We are definitely in the swirl of December's festivities - things are so busy! Our Middle School Music Concert on Wednesday evening was a delight and we are so proud of our musicians! A special thank you to Mr. Mark Femino and Mrs. Janice Norton for their great work with our chorus and band groups! Today, we had our All School Assembly and celebrated several student achievements and acts of friendship. Our theme for the next month is REFLECTION and as we round the corner into the new year, we thought it a perfect time to work on contemplating the various forms of feedback we receive throughout the day. We included a few shout-outs to our amazingly talented students so scroll further down to check out the happenings!!

Our sensational Student Council will be hosting a Spirit Week this coming week with the following themes:

Monday = Cozy Day = blanket, stuffed animal, comfy clothes and color wars colors announced

Tuesday = Fancy Tuesday Day = dress up in your finest duds!

Wednesday = Anything but a Backpack Day = students can substitute their backpacks for something fun or silly -- a pillowcase, a fancy tote, a decorated grocery bag, etc. The substitute item should not become a distraction or a hazard. It should be something that they carry comfortably for 2 hours... It shouldn't scratch the floors or be sharp, dangerous or motorized. It should be about the size of a backpack and be protective of their chromebook. They can coordinate their outfits to the carry-all, for example wearing a Hawaiian shirt with a beach bag or a jersey with a sports bag.

Thursday = White Lie Day = Write a silly lie on a white t-shirt

Friday = Color Wars Day = Colors to be announced

Report cards are now available on PowerSchool. Please be sure to review all the wonderful and detailed information provided about your child's learning and progress in these reports. There is guidance listed below on accessing them. You can also reach out to the office if you have any questions at any time at (508) 376-7014.

To find the parent PowerSchool Portal, look for PowerSchool under the “Parents” tab.

To view your child’s report card:

• Log in with parent account access information.

• In the upper left corner select your child to view

• Click Student Reports- this will take you to a printable report of all of your child’s teachers comments and feedback. Please be sure to click the blue button on the upper left to digitally sign off that you’ve seen this information.

Students have been wonderful at adjusting to Middle School routines and student skills. Now that the first trimester has concluded we have determined that students need some support regarding executive function, organization and time management. We've provided each student with a planner and lessons in PLT to organize assignments, timing and prioritizing and also work completion. Students have been prompted and reminded to charge their devices and to arrive to school on time. Now after a full trimester, students have had their grace period and will have resulting actions for repeating offenses. We need your help to prompt them to charge their devices, wake up with enough time to arrive to school on time and to make sure to complete assignments. Raising middle schoolers definitely takes a village. Thank you all for being so supportive and involved with your students. We appreciate your partnership on this middle school journey with us!

Erynne exemplifies an outstanding commitment to her academic pursuits, consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic and unwavering diligence. Not only does she excel in collaborative efforts with her peers, but she also exhibits an impressive ability to thrive independently. Her kindness and respect extend beyond her academic achievements, as she consistently displays courteous and considerate behavior towards both her classmates and the school's teachers and staff. Erynne's exceptional qualities make her the epitome of an ideal candidate to represent Millis Middle School in the prestigious Project 351, embodying the values of leadership, teamwork, and community engagement that the initiative seeks to promote.

December 2023

19 - Grade 7 Field Trip to Mechanics Hall, Worcester

21 - Grade 8 Field Trip to "A Christmas Carol", Trinity Theater, Providence RI

22 - Early Release Day, dismissal @ 10:55

25 - 29 - Winter Break

January 2024

2 - Back to School - Classes resume

15 - Martin Luther King Day - No School

26 - Early Release Day, dismissal @ 10:55

Friday morning we had our monthly All School Assembly. We had a lovely presentation of the many holidays celebrated by community members by students from Mrs. Lahah's PLT and recognition of several acts of kindness and friendship. Students commended by their teachers are shown below! What a wonderful sentiment to celebrate this season!

Our community also wanted to publicly recognize several of our teachers:

Mrs. Simpson: We appreciate Mrs. Simpson’s kindness and patience, and her willingness to always help all students in every subject!

Mrs. Robinson: A trusted confidante in the school who selflessly gives her time, Mrs. Robinson always offers compassionate support to those in need.

Mrs. Monaghan: With unwavering enthusiasm, Mrs. Monaghan is committed to enriching our students' lives as they grow. Her helpful and nurturing approach creates a supportive environment to all!

This week students in grade 7 math created 3-dimensional rectangular prisms and triangular prisms to calculate the surface area.

Thank you to Mrs. Hickey for coordinating such an exciting and inspirational experience for our seventh grade scientists!

Peer Leaders Thrift Shop Donations Needed

Did you get gifted a sweater from your Grandma that you know you will never wear? Donate it to the Peer Leaders thrift shop! How about those clothes in your closet that you are just done with but are still in good shape? Donate them to the thrift shop! The Peer Leaders are accepting new and gently used clothing for their upcoming thrift shop (January 11). Donation boxes are set up in Mrs. Dunn’s office and Mr. Alconada’s room. Please bring in your donations starting next week!

LEOs Club Collection

The Millis LEOS are collecting for their annual "Gift Cards for Millis Teens" drive. You can drop off cash or a check made out to Millis LEOS at Millis High School, c/o the LEOS, or Venmo LEOS President @Lindzey-Murillo, and the LEOS will shop for the cards. You can donate an entire gift card, too. The cards will be given to School Resource Officer, Zach Forsythe, who will work to ensure they are distributed to Millis teens in need.

If you'd rather donate a toy, you can drop off an unwrapped toy at Millis High School c/o The LEOS, or at 96 Cottage Ave, in Millis. The toys will be donated to Project Just Because in Hopkinton.

Both drives will run until Thursday, December 21st.

Environmental Action Collection

On Sunday, January 14th, the Environmental Action Club at Millis High School will be picking up any redeemable bottles and cans from residents in the Town of Millis. This money will go towards supporting the club and future donations that will be made to environmental non-profits, or other activities, to ensure climate education and awareness. Please put your name and address on the form linked to below (or scan the QR code) if you would be willing to donate. You can leave the bottles and cans out the morning of January 14th, by your front door, garage, or in the driveway. Environmental Action volunteers will come by and pick them up for you between 10AM-12PM! If you have any questions, please email: isabri25@millisschools.org. Happy New Year!

Paige Zarnofsky, a senior at Millis High, is seeking donations for her senior project. She is fundraising for a service dog for the middle school. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a significant rise in students’ mental health issues at the middle school level. We’ve seen the benefits of having our beloved Harry, the service dog, at the high school level. We would love for our middle school students to be able to have the same opportunity. I’m hoping our community can come together and make this happen for our middle school students. Any donations or sharing this senior project is greatly appreciated. If interested in donating or have any questions you can reach Paige through email at paizar24@millisschools.org. Thank you!

This week students in the Middle School and High School completed a "Shelter-in-Place" drill. Mr. Awdyki, our HS Principal, and Police Chief Soffayer, were very pleased with our fluency with this protocol. In the coming weeks, in conjunction with the High School, and in partnership with the Millis Police and Fire Departments, we will be holding additional school safety drills. While we hope to never activate any of these protocols, trainings such as these help prepare our staff and students in the event we experience an emergency situation.

We are appreciative of our partnership with both the MPD and MFD, and understand that this training will go a long way in supporting a safe and secure school environment. As we continue to focus on building safety, and the safety of our students and school, we appreciate your help and support with these important safety drills.

Mrs. Samantha Laney, our beloved Social Studies teacher was hurt in an accident earlier this fall. We are so happy to share that she has been discharged from the hospital and her rehabilitation facility. Now, moving back home she will still need a great deal of care and support. If possible, please consider a donation to help Sam and her family.

The library has new books thanks to the Scholastic book fair and an Amazon wish list to fulfill the needs that Scholastic could not. See link above for more information.

click on the link below for millis middle school sports and schedules

Please consider supporting the Millis HS/MS Boys Soccer Program by purchasing a Rustic Marlin "Mohawks" Block for $20. Thank you!