Archived MHS October 2021
Weekly Newsletter
OCTOBER 29, 2021
Upcoming Events
- 11/3 ~ Early Release ~ 10:55am
- 11/3 ~ Afternoon Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences ~ 12-2:30pm
- 11/5 ~ End of First Quarter
- 11/11 ~ No School ~ Veteran's Day
- 11/18 ~ Evening Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences ~ 6-8pm
- 11/24 ~ Early Release ~ 10:55am
- 11/25 ~ No School ~ Thanksgiving
- 11/26 ~ No School ~ Thanksgiving Break
Millis High School Adams Scholars Announced
Congratulations go out to Colin Streck and Emmett Clark!
Members of the Class of 2022 who scored in the top 25% of their class on combined MCAS scores are recognized as John and Abigail Adams Scholars and are eligible for a tuition scholarship at any of the UMASS campuses, state universities, and other Commonwealth public schools.
MHS Parents!!
Armed Forces Release of Information
Here is the link to the Armed Forces Release of Information Opt Out form
PARENT/GUARDIAN ~ TEACHER CONFERENCES
Millis High School will be hosting parent/guardian conferences on two dates this year. Conferences can be done virtually through Zoom, or in person, depending on parent/guardian preference. The dates and times for the conferences are as follows:
Wednesday, November 3: Parent conferences from 12:00-2:30 (classes end at 10:55)
Thursday, November 18: Parent conferences from 6:00-8:00 (regular school day for all students)
Parents can sign up for appointment slots with their students' teachers by accessing the document below and selecting the appointment slots on the above days/times. You simply select the teachers you would like to set up conferences with and scroll through their appointment calendars to choose a time that works for you. Once you select an appointment slot, you will be sent a Zoom link for your conference meeting as the default. If you would prefer to meet in person with the teacher, please send an email to that teacher (email addresses are listed on the document). If you do not send an email requesting an in-person meeting, the teacher will assume you are meeting on Zoom. Above is a short video that walks you through the process of booking an appointment.
Appointment slots are 10 minutes long and it is important that parents/guardians are on time for their conferences as once the 10 minutes is up, the teacher will be moving to his/her next virtual or in-person conference.
As always, it is important that parents/guardians and teachers communicate about the academic, social and emotional well being and progress of individual students. We hope many of our parents will be able to meet with their students' teachers. Please use the link below to set up your appointments.
Staff Directory and Conference Booking Links
College Admissions Counselors Visiting MHS
School Counseling Booking Links
Do you need to make an appointment to see your School Counselor?
You Can Book Me is a quick way to make an appointment.
Mrs. Dunn ~ https://rileydunn.youcanbook.me
Ms. McCarthy ~ https://mmccarthy-2.youcanbook.me
Attendance Line Email Address
hsattendance@millisschools.org
The Attendance Line email can be used to notify the office of all attendance issues.
Dismissal procedure reminder
Students should bring a note to the office in the morning to receive a pass to exit class.
- If a note does not come to school with the student, there are two options to have your student dismissed.
1. Email the attendance line a dismissal note.
You will need to contact your student and have them go to the office for a pass. Please give as much notice as possible.
2. Come into the office and sign your student out.
Please note that we will get your student as quickly as possible but calling them out of a class in this manner is the most disruptive for our teachers and other students.
Please reach out to Teri Bedard or Traci Macomber in the main office if you have questions.
Chem II in Action
Scary Story Week
The Emmys Come to Millis
Presenting ~ The Big M Trailer
The Big M podcast is LIVE! Episodes include sports talk, educational discussions, current events and much more! Subscribe to the student produced, teacher supported podcast on Spotify or Buzzsprout, click the logo to the right or here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1863484
Terpsichore ~ Dance Shoe Drive
Terpsichore, the Millis MS/HS Dance club is doing a gently used dance shoe drive. They will happily take ALL Sizes of any ballet slipper, jazz shoes, hip hop sneakers or character shoes you have laying around at home. They do NOT have a need for tap shoes. If you have shoes you wish to donate, reach out to Stephanie Copice as scopice@millisschools.org subject line Dance Shoes to arrange for a drop off, or you can send them in with your MS/HS student and they can drop them off in room 109 in the high school wing.
They All Qualified!!
Boy's Varsity Soccer TVL Small Champs!!
Juniors and Seniors ~ Service Learning is Opening Back Up
If you are interested in participating in the Service Learning for Term 2: Service Learning forms are due to Mrs. Macomber, in the Main Office, by November 5th. 15 hours of community service are required to be eligible. Your hours need to be completed during Term 1. Forms may be picked up in the Main Office. In addition to the hours form, contracts are required for participation. Eligibility won't be determined until after Q1 report cards have been issued and Mr. Awdycki has approved. Please swing by the Main Office with any questions.
Alumni Spotlight
ANTHONY DELLACAMERA
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Senior Engineer, National Grid
MHS Grad :: Class of 2012
Did you attend college? Junior College? Trade school? Certificate program, etc?
Yes, I attended Boston University - Class of 2016. I am currently enrolled in UMass Amherst’s Part-time MBA program. I also am currently pursuing my P.E. License.
What is your profession?
I am a Staff Engineer in the New England Gas Control Center at National Grid. I provide technical support to the Control Room such that the system is operated in a safe, secure, reliable, and efficient manner.
What skills do you find yourself needing the most at work?
The skills I find myself needed most are technical knowledge, communication, interpersonal, leadership, problem solving, and adaptability.
Do the skills and values that you learned at MHS help you in your professional life?
Yes! The courses and athletics offered at MHS helped me develop a lot of the soft skills mentioned above such as communication, interpersonal, leadership and adaptability that I rely on every day in the workplace.
~ OCTOBER 22, 2021 ~
Flex Block Launches
Picture Day!! October 27th!!
Millis High School Picture day will be this coming Wednesday, October 27th. Students should bring the attached order form to school with them on picture day.
If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Graham - sgraham@millisschools.org
Mr. Bigelow and AP HUG
MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey 10/29
To make sure we give the best possible education and services to children in Millis, we want to learn about their attitudes and behaviors with regard to a variety of health issues. In order to accomplish this, students attending Millis High School are being asked to participate in a survey called the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. Millis High School has been participating in this survey since 2006. The questions on the survey cover many topics including alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; violence and safety; nutrition and physical activity; sexual behaviors; online behaviors; and mental health. This project will help our district develop and enhance its health education and prevention programs. We will be giving this online survey to students in grades 9-12 on October 29, 2021.
The survey is anonymous, meaning your child will not be asked to provide their name, and no one will know how they respond. There will be no identifying information collected on the survey, and there will be no way to link your child’s responses to their identity.
Completing this survey is voluntary. Your child’s grades in school will not be affected by whether or not they participate. Your child can also decide not to take the survey or skip any question they don’t wish to answer.
If you want to see the survey before deciding, a copy will be available at the high school main office from October 21-28, 2021.
If you DO NOT want your child to take part in the survey, please email Derek Phinney at dphinney@millisschools.org by October 28th.
The Happiness Club
Pop Culture Club
THE BIG M
Good Luck Logan!
Alumni Spotlight
JENNIFER GASBARRO
B.S. Marketing Communication
Digital Marketing Account Manager
MHS Grad :: Class of 2010
Did you attend college?
After graduating from Millis High School, I went on to attend Emerson College in Boston. I was really involved in the college radio station and graduated with a B.S. in Marketing Communication and a minor in Business Studies.
What is your profession?
I currently work in the digital marketing and advertising industry. I work at an agency and help our clients grow their businesses by creating and optimizing a performance marketing strategy across search, social media, display and other digital channels.
What skills do you find yourself needing the most at work?
There are certain platforms that we use every day such as Google Ads, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads Manager, the Trade Desk and JIRA but a huge part of the job involves using other soft and interpersonal skills such as clear communication, concise writing, organization, creative problem-solving skills and staying calm under pressure.
Do the skills and values that you learned at MHS help you in your professional life?
Absolutely! I learned a lot from my teachers, coaches and classmates at MHS that help me in my professional life. My teachers helped me become a curious learner who still seeks out new information and training, my interdisciplinary teachers helped me speak confidently and express myself freely, and my coaches and teammates instilled a serious work ethic and level of discipline that has helped me push through late nights and tough times.
~ OCTOBER 15, 2021 ~
Progress Reports Available Today
Parent/Guardian Teacher Conference Info Coming Next Week
Mrs. Mannion in the News
TV Production teacher, Danielle Mannion, along with the Foundation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announce the Coca – Cola HBCU Sports Production Grant.
“We are honored to partner with Coca-Cola to recognize future industry
professionals and are looking forward to viewing the compelling work
produced by the HBCU students pursuing a career in sports broadcasting.”
said Danielle Mannion, Education, NATAS Foundation.
Millis School Food Services Update
Due to national shortages of food and packaging materials, labor shortages, vendor delivery delays and cancellations, our menus are subject to change based on availability. Please know that our team is working hard to provide meals every day, adjust on the fly, and provide updates about menu changes as soon as possible. We may need to make quick menu substitutions based upon what we have on hand, but we are trying our best to make comparable changes wherever possible. Thank you for your continued support and patience.
Please contact Shawn Fallon at sfallon@millisschools.org with any questions or concerns.
PSAT and PreACT Tomorrow
Chem Club
National Chemistry Week is October 19-25. The HS ChemClub, now in its fifth year, has been writing “this day in chemistry” morning announcements to share with the HS. They are meeting with CFB and HS Principals to plan for their CFB outreach lessons, and are working to spend their Millis Cultural Council Grant on cheesemaking supplies. In the past they have prepared and canned applesauce, thanks to the generosity of the folks at Tangerini’s, and made their own soap. For more fun activities for all ages check out this information from The American Chemical Society: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/outreach/ncw/educational-resources.html
If you would like to get involved with the organization contact Stephanie Copice at scopice@millisschools.org, or ChemClub president Bretton Kohler at brekoh22@millisschools.org, subject line “ChemClub”.
Athletics Week in Review
Girls Soccer - Varsity knocked off Hopkinton 1-0 last Thursday, fell to Medfield on Tuesday 4-0, and tied Norton yesterday 2-2. They wrap up the week at Blackstone Valley Tech this afternoon.
Boys Soccer - Varsity got back on track yesterday with a 5-2 win over Norton, after a tough 2-1 loss to Medfield on Tuesday.
Football - Varsity fell to Dedham 13-7 last Friday night. It was a defensive battle that found Millis falling just short. Middle school defeated Medfield on Wednesday. The team travels to Norton tonight for a 7pm kickoff.
Girls Volleyball - Varsity fell to Medfield, Norton and North Quincy in the last three matches. They look to get back in the win column next Wednesday vs Bellingham which will be the annual Volleyball for a Cure event.
Golf - Congrats to Coach Benham and the varsity on winning five straight matches to end the regular season. With a total of seven wins this fall, this is the most successful season in school history. Great job!
Millis Boosters is looking for you to follow them on social media. Twitter @boostersmillis and Instagram @millisboosters. The Boosters are looking to reach 500 followers, and every follower will be entered into a raffle to win a great prize.
Volleyball for a Cure
Homecoming '21 Snaps
Alumni Spotlight
BRIAN DAVIS
MSA, CFE
Fraud Fighter and Brand Protector
MHS Grad :: Class of 2009
Did you attend college?
I attended Bentley University and did a 5-year program there. At the end of the five years, I received my Bachelor’s (majoring in Accounting and minoring in Finance) and my Master’s in Accounting. I also received a Graduate Certificate in Fraud and Forensic Accounting.
After college, I pursued a professional certification focusing deeper within the fraud world. I became a Certified Fraud Examiner, and I currently sit on their Advisory Board.
What’s that all really mean? I have a pretty good sense of how money flows through a business.
What is your profession?
I like to tell friends and family I’m a professional Facebook stalker, but I really help startups build fraud teams to protect their business.
I’m typically the first person hired within the fraud realm for companies, and I come on board to help them understand what fraud looks like at their company, what it costs them, and how to prevent it. I lay the foundation for building teams, tools, processes, and policies for the company.
Basically, I help solve serious headaches for business owners before it gets really bad. I help them understand what a legit customer looks like versus a fraudster.
Fraud is ever changing, so every day looks a little different. I love it because it really challenges my problem-solving skills, and I need to be creative and adaptive in doing so.
What skills do you find yourself needing the most at work?
The theme for this is always looking to learn and most of the time being a self-learner. From there I break it down into two sections: hard skills and soft skills.
To get started, the technical (hard) skills are important to gain experience. You need to know how to do your job before you can really advance and grow. Each career/job will require specific hard skills. Master them. Crush them. I think a lot of people really want to grow before they’re actually ready to grow - admittedly I was one of those people.
However, it’s the soft skills that have really opened doors for me and have helped me tremendously to advance my career. Some of the soft skills I’m about to say, you may think “wow those are super basic.” But honestly, in reality, they are crucial and take continued work.
The soft skills to me that are important to always be working on are communication, setting expectations, accountability, and curiosity.
Communication will always be a challenge and is constantly changing. The way you communicate in person can be different to how you communicate remotely. Everyone can improve on their communication, so this will always be one of the soft skills that come to mind first.
Setting expectations is an important pillar when it comes to building trust. It also helps eliminate a lot of confusion when working with other people. It makes sure everyone is on the same page. Accountability is the other end of that and delivering on those expectations that were agreed upon. Now not everything goes smoothly and those agreements can’t actually be met on time. When possible, it’s necessary to communicate the obstacles and reset expectations/timelines. The people involved can work together to then eliminate the obstacles and complete the task at hand.
Curiosity is definitely important on a lot of different levels for me - both career specific but also challenging “this is just the way we’ve always done it” mentality. You need to understand how and why a company has made decisions prior to making any improvements or recommendations. I like to say disrupt with respect.
Development of those soft skills have helped me gain more confidence, which in return gives the other people more trust in my work and leads to more influence over my own decisions. I mean at the end of the day they hired me to be the expert here, and I have to make sure to deliver those results
Do the skills and values that you learned at MHS help you in your professional life?
Of course they do! I may have not totally realized it until more recently, but they have for sure.
Some of you may recognize me. I have been helping out the boys basketball program for a handful of years. It’s my way to give back to the community that raised me.
I think it’s super important to find some way to give back.
~ OCTOBER 8, 2021 ~
MCAS Reports Mailed Home
Progress Reports
Chess Club
Terpsichore
Girls Basketball
NOTICE TO ALL ATHLETIC SPECTATORS
Student Drop-off Table
SPIRIT WEEK at MHS
~ MHS ~
~ SPIRIT ~
~ WEEK ~
~ MHS ~
~ SPIRIT ~
~ WEEK ~
HOMECOMING 2021
The Rally
The Homecoming Queen and Court
Caroline Mundy (Queen)
Julia Grattan
Kailie Peck
Montina Santos
Sophia Sisto
The Homecoming Dance
More Snaps from Spirit Week
Alumni Spotlight
KALEIGH DUFFY
SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
MHS Grad :: Class of 2012
Did you attend college?
Yes, after graduating from Millis I attended Arizona State University and graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration and International Business.
What is your profession?
I work as a Sales Account Executive for a Technology Company locally in Boston.
What skills do you find yourself needing the most at work?
Sales can be very rigorous but also very rewarding. The biggest skill I find myself needing is consistency and consistency of habits that I've formed over the years. You may not use everything you learn in high school in your professional life but you do use your ability to form habits - the habit of completing your homework, the habit of showing up for practice, the habits you form as an athlete in preparation for a game, the habit of building relationships. The monotonous tasks and habits you form now are what set you up for success in every aspect of your life.
Do the skills and values that you learned at MHS help you in your professional life?
Absolutely! The importance of a strong community is one of the greatest lessons I learned at MHS. Successful people don't go through life alone. I can't stress the importance of having mentors, friends, family, anyone you can turn to for advice or for help. You should never be afraid to ask for help or seek advice. I am lucky enough to have a career and work for a company that I genuinely love and am proud to work for. However, I am only here because of the community I built around me to guide me and help me get to where I am today.
Millis High School
Small School.. Big Family
The Millis Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, gender identity, religion, national origins, sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.
Website: https://hs.millisps.org/
Location: Millis High School, Plain Street, Millis, MA, USA
Phone: 508-376-7010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Millis-High-School-1743691028988870/
Twitter: @millishigh
School Counseling Booking Links
Do you need to make an appointment to see your School Counselor?
You Can Book Me is a quick way to make an appointment.
Mrs. Dunn ~ YouCanBookMe Link: https://rileydunn.youcanbook.me
Ms. McCarthy ~ YouCanBookMe Link: https://mmccarthy-2.youcanbook.me