2024-25 Back-to-School Hub
As we prepare for the 2024-25 school year, Monroe will share important updates and information here to help students and families have a smooth start to the new year.
Districtwide Announcements
Orientation Days & Times
Monroe Primary School
Preschool Curriculum Night: Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 6 p.m.
Preschool Popsicles on the Playground: Thursday, Aug. 8
- AM preschool | 6 p.m.
- PM preschool | 6:45 p.m.
Open House: Monday, Aug. 12 (including school supply drop-off)
- Kindergarten | 4:45 - 5:30 p.m.
- First Grade | 5:45 - 6:30 p.m.
Monroe Elementary School
- Second Grade: Thursday, Aug 8 | 5 - 6 p.m.
- Third Grade: Monday, Aug. 12 | 5 - 6 p.m.
- Fourth Grade: Monday, Aug. 12 | 6 - 7 p.m.
- Fifth Grade: Tuesday, Aug. 13 | 5 - 6 p.m.
- Sixth Grade: Tuesday, Aug. 13 | 6 - 7 p.m.
Monroe Junior High School
- Seventh Grade (students only - activity entrance drop-off): Thursday, Aug. 8 | 1 - 3 p.m.
- MJHS Tour the Building Day (all students and families): Friday, Aug. 9 | 3 - 7 p.m.
- Open House (all students and families): Monday, Aug. 12 | 4 - 7 p.m.
Monroe High School
Freshmen Orientation: Monday, Aug. 12 in the auditorium
- Last names A - K | 4:45 - 5:30 p.m.
- Last names L - Z | 6:15 - 7:00 p.m.
Open House (all students and families):
Monday, Aug. 12 | 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Staggered Start/2024-25 District Calendar
Monroe’s 2024-25 district calendar and staggered start schedule can be found at monroelocalschools.com/resources/calendars/.
Morning Drop-Off Changes **Junior High/High School Only**
![Aerial map of main campus with new drop-off illustration and procedures for 2024-25](https://www.monroelocalschools.com/media/site/district-news/Copy of Traffic and Parking_ Morning Drop Off Proposal (Parent Drop off at Elementary PLAYGROUND).png)
After reviewing the data from a recent traffic study, morning drop-off procedures for students at Monroe Junior High and High School will change this school year. These changes are intended to allow students and staff to safely enter the building without crossing lanes of travel and reduce traffic congestion on Hornet Drive and Yankee Road.
Parents and families dropping off their junior high and/or high school students will now turn left at the top of the hill and proceed to the elementary bus lot, where drop-off will be conducted in continuous single-file line. No vehicle traffic will be permitted in the lane in front of the building during JH/HS morning drop-off.
Transportation Updates
Families planning to utilize bus service for the 2024-25 school year must complete a mandatory transportation opt-in form within FinalForms for each student no later than June 30, 2024. After this deadline, the transportation department will begin routing only students with completed forms. If the opt-in period is missed it may affect your child’s bus stop location or cause a delay of up to two weeks to receive transportation once school starts.
For more information on Monroe’s transportation policies or to complete an opt-in form for your student/s, please visit monroelocalschools.com/departments/transportation/transportation-department/.
Petermann’s Bus Tracker app has been phased out and replaced with two different resources beginning with the 2024-25 school year:
- eLink is mandatory to retrieve bus stop locations and times and will be activated on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Bus information will not be provided over the phone due to limited resources in the bus garage.
- eLink carries a constant connection with Petermann's routing software and displays time changes or delays in real time.
- Click here to view instructions on how to access eLink (web-based, no download required).
- BusZone is an optional app but is highly recommended in order to track buses.
- Parents should opt-in for messaging to receive important messages as needed.
- BusZone allows a geofence to be set around specific neighborhoods in order to notify users when the bus is in the area.
- A geofence can also be set up around your child's school to monitor when the bus arrives or departs.
- BusZone instructions: English | Spanish
Enrollment and Annual Forms (FinalForms)
Please log in to FinalForms to complete your student's required forms no later than July 27, 2024. Your prompt attention to these forms helps us provide the best support for your child and avoids any disruptions as the school year begins. For more information, refer to your weekly reminder emails or visit www.monroelocalschools.com/enrollment-and-annual-forms/ for instructions on how to sign in or create an account.
Supply Lists
Supply lists for grades preschool through eight are available now at monroelocalschools.com/resources/school-supply-lists/. For grades nine through 12, there are no building-level supply requirements, but individual teachers may request specific supplies as the school year begins. For students at Monroe High School, regular backpacks are now permitted to be carried between classes.
Attendance
Students are allowed 10 excused absences (including vacation days) via call-in, note or email each school year. For an absence to be excused, it should meet the criteria found in board policy 5200. After the 10th parent note/call-in for an excused absence, the student must then submit medical documentation for any further absences from the medical provider.
For additional information regarding absence reporting and procedures, please refer to your school’s code of conduct.
Free and Reduced-Price School Meals
Qualifying families are encouraged to complete a new free/reduced meal application within 30 days of the start of the new school year. Applications may be submitted online or paper forms are available from the food service department and building secretaries.
For more information regarding eligibility and how to apply, click the links below:
Free & Reduced Lunch Applications 2024-25 | Free & Reduced Lunch Applications 2024-25 (Spanish)
Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program meals have a new name, now called SUN meals! All children ages 1 through 18 are eligible to receive free meals during the summer months at participating program sites. Individuals ages 19 through 21 who have been identified as having mental or physical disabilities and are following Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) through their current enrollment in educational programs are also eligible for free summer meals.
For more information visit education.ohio.gov/KidsEat or call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479).
To report a meal site listed that is not operating please contact the Office of Nutrition:
(614) 466-2945 or (800) 808-6325 | child.nutrition@education.ohio.gov
Parent Resources
Click here to visit Monroe's Parent Resources page with additional links and resources.
High School Announcements
Lockers
The district has made the decision to only assign lockers to freshmen in an effort to address overcrowding and ease hallway transitions between classes. Sophomores, juniors and seniors will still have the option to be assigned a locker, however this will be by request only.
As in years past, students are only permitted to access their lockers during specific times each school day.
- Before and after school (prior to 7:40 a.m. and 2:50 - 3:00 p.m.)
- Transitioning to/during fifth bell - (lunch period: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
As the school year approaches, Mr. Prohaska will be in touch with more information regarding locker signups for sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Backpacks
Per the student code of conduct, students are permitted to carry their items to class in a backpack. For the 2024-25 school year, students are no longer restricted to the use of clear backpacks between classes. Students may now carry a normal, non-clear backpack to campus as well as to class to transport their school materials. Backpacks should be stored safely at the discretion of the teacher based on class space needs and are subject to random and/or reasonable suspicion searches.
Homecoming and Junior/Senior Prom
Students must remain in good standing in order to attend Monroe’s homecoming and/or prom. Likewise, students wanting to attend another school’s homecoming or prom must also be in good standing for an administrator to sign their form. A detailed definition of good standing is provided in Monroe Senior High School’s Code of Conduct.
Students may also lose other extracurricular privileges if, in the current academic year, they are in habitual truancy, missed more than 72 hours of school (unexcused), or have been suspended, recommended for expulsion, or expelled such as sporting events (attendance and/or participation), attendance or participation in plays, musicals, marching band/pep band activities and any other extracurricular events or activities.
Please refer to building- or grade-specific communication from your child's principal for more detailed information, or visit your child's school webpage to learn more.