January 2018 Newsletter

During the fall semester, your donations through the Farmers Market, Sport Clips, various corporate gifts, and our annual Coyote Canvas letter writing drive provided the funding for the Fall Mini-Grants Program. Thank you so much to all of our 2017 donors who helped us to raise the funds to support a variety of  grants which are being funded now for use during the second semester.

On December 4th, the PTSO Board met to review a record number of grant applications from 18 staff members. In total, there was over $15,000 in requests of which the PTSO was able to fund  $6,000 from our fall budget. These grants included:

– Math and Science tutors from University of Colorado who will provide one on one tutoring open to all students.

– Motivational speaker, Carlotta Lanier, one of the Little Rock Nine who will present to Social Studies students about the Civil Rights era in the United States

– New books for the MHS Library, French, and Language Arts classes

– 12 respiratory spirometers and molecular modeling kits for the science classrooms

– Publication of the MoHi Literary Magazine

– Smart technology (Wacom Tablet) to improve instruction for Math classes

– Upgraded technology, equipment, and resources for the Robotics Program

If  funding is available, there will be another round of mini-grants considered in the Spring. The PTSO hopes to fund some of the additional teacher requests in the next funding round.

Lorie Roche
PTSO Mini Grant Coordinator
grants@monarchptso.org

Our student led panel absolutely *rocked it* with wise, insightful and, sometimes, humorous advice on the topic of “Helping Freshman Prepare for Finals”. This meeting/discussion was held  on Wednesday, December 6th from 7 to 8 p.m in the school library and was a well attended, successful event with over 50 students and parents in attendance.  Seven of Monarch’s impressive upperclass students were on hand to answer questions and give advice to our freshmen and their parents about how to prepare and succeed during their first finals week in high school. Special thanks to our student panel comprised of:

Christian Roch
Elsie Hattendorf
Justin Kiss
Libby Moore
Avery Golder
Conor Farrell
Steven Langer

We invite you to view short, but helpful, video clips with highlights of great advice useful year round here.  Our PTSO Secretary, Katie Wilcox, added handwritten notes here. The meeting also served as the PTSO’s Fall General Meeting and we will plan a second panel in the Spring with a new topic.

Cory Nickerson and Lynne Wexler
Co-Presidents, Monarch PTSO
president@monarchptso.org

Participate in our PTSO drive for the 2017-18 year by donating at least $25 today and you could win a $20 gift card to the Coyote Cave (the Boosters’ Spirit Store) OR a dedicated VIP parking spot at the front of the school for an entire month next year.

We pick winners every month and, if you donate now, your name will stay in the drawing for the entire school year.

Click to donate by PayPal at www.monarchptso.org or mail a check to Monarch PTSO, 329 Campus Drive, Louisville, CO 80027.  Your tax deductible donations are welcome all year long!

Cory Nickerson and Lynne Wexler
Co-Presidents, Monarch PTSO
president@monarchptso.org

Looking for the ultimate way to have fun? Come join 100 other student athletes for the spring season of Ultimate Frisbee. Multiple boys and girls teams will be formed for League and Tournament play. From rookie to seasoned Varsity players, all students are invited to join in this fun, growing, competitive sport.

Kick off meetings will be held on Thursday, Jan. 25th and Friday, Jan. 26th in Mr. DiCarlo’s room (C-122) from 3:15 – 4:00 PM. Athletes only need to attend one of the two meetings. The first practice is slated for Monday, Jan. 29 where all players meet at “The Bowl” after school. Practices are held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday after school until about 5:15 p.m. Games are usually played on Thursdays and the season runs through the first weekend in May, culminating with the State Tournament.

For more information, please contact Head Coach Finlay Waugh at finwa@comcast.net.

Raili Filion
Ultimate Frisbee Parent Representative
railifilion@comcast.net