MSD Highly Capable Program

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your student has the option to be evaluated for the Montesano School District Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) Program. This program serves students in grades K-12. If your student qualifies, the services received will vary depending on his/her particular academic needs and grade level; all students will have an individual plan in place. In grades K-6, Hi-Cap students will receive differentiated instruction in their regular classrooms and participate in a weekly Extended Learning Program. In the Jr. Sr. High, students may have opportunities such as differentiated or accelerated instruction in their math and English classes, advanced placement/honors classes, Running Start, and academic consultation from the Highly Capable Coordinator.

Qualifying for the Hi-Cap Program is based on multiple parameters, including a standardized test, teacher ratings, and a compilation of student achievement data including state and district assessments. Final selection is determined by a Multidisciplinary Selection Committee. Your permission is needed to release your student from class to participate in the testing. Please fill out the permission form below and return it to your child’s school office by Friday, October 6th. Students with permission slips returned after the deadline will be considered for evaluation the following year. Testing for the Hi-Cap Program will be scheduled during October and early November.  Because we evaluate students in every grade (K-12), the process takes a significant amount of time to complete.    

Qualifying letters will be sent home after the evaluation period. If your child qualifies for the Highly Capable Program, your permission will need to be given for participation. A letter will also be sent home to families of students who do not qualify based on the evidence collected. You may request an appeal. As part of the appeals process, the committee will complete a data review for accuracy, consider any anomalies, and determine if the student will be retested. If the student still does not qualify, the team will recommend possible extended learning opportunities within the general education setting.

Our Highly Capable Program’s Appeals Process and Exit Policy are located on the reverse side of this form. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
 

Thank you for your assistance.

Julie Aldrich, Highly Capable Program Coordinator

360.249.4331
jaldrich@monteschools.org

Full letter and Permission Form, PDF

7th Grade Orientation

Welcome 7th graders, the Class of 2023!  We're excited to have you here!  There will be an important 7th grade Orientation on Thursday, August 24th at 6:00PM in the MHS Commons.  You can take a look at where your child’s classrooms are located; meet the Principal, Assistant Principal, Counseling office staff, office staff and other staff members.  You can also take care of athletic papers required for your student to participate in a sport.  This is an important night for you and your 7th grader and we strongly urge you and your student to attend.

Need a PE Uniform? Visit the MHS BULLDOG ONLINE STORE!

If your student needs to purchase a new PE uniform, or needs a replacement t-shirt or pair of shorts, click on this link to visit our Bulldog Online Store.

Annual Student Information Update

The Annual Student Information Update will open on August 14th.  Letters were mailed home last week explaining this process.   This information update is for all existing students (including our incoming 7th graders) and must be completed before the student returns to school on August 30th

Click here for more details regarding the Annual Student Information Update.  

JH Football Parent Meeting

There will be a JH football parent meeting and gear handout on Tuesday, August 22nd at 6:00PM in the JH gym.

Smarter Balanced Assessment System and the Class of 2019

The Smarter Balanced Assessment system measures what students have learned in English Language Arts and math. The assessment system is aligned to Washington State Learning Standards. Smarter Balanced assessments are not timed, and testing will occur in multiple sessions. Our first session for the Class of 2018 will begin Monday, May 1. The 10th grade students in Mr. Olsen's English classes will begin then. The 10th grade students in Mrs. Martin's English classes and Ms. Pattison's English classes will begin Tuesday, May 2. All of the sophomores will have ample time during the next two weeks to take the English Language Arts and math tests. If sophomore students need more time to complete the tests, additional time will be provided.

Here are links to additional graduation requirements -

• graduation requirements - http://www.k12.wa.us/GraduationRequirements/StateTesting.aspx
• Smarter Balanced Overview - http://www.k12.wa.us/smarter/default.aspx
• Practice & Training Tests - http://wa.portal.airast.org/students-and-families/

Every 32 Minutes Program

On Wednesday, April 12th & Thursday, April 13th, Montesano Jr/Sr High School will be participating in the Every 32 Minutes program.

The Every 32 Minutes program is widely used among law enforcement in addressing reducing teen driving fatality and serious injury.   The Region 2 Target Zero Task Force partner with emergency responders including law, fire, aid, prosecutors, coroners, Airlift Northwest, substance prevention and 911 to bring students a firsthand look at fatality collisions.  The national statistic is every 32 minutes someone is killed by an impaired driver.  

Every 32 minutes a dispatch will go over the all school intercom of an accident involving one of the preselected students who are representing victims of traffic fatalities.  A sibling or best friend of the “victim” reads an obituary they have written live over the intercom.   Meanwhile, in the classroom paramedics place the fatal student on a stretcher and covered with a white sheet.  The student is taken to a staging area and will not return to class or have access to cell phone or social media.  This continues every 32 minutes all day.  During the day a large scale mock crash will occur outside with a massive emergency response including a Airlift helicopter.  Some families will receive a visit from law enforcement and go through what would happen had their student actually been involved in a fatal accident. 

The program is completed with an all school assembly that the parents are invited to attend.  Parents speak about what that death notification was like, students speak about the experience, and real victims speak about how their lives are forever changed.  Professionals speak on how to make better choices and law enforcement speaks on consequences.  Data shows us this program is highly effective at reducing serious injury and fatal collisions in youth.  The average reduction we experience is up to 65%.  The timing of this event is during the peak season with prom, graduation, and summer months. 

2017 Senior Boards

The 2017 Senior Boards are April 18, 19 and 20. There will be additional dates to accommodate our Running Start students' schedules.

The presentation is a senior's opportunity to show that he or she has mastered skills required for a Washington State high school diploma, as well as demonstrate readiness for life after high school. It is also the community's opportunity to celebrate and honor the Class of 2017's accomplishments.

Choir Concert 3/7 Canceled

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Choir concert scheduled for Tuesday, March 7th has been canceled.  We will reschedule this event at a later date.

Blood Drive - February 7

A Successful 2016 Food Bowl

Thank you to all who participated in the 2016 Food Bowl activities.

Montesano - 14,030 pounds, $33,457.43

Elma - 13,220 pounds, $20,627.61

Food Bowl 2016 Silent Auction Begins Monday

Silent Auction Site
Link - http://www.monteschools.org/silent-auction-2016

Bid in person or call a Jr. Sr. High employee to bid for you :)

Jr/Sr High Conferences

School conferences for the Jr/Sr High School will be Wednesday, November 9th.  These conferences are not scheduled but on a first come, first served basis.  If you are interested in meeting with your child’s teachers regarding their grades, please stop in between the hours of 1:00-5:00PM and 6:00-8:00PM.

Report cards will not be mailed out but will be available on Skyward Family Access by Tuesday, November 8th.

Because of school conferences, the Jr/Sr High School will have early dismissal at 12:20PM on both Wednesday, November 9th and Thursday, November 10th.

Montesano Jr/Sr High School named 2016 School of Distinction

Congratulations to the staff and students of Montesano for their hard work this year. We have been named a 2016 School of Distinction for continued improvement in Math and ELA scores over the last five years.  This distinction is awarded by the following organizations: 

Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD), Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (WSASCD) and Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA).  They acknowledge the great work benefitting student learning and achievement.

Congratulations again to the staff and students of MHS for their efforts and achievements.

Way to go, Bulldogs!!! 

Highly Capable Program

Montesano Jr. Sr. High will be offering the Highly Capable Program for students in grades 7-12 for the 2016-17 school year.  If you would like to refer a student for evaluation for this program, please complete this form and return it to our school office by Friday, October 7th.  Referrals turned in after the deadline will be considered for the following year.  

Referral  Form, pdf
Test Release Form, pdf

Get Your Pictures in the Yearbook!

The yearbook staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook.

Washington State 2016 Healthy Youth Survey

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Our district is participating in the Washington State 2016 Healthy Youth Survey during the weeks of October 10th – 21st.

The Healthy Youth survey includes questions related to physical activity and diet, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, risk and protective factors, access to school-based services, and sexual behaviors, abuse and orientation. Survey results are used by schools, communities and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks.

The Healthy Youth Survey is given to students in grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 across Washington State.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and the students’ answers are anonymous.

Please read the Parent and Student Notification flyer for more information about the Healthy Youth Survey.  

Montesano Jr/Sr High School Open House & Flu Shot Clinic

Open House at Montesano Jr/Sr High School will be on Wednesday, September 14th from 6:30-8:00PM.  We encourage you all to come in and meet the teachers and to ask any questions you may have.

During the open house, from 6:15-7:30PM, flu shots will be available for free to anyone age 12 and older with proof of the following insurance policies:  Premera Blue Cross, Premera, Group Health, Lifewise, Health Net and Medicare.  The nurse is not contracted to take any state insurance (Apple).  You must bring a either a copy of your insurance card or the card.  Medicare cards are required, no copies.  Please bring ID as well.

For those who do not have any of the above referenced insurance policies, the cost is $30.  Only checks and cash accepted.

If students come without a parent, they will need to have a completed permission form (see link below to print) in order to receive a shot.  All students under 18 must have a form, even with a parent present.

Click here to download Minor Consent for Flu Shot form.