Millennium High School
September 22nd, 2023
Weekly Newsletter
Peer Tutoring in Academy and After School!
What is peer tutoring? A tier 2 support resource for all students who are looking for assistance in their Academic courses. Peer Tutors are available to support them following courses: All levels of math, most science courses, writing, social studies, world languages (Spanish, French, and Chinese), Computers and more!
When is Peer Tutoring? 3 options for Peer Tutoring; After school on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the PHS Library @ 3:40 - 4:40pm, during Academy in Library (see FlexiSched for upcoming dates) or students can be matched with Peer Tutors for 1 to 1 Tutoring, see your counselor.
Who can access Peer Tutoring? Any and all MHS and PHS students are welcome to come to Peer Tutoring opportunities for support. Sign up via FlexiSched to join during Academy or Drop in to the PHS Library after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Want to become a Peer Tutor? Email Ms Hook ehook@piedmont.k12.ca.us and complete this Google Registration Form
Consent Assembly Preview Night 9/28 7PM
Parents are cordially invited to preview the Consent Assembly on Thursday 9/28 at 7:00 PM in Alan Harvey Theater.
The Consent Assembly has been a part of PHS/MHS programming since 2004. The assembly includes presentations of carefully curated stories centering around our students' real accounts of sexual violence and consent, performed by PHS/MHS students. The assembly fosters empathy and critical thinking by showing a variety of perspectives from students who have navigated consent -- from survivor to perpetrator to bystander. The assembly also inspires students to embrace affirmative consent, bystander intervention, communication and healthy relationships.
The Consent Assembly will be presented on Friday 9/29 during Academy to 9th and 12th grade students.
Attendance Policy Review
Regular attendance and classroom participation are essential to the educational process at MHS. Missing class presentations, discussions, lectures, demonstrations and laboratories can be detrimental to student achievement, grades, credit accumulation and the progress of the class itself.
Reporting and Excusing an Absence
When a student is absent, it is required that the parent/guardian either phone the Attendance Office recorder (510-594-2889) or send a note explaining the reason for the absence. If an absence is cleared by phone, it is not necessary to follow up with a note. Only the signatures of the parent(s)/guardian(s) on the student emergency card are permitted on notes. Please provide the following information: first and last name of the student, name of parent, date of absence, the specific classes missed, and the reason for the absence. Parents/Guardians must excuse their student’s absence within three days of the time they return. If an absence is not cleared within that time, the absence will be marked as unexcused. Students are not permitted to excuse themselves on the recorder or by note. Students who miss three or more days of school in succession must present a doctor’s note, if the absences are due to illness.
Please see pages 7-10 in the MHS Student Handbook Supplement 2023-2024 for detailed information.
A Message From Ms. M-L
We are deep into the post high school planning conversation. For some students, this is the college application process. For others it might be community college, trade school, gap year or a job.I realize how much stress this conversation can bring for students and parents alike. And I am a big believer that there is a college and career for everyone! No two students have the same exact plan in life, so why not broaden the conversation and figure out what is best for YOU (your student). Here is a great article from Grown and Flown about “Erasing the Finish Line”. It is an interesting read.
Parents/Guardians, try your best to remember what it felt like as a senior. Did you know exactly what you wanted to study/major in and did you have the exact grades/test scores? While I knew I was going to college, I didn’t know what I wanted to study. As a daughter of immigrants my parents put pressure on me to be a doctor or engineer. The closest I could get to that was majoring in business. Clearly this is not who I was, nor did I get close to utilizing this major in any of the jobs I have had since college. And I’m really glad I gave myself the opportunity and time to figure it out. In high school I was the one that everyone came to when they needed someone to listen to their problems. Had I followed what was clearly the path for me, I might have become a counselor years earlier. And I’m glad I explored that path in business to figure out what I didn’t want to do (thankfully I majored in management…more people oriented classes than finance or accounting). All this to say, be open to what’s in front of you, what you need to do to get to YOUR end goal, to trust that a career for you might be what you’re really good at doing right now.
Seniors:
Here is the slidedeck from today’s Senior Advising Academy; and here is Ms Goldwasser’s slidedeck. She also shared a worksheet that you can use to help stay organized on the college application process. Check it out. I scheduled meeting times with seniors to talk about their colleges and to discuss their letters of recommendation. If you were not there today, and you need a letter of recommendation, please email me and we can find a time to meet in the next two weeks. I am NOT micromanaging this process. I do not know the due dates for the colleges on YOUR list. It is the student’s and parents’ job to keep me informed. And I hope that the student takes the lead, not the parents. This is an appropriate, developmental step in the post-high school planning process. Thank you for understanding and for including me in this support role.
Seniors, when you turn 18 years old, there will be some important information for you to know. Here is a link to help you and your parents/guardians get prepared.
Marking Period 1
Congratulations on getting to the end of Marking Period 1! You worked hard, showed up and did your best! Once grades are posted to Infinite Campus, Ms Muñoz Daniels, Ms. Miguel and I will communicate with students if they are missing any credits in your classes.
If you have a PHS class, please note the following dates:
Window for Dropping a Class with a W: 9/8/23 - 10/13/23
Dropping a class with an F: On or after 10/14/23
Last but not least, a former student shared this resource with me, suggesting I share it with MHS students. Read it knowing who you are and in what areas you could still grow as a learner. It is simply information, nothing more. I have zero expectation that you will follow it, and I think it has some great resources for some students
If you would like to attend a presentation:
Get permission from your teacher at least 24 hours in advance if you have to miss class time to attend a college visit
Register thru Naviance and print out your registration page
When you leave class, have your teacher sign this page
All Things Seniors 2024
The All Things Seniors 2024 calendar document is the place to go for any information about senior activities/events. Deadlines and links to important info are all in one place. Use the link to the doc and/or this QR Code for easy access. A hard copy with QR code has been posted outside the Highlander Hub (Student Services), Room 139 and is also accessible at MHS. It will be updated regularly and hard copy posting will continue.
Join the MHS School Site Council!
Want to support our school and be involved? MHS is looking for 1-2 parents to join the School Site Council (SSC). The purpose of the SSC is to develop, approve, and monitor the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The SPSA is a yearly strategic plan that includes our school goals. The SSC will meet one time per month and include the principal, teachers, staff, students, and parents.
Are you interested in joining? Please contact Principal Irma Muñoz Daniels at imunoz@piedmont.k12.ca.us.
- SPSA Goal #1: We will effectively use the Academy structure to address WASC Goals 1 and 2 around 21st century learning skills and meeting the needs of our unique population.
- SPSA Goal #2: Using reading data sources, MHS staff will implement a multi-tiered reading intervention program to move all students beyond reading proficiency and towards college and career readiness.
You are Invited to the Millennium Family Potluck in Piedmont Park on Saturday, September 30, 1:00-3:00pm
Announcement from the Millennium Parents' Club Board
Join us for a fun get together. Parents, guardians, students and siblings are invited to attend. Come meet each other, enjoy some food, play some games, and help strengthen our school community! Our Principal Irma Muñoz will also be joining us! The event will be at Piedmont Park near the fountain and the playground adjacent to Magnolia Avenue where it meets Highland Avenue.
Please sign up to bring food HERE. This event is presented by the Millennium High School Parents' Club Board Members. For questions about the event and potluck signup, please contact Parents' Club Board Vice-President Jessica McDevitt at jessicamcdev@gmail.com or phone 415-845-1999. For general questions about the Parents' Club, you can also contact Parents' Club Board President Rachel Osajima rachelosajima@gmail.com and 510-919-5044.
We want Students to Attend the Family Potluck!
Millennium students who attend the Family Potluck will receive a free ticket to enter a drawing to win a new pair of Apple AirPods and other prizes. For every family member the student brings along to the event, the student will receive an additional ticket!
MHS Parents' Club
All parents and guardians of students attending Millennium High School are members and part of the Parents’ Club! Everyone is invited to get involved! Membership to the MHS Parents’ Club is free!
We invite MHS parents and supporters to make a donation to the MHS Parents' Club. Donations will be used to support events for our whole school community. Contributions of all sizes are appreciated. Everyone is encouraged to give any amount you would like. Click here to make a donation!
Hispanic Heritage Month — September 15 - October 15
Please join as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! During this month we acknowledge the history and contributions of the Latinx community. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
Suicide Prevention — September 2023
In acknowledgement of National Suicide Awareness month, we’d like to provide the following guidance. While non-mental health professionals are never expected to provide mental health interventions or counseling, they CAN recognize signs that a student is in need of intervention and aid in connecting students with needed support.
Bell Schedule — Week of 9/25
9/25 Periods 1-7
9/26 Odd Periods
9/27 Even Periods
9/28 Odd Periods
9/29 Even Periods
September 2023
October 2023
Parent Guide to Schoology
Schoology is PUSD’s Learning Management System. With Schoology, students may digitally submit homework assignments, participate in interactive discussions, receive announcements and feedback, take tests, write academic blogs, and more. Schoology brings together the digital elements of your child’s education into one location!
As a parent, you can use Schoology to:
■ View your student’s courses
■ View your student’s upcoming, current and overdue assignments
■ Monitor school and course announcements
■ Stay involved in your student’s education
■ Monitor student grades and performance
Access to Infinite Campus
Infinite Campus is our student information system. It holds students' permanent record including progress and semester grades, attendance, class schedule, your contact information and much more. Click here for login information. Need assistance logging in? Send an email request to ichelp@piedmont.k12.ca.us.
Piedmont Athletics—Registration and Clearance
We are excited about our continued partnership with Family ID, a secure online registration platform for all Piedmont athletic registration and clearance. It provides a secure, confidential and efficient way to clear our high school students for sports participation.
Click here to see step-by-step instructions and access Family ID.
The Giving Campaign
Piedmont Education Foundation’s Giving Campaign is off to a great start! Thanks to everyone who wore purple on Tuesday to show their support of our students and schools! And thanks again to Mulberry’s Market for donating the popsicles we handed out on Tuesday as part of our launch day celebration.
Your Giving Campaign letter will be arriving in your mailbox this week. Why is it so important for your family to contribute to the Giving Campaign? We need to raise an additional $2,132 per student for the next school year to make up the difference between what the Piedmont Unified School District receives from state and local taxes, and what it costs to educate Piedmont students. The Giving Campaign is the largest annual fundraiser for PUSD and our goal is to have 100% parent participation this year. Please visit us online at www.piedmontedfoundation.org/donate/ to learn how we can work together to help maintain excellence in our schools.
Millennium High School is receiving almost $75,000 to support instruction, wellness, counseling, and community building.
HARVEST FESTIVAL 2023 will be held on Sunday, September 24th from 11am – 3pm
The scarecrow theme this year is Space Invasion.
We are looking for YOUTH VOLUNTEERS to help with the carnival games and the snow cones! Please consider signing up: 2023 Harvest Festival YOUTH volunteers: Piedmont Education Foundation: 2023 Harvest Festival STUDENT Volunteers (signupgenius.com).
Another fun way to participate is to donate a cake to the Cake Hop. Please consider donating a baked good (cakes, cookies, sweet breads, cupcakes, etc.) for the Cake Hop at the 2023 Harvest Festival.
2023 Harvest Festival Cake Hop DONATIONS: Piedmont Education Foundation: 2023 Harvest Festival Cake Hop Donations (signupgenius.com)
**Funds raised from the Scarecrow Alley Auction and the Carnival benefit the three PUSD elementary schools and make an important contribution to elementary school programming.
Enjoy the fall colors at the 4TH ANNUAL ART WALK SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023. 12–5PM
If you’re an art enthusiast, you’ll be inspired by modern and contemporary painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and textile arts. Over 40 local artists will show work at their home studios throughout Piedmont or at art pavilions at Havens Elementary School and Piedmont High School. This year there will also be an exhibit of artist work at the Piedmont Center for the Arts the weekends of Sep 23/24 and Sep 30/Oct 1, with an artist reception on Friday, Sep 29 from 5-7pm.
Art purchases at the Piedmont Art Walk are a show of support for the arts in our schools. 20% of all proceeds help fund Piedmont’s art programs from K-12. Grants from the Piedmont Arts Fund/Piedmont Education Foundation support art education and have provided art supplies for PMS and PHS art classes, clay and glazes for the ceramics department, new computers for the PMS animation classes, music clinicians and specialized instruction for music programs, and much more. For more information and to see the gallery of artists, visit
FREE Youth Clipper Cards
The Student Transit Pass Program provides FREE Youth Clipper cards to eligible middle and high school students in Alameda County. APPLY HERE: bit.ly/studenttransitpass.
- Take unlimited free rides on AC Transit
- Add cash value to the Clipper card for 50% off BART fares and youth discounts on other transit systems