Archived MHS November 2024

• 11/28 - 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break

• 12/3 - Middle School/High School Building Community Forum 7:00 - 9:00 pm

• 12/6 - Nutcracker Performance: 7:00 pm

• 12/7 - Nutcracker Performance: 2:00 pm

• 12/8 - Nutcracker Performance: 1:00 pm

• 12/11 - Early Release for students - staff professional development

Dear Parents & Guardians,

As we approach the holiday break, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome and support I’ve received during my first handful of months here at Millis High School. It has truly been an absolute pleasure to serve this incredible community.

Our students continue to impress me daily with their hard work, dedication, and passion—whether in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in clubs, or on stage. They represent the very best of Millis, and it is a privilege to see them grow and thrive in all their pursuits.

I am continually inspired by our faculty, whose commitment to our students is unwavering. The dedication, care, and expertise they bring to their work make Millis High School an exceptional place for learning.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our parents and the broader community for your ongoing support. It’s clear that Millis is a place where collaboration and partnership between home, school, and community truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

One of this short week’s highlights was our football team heading over to Clyde Brown this morning to welcome our elementary students off the bus and get them excited for their learning today. This brief moment in time epitomizes what our school community is about. By welcoming our younger students with enthusiasm and positivity, we are not only creating a more supportive and welcoming atmosphere but also setting an example of kindness, leadership, and school spirit. Check out the great pictures below! We also have a bunch of other great highlights happening in our classroom for you to take a look at.

For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope it brings you moments of joy, reflection, and quality time with your loved ones. I am so grateful to be a part of this community, and I look forward to the many more opportunities we will have to work together for the continued success of our students.

I hope to see many of you at our Thanksgiving Football game tomorrow at 10:00. This game will cap off the 100th season of Millis Football! Go Mohawks!!!

Have a great Thanksgiving,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

The Online Community Forum for the Middle-High School Building project originally scheduled for November 21 has been moved to Tuesday December 3 from 7-9 PM. During this forum members of the design team and school building committee will present updated options for the middle-high school project. Viewers will be able to submit questions for the team.

The online meeting may be accessed at: https://meet.google.com/zpj-fdkx-dzd (if this link doesn't work, please cut and paste into browser)

This morning the football team went over to the Clyde F. Brown Elementary School to welcome Millis's youngest students into school for the day as a way to further build community between the older and younger students!

The Honors and CP1 Physics students are wrapping up their study of projectile motion by building catapults! Mrs Streck’s students have been analyzing motion, breaking it down into components, and using trigonometry and kinematic equations to predict the path of projectiles. In order to build catapults, students utilize vector components, angles, and time to calculate velocities and are predicting where their projectiles will land based on their calculations. Their creativity and problem-solving skills are truly on target!

Earth Systems students have been studying the atmosphere, weather, and climate. They recently showcased their knowledge through a regional weather project and a disaster project, highlighting their understanding of weather, climate, and multisphere impacting disasters. As part of the projects, students conducted research, created digital graphs, and interpreted maps. The classes' next focus will be moving to the Earth’s interior. Classes are beginning to dive deep into the properties of magnetism and density, relating these concepts to the composition of the Earth.

Mrs. Streck’s Engineering students have completed their reverse engineering unit, where they redesigned a flashlight with the goal of increasing market share. Their innovative ideas and designs were based upon analysis of customer needs, testing, benchmarking, and reflect their critical thinking and creativity.

This week, in some of the Spanish classes, students have focused on learning about the magnificent Spanish tradition of "La Fiesta de la Castaña" or "Magosta", translated as the Chestnut Festival.

The students learned the historical origins of this holiday, the traditions connected with it, and worked on a craft related to this activity.

This was a great opportunity to draw parallels with the various festivals in the United States.

There was an all school assembly on Monday which was run by the Student Council.

Class Announcements were made by the following student representatives:

• Class of 2025: Shealin and Olivia

• Class of 2026: Nicoletta and Mia

• Class of 2027: Ella and Sydney

• Class of 2028: John Abraham

There were also a few club announcements made by the club presidents and then a fun game was played by those teachers who have students in the high school: “How Well Do You Know Each Other?” Students and parents were asked questions about each other. The teachers/students taking part were:

Mr Ingraham/Macy Ingraham

Mr Bigelow/Sadie Bigelow

Mrs Alan/Phoebe Alan

Mrs Fitzgerald/Dillon Fitzgerald

Mr Kraby/Liam Kraby

Mr Caulfied/Owen Caulfield

DECA has had a successful week elfing houses! The fundraiser runs until the new year, plenty enough time to spread the holiday cheer!

This holiday season, bring some festive fun to your neighborhood while supporting a great cause! For just $30, you can have cheerful Elf Lawn Ornaments placed in someone's yard for three nights. Each elf brings a touch of holiday magic and is part of a special fundraising effort to support Millis DECA students.

Your donation helps us continue providing valuable leadership, career development, and entrepreneurial opportunities for future business leaders. It's a simple, fun way to make someone's home more festive and make a big impact on our community!

How it works:

1. Make a $30 donation to DECA. (checks made out to Millis High School or venmo @Yvonne-FitzGerald)

2. We’ll place adorable Elf Lawn Ornaments in the yard of your choice for three nights. We will deliver to Millis, Medway, and Medfield.

3. They can enjoy the holiday cheer as people marvel at the festive sight!

Thank you for your support, and happy holidays from the Mills DECA team!

Any questions please contact Yvonne FitzGerald - yfitzgerald@millisschools.org

Please register if you have not already.

Sports on offer:

Boys Basketball (Grades 7-12 V/JV/MS)

Girls Basketball (Grades 7-12 V/JV/MS)

Boys/Girls Track & Field (Grades 7-12 V/MS)

Boys Hockey Co-op with Bellingham

Girls Hockey Co-op with Hopkinton

Alpine Ski Co-op with Medway

Gymnastics Co-op with Medway

Wrestling Co-op with Bellingham

To register please visit FamilyID and Search Millis or use the link below:

https://students.arbitersports.com/millis-athletics/2024-2025-winter-athletics-registration-7

"The Nutcracker'' will be gracing the stage at Millis High School, 245 Plain Street, for its 3-day run. The family friendly performance features music from the original Tchaikovsky Score as well as some of Duke Ellington’s variations from his Three Suites. The production runs about 90 minutes including an intermission where snacks will be available to benefit the HS Newspaper The Crimson Post.

This local production features over 170 Millis students from grades preK - K. Each performance features a different cast of very dedicated performers. The show will be the last Nutcracker performances for our four seniors, Mollie Hatch, Isabella Michaud-Huang, Kaitlyn Richards, and Annie Rollag

Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for students and seniors (under 5 free but a possible lap sitter) and can be purchased at the door until they sell out. All proceeds benefit Terpsichore the Millis MS/HS Dance Club. Performance Dates as times are as follows:

Friday December 6 at 7:00 PM

Saturday December 7 at 2:00 PM

Sunday December 8 at 1:00 PM

If you have questions please contact Stephanie Copice at scopice@millisschools.org

On Friday and Saturday evening last week Drama Club put on an excellent performance of "Pygmalion", the play on which the musical "My Fair Lady" was based. The cast did a wonderful job with some difficult British accents and a great time was had by all who attended! Congratulations to Mrs Bartley and Drama Club!

Come support the Millis Ski Team on Thursday, December 12 at 7:00pm at Holliston High School by coming to see this year's Warren Miller Movie! Warren Miller movies are ski and snowboard movies filmed in some of the most beautiful places featuring incredible athletes. Warren Miller Entertainment is going big for 75 years - yes, this is their 75th annual film! It features 10 all-new, original segments and a stacked lineup of athletes like snowboarders Shaun White, Zeb Powell, Toby Miller, Danny Davis, and 15-year-old phenom LJ Henriquez, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Aaron Blunck, and many more. The film will take fans to powder stashes and chutes worldwide, featuring special collaborations with Selema Masekela, the Real SkiFi, Sherpas Cinema, the Technically Doing It crew, and Framework.

You can purchase your tickets here.

Dear Parents & Guardians,

There was a lot of buzz in the building this week around our fall play, Pygmalion, taking place this weekend. The cast and crew have been working tirelessly to bring the show to life. Earlier today, our students enjoyed a special preview of the show to cap off the school day. The shows are scheduled for Friday, November 24, at 7:00 PM and Saturday, November 25, at 7:00 PM in the school auditorium. We encourage you to bring friends and family to support our student performers!

This week, I had the opportunity to visit several exciting classes, and I want to highlight a few of the projects that are taking place:

• Mrs. Rao’s U.S. History Class: Students were hard at work designing and building game boards based on themes from the Revolutionary War. This hands-on project not only engages students in historical content but also encourages creative problem-solving and teamwork. It’s a great example of how we’re bringing history to life in meaningful ways.

• Ms. Streck’s Engineer Your World Class: In this innovative course, students recently completed presentations for their reverse engineering unit. The challenge was to examine a flashlight, gather information about its design, and think critically about how to improve it. Students conducted customer interviews, modeled and analyzed the product’s functionality, and presented their design recommendations. This project truly brings engineering concepts to life, and it’s wonderful to see our students applying their learning to real-world problems.

A quick reminder that parent/guardian day conferences will be taking place next Tuesday, 11/26. Also a quick note that Tuesday and Wednesday of next week are half days where the school day ends at 10:55.

Have a great weekend,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

Chemistry I Classes have been exploring separation techniques via a few different labs. All classes have been conducting the simulation of production of maple syrup and sugar in part as a nod to Native American Heritage Month. Students have had to use sieving and filtering to remove bark and other debris, before using evaporation (a technique based on differences in boiling point) to concentrate the “sap” from a 3% sugar solution down to a 66% sugar solution for “syrup”. Then they continue to concentrate down to a 75% sugar solution to allow for crystallization and the formation of “maple sugar” from what is a supersaturated solution.

Select classes have had the opportunity to explore the accuracy and precision in ground beef labeling via the extraction of fat from 85% ground beef. Students composed their own protocols based on research into the components of ground beef. Most involved the rendering (melting) of the fat based on differences in freezing point and then some type of sieving, filtering or manual separation. They also explored the dietary benefits of removing fat from ground beef during food preparation.

Darius Corcoran was a guest speaker in the anatomy and physiology class this week. He spoke during the skeletal system chapter on prolotherapy, which stimulates an inflammatory response to encourage the growth of particular cartilage in damaged joints. Mr. Corcroran received prolotherapy to successfully repair his knee joint.

Students were treated to a preview of the play "Pygmalion" this afternoon. Congratulations to the cast and crew who did an amazing job and "Break a leg" for your performances tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 pm!

There will be a baseball interest meeting on Monday, November 25th in the cafeteria at 2.30 pm. Please fill out the Interest Form if you intend to attend.

The Leos Club ran a Thanksgiving Food Drive this week. After collecting classic Thanksgiving food items this past month, they assembled the baskets during their most recent meeting. These dinners will have an immediate impact on the community and provide food for those in need!

Thank you for helping our community, Leos!

We are seeking volunteers at our ReStore in Attleboro. Some of the opportunities at the ReStore include: greeting customers, receiving and organizing donations, assisting with displays, and customer service. Individuals must be at least 16 years to volunteer independently.

A ReStore is a retail store that accepts donations of new and gently used household items, building materials, appliances and furniture and resells them at a significant reduction. The proceeds are then used to fund building affordable home in our communities. Proceeds from our Old Colony ReStore are currently supporting the Habitat home that is being built right here in our community at 5 Chester Court in Taunton.

At Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, our mission goes beyond just building houses; it's about creating homes and fostering thriving communities. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live, and that starts with the support of compassionate individuals like you.

Sports on offer:

Boys Basketball (Grades 7-12 V/JV/MS)

Girls Basketball (Grades 7-12 V/JV/MS)

Boys/Girls Track & Field (Grades 7-12 V/MS)

Boys Hockey Co-op with Bellingham

Girls Hockey Co-op with Hopkinton

Alpine Ski Co-op with Medway

Gymnastics Co-op with Medway

Wrestling Co-op with Bellingham

To register please visit FamilyID and Search Millis or use the link below:

https://students.arbitersports.com/millis-athletics/2024-2025-winter-athletics-registration-7

TIckets for Pygmalion will be available at the door.

Dear Parents & Guardians,

In this short week, we jam packed a lot of learning, events and experiences.

The high school continued its collaboration with Clyde Brown and the TIES program. Mr. Bigelow’s senior English class headed over to Clyde Brown to meet with their elementary pen pals and have some fun making hand turkeys! Ms. Copice and the chemistry club hosted another group of third grade students for their science experiment. Students from our TIES program took on the task of reorganizing and cleaning up the faculty room. I have to say they did an outstanding job and know the staff really appreciates it!

In the hallways this week, I had the pleasure of bumping into Ms. Ziemba’s AP Psychology class as they worked on skits to demonstrate what they were learning about sleep disorders. The Culture Club was working hard preparing a new bulletin board to honor Native American Heritage Month. Our SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club could be found outside the cafeteria sponsoring a movement called "Start With Hello." This initiative focused on raising awareness about loneliness and isolation among students. It encouraged students to reach out and start conversations with peers who may be feeling disconnected, promoting a culture of inclusivity and kindness at Millis High.

In sports, we’d like to congratulate our girls' volleyball and soccer teams for their impressive playoff runs. Both teams showed exceptional skill and sportsmanship, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments this season! Looking forward to this weekend, we have a couple of members of the Millis High cross-country team running at the state championship this weekend on Saturday at 2:00 at Fort Devens. Good luck to Shealin and Emma!

A couple of quick notes if you are looking for some things to do this weekend. The Millis Middle and High PTO is putting on a holiday mini-photo session. They still have some open spots to get those family pictures done! The Millis Boosters are also putting on a Turkey Shoot this weekend. Check out below if you are interested in either of these events.

Have a great weekend,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

This is a reminder that we will be conducting SBIRT screening with all grade 10 students on Monday, November 18th. This screening is required of all school districts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SBIRT is a screening questionnaire tool used by specially trained school professionals to identify students who might be at risk for substance use disorders. At MPS, our community social worker, and adjustment counselor conduct the SBIRT screenings using the CRAFTT-II screening questionnaire during a private, structured 1:1 conversation with students to help build trusting relationships around education, behavior, and support related to substance use. The screener will provide feedback to any student who reports using substances or is determined to be at risk for future substance use.

Please see link here for a letter from the Principal regarding SBIRT.

In addition to the SBIRT screening the nurse will also be conducting the mandated health office screening which includes height, weight, vision and hearing. If you would like to opt your child out of either screening please notify the nurse at lmolinari@millisschools.org.

For more info check out the link SBIRT in Schools and FAQs

All high school families have been sent an email to update their emergency contact information. A student specific link is included in the email (please note that the snapcode is included in the link and may need to be copied for access). Please take the time to verify and update this information as soon as possible. The emails and phone numbers provided are used for all emergency contact, correspondence, attendance, deadlines for events, tests, and graduation and other important information that is sent throughout the school year.

• If you have not created an account, you will be prompted to do so.
• Please note that if you have multiple students attending Millis Public Schools you will need to update for each student.

If you have any questions or log in issues please reach out to cliberty@millisschools.org

Students that wish to have their school pictures retaken should plan to sit for the photographer on Thursday November 21st.

Millis High School will be hosting parent/guardian conferences one more time this year, on Tuesday, November 26, from 12pm-2:30pm. This is a 1/2 day for students, with classes ending at 10:55am.

Parents can sign up for appointment slots with their students' teachers by accessing the link below and selecting the appointment slots on November 26. You simply select the teachers you would like to set up conferences with by clicking on their appointment link in the Google Sheet below, and then scroll through their appointment calendars to choose an available time that works for you.

Appointment slots are 10 minutes long and it is important that parents/guardians are on time for their conferences, as once the 10 minute appointment is up, the teacher will be moving to their next 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. If for some reason you are having a difficult time selecting an appointment slot, please email the teacher directly to set up an appointment time (emails are listed on the appointment calendar).

LINK TO SIGN UP

The Millis High School Marching band performed at the Millis Veteran’s Day ceremony on November 11th.

Art, Design, and New Media Students continue to explore Adobe Illustrator. This week they experimented with the extensive brush options to create these watercolor-inspired landscapes.

In Fundamentals of Studio Art 1, students have been building their colored pencil skills by creating these close-crop pieces drawing the same subject matter once in grayscale and once again in full color.

Please follow the art room on instagram @radartroom to see more updates showcasing the amazing creativity of our MHS students.

Mr Bigelow’s senior English class visited their pen pals at CFB this week as a part of Layla Nutile’s senior project. Together, the pen pals had a great time and made festive hand turkeys.

Students in Ms. Ziemba's AP Psychology classes are learning about sleep disorders and the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation. Their task was to become pharmacologists and discover a drug to cure sleep disorders. They then created commercial advertisements to promote their "miracle medicine". Students filmed informational commercials about narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, and REM sleep behavior disorder and promoted their "miracle medicine" (with lots of potential side effects of course).

MHS’s SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club sponsored a “Start With Hello” week this Tuesday through Friday. The main idea of Starts With Hello is to get the student body to recognize those who might be isolated and lonely, and reach out in some way.

SADD members gave out lollipops with uplifting messages on Tuesday morning. All students were given the opportunity to sign pledges to be empathetic, and fill-out cards describing acts of kindness they have witnessed. And, everyone had a chance to fill-out a Trusted Adult sheet, recognizing an adult in the building to whom they can turn.

We’re hoping everyone realizes how much positivity can come from seemingly small acts. We appreciate those who took part, and thank Active Minds for their help this week.

Learn more about SADD here.

November is Native American Heritage Month, celebrating the history, cultures, and contributions of Native communities. It’s a time to reflect on Native resilience and to learn about diverse traditions! For example the tipi, which is a traditional home for many Plains tribes. Tipis originated with Plains tribes but don’t represent all Native cultures. Culture club made mini tipis to celebrate Native American Heritage month.

The Chem Club has had a busy fall. We started with apple picking and applesauce making in September, we ran a scare station at the M.E.R.I.T. Hayride with fun Halloween themed activities. In November we collaborated with Chem II to do science enrichment with the grade 3 classes, and just this week we came together to celebrate "Chemsgiving" as a group.

Boy Scouts of America - Scouting for food in support of the Millis Food Pantry. Please drop off non-perishable food items on Saturday Nov 16 from 10-2 at Rocky's Ace Hardware

Time for another November Turkey Shoot! Please join the Boosters at Victory Lane Bar and Grille on Saturday 11/16 from 2-4pm for fun and games and prizes. Mark your calendars and they look forward to seeing you there!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It has been a busy week here at Millis High School, and I wanted to take a moment to share some of the highlights with you.

One of the most memorable events this week was our annual Veteran's Day Interview Project. We were honored to have approximately 15 veterans visit MHS, where they met with our 10th grade students in small groups. Students had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about the veterans' unique experiences, the lessons they've learned throughout their lives, and their advice for students today. It was a powerful and meaningful exchange, and we are grateful to Mr. Fallon for organizing this special event, which continues to be a highlight of our school year.

Our high school chemistry club hosted Mr. Collazo’s third grade class, where they ran through a hands-on science experiment. The high school students really enjoyed the level of energy and engagement the CFB students brought with them. You can view a clip of the action here.

We had a handful of student representatives attend the MIAA’s 30th Annual Sportsmanship Summit that was held this past week at Gillette Stadium. Pictures are included below. In addition to this meaningful event, our athletic teams have had a very successful week in the MIAA playoff tournament. I'm thrilled to share some of our team's achievements and upcoming events:

• Our girls' volleyball team dominated their first and second round games in straight sets on Monday against Notre Dame Academy and Thursday against Sutton. The volleyball team will play against Hopedale on Sunday at Millis High School at 12:00 PM.

• The girls' varsity soccer team earned a 4-1 victory over West Boylston in their first-round playoff game. The girls' soccer team will host Mt. Greylock this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Medfield High School. Not only has the team done great things on the field, they also put together care packages for residents of Willowbrook Manor Rest Home. Check out pictures below!

• Our football team will kick off their playoff action tonight against Cathedral, with the game being played at West Roxbury High School at 7:00 p.m.

• Our cross-country teams will be competing in the state meet this Saturday at the Wrentham Developmental Center. The girls’ meet starts at 2:00 with the boys' meet following at 2:45. Best of luck to them as they race toward their goals!

Looking ahead, I’d like to highlight a few upcoming performances that you won’t want to miss. Our talented drama club will be presenting Pygmalion on November 22nd and 23rd at 7:00 p.m., and Terpsichore will bring The Nutcracker to the stage on December 6th at 7:00 p.m., December 7th at 2:00 p.m., and December 8th at 1:00 p.m. Both performances promise to be wonderful celebrations of our students' hard work and creativity.

Thank you to all of our veterans for their service! The work you have done and continue to do is truly inspiring.

I hope everyone enjoys a nice long weekend,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

We will be issuing first quarter report cards through PowerSchool this afternoon (11/8). Students will not be receiving paper copies of report cards in school. Instead, both students and parents should access PowerSchool to view report cards. If for some reason you require a paper copy of the report card, please contact the main office and we will be happy to get a copy to you. Here are instructions on how to access your student's report card. There are two different ways for you to access it:

(1) You will receive an email that will contain a link to access the report card.

• Check your spam if you don't see it.
• If you have not updated your contact information with the school, there is a possibility the email may have been sent to an old email.

(2) To view reports in the parent portal on Powerschool, please sign in to PowerSchool.

• Here is the link https://millisschools.powerschool.com/public/
• Navigate to "student reports" located on the left sidebar
• You will be able to view and print all published reports - just click the report name to open

If you are unable to access your student's Report Card using these steps, please reach out to Chad Liberty cliberty@millisschools.org.

On Friday, November 15th, the Millis High School and Middle School Choirs will be singing God Bless America and America The Beautiful at 7:00 PM at the Providence Bruins Game against Cleveland.

Football Playoff tonight (11/8) vs. Cathedral at 7:00pm, West Roxbury HS

Girls' Soccer round of 16 tomorrow 11/9 vs. Mount Greylock, 11:30am at Medfield HS

Cross Country State Sectional - 2:00pm Wrentham Development Center

Girls' Volleyball elite 8 11/10 vs Hopedale, 12:00pm Millis HS

The Millis Girls Varsity soccer team completed their season service project this week. First, they purchased the goods, then they packaged the items (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and a knitted scarf from the Millis Sewing Club, and finally they delivered the 34 care packages to the residents of Willowbrook Manor Rest Home in Millis.

The 10th graders recently participated in the annual Veterans Day Interview Project. The project, intended to deepen students' understanding of the holiday and serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans, involves students interviewing veterans and then writing a five-paragraph essay comparing their real stories to a chosen poem. It enables students to connect with living history. Students are encouraged to use this experience to reflect on the significance of Veterans Day and its connection to the personal sacrifices of those who served.

It's a powerful way for the students to learn about the realities of war, honor the sacrifices made, and express their gratitude to those who have served.

A big thank you to this year’s veterans: Brutus Cantoreggi, Jon Sussman, Brooks Johnson, Ryan Casavant, Jessica Covitz, Dan Covitz, Mike Long, Larry McCarter, Mike Lightman, Conor Stevens, Bob Yeager, Jack Martin, Jeff Sisto, Sean McNiff and Joe Hersey.

As we officially celebrate Veteran's Day this Saturday, and do so by observing the holiday with no school in our district on Monday, we salute those who have served and continue to serve our country.

Chemistry I classes celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a lab activity that addressed their content standards around composition of and separation of mixtures while at the same time exploring the production of natural dyes from marigolds, a symbolically important flower in Hispanic culture. Students used manual separation to remove petals from sepals and seeds, and then extracted the carotnoid pigments from the petals by heating the petals in water - using the technique of dissolution, and then they sieved the petals and other solid matter out of the dye mixture.

Students then took fabric squares they had soaked in a mordant solution of vinegar and water and submerged them in the dye to achieve a range of shades from pale yellow to brown.

We are looking forward to celebrating Native American Heritage month with a simulation of maple syrup production.

Art, Design, and New Media Students are building their skills on Adobe Illustrator.

They used the inflate effect to create these star pieces.

They also experimented with shadows on these cut paper images.

In Fundamentals of Studio Art 1, students finished up their unit on value and shading with these incredible portraits utilizing the grid drawing method.

They have also begun to work with colored pencils and have learned about layering and burnishing colors to create realistic shadows and highlights. These paint blob drawings were a warm up.

In Studio Art 2 and 3, students have been working on the basics of linoleum block printing. They started by creating these block printing paper quilts.

They are now continuing by creating images based on their own interests.

Chemistry II and the Chem Club hosted Senor Collazo’s grade 3 class today for a fun period of weather-related experiences. Students goggled up to make it rain in a beaker, model convection currents and create fog. Finally they modeled the processes that lead to beach erosion. Along the way they predicted outcomes and had a bunch of fun with the hands on activities.

MIllis High School was represented by seniors Kevin Sullivan and Riley Sullivan along with our 2024-25 student ambassadors, sophomores Macy Ingraham, Alicia Ellis and Owen Caulfield at the 30th Annual MIAA Sportsmanship Summit with students from all over the state. They participated in activities and breakout sessions around good sportsmanship and how to make an impact at their school.

More about MIAA:

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) is comprised of over 380 member schools that serve over 220,000 student athletes. Its purpose is to organize, regulate, and promote interscholastic athletics for secondary schools of Massachusetts. The collective decisions that are made by peer colleagues throughout the Commonwealth must prioritize what is in the best interest of the greater good of its membership for the long term.

Each grade level had a student council meeting today during advisory, where they brainstormed fundraising ideas for future events such as homecoming and prom. They also discussed class dues and how to get involved in the school community through clubs.

9th Grade

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is continuing to sponsor a free Parenting Solutions Library. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.

Attention Seniors: it's time to order your diploma and cap and gown for Graduation. An email titled, "How to Order your Diploma, Cap & Gown for Graduation" has been sent to your school email with the instructions. Deadline to complete this is Wednesday, November 13th. See Mrs. Bedard in the Office with any questions.

See below flyer for more information.

Good Scouts Make Great Humans

Cub Scouts is welcoming girls and boys, grades K-5. As part of a pack Cub Scouts participate in fun activities that promote character, leadership growth and life skills!

The adventures can include camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, STEM projects, archery, and even Pinewood Derbies.

Want to learn more? Scan QR code above to Learn More!

Attend the enrollment event on this flyer to learn more about your local Cub Scout pack.

Feel free to reach out to us at any time with additional questions.

Phone: 508-217-4623

Email: Scoutmein@mayflowerbsa.org

Website: www.scoutingsignup.org

Buenos Scouts Hacen Grandes Humanos

Los Cub Scouts están dando la bienvenida a niñas y niños, grados K-5. Como parte de una manada, los Cub Scouts participan en actividades divertidas que promueven el carácter, el crecimiento del liderazgo y habilidades para la vida.

Las aventuras pueden incluir acampar, pescar, hacer senderismo, nadar, proyectos STEM, tiro con arco e incluso Derbis de Pinewood.

¿Quieres saber más?

Asiste al evento de inscripción en este folleto para aprender más sobre tu manada local de Cub Scouts. No dudes en contactarnos en cualquier momento con preguntas adicionales.

Teléfono: 508-217-4623

Correo electrónico: Scoutmein@mayflowerbsa.org

Sitio web: www.scoutingsignup.org

Bons Escoteiros Fazem Grandes Humanos

Os Cub Scouts estão recebendo meninas e meninos, do jardim de infância ao 5º ano. Como parte de um grupo, os Cub Scouts participam de atividades divertidas que promovem caráter, crescimento de liderança e habilidades para a vida!

As aventuras podem incluir acampamento, pesca, caminhadas, natação, projetos de STEM, arco e flecha e até Derbies de Pinewood.

Quer saber mais?

Participe do evento de inscrição neste folheto para aprender mais sobre seu grupo local de Cub Scouts. Sinta-se à vontade para entrar em contato conosco a qualquer momento com perguntas adicionais.

Telefone: 508-217-4623

E-mail: Scoutmein@mayflowerbsa.org

Website: www.scoutingsignup.org

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As I write to you on the first of November, it’s hard to believe that we have just wrapped up the first quarter of the school year! I continue to be impressed with the work and effort of both our students and staff. We had another week of fun and special moments that are pictured below in this newsletter.

I want to take a moment to congratulate our Students of the Month: Olivia Humphries, Nate Leussler, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Luke Fabian. Their hard work and dedication have truly shone through, and I also want to recognize all of this month's nominees for their impressive achievements. I’d also like to congratulate Ms. Knabel, who has been named our honorary Staff Member of the Month by the National Honor Society. Her commitment to our students and school community is truly commendable. Please check out the blurbs below recognizing these students and staff.

In athletics, we have an exciting evening ahead! Our football team will celebrate Senior Night tonight against Norton, starting at 6:00 p.m. We encourage everyone to come out and support our seniors and team. Additionally, our girls' varsity volleyball team will kick off their playoff journey with a home game on Monday at 5:00 p.m. The details about their opponent will be announced shortly. Our girls' soccer team is also in playoff mode, eagerly awaiting the announcement of their first opponent, with games likely scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

A quick reminder that next Tuesday, 11/5, is a staff professional day and students will not have school that day.

Lastly, I want to extend warm greetings to all families celebrating Diwali. May this festival of lights bring joy and prosperity to your homes.

Have a great weekend,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

Don't forget to change your clocks back one hour on Sunday 11/3. Enjoy the extra hour in bed in the morning!

There is a winter track meeting in the cafeteria on Monday 11/4 at 2:30 pm. If you are interested in taking part in Track and Field this winter, please be sure to attend the meeting.

Grade 9 Nominees: Jocelyn Bibeau, Olivia Humphries, Brayden Ryan, Ben Woodley

Winner: Olivia Humphries: "Olivia has been on- top of her work since the beginning of the year. She's a focused and mature student. She is also very insightful, both in her writing and in class discussions."

Grade 10 Nominees: William Luessis, Anne Connors, Nate Leussler

Winner: Nate Leussler: "Nathan takes care of business in class. He is always on task and is always trying his best. He participates well and works hard in several different settings."

Grade 11 Nominees: Ryan Fitzgerald, Kiley Barry-McKee, Oliver Powers

Winner: Ryan Fitzgerald: "Ryan has been a positive influence on the younger students in the class and really stepped up his participation. Great job."

Grade 12 Nominees: Andrew Morse, Kevin Sullivan, Luke Fabian, Thaynara Lopes

Winner: Luke Fabian: "Luke brings energy each day, which is needed in our small class. He's always confident and willing to read his work out loud. He supports classmates with positive feedback and constructive criticism when warranted"

The October winner for Staff Member of the Month is Mrs. Knabel (formerly Ms. Moore) who was nominated twice! Mrs. K has been a guidance counselor since 2022 here at MHS. Since entering Millis High School, she has continually strived to make an impact in her students’ lives. She has been extremely helpful during the college application process for juniors and seniors by putting in so much effort and attention into each individual student's process. Outside of counseling, Mrs. K is always a helpful voice in the community as she attends Active Minds Meetings, is a part of the Millis Cares program, and does not hesitate to help students with any issues they might be experiencing. Thank you for everything you do Mrs. K, you are such a positive staff member we look up to and appreciate all you do for us here at MHS!

Students learned the basics of Adobe Illustrator while creating these digital diya images:

During late September and October, Mrs Streck’s Honors Engineer Your World students took on a unique design challenge! Tasked with creating pinhole cameras for a client with limited hand dexterity, they’ve applied their problem-solving skills and empathy to develop functional, user-friendly designs. Throughout this project, students have dived into prototyping, refining, and testing their cameras, learning to adapt designs with the client’s needs in mind. This real-world project has given them valuable experience in user-centered design and opened new perspectives on accessibility in engineering. We’re proud of their creativity and dedication to inclusive design!

In Mrs. Streck's CP1 physics class, students explored the concept of relative velocity with a hands-on lab outside. Students partnered up, grabbed their materials (clipboard, lab directions, ruler, etc.), and headed to the courtyard. To understand how relative velocity works, teams practiced throwing a tennis ball to each other while running in different directions. This demonstrated how the ball’s speed appears to change depending on whether students were moving toward or away from it. Afterward, teams solved problems on the back of their lab sheets, calculating how the tennis ball’s speed would appear in different scenarios.

Honors and CP1 Physics classes recently took their studies outdoors for a Vector Field Day lab! Students worked in teams to measure vectors of various magnitudes and directions, then calculated and measured the resultant vector. This hands-on experience allowed them to put their calculations to the test and see firsthand how vector addition works. The outdoor lab provided a dynamic way to explore fundamental physics concepts, connecting classroom learning with real-world applications.

The Crimson Post just released its first issue of the school year. You can get a hard copy in the library or subscribe on our website. Digital copies are available on the website, too.

The week was kicked off with Hot Chocolate being sold by the Class of 2027 and then we ran a "Guess the Number of Spooky Eyeballs in the jar" contest in the main office with a prize for the closest guess. Congratulations to Lucy Fuentes who was only 1 away from guessing the correct number of eyeballs!

Staff wore some highly imaginative costumes for Halloween on Thursday.

Mrs. Morrill, Mrs Graham and Ms. Young dressed as Stanley Cups for Halloween

Mr Kraby as Chewbacca, Mrs Rao as a witch and Mrs Hurley as a unicorn.

The 10th graders participate each year in a Veterans Day interview project. The veterans will be coming in this year on Wednesday, November 6th during Period 3 (9:05-10:08). All sophomores will be called down to the cafeteria at 9am that morning.

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If your student’s Chromebook stops working or requires maintenance, please have them email our Tech Department at helpdesk@millisschools.org to advise they have an issue. Students can also bring their device to the Library and speak to a student at the SHOP desk. The SHOP desk is our student technology team that now handles the loaner devices. If there are no students present at the SHOP desk, please see our librarian, Mr. Carter, at the circulation desk. The same is true if they forget their device at home. They can go to the Library and borrow a device and/or charger any day school is in session as long as supply lasts. We have also created a Chromebook Care and Use Guide for everything Chromebook related.

Insurance for Chromebooks is suggested and the information can be accessed below.

School lunch continues to be FREE to all students this year. Every student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each daily, and you can check out the menus here. If you feel your family qualifies for free and reduced lunch, you should still fill out the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2024-2025 school year. The application is used to determine qualification for free transportation, as well as waivers, such as athletic fees.

• Free and Reduced FAQ
• How to Apply
• Application

Now is a great time to familiarize yourself with the 2024-25 Millis High School Parent/Student Handbook. Students will be required to sign off on the fact they read through the handbook and understand the school policies as we head into the new school year.

2024-25 Millis High School Parent/Student Handbook

On September 25th the Guidance Department held a Senior Parent Night with information for parents of this year's seniors.

Here are the slides from the presentations:
Guidance Counselors' presentation.

Financial Aid presentation.

An accompanying video can be watched here.

For the most up-to-date information on the Millis Middle/High School Building Project, please go to the following website: https://www.millisschoolproject.com/.

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If your student is going to be late to school, a parent/guardian must contact the office, by or before 8:00 AM. The office can be reached one of the following ways:

Attendance line: 508-906-3713

Attendance email: hsattendance@millisschools.org

or you may send your student in with a note

If we don’t hear from a parent/guardian, the tardy will be unexcused. Upon arrival at school, the student should go directly to the office and sign in.

If your student needs to be dismissed, a parent/guardian must send their student in with a note or email the office at hsattendance@millisschools.org, listing the dismissal time and reason. Just a reminder that driving hours should not be scheduled during the school day, and do not constitute excused time away from school.

Phone calls for dismissals are not permitted.

Students are expected to check in with the office to confirm their dismissal and receive a pass. If we do not receive a note, a parent or guardian must come into the office to sign their student out at the time of dismissal. Please make every effort to adhere to this dismissal policy to minimize disruptions to class time. Please also be mindful of how a dismissal may impact your student’s eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

• Activities Eligibility Dismissal: If your student is involved in extracurricular activities and needs to be dismissed during the school day, they will need to provide a note from the place of their appointment (not a parental note) so they remain eligible to play or practice.
• Medical Dismissal: Any student requesting to leave for any kind of medical reason must go through the nurse’s office.
• Emergency Dismissal: In the event of a true emergency, a parent/guardian should contact the office. Every attempt will be made to expedite the dismissal. Please note, driving hours scheduled during the school day are not considered an emergency nor excusable under any circumstance. Every effort should be made to complete these hours outside of school hours.

If your student needs to be absent from school, a parent/guardian must notify the office via the attendance line at 508-906-3713 or by emailing hsattendance@millisschools.org as close to 8:00 AM as possible. If we don’t hear from a parent/guardian, the absence is unexcused and the student will be marked as truant. Attendance at school is incredibly important, and every effort possible should be made to maintain regular attendance at the high school.

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Below are the School Counseling assignments for the 2024-25 school year, along with contact information for the School Counselors:

Mrs. Riley Dunn (rdunn@millisschools.org)

Grade 9 (2028): Abraham - Johnson

Grade 10 (2027): Alan - Kazis

Grade 11 (2026): Arian - Lauria

Grade 12 (2025): Adams - Johnston

Mrs. Nicole Knabel (nmoore@millisschools.org)

Grade 9 (2028): Kirkland - Wosny

Grade 10 (2027): Kraby - Zammarchi

Grade 11 (2026): Lebak - Young

Grade 12 (2025): Kiggen - Zangari

Small School.. Big Family

MHS Vision of a Graduate

Communication * Collaboration * Critical Thinking * Character

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, 245 Plain Street, Millis, MA, USA
Phone: 508-376-7010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Millis-High-School-1743691028988870/
Twitter: @millishigh

Instagram: @millishigh