Reminder, all Monroe-Woodbury schools will be closed from December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026 for Winter Break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, January 5, 2025! ❄️

MWHS is excited to present Winter Spirit Week, sponsored by Student Council! Scheduled for December 15 through December 19, students and staff will have the opportunity to walk the halls united by common themes each day, highlighting our merry Crusader Spirit.

• Monday, December 15 - Cozy Pajama Day (Wear Winter Pajamas)

• Tuesday, December 16 - Holiday Character Day (Dress as Your Favorite Holiday Character)

• Wednesday, December 17 - Snow Day (Wear All White)

• Thursday, December 18 - Ski vs. Beach Day (Winter Gear or Tropical Clothes)

• Friday, December 19 - Ugly Sweater Day (Wear your Ugliest Holiday Sweater)

While we want the week to be enjoyable and memorable, student learning remains the focus of the week. We are asking that you assist us with making this week one that is safe and positive. The District Code of Conduct and Dress Code will continue to be enforced throughout the week. Please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Students are not permitted to wear face paint or body paint to school.

• No hoods, sunglasses, masks, props, etc.

• Outfits worn need to be appropriate for the school day and not offensive in nature.

Any questions about appropriateness are to be directed to the main office.

Ms. Gina Schiaffo, Head Custodian at Monroe-Woodbury High School, was November’s lucky winner for the Super Sub initiative! Before this long-time employee departed for her gift of free time, she showed Superintendent Norman the ropes. He suited up, grabbed his gear, and was ready to walk in her shoes.

Paired with fellow custodial team members Robert Morrison, Juan Vivas, and David Herb, Superintendent Norman quickly got to work. The day began by breaking down boxes in the loading dock to sweeping floors in both cafeterias. While some Crusaders recognized Superintendent Norman in the halls, others thought they were witnessing the training of a new employee. 

Before the sun comes up and after students have gone for the day, M-W custodians are hard at work. While working alongside this team, Superintendent Norman used elbow grease to ensure he did as good a job as the custodial team does every day!

Ms. Gina Schiaffo, Head Custodian at Monroe-Woodbury High School, had an incredible start to November. She was the lucky winner of the Super Sub initiative and is now the first recipient of the Crusader Cause for Applause award for the 2025-2026 school year.

An M-W graduate who has worked for the district for more than 20 years, Gina treats everyone who enters the high school with respect. She has a contagious laugh and much-appreciated sense of humor. She is always first to offer a hand or a solution no matter what the task. Gina is committed to maintaining safe and healthy learning environments for all students.

Gina makes sure all faculty, staff and students feel important and heard through open communication. Her colleagues use adjectives such as flexible, adaptable, approachable, responsible and committed when describing her.

Assistant Principal Gina Matise, who nominated Gina for this special recognition, wrote: “Thank you for embodying the true spirit of an M-W Crusader. Every day you are committed to academic achievement and we are SO lucky to have you at the HS!”

Congratulations, Gina! 🎉💜

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

As we head into the winter months, we are reminding all M-W families to please have arrangements in place for your child in the event of a 2-hour delay, early dismissal or school closure, and to make sure your child is aware of these alternative plans.

SchoolMessenger is the district’s primary parent/guardian notification system. As always, parents and guardians may receive important notifications from the if there is a change to the student schedule or if school is closed, we will notify families by 5 a.m. via email, phone or text (if opted in, see instructions), based on preferences selected on the Parent/Student Portal. Information will also be posted on the district’s website, Facebook page and Instagram account.

Stay warm and Happy December, Crusaders! 📲☃️

In conjunction with the Regional Food Bank, MWHS students will be working monthly to help distribute food on a bi-weekly basis to 72 community families. Students gathered after school on December 4 to prepare for our second month of distribution. This initiative allows students to earn volunteer hours while making a meaningful impact on our community.

The SADD club has been especially active this year with three officers on the SADD NYS Student Leadership Council (Samantha Berrio, Daniela Gunning, Julianna Fini) and Samantha Berrio attending the SADD National Leadership Summit at Georgia State University in July. 

For the month of September, the students focused on National Suicide Prevention month, hosting a table at Open House for parents and students. The theme for the event was Be a Lifesaver, as parents wrote messages on post-its that were displayed on a banner. 

In October, the students turned their attention to National Teen Driver Safety Week, partnering with Mr. Rob Kriner of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County for a table event at the Senior Barbeque, prior to Pep Rally and Homecoming Weekend. Students played rounds of spin the wheel with Mr. Kriner, prompting questions about teen driver safety, and were also given the opportunity to try on the "drunk goggles" while performing various physical activities. 

Finally, for Red Ribbon Week, the students created an MW GOES RED sign at the front entrance to the high school and recorded segments for the Morning Show. The SADD club members hosted table events during lunch periods throughout the week:

• Monday: Shared information about Red Ribbon Week as well as drug and alcohol facts. Students solved puzzles in teams about the theme: Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free, and received red ribbons.

• Tuesday: Students read and signed pledge cards. They also received stickers and red themed treats.

• Wednesday: Seniors had the opportunity to pick up red chalk markers and ribbons to decorate their cars with safety messages.

Mrs. Martucci, the SADD Officers, and club members want to thank the high school students and staff for their participation in MW GOES RED, as participants donned red clothing and seniors wrote Red Ribbon Week themed messages on their car windows.

Next up for the SADD club:  Assisting Mr. Kriner and ADAC for a Great American Smokeout table event during lunch periods and celebrating Giving Tuesday with a friendship bracelet-making table event during lunch periods. ♥️💜

The MWHS Little Miracles program began the thankful season with a "What I Am Thankful For" arts & crafts party! Tiny hands and big smiles created turkeys and other festive crafts to share with family and friends with the assistance from our MWHS Crusaders. These decorations are sure to be the highlight of the season! 

🦃💜

The Athletic Club held a Nitroball Tournament benefitting Our Father's Pantry. We had over 100 kids participate and collected 100 cans and food items to donate to the food pantry. The kids had a great time for a good cause! 🪩

From Our Father's Pantry:

“We're so grateful to you and the Athletic Club for your wonderful food donation to us! I was so surprised at the amount that you collected, and this past week we were able to give all of it away to our families in need. Thank you for your time and energy supporting us as we attempt to serve all of our food-insecure folks in Monroe-Woodbury”. 

On November 12, 2025, Monroe-Woodbury’s FBLA Chapter held an induction ceremony welcoming all of their new members and inducting their new officers into the club. This ceremony helped recognize new members and exposed them to their first FBLA event. Members were called up one at a time to shake the hands of our chapter officers, officially welcoming them into the club.

Officers for the 2025-2026 school year were also recognized and were responsible for reading aloud major speeches in which they would recite lines that exemplify the duties and obligations of what it means to be in FBLA. Officers were then called up to accept the roles and responsibilities put upon them for the upcoming school year. Mrs. Palkaunieks has taken the reins once again as the MWHS FBLA Chapter Advisor. 🎉💜