June 5 | |
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Orinda Classic Car Show T-Shirt Design Contest
The Orinda Association invites 8th through 12th grade students who attend school in Lafayette, Moraga, or Orinda to enter the Orinda Classic Car Show T-Shirt Design Contest. The t-shirts will be sold to the general public before and at the Orinda Classic Car Show in September 2024. The deadline to submit a design is Friday, May 3. Find more information, contest rules, and contest entry form here.
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Connect with the Parents' Club: | | | | |
