As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on individuals around the world. From business owners to employees, nearly everybody has felt some sort of hardship due to this pandemic. Students have also been affected by COVID-19 which has forced them into a new learning environment that they have never experienced before.

Students no longer have a traditional school experience in which they have direct instruction in a classroom five days a week. Instead, they must learn to be self-motivated and driven to be successful in a virtual setting. On top of their school work, students are also faced with several other challenges as they try to learn virtually from home.  Parents are also challenged as they cannot always help their children with school work as they continue working, which often leaves additional responsibility on older students to look after younger siblings. In addition, the financial burdens caused by COVID-19 has forced some upper classmen into the work force in order to help support their family.

With these factors, among others, students have struggled academically this year. Across Union County there has been a drastic decline in student performance in school. This decline can be attributed to the new challenges that virtual learning creates, leading to failing grades as students struggle to complete virtual coursework.

Monroe High School is among the schools that has been experiencing this decline, so we are taking steps to help improve student performance through an incentive-based initiative. Monroe High School plans to award the students by raffling off various items to the students who improve their grades and earn a passing mark for the grading period.

We are asking members of the Monroe Community to contribute to our initiative through donations. We will be accepting various donation options such as gift cards, service vouchers or coupons, prize baskets, merchandise, and monetary donations. Any assistance that you are willing to provide would be greatly appreciated by the students and staff at Monroe High School.

Thank you for your consideration in helping us motivate the students of Monroe High School to continue making their education a priority in this time of virtual learning.