The school district uses an automated communication system called Blackboard Mass Notifications to contact and inform caregivers and staff about important school and district events and announcements. Messages may be sent via phone, email, text/SMS, Facebook, Twitter, and the Monomoy app, depending on the specific circumstances. The free Monomoy mobile app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. Automated phone calls will be reserved for the most urgent, time-sensitive messages; most messages and updates will be sent via email, text, and the Monomoy app. Please make sure that the school has your current and correct phone and email contact information on file. In case of urgent communication related to school closings, delays, or other emergencies, this system allows immediate contact. All messages sent via Blackboard Mass Notifications will be automatically translated into the recipient’s preferred language, as noted in Aspen.

In the event of hazardous weather or other emergencies that threaten the health or safety of students and personnel, the superintendent may delay the start of school, dismiss school early, or close school. Students, caregivers, and staff will be informed via our Blackboard Mass Notifications system, with delay or closing messages sent via phone, email, text, and Monomoy app. The information will also be posted on the Monomoy website and shared with local news media. When schools are closed, all other school-related activities will be cancelled, including athletic events.

Chatham Elementary School shares a weekly newsletter with all families and guardians throughout the school year called The SHARK Alert. The newsletter shares important information regarding upcoming events, calendar updates, and links to a number of resources in an easy-to-read format. The SHARK Alert is typically sent out on Fridays via our Mass Notifications system, including by email, text, and app. To stay on top of all the exciting events at CES, we highly encourage families to take a few minutes each week to review the document in its entirety. All issues of The SHARK Alert are also posted on our website here.

The foundation of a strong family and school partnership is regular, open communication. You should feel comfortable contacting us when questions or concerns arise. We ask that you follow a logical chain of communication by contacting the classroom teacher as an initial step in most situations. You should also feel free to contact counselors, specialists, and administrators as the need arises. We will make every effort to keep you informed of important events at school.  Classroom or school newsletters, school committee meetings (broadcast on Channel 22 and YouTube), curriculum nights, the Monomoy website, and other special events are some of the ways that we aim to foster home and school partnership and communication. Please be sure to ask your children if they have any newsletters or notices from their teachers. It is also helpful to check book bags or backpacks on a regular basis. Many teachers use some form of a communications folder for home and school communication with electronic communication being the preferred method for families. You should look for this folder on a regular basis since important communications will be sent home in this folder.

Please do your best to communicate after school plans to your children before they leave for school, and take advantage of the online PickUp Patrol program. We understand that emergencies arise, and will be happy to convey messages to your children in these instances. 

If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher, please email them to discuss or to schedule an appointment to talk. We will not interrupt classroom teaching unless there is an emergency that needs immediate attention. Generally, teachers will respond to you on the same day that they are contacted.

Students are not allowed to have cell phones at school. We will allow students to use the office telephone to call you if they have forgotten their lunch, instrument, or some other needed items.  Please bring any forgotten items to the Main Office and we will deliver the item to your child.

We welcome the opportunity to assist you and your child if there is a problem at school. Contacting the right person and discussing your concerns generally leads to a quick solution. In most instances, the best person to speak to first is your child’s classroom teacher. Teachers are not able to engage in “drop in” conferences at the beginning of the school day as the students are in the classroom and need their full attention. If you are unable to resolve the issue after speaking with the teacher, you may contact the principal or assistant principal. In the rare event that your problem is not addressed sufficiently by the school administration, you may contact the superintendent.

If your child has been sent to the principal’s office to discuss a discipline issue, parents will be notified by an administrator on that day, or in some instances, the following day. Please call the Main Office if you have any questions. Occasionally, students come to speak with the principal in order to resolve a minor issue to provide information about an incident they may have witnessed. In these cases, it is unlikely that you will receive a call from the teacher or the principal.

For the purposes of this section, unless otherwise specified, all notices shall be written in plain language in English and when requested/necessary, the primary language spoken at home, if different than English. All written notices shall be delivered by hand-delivery, certified mail, first-class mail, email to an address provided by the parent for school communications, or by other method of delivery agreed to by the administrator and the parent.

Monomoy Regional School District uses photos and/or videos of students and student work to showcase educational activities and programs in our schools and share the Monomoy experience with families and the community. 

• Student photographs and/or videos may be used on the district website and/or social media. 

• Student  photos and videos are generally used without student names, unless a specific award, honor, or achievement by the student is being highlighted. 

• Student names are released without photos for Honor Rolls.

• Names of MRHS graduates are shared each year.

• Occasionally, student photos and/or news may be shared with local media outlets.

If you DO NOT give Monomoy Regional School District permission to include your student’s image or name in any way, please send a letter to your school principal explicitly stating your wish to opt out. This letter must be received by October 1 (or 30 days after registration for students entering mid-year).

Please note that MRSD does not control the disclosure or use of photographs or video taken by participants at events that are open to parents, community members, and/or the news media. Additionally, this form does not apply to students participating in public events, such as performances, academic competitions, and athletic events. Student photos and names from these events may be published by the news media.

Upon receipt of an opt-out letter, school staff will document your student’s status in the Aspen Student Information System for the current school year.