4th Annual Hornet Day

It's time for the 4th Annual Hornet Day!

Sunday, August 22, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Monroe High School athletes, band members, and coaching staff will be on-hand at the Monroe High School Sports Complex. At 5:00 PM, the athletes, band members and coaching staff will be introduced to fans.

Following the introductions, at 5:30 PM, they will be holding mini-camps for band, cheerleading, golf, softball, football, soccer, volleyball, and cross country. The mini-camps are free for any youth interested in sports or band.

After the mini-camps, you can get autographs or take pictures with your favorite coaches and players, decorate lockers (bring your decorations already completed to the event), and dunk the coaches and players in a dunking machine. You can also purchase Hornet spirt wear. In addition, the 1st Business Expo will be part of the event this year.

Hornet Day is free and open to the public! A great evening for family fun in Monroe. If you have any questions, contact Ann Hinkle at 513-539-9923.

For more Monroe, Ohio news, check out MainStreetMonroe.com.

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Monroe High School's New Vocal Group, "Between the Lines"

Monroe High School has a new "pop-a cappella" group and their name is "Between the Lines" or "BLT." The group is made up mostly of kids who will be seniors next years. They rehearse each day, after school, from 2:45 - 4:45 PM and will be singing at high school events and events in the Monroe Community.

The group is being directed by Mark Jauss who, according to Main Street Monroe, says he is exciting about direction because the music is fun to perform and the group "has the potential to energize the entire Monroe choral program." BTL is made up of twenty students, however three of them will graduate this spring.

The singers are:

• Kaitlynn Nall (Soprano)
• Katya Hernandez (Soprano)
• Hannah Robertson (Soprano)
• Ellen Short (Soprano)
• Gayle Bryan (Soprano)
• Hannah Robbins (Alto)
• Nikki Larkin (Alto)
• Corinne Minor (Alto)
• Emily Hoover (Alto)
• Rachel Hoover (Alto)
• Jeff Mack (Tenor)
• Jay Miller (Tenor)
• Saxon Hall (Tenor)
• Eric Stone (Tenor)
• Troy Patrick (Tenor)
• Michael Luciano (Bass)
• Joshua Barrett (Bass)
• Brian Fiscus (Bass)
• Taylor Young (Bass)
• Matthew Kakaris (Vocal Percussionist)
  

The group's first performance will be the closing act at the Monroe High School Choir Concert, on Tuesday, May 18. It will take place in the school's auditorium at 7:00 PM. They will perform Lionel Richie's "You Are," which was arranged specifically for the group by a member of Wright State's "Fight Club," an all male a cappella group started by Jauss.

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Monroe Residents Help Nashville Flood Victims

Earlier this year, much of the Nashville, Tennessee area was flooded after nearly 20 inches of rain over the course of two days, resulting in property damage throughout the area and even the loss of several lives. According to Mayor Karl Dean, damages throughout the area will so far cost around $1.5 billion, and those numbers are expected to climb. People from all over the country are offering whatever they can do to help the devastated area and that includes the people of Monroe.

Next weekend, on Sunday May 15, the Monroe Hornets Football Team, together with the First Baptist Church of Monroe youth will be collecting clothes, shoes, etc., for flood victims. The event will last from noon to 3:00 PM.

There are two drop-off locations in the community. The first one is at Monroe High School and the other is at the First Baptist Church of Monroe. Football team members and members of the First Baptist Church and First Baptist Cur ch youth will be on hand to take any and all donations.

In addition to clothing items, monetary donations are also welcome to help pay for shipping the items to the Nashville flood victims. All checks must be made payable to the First Baptist Church of Monroe. For more information, check out Faith, Football, and the Flood.

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Free College-Bound Event for Monroe High School Students

On Tuesday, April 27, at 6:00 PM, the Learning Enrichment & Assistance Program, LLC (LEAP) will host a free event for families with college-bound high school students. The event will take place at Hope Church in Mason, Ohio.

Vendor tables with presenters, graduation gifts, announcements, and more will be on hand to help students and their families learn more about the college experience. Presentations will include:

• Choosing a College Major that Sticks
• Financial and Other Benefits of Living Off-Campus
• College or Retirement: You Don't Have to Choose
• Campus Safety
• High School to Higher Education: Organizing a Smooth Home to Dorm Transition
• Maintaining a Healthy College Lifestyle
• Part-time Work and Full-time Students
• Insurance 101 for Families with College Students
• Online Living Balance Sheet: Simplifying Your Family & College Finances

And much more! The event is also for families of students already in college.

This event has helped prepare students for college and beyond for over ten years. For more information, visit www.leapcollegebound.eventbrite.com or call 513-754-2240.

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Monroe HS Senior Prom Set for April 30

Monroe High School's Senior Prom has been set for April 30th. The theme is "If Only for a Night." The event will take place from 8:00 PM - midnight at the Lake Lyndsay Lodge and tickets are on sale as of today. Tickets can be purchase from Ms. Black in Room E105 at the school or Ms. Gray in Room E201, or in the school's rotunda before and after school hours. Prices are as follows: $35.00 if tickets are purchased between March 25 and April 1, $40.00 if tickets are purchased between April 12 and April 23, and $45.00 if tickets are purchased between April 26 and April 29.

Students who purchase tickets must be juniors or seniors at Monroe High School. The dress code will be formal, meaning girls should wear dresses and boys coats and ties. Guests cannot be over the age of 20 and must be in at least ninth grade and guests from other schools must return a signed permission form. Students must arrive to the prom by 9:00 PM or their parents will be notified and will not be allowed to leave until the crowning ceremony, which begins at 11:00 PM, is over.

Your ticket includes hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, as well as soft drinks. Tickets and directions will be handed out in the Auditorium on the day of the prom at 11:01 AM. Students must be in school that day by 7:30 AM and stay until after the prom meeting that day. If students plan to leave early, they must return a form, granting them permission to leave early by April 28. No tickets will be sold after the 29th.

For more information, visit the Monroe High School Prom website.

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Ohio's Schools Ranked Fifth in the Nation

Just weeks after Monroe High School was ranked one of the top schools in the nation, Education Week has announced that Ohio's public school system ranks as the fifth best school system in the nation, behind Maryland, New York, Massachusetts and Virginia. The publication gives the schools an overall grade of "B minus." Last year, Ohio ranked sixth and the state ranked seventh in 2008, marking steady progress.

"This report confirms what the members of Ohio's educational community have known for several years - Ohio has a strong system that is viewed as a national leader. I would like to commend the administrators, teachers, students and policy makers who have helped strengthen Ohio's education system," said Deborah Delisle, Ohio's superintendent of public instruction.

Governor Ted Strickland also commented on the accomplishment, "Ohio's schools deserve a thunderous round of applause for making continuous strides each of the past three years in the Education Week rankings. We have made quality, affordable learning a priority for our students, knowing that a modern education with dedicated teachers and relevant assessments will help prepare our children for success in the future. I believe that our comprehensive education reform plan will further strengthen Ohio's national position for years to come. I appreciate the efforts of Ohio's educators, State Superintendent Deborah Delisle and members of the State Board of Education Board for their tireless efforts to strengthen our schools so our students can compete with students anywhere on earth."

Six areas of education were examined. Ohio received the highest grade, an "A" (or third best in the nation) in "standards, assessment, and accountability." This area focuses on learning expectations, how challenging assessments are, and how they influence school accountability. It also noted that Ohio's math and science standards are being used as models for other states in the country.

51 states currently participate in the Quality Counts report but Ohio was one of the most recognized, as it works to offer quality education to students, no matter their zip code.

In other areas of the report, Ohio ranked 18th in school finance, yet still spends more per pupil than the national average. In the "Change for Success" category, which looks at "preparation, school performance, and education and economic outcomes," Ohio went down from 24th in the nation last year to 25th in the nation this year. One reason for this is the low number of children who attend preschool, as well as the low number of adults with college degrees in Ohio.

Teachers are absolutely the key to success for Ohio's students. This year, Ohio ranked 14th in the nation in the category "Teaching Profession" and was named as one of thirteen states where achievement is directly linked to teacher evaluations.

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Monroe High School One of America's Best

U.S. News and World Report has announced their "America's Best High Schools" list for 2010 and Monroe High School made the grade! Fairfield High School in Butler County also made the list.

The list features 100 high schools from all over the United States. They earn gold medals and are chosen based on their college readiness index scores. 461 other schools with high college readiness index scores earned silver medals while an additional 1,189 high schools earned bronze medals.

The schools were scored based on a method developed by School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education data research business run by Standard & Poor's. According to the method, schools must serve all students well, not just the ones who plan to attend college. A school must be able to show it is producing positive academic outcomes for the entire student body.

The schools were chose from all over the United States and Washington D.C. (Oklahoma and Nebraska did not participated).

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Monroe High School Band & Choir Concert

Monroe High School is ready for the holiday season! On Monday, December 14, 2009, at 7:00 PM, the High School band and choir will be performing a holiday concert. This will be a great night of music and fun!

Monroe spirit wear, as well as band spirit wear, will be available for sale that night, too. It's never too late to do a little holiday shopping! 20% of all profits will go to the Monroe High School band uniform fund.

Monroe High School is located at 220 Yankee Road in Monroe, Ohio. For more information, you can call the school at 513-539-8471.

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Great Fall Season for Hornets Sports Teams!

The fall sports season is coming to an end, but the Monroe Hornets have lots of a reasons to celebrate this year. From the football team to the soccer team, Monroe High School athletes have made several outstanding accomplishments, achieved many goals, and won several awards.

The Hornets football team had a very successful season that ended with a trip to the regional semi final playoff game. The team finished as the tri-champs of the SWBL - Buckeye Division. Many players also won post season awards and broke a number of team and individual records. It was a very exciting season for the team and their coaches!

The Boys' soccer team also went undefeated, capturing the Southwest Buckeye League – Buckeye Division Championship. Coach Mike Oster was named Coach of the Year and was chosen for the first team All Miami Valley Coaches Association Team. Many individual players were awarded for sportsmanship, academic excellence, and their skills on the field. The Girls' soccer team reached the Sectional Finals and several players were also awarded for their individual success.

The Boys' golf team placed third in the SWBL with Logan Rutter qualifying for the District tournament as an individual. Girls' tennis is only its second year but is continuing to become more successful. Cayli Baldwin was chosen as an honorable mention SWBL.

The cross country program is continuing to grow and some freshman runners are already showing great promise for the future. Courtney Davis and Emily Black placed second and fourth respectively at the SWBL finals. The Girls' volleyball team also shocked their opponents by finishing 11-13 this year. The program is also continuing to grow and the team features several freshman players. Several players were recognized for their individual skills.

Congratulations to all students and coaches and good luck next year!

Monroe Hornets to Make Eighth Playoff Appearance

On Sunday, the Ohio School Athletic Association announced the 32 teams who will take part in the state football championships. The Monroe High School Hornets were selected for their eighth playoff appearance. The team, who is currently 8-2, made the state semifinals in both 2005 and 2007. They will play at Chaminade Julienne on Friday night, November 6th. You can purchase tickets for $7.00 at participating schools or pay $9.00 at the gate.

The Middletown High School Middies, who are 9-1, also made the cut for the first time since 1990. Other nearby teams who will be participating include Carlisle and Valley View.

Photo by blueriverimages.com

Monroe High School Students Veteran's Day Project

For Veteran's Day, students in the Monroe High School Advanced Internet class are developing a website to recognize current and former members of our military. The website will feature photos and basic information of each person's military service. The class is looking for:

• Current Monroe residents and their family members who are serving or have previously served in the military
• Monroe High School alumni who are serving or have previously served in the military
• Monroe Local Schools staff members and their family members who are serving or have previously served in the military

If you or a family member is interested in participating, please email tburklow@monroelocalschools.com with the words "Veteran's Day Project" in the subject line. The email should have a digital photo of the military member in their uniform or in a military setting attached and include the following information:

• The person's full name (as you'd like it listed)
• The person's rank, military branch and unit information
• General location describing the image
• War or operation the person served in or is currently serving in

Interview with Coach Ken Meibers of Monroe High School

Ken Meibers, the varsity football coach at Monroe High School, started playing football at a very young age. The sport that he calls "greatest team game in the world" has been a part of his life ever since. We recently had the opportunity to talk to Coach Meibers about everything from the upcoming 2009 football season to his favorite things about the Monroe community to what he likes to do in his spare time:

Can you tell us a little bit about your background including your days as a player and a coach at Colerain and Findlay, where you are from, about your family?

Coach Meibers: I played two years at St. Xavier High School. I then transferred to Colerain High School and continued to play football. I was a member of the 1995 State Finalist football team that was disqualified for using an ineligible player. I earned a football scholarship after my senior season at Colerain. I went on to play for 5 seasons at The University of Findlay. I was a member of their first NCAA Division 2 recruiting class. I was a three year starter on the offensive line. In college I was a two-time All GLIAC Selection as an offensive lineman. I was voted as The Most Outstanding Lineman in 1999. In 2001, I was voted Team MVP. After my playing days I became the Tight Ends Coach for a year and a half before returning to Colerain as a Science Teacher and Assistant Football and Track Coach I coached both football and track at Colerain for 5 years. During that time I was part of the 2004 State Championship Football Team. We were also Regional Champions in 2006, and Regional Runner Ups in 2003, 2007.

I coached two girls throwers to the state meet in the shot put. They finished 4th and 6th place respectively. I also coached numerous sprint relay teams to the state meet during my four seasons as Boys Sprint Coach. In 2005, our Boys Track team was District Champions.

My parents are both retired teachers. My mother taught OWE for 35 years at Northwest High School. My father is a very accomplished Track and Cross Country Coach. He was head coach of the Boys 1978 State Cross Country Team at Colerain High School (The only other boys state title won at Colerain.) He is now the Athletic Director at Lockland High School.

When did you first get into football?

Coach Meibers: I began playing football in 5th grade, and I played every year til I graduated from college.


How did you end up at Monroe High School?

Coach Meibers: When I saw that the job was open I became interested. I always wanted to be a Head Coach. I thought long and hard about the Monroe Job, but after several conversations with both Dave Bauer and John Singleton, I decided that it would be a great fit.


What is your favorite thing about coaching and working at Monroe High School?

Coach Meibers: The best thing about being at Monroe is the school and community support. Since I first arrived here, everyone has been very welcoming. I also love working with the staff and players. The kids have done a fantastic job. They finally understand that hard work is the key to success.


What are you looking forward to for the 2009 season?

Coach Meibers: I look forward to putting a much improved football team on the field every week. We are bigger, faster, and stronger than we were last year. We return 17 starters. Our off season program was very successful. The kids have been put through a total of 108 grueling workouts that began the Monday before Thanksgiving. Football here at Monroe will never be cancelled and it is our goal to outwork every opponent on our schedule. The players have now had a full calandar year to learn the system and terminology. The staff is also completely intact and we now have had extra time to fully understand each other and the goals of the offensive and defensive system. Our goal as a staff is to improve our players and stress the common goal of every aspect of the program...WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.


Who are your heroes - both in football and in life? Favorite football players growing up?

Coach Meibers: My hero is my mom...Carol Meibers. I don't have football heroes, favorite players, or favorite teams. I enjoy watching college games. I love to see the competition that goes along with the sport. Football is the greatest team game in the world...we win and lose as a team.

What is your favorite thing about the Monroe Community?

Coach Meibers: I love the way that the community supports the schools and sports. The community is very tight-knit and family oriented. That is perfect because I consider myself to be a family man.


What do you like to do when you are not coaching?

Spend time with my wife Stephanie, and two kids...Jackson (2 years old) and Makenna (5 weeks old).

Coach Meibers also added "I encourage everyone in the community to come out and support the Hornets at every game this year. The kids will make you proud."

We'd like to thank Coach Ken Meibers for taking the time for our interview and of course, Go Hornets!!

To View More Pictures Click Here Monroe High School Football

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