August 9, 2023
Greetings Mustangs!
I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer vacation! With the summer break winding down in just about 3.5 weeks, I wanted to get the Back-to-School Edition of the MA Express! out to you so that you are ready for the start of a new school year!
Office Hours: The Main Office Administrative Assistant (Mrs. McDonald) returned from her summer break this past Monday (08/07). Our School Counselor (Mrs. Knowlton) will be back beginning on Monday - 08/14 (please see the Guidance Office information provided below).
Freshmen Orientation Night: On Tuesday (08/29) beginning at 6:00pm in the Cafeteria, Monmouth Academy will be hosting an orientation night for all in-coming Freshmen students as well as any new student to Monmouth Academy. Information about this event will be sent out to all parents/guardians of Freshmen via the Infinite Campus messenger/email service. We look forward to seeing as many members of the Class of 2027 (as well as new students to MA) and their parents/guardians on 08/29!
Meet the Counselor: Mrs. Knowlton is a high school counselor at Monmouth Academy. She was born and raised in Maine and currently works in a school near her hometown. She has two children ages nine and four and she enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends. She previously worked as a high school math teacher for seven years and often utilizes her background in teaching to assist her delivery of classroom lessons and small group instruction. She recently wrapped up her Masters Degree in School Counseling from the University of Southern Maine in the spring of 2023 and she is now a professionally certified school counselor in the State of Maine. As a School Counselor, she is qualified to address the developmental needs of all students at Monmouth Academy. Her focus has expanded from academic, college and career planning to now include social and emotional learning and development for all Monmouth Academy students. It is her job to work with students and families to improve student success. This can include assisting with academic achievement strategies; working with students to manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills; and also to plan for postsecondary options. She looks forward to expanding upon the work she has done in her role over the past seven years to work more globally with the whole school community.
Guidance FYIs: Mrs. Knowlton is available to discuss your educational needs starting August 14, 2023! Have a schedule question? Need help with college stuff? Want to talk about school? Send Mrs. Knowlton an email and get an appointment before they fill up! Note: Guidance will be closed on August 16, 2023 due to previously scheduled appointments.
September 16, 2023: Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) Financial Aid Night; 6:00pm; via Zoom.
Guidance Resources: As we gear up for the beginning of the 23-24 school year we are preparing for the social/emotional needs of the student body. Please review the following resource as a guide to identify who you can reach out to as a student, or who to contact as a parent/guardian for assistance for your student.
Student Government: Mrs. Neal and Mrs. Knowlton would like to officially announce that they will be taking over as co-advisors of the Monmouth Academy Student Government (MASG)! Mrs. Neal is excited to work with the MASG representatives in addition to her work as the advisor for FBLA as there is a lot of overlap between the groups and this will allow both groups to work more efficiently to serve the school in their roles. Mrs. Knowlton is excited to be part of the MASG as it will give her the opportunity to serve in another capacity outside of her School Counselor role. We welcome both to their new roles. Please be on the lookout for updates from them if you are a member of MASG!
Fall Sports Season: The pre-season for our fall sports programs will kick off on Monday (08/14). Any student wanting to participate in a fall sport is reminded that you need an active (non-expired) physical on file as well as the appropriate paperwork completed and turned into your coach or Mr. Bell (our Athletic Director). If you have any questions, please contact your coach or Mr. Bell.
Laptop Distribution: I’m excited to announce that our Tech Department will be distributing laptops to students in grades 10, 11, and 12 beginning on 08/23 (from 8:00am - 12:00pm); 08/24 (from 1:00pm - 5:00pm); and 08/25 (from 8:00am - 12:00pm). Students will enter the high school through the basement level entrance (the doors closest to the lower parking lot area) and will report directly to the basement level Conference Room where they will find Mr. Brown and his assistant(s) ready to pass out these devices. Note: Parents will be receiving the required paperwork for the laptops via the IC email sometime between 08/14 - 08/19 which MUST be completed before the laptop can be assigned to their student. Students may bring this completed paperwork in with them on one of those three dates or the student & parent can complete the paperwork in the Conference Room on one of those three dates. Freshmen will need to have their laptop paperwork completed as well, but they will be asked to bring that paperwork with them on Freshmen Orientation Day (08/30) which is when they will receive their devices. Any student in grades 10, 11, and 12 who is unable to get their device on 08/23 - 08/25 will be able to pick it up between 08/31 - 09/01. I want to thank our Tech Department in advance for agreeing to deploy the laptops much earlier than in past years (normally it would be the second or third week of school!). So much of what our students do for school is on their laptops, so this should be welcomed by our students and staff!
Room/Space Changes: A new school year also brings about some new room/space changes at MA to include the following:
The Nurse’s Office is now located on the main floor (in between the Guidance Office and the Staff Room (where the JMG program was located last school year).
JMG (with Ms. Huckey) has returned to room 109.
French (with Ms. Simpson) will now be taught in room 101.
Math (with Mrs. Neal) has moved to room 102.
Social Studies (with Mr. Snedeker) has moved to room 212.
We are still looking to hire a Spanish teacher. Assuming we are able to hire a Spanish teacher, they will be located in room 5 (basement level next door to the Cafeteria; the former Health classroom).
Health/Wellness (with Ms. Menice) has moved to room 17 (Mrs. Neal’s former room).
Mr. Koller (Science) was hired to replace Mr. Pascarella and he will teach in room 205.
Mr. Bell will use his office (part of the Main Office) when doing his Dean of Students job. When he’s in the Athletic Director’s role, he will be using the former Nurse’s Office (basement level next door to the gym).
Gym Floor: Our gym floor went through a MAJOR refurbishing project which began right after graduation and was just completed about a week ago and it looks AMAZING! The floor sealer still needs some additional time to set, therefore the gym remains off limits until further notice.
Workshop Days/Student Return Dates: Faculty and staff will be returning to school for two workshop days on 08/28 and 08/89. The first school day for Freshmen will be on Wednesday - 08/30. All students (9 - 12) will return to school on Thursday - 08/31 which will be a white day (as far as the schedule is concerned).
Attention Freshmen: A copy of the schedule for the first day of school will be sent to your school email account sometime between 08/23 - 08/25. Please review that schedule so that you are prepared for your first day at Monmouth Academy - Wednesday, 08/30.
Junior/Senior Privileges: This year, Juniors and Seniors will be able to get their permission forms to participate in the Junior/Senior Privileges program when they get their laptop assigned to them (between 08/23 - 08/25, or anytime after 08/30). Privileges won’t begin until 09/06, and that is only for those Juniors and Seniors who have completed/submitted the required paperwork. In order to have these privileges, Juniors and Seniors must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 in every class they are enrolled in and should not have any behavioral or attendance issues. The first eligibility check (for ALL students) is scheduled for 09/29.
New This Year: Beginning on 08/31, when the bell rings at 7:40 each day, all students will report to their assigned homeroom for attendance and the morning announcements. On 08/31, 09/01, and 09/05, students will use from 7:45 - 8:29 as a time to either review the Student/Parent Handbook with their homeroom advisor and/or attend a class meeting with the administration (Seniors on 08/31, Juniors on 09/01, and Sophomores on 09/05. Freshmen would have already had their meeting with the administration on their Freshmen Orientation Day). Beginning on 09/06, Juniors and Seniors with privileges will not be required to be in school until 08:29am. All other students will report to their homeroom and will use that time as a quiet study. After the first couple of weeks when school work is getting turned in and/or students find themselves getting behind or in need of academic support, or if a teacher needs to see a student for work make-up and/or completion, that will take place every morning between 7:45 - 8:29 along with the 2nd chance breakfast (the new “morning break” which will run from 8:14 - 8:29). Mrs. Knolwton and Ms. Huckey will be meeting with each grade level (one grade level per quarter) beginning with grade 9 for two days a week during this first block of time to run a college and career readiness program approved through a MELMAC grant that we received last school year. Teachers will explain/review all of this with their homeroom students between 08/31 - 09/05.
CATC: Those Juniors and Seniors attending CATC (the vocational school in Augusta) this year will be getting dismissed each day from their block 3 class at 10:51. They should go directly to the Cafeteria to get their lunch which they will eat on the bus (as they did prior to COVID). The bus will pick the CATC students up from the basement level entrance (near the lower level parking lot area). When CATC students return to MA at approx. 2:00pm, if they have their own transportation, they may sign-out and leave for the day at that time. If they need a bus ride home, they will report to the Library until dismissal at 2:20. The first day of CATC for MA should be on 08/31; however if that should change, we will let our CATC students know ASAP.
Parking at MA: All students and staff are required to complete a vehicle registration form for any vehicle they plan on parking at MA/MMS during the school year. Staff can get their parking forms beginning on Monday (08/28); students can get their forms beginning on Thursday (08/31). All vehicle registration forms need to be completed/returned to the Main Office by Friday (09/08).
Start and End Times: The school day at MA will begin at 7:45am with a warning bell at 7:40am. Students may enter the school beginning at 7:20am. The school day is over at 2:20pm on regular school days; and at 11:20am on early release days. For planning purposes, there will be NO late bus available this school year. Students will have two opportunities to get breakfast at school this year: Opportunity #1 will be from 7:20 - 7:40; Opportunity #2 will be from 8:14 - 8:29.
Back-to-School Supplies: At the high school level, much of what students do is on the computer (provided by the school/district). Teachers will take time during the first couple of days to review with their students exactly what is needed for their particular class. Below is a general list of recommended supplies that should help students be prepared for any class they will be taking:
Blue and/or Black ink pens and #2 Pencils
Assorted highlighters
Scientific Calculator
A one subject notebook for each class and assorted folders (one per class)
A package of 3x5 index cards
A back-pack of some sort to carry around their materials
Required School Paperwork: Students will be receiving the required school paperwork when they pick-up their laptop devices or on their first day of school. It is imperative that we get this paperwork completed and returned ASAP. Our goal is to have all paperwork in by Tuesday (09/05) so that it can be sorted and organized appropriately by Thursday (09/07). Your cooperation with this request is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
Yearbook: Yearbooks are on sale Day 1 (08/31). Take advantage of the lowest price of the year ($50) and order by the end of September. Bring your payment or a $15 deposit to Dr. Ross to reserve your copy. Senior Pictures are due to Dr. Ross by Halloween.
Note: With the transition in leadership taking place at MA, please be aware that what has been shared in this newsletter is subject to change. If there are any changes, you will be informed ASAP.
As I shared in a previous communication on 08/08, it’s been an honor and privilege to serve as your Principal for the past two years. As I prepare to move on to my new position, I do so knowing that Monmouth Academy is in good hands! I wish you all the very best and a successful/exciting school year! Take care.
Respectfully,
Mr. Ted Finn, Principal