2025

As always, thank you so much for supporting our school. I consider it a tremendous privilege to serve such a wonderful learning community!

Happy New Year!

Principal Sima Thurman

We would like to thank you for our tremendous support during our record breaking Kindness Campaign! Our “Wild for Kindness” Sparked Over 1,400 Acts of Kindness and Raised Over $27,000 (netting over $25,000) to support the school’s programs and Learning Commons. Our

campaign brought the school community together with a mix of activities, celebrations, and daily shout-outs, all centered around the theme of kindness. A life-sized, jungle-themed “kindness tree” was constructed in the school’s hall, serving as a visual representation of the students’ contributions. Each act of kindness was marked by a leaf bearing the student’s name, while every $25 donation earned a vibrant tropical flower hung from the ceiling. The jungle grew, both figuratively and literally, as kindness spread throughout the school.

Mill Street Home and School Co-President Julianne Fox reflected on the campaign’s success, saying, “We could not have done any of this without the support of the parents and guardians of Mill Street students. We are humbled by your generosity and involvement. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.” The funds raised are already making a tangible impact. Over 300 new books have been purchased for the school, with more being added daily. Students have shown renewed enthusiasm for reading, excitedly exploring new topics and experiencing the joy of discovery on the shelves.

Additionally, the school has begun working with an artist to design breakout room artwork that will create a unique, focused environment for students who use these spaces daily.

The campaign concluded with a thrilling closing assembly on Friday, December 13th, featuring a much-anticipated “sliming” event. Teachers who had been voted on by students gamely took their places under the slime buckets, turning the assembly into a fun and unforgettable celebration of the campaign’s success. Students who raised the most donations were invited to throw the first bean bags to trigger the slime release, adding an extra layer of excitement. A huge shout-out goes to Sra. Pena, Ms. Voogd, Ms. Lombardo, Ms. Coronel, Mr. Dahn, and Mr. Moyer for being such amazing sports. Their enthusiastic participation made the day incredibly special and showcased the wonderful sense of community at Mill Street Elementary.

Beyond the financial achievements, the campaign has transformed the school’s atmosphere. Students eagerly share their acts of kindness, spreading positivity and gratitude throughout the community. As Julianne Fox noted, “When everyone does just one act of kindness, the impact is HUGE. It can grow a jungle!” Our amazing Mill Street Elementary Home and School is thrilled by the outcome of this year’s campaign and they look forward to continuing their mission of supporting the school and its students in meaningful ways.

Check out our Culminating Slime Assembly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHa_SgMysQc

We are excited to welcome Dr. Patrick Nolten, Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Accountability and Jeremy Lin, Coordinator of Gifted and Talented Services as our guest speakers at our next Home and School General Meeting on Thursday, January 23rd at 6:00 pm.

During our meeting, we will discuss:

• Standardized Assessments

• Gifted and Talented programming (Honors Math/Project Idea)

Please join us in the Mill Street LC!

NWEA Map Growth Assessment:

MAP Growth tests are unique and adapt to your child’s responses to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey— regardless of whether they are on, above, or below their grade level. MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students in the same grade and subject with the same starting performance level. Please see the Family guide to MAP Growth for more information on how MAP works, describes what it measures, explains a RIT score and answers common questions. It's also available in multiple languages.

MAP Reading Fluency Tests

MAP Reading Fluency tests are unique in that they adapt to your child’s skill level. If your child demonstrates readiness, they move to more challenging sections of the test. If they struggle with one section, the next questions will be easier. MAP Reading Fluency takes about 20 minutes, features an encouraging, friendly character, and is age appropriate for young students. Please see the NWEA Map Fluency Testing to learn more about the reading fluency test.

Since MAP Growth (Math and Reading) and MAP Reading Fluency assessments provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s progress, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores who are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan instruction accordingly.

Other MAP Resources For Home

• MAP Growth 101: Everything families need to know (Assessment info)
• Family Toolkit (MAP Assessment info)

• 12 common questions parents ask about MAP Growth (Assessment info)

• That’s not how I learned it! 4 ways to help your child with “new math” (Math)

• Building strong foundations for early math skills at home (Math)

• Words, words, words: 8 ways to support kids of all ages in writing at home

• Parent strategies for improving their child’s reading and writing (Reading/Writing)

The Mill Street Open House will take place on Thursday January 30th.

Come out and see your child's classroom, displays of student work and participate in our Open House Raffle!

The Open House Schedule is as follows:

6:00 - 6:45

• Kindergarten

• 1st

• 2nd

• Structured Learning K-3

7:00 - 7:45

• 3rd

• 4th

• 5th

• Structured Learning 4-5

• PI and HM

**Please remember that Open House is reserved as an evening of celebration and is not a time for conferencing with teachers.

What’s a circle?

Circles are a great tool for having meaningful conversations as a family. After someone decides a topic, every member of the family gets their turn to share their response without interruption. Everyone’s voice matters, and we all get to know one another a little better.

When could I do a circle?

● During meals or while preparing meals

● During car rides

● During bedtime or morning routines

● Preparing for something stressful

● Through texting Circles

Prompts for Home

1. Sweet: a good part of your day.
2. Sour: hard part of your day
3. Service: something kind you did for someone else
4. Goal for the day
5. One thing everyone should know is...
6. One thing I am grateful for is...
7. Something I did well today was…
8. Something I saw someone else in our family do well today was...
9. I am feeling ____ about (current event) because….
10. Reflections after a test
11. Reflections after a sporting/club event or other activity

We are shining our curriculum spotlight on our Learning Commons ( LC) ! This year, Fourth graders are working on Coding Bloxels Video Games! The learning opportunities for this creative experience are listed below!

1. Enhances Creativity

• Bloxels allows students to design their own video games, including characters, settings, and challenges. This promotes storytelling and visual creativity.
• Encourages students to experiment with color, animation, and interactivity.

2. Introduces Coding Concepts

• Kids learn foundational coding principles like sequencing, loops, and conditional logic in an engaging way.
• Students understand how game mechanics work, such as movement, rules, and goals.

3. Develops Problem-Solving Skills

• Students must troubleshoot their games, debug issues, and optimize designs to make their games work smoothly.
• Encourages logical thinking by requiring students to predict outcomes of their coding choices.

4. Strengthens Digital Literacy

• Provides hands-on experience with technology in a fun and interactive format.
• Teaches the basics of how digital platforms operate, giving students a head start in understanding more complex tech tools.

5. Boosts Engagement

• Gamification of learning captures students' interest and keeps them motivated.
• The hands-on nature of Bloxels makes learning feel more like play than work.

5th Graders are learning about coding with Sphero robots this month and its been a very exciting, hands-on way for 5th graders to explore programming and STEM concepts. In this unit students learn the basics of coding, such as block-based coding and algorithm creation, while developing problem-solving collaboration and critical thinking skills in a fun and engaging way.

Mrs. Comer’s 4th and 5th grade classes publish "The Comer Chronicle", a trimester newspapers highlighting the concepts they are learning, class events and memorable moments of each trimester.

During the winter months students will need to be dressed with warm attire appropriate for snow and very cold temperatures. Students will have outdoor recess for temperatures above zero.

As we approach Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are reminded of the powerful impact Dr. King had on our nation, inspiring us to dream of a better, more just world. Dr. King believed that "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" In that spirit, we encourage our families to think about ways to participate in service projects that make a positive difference in our community. We also encourage you to talk with your child about Dr. King's work and share how service can be a powerful way to make the world a better place.

January 13-15th: NWEA MAP Growth Testing

January 20th: No School, MLK

January 21st-24th: NWEA MAP Fluency Testing

January 23rd: General Home & School Meeting - Focus on Standardized Testing & Honors Math/Project Idea

January 23rd: MSNO Red Robin

January 29th Lunar New Year

January 30th: Open House (evening)

February 14th: Valentine's Day Parties