Mavericks Memo

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Spring Fling This Friday!

A fun activity night for all Monroe students.

spring fling title in bright colors

We will have a fun activity night Friday, April 24th  from 4-6 p.m. in the amphitheater and surrounding courtyard.  This form will be used to purchase tickets.  Tickets will be $10 and sold  at lunch April 20th-24th at lunch.   We will not be selling tickets at the door.  Students can start checking in at 3:45.  Doors will close at 4:45 and students will be dismissed at 6 p.m.  Only students personally picked up by a parent/guardian at the door will be allowed to leave early.  Payment will be made in CASH ONLY.  Exact change only will be accepted.  Any additional money will be considered a greatly appreciated donation.  Please feel free to donate any additional funds to help cover the costs as well.  Please attach money to this form or put form and money into a sealed envelope.

 The cost of the ticket INCLUDES the following options:

●     DJ music and activities

●     Photobooth

●     2 henna artists

●     Inflatable obstacle course, soccer darts and basketball

 Students will need to PAY ADDITIONAL money for the following options:

●     Kona Ice Truck ($5-8 at the event)

●     Snack Shack (candy, sodas, water, etc. $1-2 at the event)

●     Homemade tamales and beef tacos ($3 each) and flautas (2 for

$5) includes all of the fixings to go with each item.

IMPORTANT: This is for 6-8 Monroe students ONLY.  Students must have appropriate behavior and CANNOT have any F’s.  The dress code for the dance is the same as it is for school (torso covered, no undergarments showing, appropriate footwear).  This is NOT an event that you need to have a date or someone to go with.  It will be a lot more fun to go with a group of friends.  No school backpacks or large bags allowed inside.

Permission slip is linked below.

Monroe Students Give Opinions on School Lunch

Students share what they dislike and like for lunch as well as offer suggestions.

picture of the salad bar

School lunch is an important part of the school day because it gives students energy to learn and focus in class. In a student survey conducted by the leadership class, students shared their opinions on school lunch. The students provided honest feedback about what they enjoy and what they would like to change.

The students’ favorite school lunches include pizza, grilled cheese with tomato soup, ramen, fruit, salad, parfaits, Taco-nadas, and carne asada tacos. They especially enjoy pepperoni pizza and would like to see it served more because pepperoni pizza often runs out more than cheese pizza. They also like having fruit and would enjoy more variety, such as fruit bowls and olives. The students mentioned that they prefer food that is fresh rather than frozen or overcooked.

Some foods students do not enjoy include wings, hot dogs, corn dogs, pancakes with sausage, gravy with mashed potatoes, and leftover apples. They also said they would like fewer oranges served at lunch because many students do not like them or often leave them uneaten.

When asked what they would like to see added to the menu, students suggested more tacos and a wider variety of cultural foods. They also think it would be nice to have Tajín packets available for fruit. In addition, they would like more side dishes, chips, and a greater variety of drinks instead of just milk.

Overall, the students’ feedback shows that while they enjoy many school lunch options, there are clear areas for improvement. Adding more variety, cultural foods, and fresh options could make lunch more enjoyable and satisfying for everyone.

By: Arianna M. and Azul A.

 

Bright Spots in CUSD

Highlights of exciting news within the Campbell Union School District.

Castlemont teacher, Hailey Robinson, and the Navy pilot she flew with in the F-18 (pictured behind them).

Students and staff are living our values of learning, collaborating, and community building. Students at Village have been learning about local waterways and in January helped the South Bay Clean Creek Coalition remove 2,680 pounds of trash from Guadalupe Creek. In addition to helping make the waterway and accompanying trail more inviting with the trash removal, the students’ work also helped the salmon thrive. Students will continue their studies about the local waterway and its inhabitants throughout the remaining school year and are planning another day of service with the South Bay Clean Creek Coalition.

At Castlemont Elementary, third grade teacher, Hailey Robinson, was the recipient of the Key Influencer Award, As part of the recognition, Hailey was scheduled to fly with the Navy’s Blue Angels during Fleet Week which was cancelled due to the government shutdown at the time. In February, Ms. Robinson was given the opportunity to fly with the Navy in a FA-18 Super Hornet. Congratulations, Hailey!

Santa Clara County Supervisor, Susan Ellenberg, honored Campbell Union School District and Youth Art Month at the Arts, Innovation, and Music (AIM) Showcase with a Proclamation. Additionally, ten student (grades K-5) projects were selected for display at the County Building, 70 W. Hedding Street, 10th floor, San Jose. Visitors may view the student pieces during regular business hours. Congratulations to:

School 

Student

Grade

Project

Blackford

Delilah Velasquez Espino

5

Grand Canyon

Oil Pastel

CSI

Shiori Doi

5

Rainbow Weaving

Recycled Weaving

Capri

Aivy Troung

4

Treasure Island Map (Innovation project)

Castlemont

Freddie Marmarou

K

Arctic Hare

(Art project)

Forest Hill

Julian Chiu

5

Tempra paint value with chalk pastel Northern Lights

Lynhaven

Noor Ahmed 

5

Grand Canyon

Oil Pastel

Marshall Lane

Henrietta “Etta” Makepeace

4

Mehndi art on watercolor (India)

Rosemary

Emily Nicolle Jimenez Salcedo

2

Bald Eagle (Art Project)

Sherman Oaks

Ximena Cruz

5

Guitar

Village

Cole Pearring

4

A "Cheesy" Success: Student Chefs at Rolling Hills Secure Second Consecutive Cook-off Title

Rolling Hills Middle School wins second Expanded Learning Lunchroom Cook-off student cooking competition.

The winning team from Rolling Hills Middle School pose with their awards and Expanded Learning staff.

And the winner is…..Cheesy Pasta (a paccheri pasta dish) from the Rolling Hills Middle School team composed of Amy, Liya, and Serena.

Student culinary teams from the Expanded Learning programs at Campbell School of Innovation (CSI), Monroe Middle School, Rolling Hills Middle School, and Sherman Oaks Dual Language Immersion School competed April 1, 2026 in the fifth annual Campbell Union School District (CUSD) Lunchroom Cook-off. 

Not only did the team from Rolling Hills Middle School earn a trophy and bragging rights as the defending champion, but their winning recipe will be added to the school lunch menu.

Leading up to the competition, students representing their school and Expanded Learning program learned about nutrition, food handling and safety, and basic culinary techniques. Additionally, they spent time putting together presentations and practicing their public speaking and presentation skills. The competition was judged by Superintendent, Dr. Viramontez; Board President, William Slade; former Le Cordon Bleu instructor, The International Culinary Center Coordinator, and season three Chopped winner, Chef Marc Pavlovic; and student representatives from Monroe, Sherman Oaks and CSI.

Past winners have included:

2022 - Spicy Chicken Ramen - Monroe Middle School

2023 - Tortas de Asada - Sherman Oaks

2024 - Enchiladas Verdes - Sherman Oaks

2025 - Pesto Pasta - Rolling Hills Middle School

The paccheri pasta dish included all five main food groups: dairy (cheese and heavy whipping cream), protein (Italian sausage), fruits (tomatoes), vegetables (onion, garlic, and fennel), and grains (paccheri pasta). The students also had to ensure the recipes met the required nutritional guidelines and limitations on sodium and fats. When asked how the team decided on a name for their dish, with a giggle they told the story of how one iteration of the dish ended up with more cheese than the recipe originally called for, “it was an accident and that became really popular, so we kept it”, noted the young chefs.

The livestream from the Lunchroom Cook-off may be viewed at https://youtu.be/KTXeGjOhu_M 

Sixth Graders Adjust Well to Monroe

Sixth grade students share how they feel about coming to Monroe and middle school in general.

6th grade students at Monroe

Adjusting to a new school can be challenging, especially when starting middle school. Compared to elementary, rules tend to be different and expectations are higher. Many sixth graders at Monroe learn how to balance managing these new responsibilities while getting used to a new environment.

 

Many sixth graders have agreed that the increase in homework and other students were big adjustments. Sixth grader Jhenna stated, “The biggest change was the pressure of classwork. Also, I was definitely surprised by the amount of people.” They also shared that teachers were welcoming & supportive, allowing them to feel more comfortable as they settled in their new school.

 

Another challenge many students agreed on was learning where everything was located, such as classrooms, the library, and the office. Even though it was a bit confusing at first, most students mentioned it was easy for them to adjust to this change. Other students also appreciated the more open environment of Monroe and felt as if it increased ‘freedom’ and it helped them become more independent.

 

Even though the transition to middle school can feel overwhelming at first, most sixth graders have stated that it became easier over time. As they learn the layout of the school, adjust to their schedule & classes, make new friends, and get used to their new surroundings, many students start to feel more comfortable. By the end of the first few weeks of school, Monroe starts to feel less like a scary new place, and more of a place where students belong.

By Leadership Students Hailey B. and Cali E