Modern Moves: A School Superintendent's View

 At Monessen School District, we’re charting an exciting course for the future through our New Modern Monessen initiative — investing in innovation, infrastructure, and student support to build a brighter tomorrow. But as we rise into the future, we proudly honor the powerful legacy of those who paved the way, especially two legendary Greyhounds whose impact echoes on the biggest stage in sports: the Super Bowl. 🏈 Sam Havrilak – A Pioneer in Super Bowl History A proud Monessen graduate, Sam Havrilak carved out a place in NFL history as a versatile player for the Baltimore Colts. His role in helping the Colts to a Super Bowl V victory remains unforgettable — but it’s his unique mark on the game that sets him apart. Havrilak became the first player in Super Bowl history to complete a pass, catch a pass, and take a handoff in the same game — a feat that speaks not only to his athleticism but to the creativity and grit that started right here in Monessen. His name belongs on any...

  The New Modern Monessen Dear Monessen School District Families, We're excited to share the latest updates on our transformative New Modern Monessen initiative. Project Greyhound Rising is designed to keep you updated about what is happening across our schools as we work to create an innovative, supportive, and future-ready learning environment for all students. 🏗️ Infrastructure Improvements We’re making great strides in upgrading our facilities: 🏫 Energy-efficient HVAC systems are being installed at the Middle/High School. 🏗️ Roofing improvements are underway to ensure our buildings are protected for years to come. 🏋️ High School Gymnasium repairs are progressing well. All structural damage is being repaired. 🚀 Innovative Learning Spaces Our new learning environments are taking shape: 📚 The Hound Hub (Middle/High School) and Pup Hub (Elementary Center) media centers are nearing completion. ☕ NEW! Student Coffee Shop in the Hound Hub – A real-world learning opportunity wher...

  The Power of Belonging: Building a Culture Where Students Thrive By Robert Motte, Superintendent of Schools At Monessen, we believe that belonging isn’t a bonus — it’s the foundation of learning . In the new, modern Monessen, we’re not just focused on what students know — we’re focused on how they feel while they’re learning. Do they feel welcome? Seen? Valued? Inspired to grow? That’s the culture we’re building. We know that students thrive when they feel part of something bigger than themselves. That’s why we’ve made it a district-wide priority to foster positivity, collaboration, and school pride in every hallway, every classroom, every grade level. A Theme with a Purpose This year, we’re rallying around two themes that speak directly to the kind of mindset we want to build: “Go the Extra Mile” — because effort matters, and our students are worth that extra mile of support, encouragement, and care. “Stop saying ‘I can’t’ — and start asking ‘How can I?’” — becaus...

  Fueling Futures: Welcome to the New, Modern Monessen A school is more than just classrooms and hallways—it’s a community. At Monessen, we’re building a vibrant, inclusive environment where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered. Welcome to the new, modern Monessen. One of our most exciting additions is the student-run coffee shop—a hands-on learning lab where students manage operations, build business skills, and create a welcoming space for connection. It’s more than coffee; it’s community-building in action. This is part of our larger commitment to keeping students in our schools—where they belong. We’ve brought specialized support back into our district, ensuring students with unique needs can learn alongside their peers, close to home. Every student is a valued part of our school family. We’re also preparing students for success in today’s world with new programs in e-sports, cybersecurity, and other high-demand tech fields. These are not just electives—they’r...

The New Modern Monessen: Building Deeper Engagement in Our Phone-Free Classrooms Greetings, Monessen families, students, and community members! As your Superintendent, I frequently reflect on our journey to create "The New Modern Monessen" – a community where our schools are at the forefront of fostering environments that truly empower our students. A significant part of this journey has been the successful implementation of our Yondr bags and dedicated phone-free learning zones across the district. We established these measures with a clear goal: to minimize the digital distractions that can hinder learning and foster deeper, more meaningful connections. And indeed, we have seen positive shifts. The constant stream of notifications has lessened, and there's a sense of reduced distraction in our classrooms and hallways. Students are, without a doubt, more present in the physical space of the school. Beyond Distraction: The Next Frontier of Engagement While the Yond...

A Better Grading Scale for Brighter Futures Dear Greyhound Families, As we continue our mission to modernize Monessen and create an environment where every student can succeed, I’m excited to share an important change we’re implementing beginning this school year: we are updating our grading scale to better support, motivate, and empower our students. Here’s what’s changing: 90–100% will now be an A 80–89% will now be a B 70–79% will remain a C 60–69% will remain a D 59% and below remains an F While this may seem like a small shift on paper, it will have a big impact on how students see themselves and their potential. This decision wasn’t made lightly—it’s rooted in a commitment to equity, student motivation, and academic competitiveness. Why Make the Change? More Opportunity, Less Punishment Under the previous scale, a student who scored an 89.4%—a strong performance by any measure—would receive a B. That can be discouraging, especially when students are wor...