Monrovia Unified is dedicated to the success of each student and our teams of educators worked tirelessly to ensure all our students and families were equipped with the tools necessary to finish the school year strongly. During that process, you showed us patience and collaborated with teachers and administrators to make for a smooth transition to distance learning.
It was a bittersweet feeling ending the school year on June 3 without the opportunity to come together as a staff or to wish our signing off with a final “KIT” in student yearbooks.
I am especially thankful to the school teams for making those drive-through graduations so celebratory and personal. Monrovia High School, Canyon Oaks, Mountain Park, and Monrovia Adult School each hosted a final farewell that recognized student achievement and highlighted the “commencement” of future opportunities beyond the protective walls of our community. Our sincerest congratulations to the Class of 2020. We wish you nothing but success as you move on to college, career, and beyond!
Though we are currently on summer break, I want to remind our families that our Food Summer Program is running until Aug. 18. Families can pick up meals from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday at the school nearest you.
During these summer months, I also encourage students and families to take part in summer learning activities through Wide Open School, which is offering a free virtual summer camp with online and in-person activities for students and families.
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is offering spaces at 50 parks for children six years and up. The summer camp program offers support for families that are slowly integrating back into the workforce and need a safe and affordable program for their children.
Camp begins Monday, July 6 and you can register online. For more information on the safety guidelines of the program, visit the department’s website. All camps are adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines that include physical distancing, cleaning, and the inclusion of personal protective equipment required for both staff and participants.
Lastly, this month the District shared with you the news about our reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year. In the coming month, our task forces at the elementary and secondary levels will explore multiple instructional models ranging from continued distance learning to in-person instruction – commensurate with the state’s four stage roadmap to reopen California.
Monrovia Unified is committed to ensuring the safety of our students. As we prepare for our reopening we must address some key issues significant to the reopening – health and safety practices, state funding cuts, instructional models, and district services.
Monrovia Unified will host three webinars discussing the reopening process at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m, on Thursday, July 9. Please register for the webinar ahead of time. The webinar will provide an overview of the process used to gather information, investigate several instructional schedules, and identify those that seem to best serve the needs of our students.
We will continue providing updated information on our website, ParentSquare, and social media platforms.
Families are encouraged to tune in to Conversations with Ralph Walker, which will resume at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 10. The show airs on YouTube and features Board President Rob Hammond and Mayor Tom Adams, who share the latest local updates on COVID-19. Please submit questions to [email protected] or by calling (626) 357-4974.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Thorossian, Superintendent
Parent Survey on ParentSquare
A parent survey has been sent out through ParentSquare. This survey will help Monrovia Unified determine its next steps.
If you are having trouble accessing the survey, please check the possibilities below:
If you did not receive an email from ParentSquare sent from the Office of the Superintendent, it may be that we do not have accurate email information in ParentSquare. ParentSquare syncs nightly with Aeries, our student information system. To correct or update this, please go to the Aeries Parent Portal at http://my.monroviaschools.net, review your information, and, if necessary, correct it, so that your contact information reflects correctly in ParentSquare. We will send out another email with survey information through ParentSquare Monday evening.
To complete the survey, you will need to log into Parent Square. There you will be able to access and complete the survey.
If you are having trouble logging into Aeries or ParentSquare, we are establishing a Hotline for Aeries and ParentSquare issues that will be live on Monday, June 6, 2020, after 9:00 a.m. If you were unable to resolve these issues over the weekend, please call (626) 471-2064 Option 1. Our team will be standing by to assist you.
Monrovia High School Celebrates Over 300 Graduates During Drive-thru Ceremony
Over 300 Monrovia High School seniors exited their vehicles, walked the green and white decorated stage, received their diplomas, and turned their tassels during the school’s drive-thru commencement ceremony at Monrovia High School on June 3. The graduation ceremony almost didn’t happen, after Los Angeles County education leaders nixed drive-thru events. But advocacy by Board President Rob Hammond and the rest of the Board of Education, Monrovia High School Principal Kirk McGinnis, and the Monrovia community, convinced the county to reverse its ruling, opening the opportunity to celebrate safely – not just for Monrovia but for districts across the region. Despite the hardships to get to graduation, Monrovia High School, Monrovia Unified Board of Education, and the community of Monrovia collaborated to create a memorable day full of smiles, cheers, and applause. Click HERE for a graduation recap.
Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park Independent Study School Seniors Turn Their Tassels During Drive-thru Commencement Ceremony
Over 60 seniors from Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park Independent Study School were cheered on as they walked the stage to receive their diplomas during a drive-thru commencement ceremony on June 3 at Monrovia High School. As graduates picked up their diploma and elbow-bumped their teachers, some were also surprised as they were presented with scholarships. Before reaching the pick-up zone at the end of the graduation stage, students met with Flint Fertig, Director of Alternative Schools, who directed them to turn their tassel from right to left. A complete overview of the commencement ceremony is available on the schools’ website. Click HERE for a graduation recap.
Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School and Clifton Middle School Celebrate Promoting Students During Drive-thru Ceremonies
Eighth graders from Clifton Middle School and Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School were celebrated for their achievements and the end of their middle school journey during a series of drive-thru promotion ceremonies held at both school sites on June 1 and June 2. Students, one-by-one, exited their vehicles to pick up their promotion certificate and wave goodbye to their teachers.
Monrovia Unified’s Summer Food Service Program
Though we are currently on summer break, Monrovia Unified will continue to distribute meals at all locations from 9 to 11 a.m. Families can pick up breakfast and lunch meals at the school site nearest them. Click HERE for more information.
