Mona Shores Public Schools

Mona Shores Public Schools is a public school district located in Michigan, United States, in the western side of the state near Lake Michigan. The district includes most of the city of Norton Shores, which is just south of Muskegon.

Background

The district was formed in 1959, when the residents of the existing districts of Churchill, Hile, Lincoln, Maple Grove, and Mona Beach (all K-8 districts) voted to unite into a single K-12 district.^[1]

Sports and extracurricular activities

The school is well-known for its band program which includes outstanding Concert Bands, Jazz Ensembles and Marching Band. The Marching Band won state titles in 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003 as well as a USSBA National Championship in 2006. Current directors of the Mona Shores band program include: Jason Boyden, Rodney Schaub and Gregory Nimtz. Former directors include: John Butterfield, Jack Cooke, Jack Adams, Douglas Hostetler, Susan Veenstra and Timothy Staudacher.

Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association named Mona Shores High School orchestra director Timothy Staudacher as the 2011 Orchestra Teacher of the year. The Mona Shores Orchestras, under his direction, have earned consistent first division ratings at MSBOA festivals and have represented Michigan in the 2007 National Orchestra Festival. Mona Shores Orchestras have been featured performers in the Michigan Music Conference in 2000 and 2008. Mr. Staudacher is the founder and director of the Mona Shores Fiddlers, an extracurricular alternate styles ensemble, which performs throughout the Muskegon community. Mr. Staudacher has also established international performance tours with his high school group. In 2005 the high school orchestra traveled to China, and in 2008 to Ireland and England.

The district is also well known for its choral program under the current direction of Shawn Lawton (Mona Shores High School) and Katherine Bourdon (Mona Shores Middle School). Former directors include: Larry Gray, Larry Rueger and Skip Frizzell. In 2002, a number auditioned members of the Mona Shores Singers (the top choir at the time) were invited to perform at the White House for the president and his staff. The choir also presents many annual concerts including Pop go the Sailors and The Singing Christmas Tree (which is claimed to be the largest in the United States).^{[citation needed]}

Mona Shores has also become a powerhouse in ice hockey in the past decade. The team won a state title in 2000, and has consistently made trips to the Frozen Four. In the 2006-2007 season, the team came up short, losing in the championship game to another strong team, Grosse Point South, 4-3 in overtime, on March 10, 2007.

The basketball team has been on-again and off-again, with the 2006-2007 squad winning the District Championship under the leadership of third-year coach Jeremy Andres.

The Baseball team has also enjoyed a recent rise to power in the Muskegon Area. Under the direction of fourth year head coach Walt Gawkowski the Sailors won the 2006 GMAA, District, and OK-Green titles. The 2006 squad won the first district title in 26 years. The Sailor Baseball program has continued to support local Universities by turning out college players nearly every year.

Mona Shores is also known for its outstanding debate teams having won Novice State Championships in 1982,1983,1984,1986,1989 and 2007 and Varsity State Championships in 1986 and 1990. The team consistently qualifies as a quarter finalist,semifinalist, or finalist in the Novice and Varsity State Tournament. The team was coached by John H. McKendry Jr from 1978 to 1990, coached by Brent Green from 2000 to the 2009-2010 season, before it was handed off to Green's assistant coach Mandi Garvey.^{[citation needed]}

Also they have an exceptional competitive cheer program, who has become very close to making it to the state championship two years in a row.

Homecoming controversy

In September 2010, the district drew nationwide press attention when it prohibited transgender senior Oak Reed from being crowned homecoming king, despite being elected to that position by the student body. After winning the student vote, the school administration told Reed on September 20, 2010 (homecoming was scheduled for the following weekend) that he could not serve. News reports about the controversy began spreading on September 26.^[2][3][4][5] The ACLU was reported to be investigating the case.^[6]

Notable alumni

^{[citation needed]}

• Justin Abdelkader - Detroit Red Wings ice hockey player.
• Brendan Gielow - Wake Forest University Golfer. Named "Mr. Golf" in the state of Michigan two times during his high school career. Helped lead team to state title in 2006.
• Carly Jibson - Broadway actress known for playing the role of Tracy Turnblad in the musical Hairspray.
• Rick Johnson - Punk Rocker
• John Beyrle - United States Ambassador to Russia (2008-)

See also

• List of school districts in Michigan

References

1. ^ How It All Began ... The Mona Shores Story, Mona Shores Public Schools, Retrieved September 28, 2010
2. ^ Transgender senior can't be king, WOOD-TV, September 26, 2010
3. ^ School robs teen of homecoming king title, San Francisco Chronicle, September 27, 2010
4. ^ School Strips Transgender Teen Of Homecoming King Title, Jezebel (website), September 27, 2010
5. ^ Trangender Kid Can't Be Homecoming King, CNN, September 28, 2010
6. ^ Transgender Teen Couldn't be Homecoming King, WXMI (Fox17online.com), September 27, 2010

External links

• Mona Shores Public Schools