Seven James Monroe High School (JMHS) Youth Leadership Alliance (YLA) students traveled to Boston, Massachusetts on 24-29 January 2024 for the Harvard University Model United Nations (HMUN) Conference. In the face of travel-related challenges, the Mavericks performed admirably in the 71st anniversary version of the conference, which attracted approximately 4,000 students from around the world. Those completing the requirements to compete were Shane Arthur, Gavin French, Rileigh Jackson, Hannah Jewell, Thomas Sibold, Katherine Viars, and Bryceson Whitt.
In Model UN debate student delegates represent a country assigned to them and work with other delegates to develop solutions to problems as diverse as public health disparities, cybercrime and cyberwarfare, globalization, impact of economic sanctions, genetic modification, weaponization of space, artificial intelligence, child labor, and persecution of ethnic minorities. Assigned the challenging country of Syria, the Mavericks researched its culture and politics and expressed the country’s position on the problem assigned to their committees. Next, they sought like-minded allies and began the process of developing and debating solutions to the problem via a draft UN Resolution.
The trip was not all-conference, and the students had the opportunity to experience some of Boston’s rich history, including a portion of the Freedom Trail with the U.S.S. Constitution, the site of the Boston Massacre, the Charlestown Navy Yard, and Boston Harbor. The group also visited Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
The trip was not without challenges, however, as the Mavericks experienced the usual issues of urban travel such as closed “T” stations, delayed flights, and inclement weather. As in the case of previous conferences, however, the team adapted to the situation with great grace and poise, and successfully overcame the obstacles.
This was the fourth time JMHS has been selected for this prestigious event, having also participated in 2020, 2022, and 2023. JMHS is the only high school from West Virginia that has been selected to participate in this conference in recent history, and possibly ever for the annual event that began in 1953. The students joined over 4,000 other high school students from across the United States and overseas, including elite private schools and those that offer Model UN as a course of study rather than a club. Acceptance into this highly competitive debate competition is an acknowledgment of the excellence of our students in the YLA Model United Nations program.
Although Model United Nations is not a class at JMHS as it is in some other high schools, the students gain valuable academic experience in research, critical thinking, logic, written and verbal communication, and empathy by participating in it. The debate competition is not funded by Harvard and would not have been possible without the generosity of the Monroe County Board of Education, which approved funds from the school levy to assist with the trip, and that of the parents who allowed their children to travel and paid for a portion of the trip. Future plans for the Maverick Model UN program include hosting a local conference, participating in a revived YLA Model UN program in Charleston, and a return to Model UN Conferences in Atlanta and Boston next year. If you wish to contribute time, expertise, or funds to this endeavor please contact the Maverick Debate Coach, Dr. Scott Womack, at 304-753-5182, on Facebook Messenger, or via email at swomack@k12.wv.us.
#fundedbylevy
Monday, January 22 will be the last day for make up exams. Regularly scheduled classes will begin on Tuesday, January 23.
Due to mechanical issues, bus 205, Waiteville, Sweet Springs, will be running 45 minutes late for the morning run.
Due to exam schedules, National Technical Honor Society induction ceremony will be Thursday Jan. 18th at 1pm
National Technical Honor Society will postpone induction ceremony scheduled for Wednesday Jan 10th to Thursday Jan 11th at 1pm due to impending weather
Parents and Guardians of JMHS Seniors,
Information regarding local scholarship applications, a financial aid fact sheet, and a FAFSA information page will be coming home with students today. All of this information can also be found on our counseling website, and the web address can be found on the first page of the scholarship information coming home with students this evening. The FAFSA form is not yet open but will open before December 31. Our tentative date for our rescheduled FAFSA workshop is January 3, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00pm. If you have not signed up for our guidance Team Reach, please visit our counseling website for instructions on how to sign up.
Students and Parents/Guardians,
Applications for the Governor's School of West Virginia are now open! All of these are free residential programs. Please stop by and speak with your counselors, or view the information below.
Governor’s Schools for Middle School Students
Governor's School of Literacy through the Arts, Culture, and History (GSLACH) – current 8th grade students
Governor's STEM Institute (GSI) (WVU) – current 7th grade students
Governor's STEM Institute (GSI) (Green Bank) – current 8th grade students
Governor’s Schools for High School Students
Governor's Computer Science Institute (GCSI) – current 9th and 10th grade students
Governor's Honors Academy (GHA) – current 11th grade students
Governor's School for Entrepreneurship (GSE) – current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students
Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) – current 10th grade students
Parents and guardians of James Monroe students, midterms for the second nine weeks will be coming home with students this evening. For students who were absent today, they will be handed out tomorrow.
Monroe County Schools will be closed on Friday, November 10th in honor of Veteran's Day.
Monroe County Schools would like to invite you to county wide open houses at each school on Thursday, November 9th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!
JMHS volleyball will be playing Narrows at James Monroe High School this evening starting at 5:30.
JMHS girls and boys soccer will be playing Pocahontas County at James Monroe High School this evening starting at 5:30.
Cash will be accepted, price will be $7.00 at the door. GoFan will remain $6.00.
James Monroe High School students will return to regular schedule on Wednesday, September 27th.
JMHS will have virtual school for Tuesday, September 26, 2023. We are hopeful to have students back in seat in the next couple of days. We will update parents as soon as possible.
James Monroe High School would like to thank Mountain View Schools, Peterstown Schools, and the Lindside Church of the Brethren for allowing our Football, Soccer, Volleyball, and Band to use their fields, courts, and facilities during our time of need. They have worked with us diligently to create schedules around their own practices and games. We love our schools and community and all the support they give to us.
Schedule for Chromebook pick up at JMHS:
9:00- 11:00 Students with last names that start with A-H.
11:00- 1:00 Students with last names that start with I- Q.
1:00- 3:00 Students with last names that start with R- Z.
Students and parents please bear with us as we work through this situation. We are only allowing 4-5 students in the building at a time.
James Monroe High School will be on virtual learning for Thursday, September 21 and Friday, September 22, 2023.
There will be no school for James Monroe High School today Wednesday, September 20th due to a fire in the electrical room.
We are pleased to inform you that students who took the SAT School Day in spring 2023 has received an email at their K12 student email account containing a link to an individual student video score report. Please have your child check his or her student email account for the link. Simply click on the link and enter your child’s date of birth to access the video score report customized specifically for your child. Be sure to check out the links to resources that also are provided. If you have any difficulty accessing the report, please contact your child’s school for assistance.
We are pleased to inform you that students who took the West Virginia General Summative Assessment in spring 2023 has received an email at their K12 student email account containing a link to an individual student video score report. Please have your child check his or her student email account for the link. Simply click on the link and enter your child’s date of birth to access the video score report customized specifically for your child. Be sure to check out the links to resources that also are provided. If you have any difficulty accessing the report, please contact your child’s school for assistance.
James Monroe is now off of the modified lockdown. It was verified that the potential threat was made toward another school, not James Monroe High School.