School Activities
-
Jawsome Hour/Lunch
The fundamental purpose of MRHS is to ensure all students learn at high levels. Jawsome Hour has been designed to provide students with additional time and support for learning when they struggle, and extend and enrich learning when they have mastered expected outcomes. Jawsome Hour is a 54-minute block of time carved out of the school day wherein all students have their lunch and are free to wisely choose how to spend the remainder of the 54-minutes. It is our belief that students given time during the school day to focus on individual improvement, and the ability to work with teachers eager to support them, will result in improved academic performance for all students. Available Jawsome Hour choices are: club activities, class meetings, enrichment, student led initiatives, open gym, study groups, guidance meetings, extra help, academic boot camps, homework help, work on a project, peer tutoring, and more (current Jawsome Hour opportunities are posted on MyFlexLearning. Once every seven-day cycle, students will sign up for specific offerings. Faculty will also schedule various students based on need for Academic Overtime (AOT) and periodic mandatory assemblies. Students are required to attend AOT when assigned by a teacher until they no longer need support. Students may be assigned AOT when they:
- Have a zero on any assignment
- Need to make up work
- Have an incomplete in any course
Students who have a grade below 70% will be assigned AOT.
Students who do not meet behavioral expectations as described in our student handbook will lose their “choice” privilege and may serve detentions during Jawsome Hour.
In summary, the Goals of Jawsome Hour are to:
- Increase opportunities to support ALL learners.
- Allow time for student involvement in enrichment/extracurricular activities.
- Allow more efficient use of staff and student time during the lunch block.
- Allow for personalization of education.
- Decrease number of overall students with a grade below 70% in any course.
• Increase overall class averages for all students.
-
Food Services
MRSD serves breakfast and lunch each school day. These school meals for the 2021-2022 school year are free of charge to all students. Students may also bring a lunch and drink from home, if desired. For the 2021-2022 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free for all students. Students will be able to purchase a la carte items and extra meals but only if they have cash or money in their account.
To find school meal menus, along with nutritional data and other information, click here.
It is still important for families to complete the Free and Reduced Meal application if applicable, as free and reduced benefits can offer additional support to families and can also include certain other fees being waived or reduced. The data also impacts overall school and district funding, in some cases.
Click here for the Free and Reduced Meals guidelines, information, and applications.
Monomoy Regional School District utilizes a computerized Point of Sale payment system in all of the district’s cafeterias called Nutrikids. Every student has their own personal meal account based on their own PIN. Students can access their accounts on the PIN pads located at every register. This PIN will be the same PIN as the students’ progress through the school district and will be the same year after year.
We encourage families to deposit money into the student’s MySchoolBucks account, although they may still pay cash. Monies paid into a student account can be used for the purchase of additional meals and a la carte items. This system allows students to charge only if there is money in their account – we won’t allow any negative balances to occur.
MySchoolBucks provides a quick and easy way to add money to your school meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check.
- Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com and register for a free account.
- You will receive a confirmation email with a link to activate your account.
- Add yourself and your students using the school name and student/staff ID.
- Make a payment to your account with your credit/debit card or electronic check.
A program fee may apply. You will have the opportunity to review any fees and cancel if you choose, before you are charged. If your student has qualified for free or reduced price lunches or breakfasts, this information is securely contained within the system and the meal will be processed just as it is for all other students. There is no need to be concerned for a potentially uncomfortable situation for the student.
Breakfast at all Monomoy schools costs $1.50, with a reduced price of $.30 to qualifying families. Lunch at the High School costs $3.00, with a reduced price of $.40 for qualifying families. Free and reduced meal program applications are available in the Main Office year round.
During Jawsome Hour lunch, students may choose to eat their lunches in various locations throughout the school that are not carpeted. Trays are to be returned to the cafeteria, and all trash is to be deposited in the trash barrels. Food and drink are not to be carried/consumed in the hallways or classrooms other than during Jawsome Hour. However, at individual teacher discretion, coffee/beverages only are permitted at the start of the school day and through the conclusion of first block. Water bottles are permitted at all times in all locations. Appropriate behavior and language is expected at all times. And remember, DO NOT THROW FOOD: the result will be discipline, up to and including suspension from school.
-
Food Deliveries
MRHS DOES NOT permit food deliveries to the school from area vendors/restaurants for student meals. Food deliveries violating this policy will be refused and monetary accountability will be between student and the provider.
-
Food Allergies
Monomoy Regional High School is an “allergy aware” school and is not “nut-free.” However, we make specific accommodations to protect students with life-threatening food allergies including the designation of “nut-free” individual classrooms, as well as a section in the cafeteria. Field trips are “nut-free”. Caregivers are notified in advance if their child is in one of these designated situations. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a healthy and safe learning environment for all children.
We recommend that students with life-threatening allergies have an “Allergy Action Plan” formulated in consultation with their MD, the School Nurse and caregiver(s). Allergic students are to keep a dose of their prescribed epi-pen at school and are allowed to carry their own epi-pens with proper documentation and medical orders. A table is designated in the cafeteria for students in need of a nut-free eating area. Proper hand washing is essential to health and good hygiene.
If you are concerned about a food allergy that your student has please notify the cafeteria and the school nurse with this information. A warning will appear on the cashier’s screen allowing for a review of the items on the student’s meal tray.
If you have any questions, contact Garth Petracca, Food Services Director, at 508-237-5016 or gpetracca@monomoy.edu.
-
School Activities and Field Trips
All school rules and policies apply to all school activities and field trips. These include smoking, drug and alcohol policies. Students are expected to take school-provided transportation to and from the field trip site unless other plans have been approved in advance by administration.
-
Student Council
This is the officially recognized voice of the student body. It serves to facilitate communication and understanding between the students, the faculty, and the administration. Members are elected to the Council. The major concerns of the Student Council are:
- Promotion of school spirit and a positive atmosphere for learning
- Encouragement of cooperation among the classes
- Coordination of student activities
- Fostering leadership and responsibility qualities among all MRHS students
Students are encouraged to explore the creation of new clubs/extracurricular activities, including the location of potential advisors, and then propose such ideas to the high school administration.
-
Library Media Center
The Library Media Center provides a wide variety of books, eBooks, audio books, periodicals, and databases for student use to complete school assignments as well as for pursuit of personal interests. Books circulate for two weeks and may be renewed once. Students who have overdue materials may not check out additional library materials until outstanding materials are returned. Students are responsible for the materials that they check out; therefore, if an item is lost or damaged the student who checked it out must make arrangements to pay for its replacement.
The Library Media Center is open from 8:00 AM Mondays through Fridays. Hours will be revised based on Faculty Meetings and early release Wednesdays. Please check the Library Media Center website for updates to this schedule. Food and drink are not permitted in the Library Media Center.
-
Lockers
The school has lockers on both floors. If a student would like to request one for the school year, they may do so in the main office. Students are responsible for the contents of their lockers. It is the student's responsibility to secure their locker at all times. Lockers and locker combinations are not to be shared.
Lockers are provided by and owned by the school, are not to be decorated on the outside and may be opened and checked by the administration at any time. There should be no expectation of privacy in the use of Monomoy Regional High School lockers. Items or materials which are illegal or against school rules are not to be stored in a locker. Lockers will be searched whenever necessary. Monomoy Regional High School has an agreement with the police departments to have police dogs check lockers, the entire school, and parking lots for drugs on a random basis under the supervision of school administration.
-
Extracurricular Activities
REQUIREMENTS: In order to participate in any extracurricular activity a student is required to pass six credits of academic course work the preceding marking period or receive a waiver of this requirement from the principal, in their discretion. The final grades in the courses serve as the standard for the first marking period of the following school year. The Monomoy High School Chemical Health Policy applies to all extracurricular activities.
Click here for a complete list of clubs and extracurricular activities.
-
Chemical Health Regulations for Athletics and Extracurricular Activities
Throughout the school year, beginning with the first day of school (the first day of fall sports practice for Fall athletes), a student shall not, regardless of the quantity, use or consume, possess, buy/sell or give away:
- Any beverage containing alcohol
- Marijuana, steroids or any controlled substance as defined in Chapter 94C MGL.
- Prescription drugs* used inappropriately
- Aerosol products used as inhalants
- Any other chemical substance deemed inappropriate by the school administration
- Use or possession of tobacco products including clove products, smokeless tobacco, inhalant and vaping products.
*It is not a violation for a student to use a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student’s own use by his/her doctor. If such a medication must be taken during school hours, it must be done in the Nurse’s office under her supervision. Such medication must be kept in the Nurse’s Office and not in a student’s car, locker, among his/her possessions or on his/her person.
PENALTIES:
- First Violation
When the principal or his/her designee confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a violation occurred the student shall be removed from all extracurricular, club, and team participation, for the next twelve (12) consecutive weeks. The athlete may not practice, dress, or travel with the team. In the case of a club or activity, the student shall be removed from all club meetings and functions for twelve weeks. A student may elect to reduce the above penalty from twelve to six weeks if they successfully complete a six-week Monomoy Regional High School approved “Healthy Choices” Program or another similar six-week program pre-approved by Monomoy Regional High School administration. The MIAA rule of non-participation in 25% of all interscholastic contests will be enforced. If the 25% restriction has not been completed in the current season, the remainder will carry over and be in effect in the next interscholastic season in which the student participates. An athlete who participates in the Healthy Choices option may practice with the team but may not participate in games, scrimmages and team travel; athletic eligibility would be restored upon completion of the MIAA sanctioned 25% non-participation.
Vaping violations will result in the student taking an eight-week course called Project Connect. For athletes, the MIAA rule of non-participation in 25% of all interscholastic contests will be enforced. As above, athletes would regain athletic eligibility upon completion of the MIAA sanctioned 25% non-participation.
- Second Violation and subsequent violations over the four years of high school.
When the principal or his/her designee confirms, following an opportunity for the student to be heard, that a second violation occurred, the student shall be removed from all teams, clubs and extracurricular activities for a period of one calendar year from the date of the hearing for the second offense. Athletes cannot practice, dress, or travel with any team.
Valid reporters of an offense under these two sections are:
- Self-admission
- School personnel, parents or any other reliable, verifiable source
- An arrest, summons or report by the police department
After the second or subsequent violation, if the student of his/her own volition becomes a participant in a pre-approved chemical dependency program or treatment program*, the student may be certified for reinstatement to extracurricular, club and athletic activities after a minimum period of six calendar months from the date of the second hearing. Regarding athletes with a 2nd violation, the MIAA rule of non-participation in 60% of all interscholastic contests will be enforced.
* Participation in such a program independent of a policy violation is not an admission of guilt.
Regarding 1st, 2nd and/or subsequent violations:
- Any reports will be confirmed and used in conformance with due process. If disciplinary action is taken, a student may appeal the action and have the case reviewed. An appeal is to be made to the next level of administration. Appeal notification must be made within 2 school days of issuance of the penalty. The Superintendent will only consider appeals regarding suspensions of 10 school days or more. Appeals will not be accepted if a student admits to the violation and states that (s)he is only appealing due to displeasure with the consequences.
- The penalty periods for athletics and extracurricular clubs and activities will only extend into the next academic year if the penalty is not completed prior to the start of the fall season or prior to the start of the extracurricular clubs and activities.
- In addition to the clubs, athletics and activities listed in this handbook, the following activities covered by this policy include, but are not limited to the following list: theatrical performances, the Prom, Senior Banquet, talent shows, Class Officer positions (Band, Chorus and Theatre class performances are not included because these are requirements for credit-earning courses).
-
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is an organization that recognizes and encourages academic achievement while also developing the ideals of character, service, and leadership. The Monomoy Regional High School Chapter of the National Honor Society considers membership to students at the end of their sophomore and/or junior year. The Chapter’s academic requirement is a cumulative scholastic GPA of 3.7 (90%). Averages are taken after the second marking period of the sophomore year and/or junior year. Candidates must have spent at least one semester (18 weeks) at MRHS, and must be a member of the sophomore or junior class. Students who qualify academically are invited to complete a student activity form providing proof of character, service, and leadership.
Selection is not automatic and is not considered on the basis of grades alone. The student must positively reflect the three other criteria; Character, Service, and Leadership. Selection is determined by a majority vote of the Chapter’s Faculty Council, appointed by the Advisor in conjunction with the principal. The chapter advisor serves as an exofficio, non-voting member of the council. An appeals process is contained within the chapter by-laws for any student who was not selected for membership.
Membership in the National Honor Society is both an honor and a commitment. Members should understand fully that they are liable for probation, suspension, or dismissal from the society if they do not maintain the standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were used for the basis of their selection. Once selected, members have the responsibility to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, leadership, service, and character, not only during the school day, but at all times, including vacation periods. Those who fall below these standards can face disciplinary action. Depending on the violation and its severity, the action can be in the form of a warning, written by the faculty advisor, or may involve an appearance before the faculty committee. The faculty committee will determine actions that may result in probation, suspension, or dismissal from the society. Members who resign or are dismissed are never again eligible for membership. If the member’s grade falls below the GPA required for membership, the member will have one quarter to correct the deficiency. In addition, members are required to attend all meetings if possible. In a case when a member cannot make a meeting, he/she is to notify the chapter advisor as to the reason. A member with more than two unexcused meeting absences will receive a warning letter.
Copies of the National Honor Society Constitution and Chapter by-laws are available on the high school website. A hard copy for on-site review will be maintained in the Guidance Office.
-
Work Permits
For the Work Permit Application use this link: https://www.mass.gov/doc/youth-permit-process-2020pdf/download
If you attend MRHS:
Complete the Work Permit Application. Be sure you complete these 3 sections of the application:
1) Promise of Employment
2) Physician's Certificate of Health (if you are not yet 16 years old)
3) parent/guardian and minor’s name/ signature
If you do not attend MRHS:
You will need the Work Permit Application completed as above, and additionally you will need:
4) proof of age (birth certificate or passport)
5) letter from your current school confirming your enrollment
The minor is to bring the paperwork to us, and we will complete the process at that time.