Katie Howell, a fourth grade student at Monroe Elementary School, won first place for the third/fourth grade level in the 2010 Riverbank Poetry Student Competition. Katie's poem entitled Colors of the World, was chosen out of hundreds of poems submitted for this this year's competition. The Riverbank Poetry Student Competition is open to all Butler County students in grade 3-12. A formal reception was held on April 30th at the Miami University campus in Hamilton. At the reception, students read their award winning poems and received their trophies from John Kraimer, the director and poet laureate of the Riverbank Poetry Project.

State testing will take place at Monroe Elementary in April. The following are the dates for specific grade levels:
3rd Grade: Reading - April 20;  Math - April 22
4th Grade: Reading - April 20; Math - April 22
5th Grade: Reading: April 19; Math - April 21; Science - April 23
6th Grade: Reading April 19; Math - April 21st
Test Taking Tips
• Sleep – Get a good night’s sleep
• Breakfast – Eat a good protein breakfast.
• Relax – It is too late to worry about testing, now relax and SHOW what you have LEARNED throughout the YEAR! If you get nervous, take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself
• On Time – Make sure that you are to school on time. This could cause some additional anxiety.

The fourth grade classes under the direction of Ms. Susan Knicely and Mr. Paul Mann presented their annual Veteran's Day Ceremony on November 10th and 11th.  This program is designed  both to honor our Veteran Guests and educate students about Veteran's Day. Each class at Monroe Elementary is now collecting  donations for a care package which will be sent to our servicemen and women currently serving overseas.

This will be the eighth annual Gifts from the Heart food drive. Every year the Monroe School Community joins together to help those in our community who need some assistance during the holidays.
Each grade level will be responsible for donating selected items. The items are to be brought to school and put in marked tubs on Main Street. Collection of items will begin November 30 and end on December 11. The gifts will be distributed on December 16th.

The following are the selected items to be donated by each grade level:

ATTENTION GRADES 3-6! The Monroe High School After Prom Committee presents our first Movie Night and Pajama Party! Wear your favorite PJs to school, bring your sleeping bag and pillow, and watch a movie with your friends! All proceeds from this event will benefit the Monroe Senior High School After Prom Party. Parents, please watch for further details to come home with your child.

by Sandy Kalisewicz, Monroe Elementary

It is team time!   Time for the most important team, the educational team with the goal of making your child's school year outstandingly successful. Just as a sports team, make sure your child comes to school with the supplies, equipment needed and the attitude of a winner.

To make sure your child gets off to a good start:  

Kindergarten

Tote Bag (big enough to hold a folder and labeled with your child's name)

2 dry erase markers (broad tip)

1 pack of PLAIN YELLOW pencils 

1 box of 16 or 24 count crayons

1 pack of 4-6 count glue sticks

1st Grade

3 packages of 24 count crayons

1 package of 24 count pencils

6 glue sticks

2 boxes of kleenex (boys)

1 multipack dry erase markers (boys)

1 container of clorox wipes (girl)

1 one gal. and 1 one qt. ziploc bags (girls)

1 pair of scissors

1 one inch clear view 3 ring binder w/ pockets 

2nd Grade

1 one inch binder with clear pocket cover

1 box of 24 count pencils

1 box of primary colored markers

1 pair of scissors

1 pack of fine tip dry erase markers (low odor type)

1 pack of 24 count crayons

6 glue sticks 

3rd Grade

Monroe Follies present Beauty and the Beast. See this story for more information.