Archived MHS November 2023
Small School...Big Family
November 22, 2023
The Thanksgiving Edition
Upcoming Events
11/22 - Early Release 10:55am
11/23 & 11/24 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
11/29 - Picture Retakes
12/1-3 - The Nutcracker Production 7pm, 2pm, 1pm
12/6 - Early Release 10:55am
12/8 - Midpoint Term 2
12/21 - MHS Band/Chorus Winter Concert 7pm
12/22 - Early Release 10:55am
12/25 - 1/1 - No School Winter Break
Happy Thanksgiving!
On behalf of the faculty and staff of Millis High School, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful to have such a supportive school community, and we hope this short break gives everyone a chance to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. We will see our students back at school on Monday, November 27.
Farewell and Thank You Mrs. Mannion!
When the final bell went off at 10:55am today, Mrs. Danielle Mannion stepped out of Millis High School and into permanent Thanksgiving break! After nearly 30 years teaching TV and Digital Media Production in the Millis Public Schools, Mrs. Mannion has impacted so many students and families, and inspired many to careers in film, television and beyond! Her reach in the industry has given our students numerous real world opportunities in the TV and film industries over the years. Mrs. Mannion’s students have been entering film festivals since 2016, and impressively, have been selected into 90 of them along the way. The former President of the Boston/New England Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), Mrs. Mannion continues to serve as the National Education Chair for NATAS. We wish her the best of everything in her retirement and thank her for all she has given to our students and schools. Though she’s retired from teaching, we’re sure you are going to see her continue to impact education in the TV and film industry, and you will see her name in the credits of many projects in the field down the road!
Taking over for Mrs. Mannion is Mr. Jesse Corwin. For the past 13 years, Mr. Corwin has been a news/sports anchor and reporter for IHeartRadio/NBC News Radio, on air in 100+ markets and 1000+ radio stations, heard during morning drive and mid-day. Prior to that, he worked at WNYT-TV Channel 13 (NBC) in Albany, New York. Mr. Corwin spends his summers as an Advanced Media Analytics Consultant and Compliance Officer for Major League Baseball, ensuring proper statistical, analytical, and audio/video information is being created and fed to proper outlets during Red Sox home games. The FCC Compliance Director for the Framingham State University student radio station, Mr. Corwin has also been the varsity basketball coach at the International School of Boston for the past 11 years. Welcome to our “Small School, Big Family”, Mr. Corwin!
If you want to take a trip down memory lane, Mrs. Mannion has uploaded loads of videos from years past to the Millis Memories YouTube Channel. It's pretty amazing to see how many students have benefitted from her talents over the years when you peruse the vast collection of videos she's put up, which are truly only the tip of the iceberg. Happy viewing, and we hope you find yourself, a sibling, or maybe even one of your parents in this video collection!
2026 April Vacation Trip to Spain, France & Italy
Ms. Paladino is excited to announce that she will lead a group of Millis High School students on a once in a lifetime educational adventure starting in Barcelona, Spain. This trip includes stops in majestic southern France and northern Italy, ending in the former capital of the Roman empire, Rome. Students will explore important historic sites, discover the diversity and heritage of different cultures, and return home with a new-found global perspective. This “Roman Conquest” tour is set for April vacation of 2026.
While she typically present tours one year in advance, she is presenting this tour early as we have the opportunity to take advantage of the lowest cost of $4421.00 for a 10-day European trip. Additional costs are lunches, travel to the airport and souvenirs. After December 14th, the cost of this trip will increase by $300.00, and by the time Ms. Paladino formally presents the trip in October of next year, she imagines it will have risen a few more hundred dollars. We encourage any parent with questions to attend a short informational meeting on Thursday, November 30th, at 6:00 PM in room 219. You can preview the itinerary by clicking here, and scrolling to the bottom of the letter. Student applications for this trip will be due Monday, December 4th. Please email Ms. Paladino further questions.
Thanksgiving Penpals
Becket Giardi’s senior project is creating pen pal relationships between Mr. Bigelow’s 12th grade English class and Ms. Carlson’s 3rd grade class. The two classes have been writing letters back and forth this year, and on Tuesday, the 12th graders visited CFB and made Thanksgiving turkeys with their pen pals.
MHS Peer Leaders Attend Rival Peer Leadership Conference
Nutcracker Preview for CFB
Terpsichore hosted CFB students on Wednesday, November 22nd and performed an abbreviated performance of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker has three shows coming soon. Friday, December 1st at 7pm, Saturday, December 2nd at 2pm and the final performance is Sunday, December 3rd at 1pm.
Final Bows for Twelve Angry Jurors!!
Thanks to all who came to support the Millis Drama Club show Twelve Angry Jurors. The cast and crew performed two great shows last weekend! Thanks to our seniors for their last performance with Millis Drama Club.
Environmental Action Club Giving
The Environmental Action Club at Millis High School recently made a donation of $230 to the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) to help in the fight against climate change. The ELM is actively engaged in initiatives that are aimed at reducing carbon emissions and building a clean energy future for the people of Massachusetts. The money was raised through a series of fundraising activities by the Environmental Action Club including a bottle and can recycling day and the sale of reusable shopping bags. The club is dedicated to the fight against climate change and other environmental issues in Millis and beyond.
Stay tuned for an upcoming bottle and can drive after the holidays. Start collecting your empty redeemable bottles and cans for curbside pickup in early to mid-January. The funds raised will be used towards future donations by the club.
Continue Scrolling to see Previous Newsletters from this Month
Archived Newsletters from previous months and years can be found on the
MHS Website under the Community Tab
November 17, 2023
Twelve Angry Jurors Tonight!
You won't want to miss this!
Friday 11/17 and Saturday 11/18
The MHS Drama Club presents
Twelve Angry Jurors
Come support this amazing cast: Anna Keomorokot, Taney Martin, Kevin Brynczka, Klara Sieczkiewicz, Rio Spies, Raven Greeno, Matt Clarke, Troy Blanchette, Eliza Gerrish, Annie Rollag, Chace O’Connell, Sarah Martin, Madilyn Martone, Kristina Tavares, and Donna Mtwale
Curtain goes up at the high school Auditorium at 7pm. Tickets are available at the door.
10 and under Free
Students and Senior Citizens $5
Adults $12
Report Cards are Live in PowerSchool
On Monday, November 13, first quarter report cards were issued through PowerSchool. Students will not be receiving paper copies of report cards in school, as they did in the past. 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 on Monday. There are two different ways for you to access:
(1) You should have received an email on November 13, that contained 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 students Report Card using these steps, please reach out to Chad Liberty cliberty@millisschools.org.
MHS 2023-24 School Improvement Plan
On Tuesday, November 14, the School Committee approved the 2023-24 MHS School Improvement Plan. Click the picture to see the plan or click below to see the plan and/or the slideshow presentation.
Reminder of Early Release for Thanksgiving Break
Students will be dismissed at 10:55 on Wednesday, November 22rd leading us into the Thanksgiving break. Next Wednesday, we will also have a Thanksgiving edition of the newsletter, so keep your eyes out for it.
Click the JED logo to read this months newsletter
The Materials Science class gets a visit from the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
Dr. Yoojeong Kim, the innovation and outreach team lead for the US Army Combat and Capabilities Development Center, along with partner Bradley Loomer, came to Materials Science on Tuesday. This division of the Natick Labs works to help build better products for the US Army. The class received some instruction on the concept of thermal resistance and how well different materials insulate against cold intrusion. Following the instruction, students investigated the thermal resistance of several different materials. Finally, they used their newfound knowledge to build “gloves” that would allow them to withstand plunging their hands into icy waters. It was a great experience in the marriage between science and engineering. A big thanks to Ms. Young for organizing the visit.
Class Dues!!!
Juniors! Just a reminder that you must pay your class dues in order to buy a prom ticket in the spring! Please see Mrs. Hayden with any questions.
LEO's Fundraiser
November 10, 2023
U.S. Veterans Visit MHS
On Wednesday, November 8th, the sophomore class participated in the annual Veteran's Day Interview Project. This project serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans, offering students a unique opportunity to connect with living history. As these 10th graders sit down with veterans, they listen intently to their stories, gaining insight into the experiences and challenges these heroes faced during their service. 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 the 14 veterans that participated this year!
As we officially celebrate Veteran's Day this Saturday, and do so by observing the holiday with no school in our district today, we salute those who have served and continue to serve our country.
Report Cards Issued Through PowerSchool on 11/13
(1) You will receive an email on Monday afternoon 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.
- 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 students Report Card using these steps, please reach out to Chad Liberty cliberty@millisschools.org.
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Winners Announced
Today, we are proud to announce the winners of the 2023 John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. In order to receive this scholarship, students needed to score in the Advanced category on one of the three MCAS tests, score in the Proficient or Advanced category on the remaining two MCAS tests, and have a combined MCAS score on these assessments that ranked in the top 25% of our school. Recipients are eligible for an award of a merit-based credit toward tuition at Massachusetts State Universities and Community Colleges.
HAILEY BASSETT, RYAN BERUBE, TROY BLANCHETTE, AMELIA CARR,
WILSON COPICE, GENESIS FIGUEROA, MANUEL GOES, LUCIAN HASTINGS,
ARIJUS JOHNSON, MANASI KALE, THIDAVANH KEOMOROKOT,
EMELIA LEUSSIS, AIDAN LUDWIG, ANTHONY MAESTREY, BENJAMIN MCCARTHY,
LINDZEY MURILLO, ADITYA PILLAI, JULIANNE ROY, SOPHIA RUBALCABA,
MASON SAEGH, JENNIFER SCOLPONETI, LUCY SISTO, EMILY STEINER
October Students of the Month
Congratulations to all of our nominees and winners for October Student of the Month!
Grade 9 Nominees: Olivia Hohman, Alyssa Matti, Alicia Ellis
Winner: Alyssa Matti: "Alyssa always has a smile on her face and has a great positive attitude. She works well in class with anyone and just has great energy. I truly enjoy having her in class as she not only is a nice and kind classmate, but she is a hard worker."
Grade 10 Nominees: David Lebak
Winner: David Lebak: "David quickly self-corrected and bounced back after missing a couple of assignments. He loves to be an active member of class and he provides great perspective for the class."
Grade 11 Nominees: Luke Fabian, Macy Cyr, Olivia Fong
Winner: Macy Cyr: "Macy has been the driving force behind organizing a Mock Trial Program here at Millis High School. She has done a ton of research, spoke to contacts, mobilized participants, and runs our lunch meetings with great energy and insight. I'm proud of her commitment to see this through while managing a number of AP and honors courses, other clubs, and volleyball."
Grade 12 Nominees: Chris Collari and Rayssa Oliviera
Winner: Rayssa Oliviera: "In addition to just being an awesome student, Rayssa voluntarily said she wanted to tutor in the 6th grade. I notified the 6th grade teachers who then reached out to Rayssa. She responded immediately to start tutoring and this just shows her excellent commitment."
STUCO Hosts All School Assembly
On Wednesday November 8th, the Student Council hosted a half-day assembly. Adams Scholars and Students of the Month were announced and class officers gave updates to everything going on at MHS.
MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (Grades 9-12): November 13th
To make sure we give the best possible education and services to children in Millis, we want to learn about their attitudes and behaviors with regard to a variety of health issues. In order to accomplish this, students attending Millis High School are being asked to participate in a survey called the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. Millis High School has been participating in this survey since 2006. The questions on the survey cover many topics including alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; violence and safety; nutrition and physical activity; sexual behaviors; online behaviors; and mental health. This project will help our district develop and enhance its health education and prevention programs. We will be giving this online survey to students in grades 9-12 on November 13, 2023.
The survey is anonymous, meaning your child will not be asked to provide their name, and no one will know how they respond. There will be no identifying information collected on the survey, and there will be no way to link your child’s responses to their identity.
Completing this survey is voluntary. Your child’s grades in school will not be affected by whether or not they participate. Your child can also decide not to take the survey or skip any question they don’t wish to answer.
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment is a Federal Law that requires us to notify you ahead of time about the survey, and give you the chance to look at it, so you can let us know if you don’t want your child to take part. If you want to see the survey before deciding, a copy will be available at the high school main office from November 6-10, 2023.
If you DO NOT want your child to take part in the survey, please email Derek Phinney at
dphinney@millisschools.org by November 10, 2023.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Derek Phinney, Director of Athletics, at
Fall Thank You from the Middle-High School HSA
Our brand new Middle-High School Home-School Association (HSA) set up a Fall Fixin' spread in the faculty room during parent/guardian-teacher conferences this past Wednesday, as a thank you to staff. We are so appreciative of the support of our parent community, and these treats really hit the spot for the staff of both buildings! Thank you to our HSA for making our day on Wednesday. If you want to learn more about how to get involved with this newly formed group, please reach out to our Director of Student Affairs, Kelly Rao, at krao@milliscchools.org, and she will pass along the information.
Diwali Diyas in Adobe Illustrator
Art, Design, and New Media Students honed their Adobe Illustrator skills while creating these diyas in celebration of Diwali. Diyas are oil lamps lit during Diwali to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and to symbolize prosperity in the new year. Diwali will be celebrated this year on November 12. Wishing a bright and happy Diwali to all in our community who celebrate the holiday!
Attention Seniors: Deadline November 15th
Seniors, it's time to order your diploma and cap & gown for Graduation. An email titled, "How to Order your Diploma & Cap and Gown for Graduation" was sent to your school email on Wednesday with the instructions.
Please note several emails bounced back undeliverable and upon checking over half of our seniors have not yet updated their emergency contact information. Parents please be sure to log in using the email sent from hsattendance@millisschools.org and update the contact information. This information being accurate is extremely important for post graduation contact, as your student email associated with MHS will be disconnected next summer.
Deadline is Wednesday, November 15th. See Mrs. Bedard in the office with any questions.
One Week Until the Curtain Opens...
Twelve Angry Jurors!
November 17 and 18th
MHS Auditorium at 7:00pm!
Paige Zarnofsky Launches Senior Project
Paige Zarnofsky is seeking donations for her senior project. She is fundraising for a service dog for the middle school. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a rise in students’ mental health issues at the middle school level. We’ve seen the benefits of having our beloved Harry, the service dog, at the high school level. We would love for our middle school students to be able to have the same opportunity. Paige is hoping our community can come together and make this happen for our middle school students. Any donations or sharing of this senior project is greatly appreciated. If you are interested in donating or have any questions you can reach Paige through email at paizar24@millisschools.org. Thank you!
Constitutional Jeopardy
Starting on November 1st, students engaged in two rounds of Constitutional Jeopardy. Both rounds of featured questions found on the United States Citizenship test. The students with the highest point total after the Double Jeopardy round went head to head in a Final Jeopardy round during both lunches on Thursday. The first lunch Jeopardy Champion was Kaitlyn Richards and the second lunch Jeopardy Champion was Wilson Copice. Thanks to our History teachers Mr. Fallon, Mr. Kraby, Ms. Ziemba, and Mr. Ingraham for helping put on our 1st Constitutional Jeopardy!!
November 3, 2023
11/8 Afternoon Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences
Millis High School will be hosting parent/guardian conferences one more time this year, on Wednesday, November 8, from 12pm-2:30pm. This is a 1/2 day for students, with classes ending at 10:55am. Conferences can be done virtually through Google Meet, or in person, depending on parent/guardian preference.
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 virtual or in-person 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).
Reminder this week we have the SBIRT Screening
This is a reminder that we will be having a substance abuse screening, using Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocols, will be given to all 10th graders on November 6, 2023. This is screening is required of all school districts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We will be using the CRAFFT+N screening interview, which is the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts. All screenings will be private conversations conducted in a confidential setting with one of the nurses or counselors trained in SBIRT screening. Students who are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced. The screener will provide feedback to any student who reports using substances or is determined to be at risk for future substance use. What your child tells the screener is confidential and will not be shared with any other person without the student’s prior written consent.
Health Screenings for 10th Graders Set to Begin
The nurse will begin mandated screening in the health office for all grade 10 students on November 6th. This screening includes height, weight, vision and hearing. Please email lmolinari@millisschools.org if you wish to opt out.
Urgent Update Needed!!
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
Enhanced 9-1-1
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has updated information on enhanced 9-1-1 services available to citizens.
"Text to 911"
This allows a person who is unable to speak or hear to communicate via text with a 9-1-1 dispatcher.
"Silent Call Procedure"
This allows a person who is unable to speak to call 9-1-1 and when the call is answered by the dispatcher to press the following digits on their phone: 1 for police; 2 for fire; and 3 for ambulance, so the dispatcher can immediately send help.
The attached documents provide more information on these 9-1-1 features.
February 2025 trip to the Dominican Republic
For those interested in the February 2025 trip to the DR here is all the information and the application. Please reach out to Ms. Paladino. Applications are due by Monday, November 6.
In the Classroom
Check out what has been happening this week in the classrooms around MHS
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Materials Science students are exploring the world of crystal growth and the field of crystal engineering. They started with supersaturated solutions of copper II sulfate to grow seed crystals, and then they have been tuning their seed crystals into large single crystals through careful tending. Additionally, they have grown pure copper crystals from copper II sulfate to illustrate how pure metals can be obtained from ore, but also how pure metal can “grow” in nature.
On October 30th and 31st, middle school students were treated to scary stories written by Ms. Fillebrown's high school creative writing class and performed by Mr. Caulfield's high school speech class. Many stories featured some extra-twisted endings that the students loved!
First Print Issue of the Crimson Post is Out
Check out our website for more up-to-date stories and coverage. https://sites.google.com/millisschools.org/thecrimsonpost/home
Subscribe to the newspaper and get our print issues delivered to your door!
Nutcracker in Progress
Terpsichore is in the throes of rehearsing for the December 1, 2 and 3 performances of the Nutcracker. There are 160 registered performers over the three shows, and each performance has a different cast for each role. The high school students have been mentoring the grade 7 & 8 students in the art of working with the grade prek-6 students to keep all rehearsals running smoothly.
In case you missed it...Navigating the Digital Jungle Presentation Recording is Here
Thank you Millis families for making it out to the Middle/High School auditorium for the "Navigating the Digital Jungle: Things you should know because your child already does…" presentation. If you were unable to attend, the slides are linked above, and a video recording of the event can be found here. Please take some time to review the slides or watch the video to hear a little more about how you can work with your children/our students to create a safe online space for learning and living in this digital age.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Picture Retakes November 29th
Students that wish to have there school pictures retaken should plan to sit for the photographer on November 29th.
Substitute Teachers Needed!!
We are in need of daily substitute teachers. Please email Mark Awdycki if you are interested in joining our team!
Support the Class of 2024
Parent's NIght Out Fundraiser
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
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Tardies
If your student is going to be late to school, a parent/guardian must contact the office, by or before 8AM. The office can be reached one of the following ways:
Attendance line:
508-906-3713
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.
Dismissals
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.
Absence
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.
SCHOOL COUNSELING
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School Counselor Assignments
Mrs. Riley Dunn (rdunn@millisschools.org)
Grade 9 (2027): Abreu - Kitchens
Grade 10 (2026): Arian - Lauria
Grade 11 (2025): Adams - Joseph
Grade 12 (2024): Athanasi - Keomorokot
Ms. Nicole Moore (nmoore@millisschools.org)
Grade 9 (2027): Kraby - Zammarchi
Grade 10 (2026): Lebak - Young
Grade 11 (2025): Kaslosky - Zangari
Grade 12 (2024): Legere - Zarnofsky
Millis High School
Small School.. Big Family
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, Plain Street, Millis, MA, USA
Phone: 508-376-7010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Millis-High-School-1743691028988870/
Twitter: @millishigh