Dear Crusader Family,

Happy New Year 2026 and welcome back!

I hope you and your family enjoyed a restful and meaningful winter break. It has been wonderful to welcome our students and staff back to Monroe-Woodbury Middle School and reconnect as we begin the second semester together.

We are grateful for the many opportunities we have to positively impact the lives of our students. Our students are the reason we do this work. As they returned to school on Monday, January 5, 2026, the building was filled with a positive and cheerful atmosphere. As the second half of the year begins, our entire staff share a unified vision for student success.

With colder temperatures upon us, we kindly remind families to ensure students come to school dressed appropriately with winter gear. As winter weather continues, there may be occasions when the district must call a snow day. Weather-related announcements, including transportation adjustments, will be communicated by the district, when possible, by 5:30 a.m. on the day of the event. We will share this information with families as quickly as possible.

Important Dates for January
Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming events and school closure:

• Monday, January 5: Students return to school (Welcome back!)

• Wednesday, January 7: Board of Education Regular Meeting @ Central Valley Elementary (6 p.m)

• Thursday, January 8: Middle School BLC Meeting @ Google Meet (3:30 p.m.)

• Tuesday, January 13: Cookies & Cocoa at the MW Middle School (3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m)

• Thursday, January 15, Community Conversations led by Generation Ready @ Pine Tree Elementary School (5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)

• Thursday, January 15: PTA Presentation – AI & Families: What Parents Need to Know Now @ Hybrid (7:00 p.m.)

• Friday, January 16, Community Conversations led by Generation Ready – Google Meet (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)

• Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Closed

• Thursday, January 22, Community Conversations led by Generation Ready @ MW High School (5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)

• Friday, January 23: End of the Second Quarter

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I leave you with his words: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” I encourage our school community to continue finding meaningful ways to support and uplift one another.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We extend our sincerest wishes for a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.

Warm regards,

Rafael Vasquez, Jr.

Principal

Monroe-Woodbury Middle School

PROTOCOLS FOR VISITORS TO SCHOOLS

Schools are a place of work and learning, and certain limits must be set for any visitation. Any visitations require principal or his/her designee approval.

The building principal or his/her designee is responsible for all persons in the building and on the grounds. For these reasons, the following rules apply to visitors to the schools:

Anyone who is not a regular staff member or student of the school will be considered a visitor. This includes any contractor or government official conducting professional or official business. 

The Monroe-Woodbury School District uses a visitor management practice known as The Credential Exchange Program. The practice requires all visitors to enter the school at the main entrance where they will press the intercom button. Using the visitor intercom system, a Safety Officer or Meeter Greeter will engage each visitor from inside the school and ask the individual to state their purpose for visiting. When a legitimate purpose has been stated, the Safety Officer or Meeter Greeter will electronically grant access to the visitor and they will enter the inside of the school or vestibule. Upon approaching the Security Desk or vestibule, all visitors will follow the Credential Exchange Program.

The Credential Exchange Program requires all visitors to produce a valid Government Photograph ID, which will be vetted by the Safety Officer or Meeter Greeter through the VISITOR DATABASE. Once authorization is permitted, the Safety Officer or Meeter Greeter will take the printed-out visitor’s tag and insert it into the ID holder attached to a break away Orange Visitor Lanyard. The visitor will hang the Orange Lanyard around their neck and the Safety Officer or Meeter Greeter will maintain the visitor’s ID in the security booth or vestibule’s lock box. All visitors to the school must report to the main office upon entering the school.

Student visitors are not permitted during the school day or to functions not open to the public without advance approval from the principal.

Any unauthorized person on school property will be reported to the principal or his or her designee. Unauthorized persons will be asked to leave. The police may be called if the situation warrants. All visitors are expected to abide by the rules for public conduct on school property contained in our Code of Conduct.

Refer to individual school handbooks for additional information and requirements.