CRUSADER CONNECTION

to the 2025-2026 school year!

A MESSAGE FROM Mr. Jason McElroy, MWHS Principal

Dear Monroe-Woodbury High School Families,

Spring is right around the corner, and we are already halfway through the third quarter! Spring sports are getting underway, concerts are filling our auditorium, our drama students are rehearsing for the Spring Musical, while our art students are diligently preparing for the Annual District Art Show. It is an exciting time in the building as students continue to impress us with their resilience, leadership, and dedication both inside and outside the classroom!

Thank you to our teachers and staff for upholding high expectations and providing the support our students need to succeed. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our parents and families for your continued partnership and dedication to your child’s growth and learning.

As we approach the final stretch of the third quarter, I encourage families to check grades, maintain communication with teachers, and help students stay organized and intentional with their time.

With the weather getting warmer, I would like to reiterate two important safety messages to our students:

After-School Activities: If you are staying after school for a sport, club, extra help, or any other reason, please remain inside the building at dismissal. Once you exit, you will not be allowed to re-enter and must take your assigned bus home. As always, students taking the 4:00 or 5:00 activity bus must have an activity bus pass from their coach, advisor or teacher.

***Students are not allowed to leave campus and return for the activity bus***

Early Dismissal: Students leaving early must exit only through the Main Entrance and remember to swipe out before leaving. Using other exterior doors compromises building security and prevents our system from properly recording your departure.

Additionally: Below, you’ll find key information about prom, including two important updates: a code of conduct reminder and details about the required prom presentation. Be sure to review these carefully!

Important dates & information to keep in mind (more info below):

March is Women’s History Month: March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the countless contributions women have made to our nation, our communities, and our school. We honor the leadership, resilience, and achievements of women past and present who continue to inspire future generations!

March 4: Crusaders Committed to Education

March 6: Harlem Wizards @ 6:30

March 8: Daylight Savings Begins

March 9: HS Spring Sports Begin

March 12, 18 & 19: Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 20: Superintendent Conference Day

March 21 & 22: HS Spring Musical, The SpongeBob Musical

March 30 - April 3: Spring Break

Respectfully,

Jason McElroy

Principal

Monroe-Woodbury High School

Information Corner

Arrival PROCEDURE UPDATE

Starting Monday, March 9, students entering MWHS for arrival without a phone will need to enter via the Main Entrance and proceed directly into the Wrestling Room to fill out the No Phone Agreement via the Google Form on the Chromebooks.

Wrestling season (a successful one at that!) is behind us and we can again utilize our Wrestling Room for our morning procedures.

We encourage all students to utilize their YONDR pouches for the most smooth and efficient entrance into the building.

Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation!

High School Scholastic Book Fair

Students will visit and shop during their English classes.

Book Fair Dates: March 9 - 13 in person in the HS Library and online!

Click here for more information.

Parent - Teacher Conferences

Spring Parent-Teacher Conference Schedule

Please note: All Spring Parent-Teacher conferences will be held virtually.

MWHS:

Thursday, March 12: 11:15PM - 1:51PM, Virtual (Remote)
Wednesday, March 18: 11:15PM - 1:51PM, Virtual (Remote)
Thursday, March 19: 5:00PM - 8:00PM, Virtual (Remote)

More information can be found here.

Class of 2026 information

Dear Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2026:

Graduation is just around the corner! After years of dedication and hard work, your student is about to cross the stage as a graduate. We’re excited for this milestone and want to ensure you have everything you need to navigate the graduation process smoothly.

Graduation will take place at 6:00PM on Thursday, June 25 on our turf field. Seating is unlimited and there is no ticket required for our outdoor ceremony. We have a rain date to ensure as many people as possible can be part of this special moment. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony would be rescheduled for Friday, June 26 at 6:00PM.

If the weather does not cooperate on Thursday or Friday, the ceremony would be moved indoors to the main gymnasium.

Friends and family who do not have a ticket for the potential indoor event are welcome to join us in our auditorium where the event will be livestreamed. Guests will be accommodated in this location until capacity is reached.

Regardless of when or where the ceremony is held, the celebratory event will be livestreamed for all family and friends near and far to enjoy! A link will be provided closer to the graduation ceremony date.

Important Dates

Senior Breakfast/Senior Slideshow/Mock Accident

The Senior Breakfast will take place on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:15AM in the Large Cafeteria. The Senior Slideshow will be shown during the Senior Breakfast. Students will then proceed outside for the Mock Accident at 9:00AM.

Senior Picnic

The Senior Picnic will take place on Tuesday, June 16 on our athletic fields.

Senior Prom

Senior Prom will be held on Thursday, June 18 from 6:00PM - 10:00PM at the West Point Grand Ballroom. Please note that, all guests entering West Point must have a REAL ID or be escorted by someone who does.

All Night Grad Party

The celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 26 and will go “All Night”! The ANGP is scheduled from 10:00PM - 3:00AM...more details to follow! The next ANGP meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00PM at the High School. More information can be found here.

Cap & Gown Distribution

Caps & Gowns will be distributed to students at the Senior Picnic on Tuesday, June 16. Order yours today here. Orders are due by April 1.

If you do not order a cap & gown in advance for $30.00, there will be an opportunity to purchase one on June 16. Be aware that the cost increases to $40.00 after April 1 and only exact cash will be accepted.

Graduation Rehearsal

Graduation Rehearsal will take place on Wednesday, June 24 at 10:30AM.

Graduation Day

Students are required to be at the high school at 5:00PM to prepare for the procession. Arrival time would be 5:00PM on Friday if the rain date is utilized.

Handicapped parking is available only at Central Valley Elementary School. There will be a shuttle bus transporting people to the Football Field handicapped area.

Please do not arrive prior to 4:00PM. All parking areas and the graduation site will be closed until 4:00PM.

We are looking forward to celebrating the Class of 2026!! 🎓💜

The Harlem Wizards

The Monroe-Woodbury High School Interact Club is excited to be hosting the Harlem Wizards game on Friday, March 6. Doors open at 5:30PM, and tip-off is at 6:30PM. The Harlem Wizards are a national organization, and our district is their longest running game!

The proceeds are used to help families in the community who are in need or to create connections by running events with district schools.

Get your tickets here!

The Spongebob musical

Are you ready?! The MWHS Drama Club proudly presents The SpongeBob Musical, a fun, hysterical, and surprisingly poignant story about being true to yourself and coming together as a community. SpongeBob the Musical is a high energy blast for the whole family!

SpongeBob will be performed Friday, March 20 @ 7:00PM and Saturday, March 21 @ 12:00PM and 7:00PM.

Tickets are available online via the Drama Club Cur8 link or at the door. Please note, tickets are reserved seating so get yours in advance for the best seats on the ocean floor!

Important 2026 Prom Information

Attending the Junior or Senior Prom this year?

Please read the important info below:

If a student is suspended out of school one month prior to their respective prom, they will not be permitted to attend.

Junior Prom: 4/6 - 5/15
Senior Prom: 5/15 - 6/18

If tickets are purchased, reimbursements will not be

Code Of Conduct

__________________________________________________________________________

All MWHS students attending prom this year must complete the required prom presentation. This is a one-time requirement. Students who have attended prom in previous years and have already completed the presentation do not need to do so again.

**To complete the presentation, students should visit their "Class of 20XX" Google Classroom.**

DUE DATES:

Junior Prom - must be completed by May 1, 2026.
Senior Prom - must be completed by June 5, 2026.

If any student is unsure if they have completed the requirement, they can visit their house office to inquire.

***If this presentation is not completed, students will not be able to attend the prom***

More information can be found here.

_______________________________________________________________

Senior Prom attendees/parents/guardians should be aware that all guests entering any military installation (e.g., West Point), must have REAL ID or be escorted by someone who does.

More information on the NYS REAL ID can be found here.

The Spotlight

Student BoE Rep

Click Here to see BoE Student Representative Zoe Irabor's presentation at the February Board of Education meeting.

Prism Concert

More than 200 of our high school's student musicians took part in this year’s Prism Concert, delivering an evening of outstanding musical performances.

The concert featured a wide range of selections, from popular contemporary pieces to classical favorites. The evening culminated in a powerful grand finale as all participating musicians joined together on stage for a moving rendition of the recently discovered Monroe-Woodbury Alma Mater dating back to 1960.

The Prism Concert remains a cherished tradition and a testament to the talent, dedication, and collaboration of Monroe-Woodbury’s student musicians.

Check it out here!

Big Future

Monroe Woodbury Highschool

Students Named BigFuture Ambassadors for the Spring 2026 Cohort:

• Isabella Romero, 11th Grade
• Valery Canales, 11th Grade
• Yoojin Sung, 11th Grade

The above MWHS students have been selected as BigFuture Ambassadors by the College Board for the 2026 spring cohort. The BigFuture Ambassador program is a community of high school students that volunteer to support their peers in planning for life after graduation.

As a BigFuture Ambassadors, they will spread the word about college and career planning and steps students can take now with bigfuture.org, a free College Board platform offering tools and guidance for exploring careers, researching colleges, and planning for financial aid. The more than 5,800 ambassadors nationwide work within their school communities to raise awareness on these topics, inspire classmates to take key steps toward their futures, and share helpful resources through social media, school events, and peer networks.

Congratulations Isabella, Valery and Yoojin!!

Student Activities are in full swing at MWHS!

NAHS Window Painting

Our National Art Honor Society members refreshed the Subway windows for the month of February!

We thank them for filling our Main Lobby with their beautiful and creative work.

💜🎨

🏊‍♀️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🤼‍♀️⛷️📣🏋️🏀 ATHLETICS 🏀🎳🏒⛷️🤼🏃🏊‍♂️

MWHS Winter sports celebrate section IX championships & MOre!

An amazing winter season for Monroe-Woodbury Athletics! Congratulations to all the student-athletes and coaches for their hard work and dedication during this winter athletics season. Here are a few highlights:

Girls Varsity Wrestling Congratulations to Gigi Sullivan for placing second at the NYS Girls Wrestling Championship in the 120 lb weight class! Congratulations to Jada Lee for her Section IX Champsionshiop and fourth place finish at the NYS Girls Wrestling Championship in the 130 lb weight class!
Boys Varsity Wrestling A lot to celebrate! Congratulations to Malachi Courtois - Section IX Third Place, Liam Hayes - Section IX Champion, Caleb Brown - Section IX Champion, Elijah Brown - Section IX Champion, and Kelly Sullivan - Section IX Second place! Congratulations to Elijah Brown for his third place at the NYS Boys Wrestling Championship in the 144 lb weight class! Congratulations to Kelly Sullivan for placing second (runner up!) at the NYS Boys Wrestling Championship in the 126 lb weight class!
Girls Indoor Track & Field OCIAA Division I Champions and Section IX Champions!
Boys Indoor Track & Field OCIAA Division I Champions!
Boys Swimming & Diving OCIAA Division II Regular Season Champions, and a big congratulations to Josh Insdorf for his Section IX win in the 500m Freestyle event!
Boys Varsity Alpine Ski Congratulations, Anthony DeVenuto (grade 8), on his sixth place finish in the Section IX Tournament!
Varsity Ice Hockey Section IX Champions!
Boys Varsity Basketball Good luck in the Section IX tournament that begins Thursday, 3/5, when the Crusaders take on the Kingston Tigers!

Congratulations, Crusaders! 🎉💜 We are looking forward to Spring Sports that begin on Monday, March 9th!

*photos provided by MW Athletics, Mr. William Dimmitt, and Mr. Matt Kellum, MVP Experience*

DEPARTMENT UPDATES, INFO AND MORE!

School Counseling office

Check out the news from the School Counseling Department!

Newsletter

ACT

The ACT will be administered at MWHS on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

PE newsletter

Check out the December Newsletter from the Physical Education Department!

food services

Free Meals for all students during the 2025-2026 school year!

All students enrolled at Monroe-Woodbury Central School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch in school at no charge to your household each day of the 2025-2026 school year.

All students will be able to participate in these meal programs on the first day of school without having to pay a fee or submit an application. All schools provide a breakfast program for students upon entry into school and a lunch program for students in the cafeteria.

School meal programs offer breakfast and lunch meals that meet strict federal nutrition standards, aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are planned with student preferences in mind. If packing food from home, students can add to their home brought lunch at no cost by choosing at least three of the five items offered, (e.g., low fat milk, proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits), one of which must be a vegetable or fruit. We invite students to show their support for their school food service program through participation.

View message for families regarding 2025-26 school year

View message for families regarding 2025-26 school year (en español!)

Attendance

It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school attendance office within at least 24 hours following the absence of their student and to provide a written excuse within five (5) school days upon the student’s return to school.

Meet our new attendance clerical, Arlene Kelly! Please email hsattend@mw.k12.ny.us regarding attendance.

The Nurse's Corner

We hope you are looking forward to spring like we are in the Nurse's office ☀️

Link: When to keep your child home

The New York State Department of Education requires that all 9th and 11th grade students and New Entrants have a physical exam. A valid physical for this school year is one performed on or after September 1, 2024.

Additionally, per NYS law, we will be screening all 11th grade and new entrant students' vision and hearing if not done and documented on their physical exam and we will be screening all 9th grade male students for scoliosis if not documented on their physical.

There is also a new New York State mandate for all 12th graders to receive a booster dose of the Meningococcal A, C, W, Y vaccine (Meningitis A). To be valid for 12th grade, the vaccine must have been received at 16 years or older.

When you are scheduling your child's 11th grade physical exam appointment, please ask the provider if your child is due for a Meningitis A vaccine..

If your student has had a physical, please ask the provider's office to either:

Fax: (845) 460-6078 or

Email: Lisa Sassi or Leslie Dimas

Link for Forms and more info from the Nurse’s Office

If you have any questions regarding this information, please don't hesitate to contact us at (845) 460-7000 ext. 20801.

Sincerely,

Lisa Sassi, SNT and Leslie Dimas, RN

HS Bell ScheduleS

MWHS bell schedules

Class periods are 41 minutes long. Passing time between periods is four minutes.

Transportation

Visit the Parent Portal to view transportation information.

Library report

Click here to view January's Library report!

School messenger

As of August 20, 2024, School Messenger has replaced Swift K12 as the district’s parent notification system. As always, parents and guardians may receive important notifications from the district via email, phone call, or text.

NEW with School Messenger:

Parents and guardians must “OPT IN” to receive text messages via School Messenger. It’s easy and quick! Please take care of it right away!

How to OPT IN to receive text messages:

Text “Y” to the number: 67587 from the phone number you have registered to your Student’s Profile as a contact.
You will receive a text message confirming you have registered to receive text notifications: “You’re registered 4 SchoolMessenger notifications. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help.”

Please note: If you DO NOT “OPT IN” for text notifications, you will NOT receive text notifications. You will only receive phone calls or emails. We encourage you to make your selection as soon as possible to ensure smooth communication with no interruptions.

INformacion Importante

Recordatorio de School Messenger (padres/tutores):

A partir del 20 de agosto de 2024, School Messenger ha reemplazado a Swift K12 como el sistema de notificación para padres del distrito. Como siempre, los padres y tutores pueden recibir notificaciones importantes del distrito por correo electrónico, llamada telefónica o mensaje de texto.

NOVEDADES CON SM:

Los padres y tutores deben “OPTAR” para recibir mensajes de texto a través de School Messenger. ¡Es fácil y rápido! ¡Por favor, ocúpese de ello de inmediato!

Cómo OPTAR para recibir mensajes de texto:

Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra “Y” al número: 67587 desde el número de teléfono que haya registrado en su perfil de estudiante como contacto.
Recibirá un mensaje de texto que confirmará que se ha registrado para recibir notificaciones de texto: “Está registrado para recibir 4 notificaciones de SchoolMessenger. Responda PARE para cancelar, para recibir ayuda”.

Tenga en cuenta: si NO “OPTA” para recibir notificaciones de texto, NO recibirá notificaciones de texto. Solo recibirá llamadas telefónicas o correos electrónicos. Le recomendamos que haga su selección lo antes posible para garantizar una comunicación fluida y sin interrupciones.

Recordatorio de School Messenger (personal):

A partir del 20 de agosto de 2024, School Messenger ha reemplazado a Swift K12 como el sistema de notificación del distrito. Como siempre, puede recibir notificaciones importantes del distrito por correo electrónico, llamada telefónica o mensaje de texto.

NUEVO CON SM:

Debe “OPTAR” para recibir mensajes de texto a través de School Messenger. ¡Es fácil y rápido! ¡Por favor, ocúpese de ello de inmediato!

Cómo OPTAR para recibir mensajes de texto:

Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra “Y” al número: 67587 desde el número de teléfono que haya registrado en su Perfil de estudiante como contacto.

Recibirá un mensaje de texto que confirmará que se ha registrado para recibir notificaciones de texto: “Está registrado para recibir 4 notificaciones de SchoolMessenger. Responda STOP para cancelar, HELP para recibir ayuda”.

Tenga en cuenta: si NO “OPTA” para recibir notificaciones de texto, NO recibirá notificaciones de texto. Solo recibirás llamadas telefónicas o correos electrónicos. Te recomendamos que hagas tu selección lo antes posible para garantizar una comunicación fluida y sin interrupciones.

Comidas gratis - Recordatorio -Todos los estudiantes, en el año escolar 2025-2026

Todos los estudiantes inscritos en el Distrito Escolar Central Monroe-Woodbury son elegibles para recibir un desayuno y almuerzo saludables en la escuela sin costo para su hogar todos los días del año escolar 2025-2026.

Todos los estudiantes podrán participar en estos programas de comidas el primer día de clases sin tener que pagar una tarifa o presentar una solicitud. Todas las escuelas ofrecen un programa de desayuno para los estudiantes al ingresar a la escuela y un programa de almuerzo para los estudiantes en la cafetería.

Los programas de comidas escolares ofrecen desayunos y almuerzos que cumplen con estrictos estándares federales de nutrición, están alineados con las Pautas dietéticas para estadounidenses y se planifican teniendo en cuenta las preferencias de los estudiantes. Si traen comida de casa, los estudiantes pueden agregarla a su almuerzo traído a casa sin costo alguno eligiendo al menos tres de los cinco artículos ofrecidos (por ejemplo, leche baja en grasa, proteínas, cereales integrales, verduras y frutas), uno de los cuales debe ser una verdura o una fruta. Invitamos a los estudiantes a mostrar su apoyo al programa de servicio de alimentos de su escuela mediante la participación.

Ver mensaje para familias sobre el año escolar 2025-26 (en espanol)

NYS Distraction-free learning

The Distraction-Free Schools New York State law, which was passed as part of the 2026 state budget, aims to promote student mental health and student success by prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices from the time students arrive at school until dismissal. This law goes into effect at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

The law applies to students in grades UPK-12 and bans the use of smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, wireless headphones, and other internet-enabled devices. School-issued devices are exempt and will continue to be an important instructional tool in the classroom.

At the Board of Education meeting on July 23, the Board approved the Students and Personal Electronic Devices Policy. This policy addresses how the law will be enforced in our schools, as well as exemptions and exceptions. Families may request an exemption under specific circumstances, such as for documented medical or disability reasons. If you believe your child qualifies for an exemption, please complete the online Exemption Request form. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the district's Exemption Review Committee. Submission of this form does not guarantee approval, but it is the first step in the review process.

For more information, visit our Distraction Free-Schools page.

Check out the demonstration video below for our building guidelines on how we are utilizing "Yondr" pouches for secure device storage during the school day.

In an effort to be fully transparent and keep all stakeholders informed, we want to clearly outline the consequences associated with this new policy. Please review our progressive discipline steps here:

YONDR

Damaged/Lost/Stolen Yondr Costs/Consequence(s)

Pouch 2: (Replacement #1) - No Cost + phone call home + device held for the day
Pouch 3: (Replacement #2) - $30 Fee + phone call home + device held daily until fee is paid

Yondr Vandalized Costs/Consequence(s)

Pouch 2: (Replacement #1) - No Cost + phone call home + device held for day + After-School Detention (Vandalism infraction)
Pouch 3: (Replacement #2) - $30 Fee + phone call home + device held daily until fee is paid + ISS 1 Day (Vandalism infraction)

No Pouch with a phone present upon on arrival

First Offense: Device held for day / Parent phone call
Second Offense: First offense consequence + Parent must pick up device
Third offense+: Second offense consequence + After-School Detention (Insubordination infraction)

Cell Phone During School Day - all offenses require a parent/guardian to pick up the device

First Offense: Parent phone call & Parent must pick up device
Second Offense: First offense consequence + After-School Detention (Insubordination infraction)
Third Offense+: First offense consequence + ISS 1 Day+ (Insubordination infraction)

**Device pick-up window for parents**

2:30pm - 5:00pm