Welcome to April! Spring has officially arrived, bringing with it a sense of renewal and growth. Just as the flowers begin to bloom outside, our students continue to blossom academically, creatively, and personally. Let's nurture their curiosity and enthusiasm, encouraging them to explore and learn with open hearts and minds.

March seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, despite its reputation as one of the longer months. We hope you enjoyed our school-wide reading of "Book Uncle & Me," sparking a passion for literature and offering a journey to another country. We're looking forward to our upcoming Hawks Family STEAM Night on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 6pm (doors open at 5:50pm - pre-registration required). Thank you to the PTA for funding our very own Free Little Library! TAKE A BOOK! LEAVE A BOOK! Installation will take place over spring break. Stay tuned!

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the uniqueness of individuals with autism and promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. At Mill Hill, we are committed to fostering a supportive environment where all students can thrive. Here are a few ways we can support autism awareness together:

💙 Encourage kindness and inclusion in our school community.
💙 Learn more about autism and the strengths of individuals on the spectrum.
💙 Wear blue on April 2nd to show support for autism awareness!

Our SBA State Assessments are just around the corner! Testing will begin April 28th and continue through May 16th. These assessments help us measure student progress and ensure they are on track for success. To help your child feel confident and prepared, consider these tips:

✅ Ensure they get plenty of rest the night before each test.
✅ Provide a healthy breakfast to fuel their focus.
✅ Arrive at school on time to minimize stress.
✅ Encourage them to do their best and stay positive!

We want to share that Mr. Reisinger has resigned from the district, effective April 11, 2025. We sincerely appreciate his dedication, support, and commitment to our students' growth and well-being. His contributions have left a lasting impact, and he will be deeply missed. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. To ensure continued support for our students, we have collaborated with our Special Education Department and are pleased to welcome two new paraeducators to our team. Additionally, the CLC program will return to a two-teacher model, led by Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Holloway. Mrs. Gray will serve as the case manager for Mr. Reisinger's students. We understand that transitions can be challenging, and we appreciate your patience, understanding, and support during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the diversity that makes our school special!

In partnership,

Mrs. Yost & Mrs. Feola

Resale collection April 1st - 24th

Keep America Beautiful Month

World Autism Awareness Month

Tuesday, April 1 – Early Dismissal at 1:40pm PD

Wednesday, April 2

• Autism Awareness & Acceptance Day - Wear BLUE for World Autism Day. Optional donation of $1 or more for ASRC.
• Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
• 5th Grade Broadway Play Field Trip

Friday, April 4 - School Librarian Day

Monday, April 7 – Dance A Thon

Tuesday, April 8

• PTA Meeting at 2:15pm in APR
• RLMS Concert (4th and 5th Graders)

Monday – Friday, April 14 -18th SPRING BREAK

Saturday, April 12

• Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
• Passover begins at sundown

Friday, April 18 - Good Friday

Sunday, April 20

• Easter Sunday
• Passover ends at nightfall

Monday, April 21 – Spring Above and Beyond classes begin

Week of April 21st – Earth Week

Tuesday, April 22- National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Wednesday, April 23 -Administrative Professionals Day

Friday, April 25th

• School Spirit Day
• Arbor Day

Monday, April 28th - SBA Testing begins

We are excited to celebrate Paraprofessional Appreciation Day and recognize the hardworking individuals who play a crucial role in supporting our students and teachers every day. Paraprofessionals provide essential assistance in classrooms, offer one-on-one support to students, and help create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all.

Their dedication, patience, and commitment to student success do not go unnoticed, and we are so grateful for everything they do! To show our appreciation, we encourage students and families to take a moment to:

🌟 Write a thank-you note or draw a picture of appreciation.
🌟 Share kind words of gratitude in person or via email.
🌟 Encourage students to give a high-five or share a smile.
🌟 Participate in any school-organized appreciation activities.

Let’s come together as a school community to celebrate and thank our incredible paraprofessionals for their hard work and the positive impact they have on our children’s education.

Keep SOARing!!!!

We are pleased to announce a new webpage which has been designed to help you navigate the challenges of managing your child's internet usage at home. This resource provides comprehensive information on tools and strategies to create a safer online environment for your children.

New Resource: Internet Usage at Home

Link: https://www.fairfieldschools.org/parents/internet-usage-at-home

This resource covers several approaches to internet safety, including:

· Device-Based Web Filtering

· Internet Service Provider (ISP)-Based Web Filtering

· Router-Based Web Filtering

· Third-Party Platforms for Filtering & Monitoring

· Monitoring Usage & Setting Time Limits

· Security Best Practices

Our team is pleased to provide information about these various tools and approaches, and we encourage you to research and select solutions that best meet your family's unique needs. Note: Fairfield Public Schools does not endorse any specific product.

We have an amazing author coming to visit Mill Hill this spring! James Riley, author of the Story Thieves series, will be sharing his new fantasy adventure book, The Dragon’s Apprentice, with 3rd – 5th graders on Thursday, April 10th.

Please complete this order form to pre-order books by Monday, March 31st.

The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) is a critical tool used to measure how well students are meeting grade-level standards. While classroom instruction lays the foundation, home routines play an important role in helping your child feel ready for the test. Ensuring your child gets a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast each day is key to starting the day alert and focused. Additionally, maintaining a calm and consistent home routine—such as a quiet reading time or a relaxing evening wind-down—can contribute to a positive mindset on test day. These simple, supportive habits create a nurturing environment that helps your child feel confident and prepared to take on the SBA.

Policy Updates

The Board of Education’s Policy Committee met in March to review, edit and clarify the proposed district-wide technology policy that governs use of personal technology devices at school. The only public comments made were in favor of removing personal tech devices at school, shared by parents, teachers and administrators. The policy committee will review the updated version in future meetings, so stay tuned if you would like to participate as this new policy takes shape.

Events Updates

• April 8th @ 7 pm: Screening of the film Screenagers: Elementary Edition at Long Lots School in Westport
• Register here: bit.ly/ScreenagersWestport
• April 19: Deadline to win $5,000 scholarship! KiDS (keepitdigitallysafe.org) has launched a social medial warning label campaign, inviting creators of all ages to design a warning label (think of those used for cigarettes and alcohol). Create your label and submit it for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship!
• April 30: Q&A with "Ok to Delay" National Director at The Wonder
• Coming up on May 8: Alternative Device Fair at The Westport Library - more details soon!

@millhillpta

@millhillgoesgreen

One hour shifts are available to assist Mrs. Han and Mrs. Gori-Montanelli with student book checkout and shelving. Volunteers may also help with other tasks as needed such as de-milling books that are no longer used and the LLC bulletin board.

2024-2025 LLC Volunteer Sign Up!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on Sign-up: https://signup.com/go/WcdfYVr
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on Sign-up)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - Sign-up will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: Sign-up does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

or sign up with the QR code provided below

2024-2025 LLC VOLUNTEER SIGN UP
Please sign up!

Scan this code with your smartphone camera now:

We are looking for helping hands to assist with art preparation for grades K-5. Your support will involve tasks such as:

• Cutting and prepping materials for projects

• Labeling and mounting student artwork

• Measuring and cutting borders and applying large format vinyl paper to bulletin boards

• Hanging artwork on bulletin boards
• Assisting with preparations for our End of Year Art Show (May)

Some tasks may include typing out student labels, preparing materials in bulk or hanging displays on bulletin boards. Whether you can spare 30 minutes, an hour, or a few days, your help is greatly appreciated!

If you're interested, please sign up by Art Committee Volunteers or contact Heather Nokta hnokta@fairfieldschools.org

School Hours: 8:55 AM - 3:30 PM

(Student drop-off 8:45am-8:55am)

Early Dismissals:

8:55am-1:40pm

Delayed Openings:

10:55 AM - 3:30 PM

Amy Yost, Principal - ayost@fairfieldschools.org

Rebecca Feola, Assistant Principal - rfeola@fairfieldschools.org

Ashley Prosniewski, Secretary - aprosniewski@fairfieldschools.org

Elizabeth Miller, Office Assistant AM - emiller@fairfieldschools.org

Lisa Brown, Office Assistant PM - lbrown@fairfieldschools.org

District Website: Fairfield Public Schools District Website

Mill Hill's Website: Mill Hill Elementary School Website

Mill Hill’s PTA Website Mill Hill School PTA Website

Location: 635 Mill Hill Terrace, Southport, CT 06890
Phone: 203.255.8320