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Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts

Monrovia Schools Issues Measles Warning

A measles warning from Monrovia School District:

Monrovia Unified fosters a culture that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and parents. Given the recent measles outbreaks in the United States, the chance of exposure to this illness is increased at this time.

Below you will find information and steps to help protect yourselves and our students.
  • Measles is highly contagious. A person can spread the disease to others before experiencing symptoms, which include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and body and which typically appears 10 to 21 days after the exposure.
  • Most people who have not been immunized risk getting the disease if they have contact with the virus.
  • About 90 percent of people who have never been immunized become ill seven to 21 days after exposure. The disease can be spread from one person to another before the rash appears.
If you have reason to believe you have been in contact with a person with measles, please contact your healthcare provider for immediate treatment.For more information about measles, please visit: bit.ly/2LxX2nC

- Brad Haugaard

Recalling Successes During This School Year

Monrovia Schools Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian recalls successes throughout this school year:

This school year, Monrovia Unified students have excelled in District programs such as Code to the Future, robotics, performing arts, and so much more. With summer fast approaching, our students are immersing themselves into end-of-the-year projects and performances and are excited to share these with our community.

In April, we celebrated the performing arts when 50 students from Wild Rose School of Creative Arts performed their spring production of Disney's "Lion King Kids Jr." On April 29, students traveled to the Ahmanson Theatre to perform as part of the Disney Musicals in Schools grant, ending their 17-week training course with theater professionals.

On April 18, the District's five elementary schools came together to participate in the second annual Next Generation Math Bee, with the Mayflower Mariners claiming the top prize. The event nurtured mathematical skills in our students.

At the middle-school level, Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School held a device rollout, distributing Chromebooks to all students. Additionally, sixth-grade students learned about brain and lung specimens on April 23 during a crash course with Sonia Maljian, director of laboratory services at Methodist Hospital.

Finally, congratulations to our robotics teams from Clifton Middle School and Monrovia High School, who competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships in Houston, Texas. They worked so to achieve this highest level of competition.

For more information about the great programs and events in Monrovia Unified, read below and visit our website at www.monroviaschools.net.

- Brad Haugaard

Library Dedicated to Bruce and Mariellen Staller


School Board: Replace Heat and A/C at Plymouth and Clifton; Mental Health; Etc.

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/rDewAt) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~  Consider replacing the heating and air conditioning systems at Plymouth and Clifton schools, using state money. https://is.gd/LGw7GH

~ Receive an update on school district efforts to promote mental health awareness.

~ Receive an informational report on the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Plan for Canyon Oaks High School by Flint Fertig, Director of Adult Education & Alternative Programs.

~ Consider an agreement with the LA County Office of Education - through its Center for Distance and Online Learning - to implement "Scale Up!," a professional development program. https://is.gd/CJb6Z3

- Brad Haugaard

Wildrose Students Perform at Ahmanson

Monrovia Schools tweets that: "After finishing a 17-week training course with trained theater professionals, students from Wild Rose School of Creative Arts were invited to perform at the Ahmanson as part of the Disney Musicals in Schools grant!"

- Brad Haugaard

Canyon Oaks/Mountain Park Library Being Dedicated to Stallers

Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park School will dedicate its library in honor of Bruce and Mariellen Staller on Monday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m.

"Mariellen, who recently passed away, dedicated countless hours alongside Bruce to the schools, and had an immeasurable impact on students! Due to their hard-work and dedication, the schools' library now houses more than 7,000 volumes and periodicals, as well as multiple multi-media sources."

If you'd like to attend, RSVP to Shershonna Huff at shuff@monroviaschools.net.

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Students Create Winning Films

Two public service announcements created by Monrovia High School students have been selected as winners in a statewide film contest for Mental Health Month.

The MHS English department (scripts), Theater Arts Conservancy (actors) and Digital Studies Academy (film production) collaborated on PSAs about Suicide Prevention. Five of these films were submitted for judging, and ...

"We are thrilled to report that of the five submissions, two are regional award winners: Regional First Place ('Life in the Black') and Regional Honorable Mention ('You Are Not Alone')! Winning students will be honored by our MUSD School Board at the meeting on May 8th and at a Red Carpet Award Ceremony at the historic Theater at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on May 21st."

- Brad Haugaard

100 Dollar Reward For Reporting Threats of Violence Against Monrovia Schools


For more information call 256-8020 or 256-8036.

- Brad Haugaard

Santa Fe Students Study Brain and Lung Specimens


Sixth-grade students from Monrovia Unified's Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School learned about brain and lung specimens on April 23 during a crash course with Sonia Maljian, director of laboratory services at Methodist Hospital.

Students also learned about other organs such as the heart and liver and closely observed samples that were brought into the classroom.

"We are lucky to have had the chance to host Sonia Maljian at Santa Fe," teacher Yvonne Koskela said. "Our students were able to observe the specimens closely and ask questions about the specimens to a real scientist in our community."

In addition to observing the specimens, students were introduced to the harm that occurs in the body when abusing alcohol and tobacco. Maljian encouraged students to stay away from putting harmful and dangerous products into their bodies, further explaining that smoking tobacco can cause air sacs in the lungs to become rigid and stop functioning.

"A big thank-you to Sonia Maljian, who shared with our students the many opportunities available when pursuing science as a career," Principal Geoff Zamarripa said. "Our Cougar Scholars fully immersed themselves into the lesson, and we will continue to encourage our students to pursue their dreams and figure out how they can become the next generation of scientists in our community."

Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Mayflower Students Take Top Prize in Math Bee


After six rounds, the Mayflower Elementary Mariners were awarded the first-place trophy during Monrovia Unified’s Next Generation Math Bee on April 18.

Using white boards and calculators, 30 elementary school students from Monrovia Unified School District competed in the District's second annual Next Generation Math Bee on April 18, with the Mayflower Elementary Mariners taking the top prize.

Working in teams of six, students employed collaboration, critical thinking, and language skills to solve math-related word problems. In a series of six rounds, teams were allowed six minutes to read, discuss, and answer each question by showing their work and explaining their thinking process in full sentences.

"The Next Generation Math Bee is an opportunity for our students to showcase their math skills and expand on their passion for mathematics," Board President Ed Gililland said. "Monrovia Unified is proud to provide students with a challenging academic environment that promotes student success."

Students were given access to materials such as white boards, pencils, highlighters, and calculators to help solve math problems. Clifton Middle School teachers Marilyn Smith and Hiroshi Suzuki were judges for the event and carefully read through each answer to determine the winner.

"Monrovia Unified's Next Generation Math Bee is an event that aims to nurture mathematical skills in our students," Superintendent Katherine Thorossian said. "Congratulations to all of our competitors who showed excitement and good sportsmanship throughout the entire competition, and thank you to everyone who came together to make this event possible for our students."

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Declare Special Days, Weeks and Month

At its next meeting the Monrovia Board (https://is.gd/rT78d2) of Education will consider naming ...

~ May 6-10, as National Teacher Appreciation Week.

~ May 7, as the Day of the Teacher.

~ May 19-25, as Classified School Employee Week.

~ April 22-26, as Administrative Professionals Week.

~ April 24, as Administrative Professionals Day.

~ May 6-10, as School Health Services Appreciation Week.

~ May 8 as National School Nurse Day.

~ May 2019 as Mental Health Awareness Month.

And, it will consider a resolution, In Remembrance of those Lost to Genocide and Man's Inhumanity to Man, recalling the Armenian Genocide.

- Brad Haugaard

Wild Rose Teacher Dana Elliot on News Radio


Wild Rose School of Creative Arts teacher and Monrovia Unified's Elementary Olympic Games event founder, Dana Elliott, joins students n California School News Radio to discuss school spirit and how physical education brings out the best in students.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Tech Teacher Thomas Reale Dies at Age 57

Former Monrovia teacher Thomas Anthony Reale died on April 9, 2019 in Palm Springs after a brief illness. He was 57 years old.

Reale took a teaching position at Clifton Middle School as a science teacher in the early 90's and was a pioneer of technology in the classroom, becoming a full-time video production teacher first at Clifton, and later at Monrovia High.

Dozens of his graduates went on to careers in news casting, sports broadcasting, and video production. He was also a board member for Community Media of the Foothills (KGEM). Instead of flowers his family would prefer a gift to support the Monrovia High School Big M Boosters Association. https://is.gd/jCKWB2

Thanks to Karen Lujan for the tip.

- Brad Haugaard

School District Considers Anti-Smoking Instructional Materials


The Monrovia Board of Education is considering adopting anti-smoking instructional materials called, "The Stanford Medicine Tobacco Prevention Toolkit: Modules for Tobacco and Nicotine Education," which you can see here:

https://med.stanford.edu/tobaccopreventiontoolkit.html

If you have any comments about the materials send them to the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services by May 10, 2019. https://is.gd/hKGYOQ

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Unified Honors 10 Volunteers for Dedication

(From left to right) bottom row: Jan Dunbar, Susanna Aguirre, Gale Maiwandi, Glen Sycip; top row: Brian Johnson, Karyn Godbold, Cissie Andrews, Carlos Vela, and Norma Galan were honored during Monrovia Unified’s Golden Apple Awards. (Not pictured: Bruce Staller).

Ten volunteers were honored for their hard work, dedication, and passion for students during Monrovia Unified School District’s Golden Apple Awards on March 25, recognizing volunteers who have shown love for the community of Monrovia and its students.
The ceremony, which began with a breakfast provided by Monrovia’s local chapter of the Association of California School Administrators, highlighted the important role that volunteers play across the district.

“Without these volunteers at Monrovia Unified School District, our students would be deprived of many of the opportunities we now offer,” Board President Ed Gililland said. “We appreciate them so much for sharing their time to make our schools better for students, teachers, and staff.”

Honorees
• Susanna Aguirre, Canyon Early Learning Center
• Glen Sycip, Bradoaks Elementary School
• Jan Dunbar, Mayflower Elementary School
• Cissie Andrews, Monroe Elementary School
• Norma Galan, Plymouth Elementary School
• Carlos Vela, Wild Rose School of Creative Arts
• Gale Maiwandi, Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School
• Karyn Godbold, Clifton Middle School
• Brian Johnson, Monrovia High School
• Bruce Staller, Canyon Oaks and Mountain Park School


“Those generous individuals who give of themselves and volunteer in our schools are invaluable resources for our students, teachers, and staff,” Superintendent Katherine Thorossian said. “The support for education at Monrovia Unified is impressive, and we are forever grateful to have such dedicated members of our community be a part of our students’ lives.”

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Disco to Benefit Mayflower Elementary



Disco, a fundraiser to benefit Mayflower Elementary School, April 27 from 6-10 p.m. Dinner, raffle and auction at Santa Anita Golf Course, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. This is an adults only event. $50 for an adult or $85 for a couple. Tickets available here: https://goo.gl/1RqRvA

- Brad Haugaard

School District to Consider Adding Motion Picture Appreciation Class

At its next meeting (agenda: https://goo.gl/YciuJi) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider adding a high school course called Motion Picture Appreciation, an "introductory course in which the student will learn how to analyze films on technical, aesthetic, and thematic levels. Historically significant films will be used as source material." https://goo.gl/tFEmvC

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Robotics Teams Need Help to Get to Houston


The Kings and Queens, and the Hippie Bots, the two Monrovia robotics teams that have won a spot to compete in the World Robotics Championship Tournament in Houston on April 16-20, have been raising money to get there. So far ...

Monrovia High's Kings and Queens has raised $1,080 of a $16,000 goal, and Clifton's Hippie Bots has raised $600 of a $15,000 goal. Still a long ways from their goals.

If you'd like to help them out ...

Donate to Kings and Queens here: https://goo.gl/NAzmRE
And donate to Hippie Bots here: https://goo.gl/WGcQHM

- Brad Haugaard

Free Counseling for Monrovia Schools Students and Staff

Monrovia Unified students, staff, and families can now use - for free - Care Solace, a live, 24/7 hotline to help people find local mental health and counseling services. The program accepts all types of insurance. https://goo.gl/U6obFP

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools Students and Staff Go Bald to Fight Cancer


Clifton Middle School eighth-grader Erin Byrnes raised more than $150 to fight cancer.

More than 15 Monrovia Unified School District students and nine MUSD employees got the bald look at the fourth annual Old Town Monrovia FuzzFest on March 15, when they helped raise more than $25,000 for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Students from Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School, Monrovia High School, Clifton Middle School, and Monroe and Mayflower Elementary schools raised money.

Mayflower Elementary and Monrovia High School claimed two of the top three fundraising spots, raising more than $8,000 collectively. https://goo.gl/M8iGvF

- Brad Haugaard