Freshmen Cookout!

The following is the text of a Connect-Ed message going out tonight to all freshmen and new students.

Good evening, this is Dr. Linkenhoker, the Principal of Monson High School. I am calling to remind all incoming freshmen that tomorrow night is our annual Freshmen and New Student Cookout and Orientation. I hope to see you and your family beginning at 6pm. I will be assisting with the grilling! Around 7pm we’ll transition to the orientation agenda in the gymnasium. Freshmen will receive their schedules and will have the opportunity to tour the building with their big sibling. Parents will remain in the gymnasium for a short presentation and Q&A. The evening will end with students receiving an ice-cream dessert by 8pm.

Also of note, Academic Planners and Monson High School tee-shirts will be available for sale tomorrow night by the class of 2015.

Take care and good night!

New Student/Family Letter

Greetings! It's been a wonderful summer here at Monson High School with lots of planning going into this upcoming year. I'm excited for the start and am confident we're going to experience one of the best year's in history. I just finished a letter for all incoming freshmen and their families. A Connect-Ed message is also prepared for these families. I also wanted to include this letter here for everyone to see.

Expect more updates soon as we gear up for another year. Take care and enjoy the last few weeks of vacation!

Please click on this link to access the parent letter.

Equal Access Letter

I am sharing an Equal Access Letter that all families should review. The law protects students from being discriminated against or precluded from programs regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, limited English proficiency, sexual orientation, disability, or housing status.

If you feel your child has been targeted please contact my office or the Superintendent at your earliest opportunity. Thank you!

MHS Going Virtual

Monson High School is moving to the 21st century in hopes of providing relevant educational opportunities for ALL students. As part of our Innovation School initiative and our Pillar Model, MHS is unveiling an online learning program that aims to support three distinct cohorts:

1. Students who wish to take their entire high school series of courses will have the opportunity to through curriculum offered by K12. These students will be considered Monson High School students and have the full benefits of face-to-face students with access to extra-curricular activites, athletics, guidance services, graduation, etc. Students will be required to be onsite a minimum of one day per week to ensure progress is occuring.

2. Face to face students may wish to compliment their existing traditional schedule with an online course. This opportunity is available to all students wanting an online class that is not offered at Monson High School. These online classes are offered through Aventa, a subset of K12.

3. An online credit recovery program will begin in July 2012. Students who have failed a class during the school year may opt to recover this lost credit through our online program. This is similar to traditional summer school and/or night school programs except that the courses are taught online and provide more flexibility to time and location. Monson residents will be charged $150 per course while non-residents may register for $175 per course. Courses are open year-round to better service students.

The Online Learning Flyer provides a general overview of our new programs. The Full-Time Flyer provides specific information on our K12 program. Feel free to contact Mr. Robert Bardwell at 413.267.4589 x1107 with any questions pertaining to our new online program. An informational evening for interested families will be held on June 19th, 2012 in the MHS cafeteria beginning at 7pm. I encourage all interested students and parents to attend!

Athletic Banquet

Here is the text of a Connect-Ed message going out tonight referencing tomorrow's Athletic Banquet. I hope to see everyone there!

Good evening, this is Dr. Linkenhoker, the Principal of Monson High School. The varsity athletic awards banquet will be held tomorrow night, Thursday June 7th. All students athletes that played on a varsity team will be receiving an award. There will be a dessert reception in the cafeteria beginning at 6:00pm, followed by the awards banquet at 7:00pm in the gymnasium.

Please feel free to contact Mrs. Sarah Shaw with any questions.

Take care and good night!

MHS Graduation: Change of Location!

After viewing recent weather reports and consulting with our support staff, I have decided to relocate the ceremony to the Granite Valley Middle School Soccer Field. We will begin at 7pm and admission is open to the public. Please note the following details. Access to the red chairs on the field will be by ticket-only. However, there are not as many chairs as tickets so I recommend you arrive early to claim your seats. Access to the chairs will begin at 6pm with staff supervision. I would encourage people to bring a lawn-chair and/or blanket. Those not sitting in the red chairs can sit on the hill or other available areas. Attention graduates: we will hold tomorrow’s rehearsal in the MHS gymnasium. Please be prepared to start at 8:30am. Thursday’s rehearsal will be on the soccer field. I thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding. I believe an outdoor ceremony will be more enjoyable while also encouraging those without tickets to attend.

2012 Graduation Location

Good evening. This is Dr. Linkenhoker, the Principal of Monson High School. I want to inform everyone of my decision regarding the location of next Friday’s Graduation Ceremony. I have studied the weather for next Friday all week. Unfortunately the multiple sources I have been watching keep leaning towards a good chance of rain and/or showers.

In order to prepare for this momentous occasion, we must begin setting up this weekend. If I decide to be outside and then rain becomes more prominent we have no option of moving inside. Therefore, I am making the official decision that the 2012 MHS Graduation Ceremony will be held in the Monson High School Gymnasium beginning at 7pm. Because we are inside, we must limit admission by ticket only.

Graduating seniors will receive their allocated tickets on Thursday, May 31^st after our final rehearsal. Those who wish to be part of the celebration, but do not have a ticket are invited to sit in our cafeteria. MPACT will provide a live-feed of the ceremony on a large screen in the cafeteria.

I thank you for your cooperation and I look forward to a wonderful senior week and graduation!

Take care and good night.