MMS Weekly Update
April 5, 2024
Highlights of the Week
6th Grade Science
This week in 6th grade science, Miss Blunt, Miss Gearns, Mrs. McKenzie, and Mrs. Santeiu’s students researched real-world animal crossings and then designed and built models. After studying the impact of human activities on ecosystems and biodiversity, this STEM project aimed to enable them to apply their knowledge to save a disrupted ecosystem after a highway was built through it. They had a budget, several criteria, and constraints to follow to achieve their goal.
History's Mystery: 6th Grade SS
Students spent two class periods analyzing the assassination of Julius Caesar. They were tasked with reading primary sources (eyewitness accounts) and secondary sources (historical records). The activity culminated with students drawing a conclusion about the identity of the assassin and proving their assertion with evidence.
8th Grade PSAT
The PSAT will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 7:35-10:44 for all 8th grade students. Students’ testing room locations will be posted outside of the main office and in the cafeteria the Thursday before testing begins.
Students can find pertinent PSAT information like practice tests, required materials for test day, and test rules in the 2024 PSAT 8/9 Student Guide.
Lastly, to prepare for the new digital PSAT, students will complete a digital readiness check in their social studies classes on Thursday, April 4. This check will ensure all testing devices are functional. Additionally, it will provide students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new digital platform. Students will be asked to fill out optional student information (email address, demographics, academic goals, family background) at this time. If you don’t want your child to participate in this, please complete this form and return it to the main office by Wednesday, April 3.
Students will remain in school for the full day and attend their 6 classes in the afternoon with shorter time frames. Students will be dismissed at the regularly scheduled time, 2:28pm.
MSTEP 6th, 7th and 8th Grade
All 6th and 7th grade students will be taking the ELA M-STEP on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 7:35-10:44 AM and the Math M-STEP on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 7:35-10:44 AM. Students’ testing room locations will be posted outside of the main office and in the cafeteria the Thursday before testing begins.
8th grade students will be taking the science and social studies M-STEP on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 7:35-10:44 AM. Students’ testing room locations will be consistent with their PSAT testing rooms.
Solar eclipse
The following information was shared in last week's district newsletter
Upcoming Solar Eclipse on April 8th
On Monday, April 8th, our region will experience a near total solar eclipse. The path of totality passes near us with portions of Ohio being within the path of totality. Here are the approximate timelines for the event in our area-
1:58 PM Start of eclipse event
3:14 PM Peak of solar eclipse coverage
4:27 PM Conclusion of eclipse event
A solar eclipse is an exciting event and this level of coverage is not expected to occur again in our state until September 14, 2099. It is important to take precautions to prevent short and long term vision damage by not looking directly at the sun during this event. Experts at Oakland Intermediate School District have been working with local districts like ours to determine safe ways for students to view this event.
Some districts and schools in the path of totality are choosing to close school for the day. You may have heard of schools in Monroe county or in the Ohio region who have chosen to close. In some of these cases, that decision was impacted by advice given to districts by local governing agencies or law enforcement. Those regions are expecting a huge influx of visitors which will impact the ability of the schools and families to safely get students to and from school that day.
Superintendent Archibald surveyed other districts within our county and none indicated plans to cancel the school day. All who responded indicated that they were planning to purchase or considering purchasing solar eclipse glasses for their students. Our district has purchased solar eclipse glasses for JK-12 students and our post-secondary students in order to keep them safe during the solar event.
Solar eclipse glasses provide eye protection through a special film. The lenses are very dark and these glasses do not function like standard sunglasses. Staff and students will not be able to put on the eclipse glasses while exiting the buildings, driving home, or participating in a sporting event or practice. The glasses are intended to be put on while a person is stationary, prior to looking up at the sun. Sunglasses and camera/phone lenses do not provide the proper eye protection.
At the secondary level, while sixth hour teachers may take students out to view the beginning of the eclipse, it is most likely students will view the eclipse on their own after school or during a sports practice or event. Therefore, the glasses will be distributed the day of the eclipse during sixth hour classes, unless a student’s regular schedule has them leaving the building earlier in the day, such as our afternoon Oakland Schools Tech Center (OSTC) students, who will receive the glasses prior to their departure from school.
At the elementary level, staff may take students outside for science instruction during a portion of the event. Our early start schools will be dismissing just after peak coverage but can take students outside earlier in the event to view the partial eclipse. Our late start schools would be able to take students outside during the peak of the event due to their later dismissal time. If students at the elementary level are outside while in our care during any portion of the eclipse, it will be for instructional purposes or dismissal purposes, not recess. It’s unlikely an elementary class or grade could have regular recess without students inadvertently looking up at the eclipse.
We recognize that some elementary families know their child might struggle to follow the safety guidelines given by the teacher and may have reservations about their child’s ability to participate safely. We are asking each elementary school to determine a method for parents/guardians opting their child out of eclipse viewing. After spring break, look for communication from your child’s school regarding opt out information.
For elementary families, take time to determine as a family what your plans will be that afternoon. If you pick your child up from school, especially if you have younger children with you, talk to your children about not looking up at the sun. If your child normally walks home from school or from the bus stop independently, you may wish to accompany them to ensure they are staying safe. During the peak coverage of the event, the sky will be dark.
For secondary families, know that your child’s school will provide them with glasses and teachers will share basic safety information when the glasses are distributed. We ask that you reinforce this information at home. Students should not look directly at the eclipse without the eclipse glasses. Students should not wear the glasses as they walk from the school to their bus, car, or home. The glasses cannot be worn while operating a car.
Bifano Eyecare and Vision Plus have sponsored a portion of the purchase of solar eclipse glasses. We appreciate their commitment to the healthy vision of our students. If you are a patron of those local businesses, please be sure to thank them for this contribution! If you know of a local business that would like to join Bifano Eyecare and Vision Plus in supporting the purchase of eclipse glasses for students for this event, please have them reach out to the main district office for further information. They can email requestinfo@slcs.us or call us at 248-573-8111.
University of Michigan Aerospace Day
Here's an opportunity for our aspiring Engineers.
2025 Washington DC Informational Meeting
We are so excited to begin planning our 2025 Washington DC trip for our current 7th grade students! Information for the trip will be given to each 7th grade student in their Social Studies classes on Thursday, May 2nd to bring home to review. There will be an informational meeting to discuss the trip on Tuesday, May 7th, in the large cafeteria at 5:30 pm. Please reach out with any questions to Amy Krupkin at krupkina@slcs.us
REPEATS AND REMINDERS
Upcoming Solar Eclipse on April 8th
On Monday, April 8th, our region will experience a near total solar eclipse. The path of totality passes near us with portions of Ohio being within the path of totality. Here are the approximate timelines for the event in our area-
1:58 PM Start of eclipse event
3:14 PM Peak of solar eclipse coverage
4:27 PM Conclusion of eclipse event
A solar eclipse is an exciting event and this level of coverage is not expected to occur again in our state until September 14, 2099. It is important to take precautions to prevent short and long term vision damage by not looking directly at the sun during this event. Experts at Oakland Intermediate School District have been working with local districts like ours to determine safe ways for students to view this event.
Some districts and schools in the path of totality are choosing to close school for the day. You may have heard of schools in Monroe county or in the Ohio region who have chosen to close. In some of these cases, that decision was impacted by advice given to districts by local governing agencies or law enforcement. Those regions are expecting a huge influx of visitors which will impact the ability of the schools and families to safely get students to and from school that day.
Superintendent Archibald surveyed other districts within our county and none indicated plans to cancel the school day. All who responded indicated that they were planning to purchase or considering purchasing solar eclipse glasses for their students. Our district has purchased solar eclipse glasses for JK-12 students and our post-secondary students in order to keep them safe during the solar event.
Solar eclipse glasses provide eye protection through a special film. The lenses are very dark and these glasses do not function like standard sunglasses. Staff and students will not be able to put on the eclipse glasses while exiting the buildings, driving home, or participating in a sporting event or practice. The glasses are intended to be put on while a person is stationary, prior to looking up at the sun. Sunglasses and camera/phone lenses do not provide the proper eye protection.
At the secondary level, while sixth hour teachers may take students out to view the beginning of the eclipse, it is most likely students will view the eclipse on their own after school or during a sports practice or event. Therefore, the glasses will be distributed the day of the eclipse during sixth hour classes, unless a student’s regular schedule has them leaving the building earlier in the day, such as our afternoon Oakland Schools Tech Center (OSTC) students, who will receive the glasses prior to their departure from school.
At the elementary level, staff may take students outside for science instruction during a portion of the event. Our early start schools will be dismissing just after peak coverage but can take students outside earlier in the event to view the partial eclipse. Our late start schools would be able to take students outside during the peak of the event due to their later dismissal time. If students at the elementary level are outside while in our care during any portion of the eclipse, it will be for instructional purposes or dismissal purposes, not recess. It’s unlikely an elementary class or grade could have regular recess without students inadvertently looking up at the eclipse.
We recognize that some elementary families know their child might struggle to follow the safety guidelines given by the teacher and may have reservations about their child’s ability to participate safely. We are asking each elementary school to determine a method for parents/guardians opting their child out of eclipse viewing. After spring break, look for communication from your child’s school regarding opt out information.
For elementary families, take time to determine as a family what your plans will be that afternoon. If you pick your child up from school, especially if you have younger children with you, talk to your children about not looking up at the sun. If your child normally walks home from school or from the bus stop independently, you may wish to accompany them to ensure they are staying safe. During the peak coverage of the event, the sky will be dark.
For secondary families, know that your child’s school will provide them with glasses and teachers will share basic safety information when the glasses are distributed. We ask that you reinforce this information at home. Students should not look directly at the eclipse without the eclipse glasses. Students should not wear the glasses as they walk from the school to their bus, car, or home. The glasses cannot be worn while operating a car.
Bifano Eyecare, Oakland Vision, and Vision Plus have sponsored a portion of the purchase of solar eclipse glasses. We appreciate their commitment to the healthy vision of our students. If you are a patron of those local businesses, please be sure to thank them for this contribution! If you know of a local business that would like to join Bifano Eyecare, Oakland Vision, and Vision Plus in supporting the purchase of eclipse glasses for students for this event, please have them reach out to the main district office for further information. They can email requestinfo@slcs.us or call us at 248-573-8111.
Upcoming Dates
April 10: Standardized Testing
April 24: Standardized Testing
June 7: 8th Grade Picnic and Dance
Millennium Middle School
Ross Baker, Assistant Principal
Christina Cibrario, Assistant Principal
Email: gallagherk@slcs.us
Website: https://www.slcs.us/millennium_middle_school/index.php
Location: 61526 9 Mile Road, South Lyon, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 573-8200
Twitter: @MillenniumMS