Superintendent McKinney releases updates for week of May 18, 2023

This week’s highlights include MHS Theatre Presents Mamma Mia, Pierce Players Presents Newsies, Jr., MHS Scholastic Honors Night, Residency Re-establishment, Beyond the Bell No Cost Summer Programming, Milton Summer Enrichment, and more.

From The Desk Of The Superintendent

There are two opportunities to see some terrific MPS theater in the next two weeks. Get your tickets now!

MHS Theatre presents Mamma Mia!

• Runs May 25-27
• Shows at 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Tickets on sale now at this link.

Come see our talented MHS students in our spring production of Mamma Mia, the story of Sophie, a bride-to-be trying to find her real father, is told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA. Set on a colorful Greek Island, the plot serves as a background for a wealth of ABBA songs and a ton of fun!

Pierce Players presents Newsies, Jr.!

• Runs June 1-3
• Shows at 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Tickets are on sale now at this link.

Newsies, Jr. is inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City. When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys’ expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what’s right. The students in the cast and crew are doing a marvelous job with this show, and they are looking forward to a packed house!

And if you’re looking for some wonderful music, check out the MHS Spring Concert TONIGHT, Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the MHS Auditorium. Please come and support our fabulous hard working musicians in their final performance of the year. This is also our final performance for our graduating seniors, many of whom are featured in our Music department Senior Spotlight found here.

MPS Need To Know

Important Dates

• May 18 MHS Spring Concert
• May 22 MHS Music Awards Dinner
• May 23 MHS Arts Show
• May 24 School Committee Meeting/School Choice
• May 25-27 Mamma Mia at MHS
• May 30 MHS Awards/Scholarship Night
• May 31 Boosters Varsity Celebration
• June 1-3 Newsies, Jr. at Pierce
• June 4 MHS Graduation
• June 6 Pierce Concert
• June 7 Instrumental Music Lesson Night
• June 7 School Committee Meeting

The MPS Events Calendar can be found here, and the one-page 22-23 SY calendar can be found here.  The 23-24 SY calendar can be found here.

Residency Reestablishment

The Milton Public Schools Residency Policy linked here states that students who attend the Milton Public Schools and Out of District placements shall be required to re-establish residency prior to entering Grade six (6) and or Grade nine (9). Re-establishment of residency will take place from May 15- 31, 2023

On May 15, 2023, an email with “re-establishment” in the subject will be sent to all families who must re-establish residency. That Re-establishment of Residency letter is linked here. In addition, the MPS required residency documents can be found here.

School Committee

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on May 24, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. in the Milton Access Studio, Rm 245 Milton High School. This meeting is also the Open Public Hearing for School Choice. All information about upcoming School Committee meetings can be found on the Town of Milton webpage. You can watch School Committee meetings live or on-demand on Milton Access Youtube online.

Beyond the Bell – Milton Summer Enrichment

This summer, there is a terrific opportunity for students, combining Beyond the Bell and Milton Summer Enrichment.

Beyond the Bell (BTB) is an academic opportunity offered throughout the district during the school year to provide targeted instruction to learners. Sign up for BTB and use this July to fine-tune skills learned this year.

• BTB is held at Milton High School
• BTB is for rising grades 1-6
• BTB runs Wednesday, July 5 – Friday, July 28, Monday through Friday.
• BTB is at no cost to families.
• BTB is two hours of academic instruction with a focus on Language Arts and Math skills.
• For students in rising Grades 2 or 3 of French Immersion, their Language Arts and Math instruction at BTB will be in French.
• Choose 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. OR 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Even better – pair two hours of BTB (no fee) with two hours of MSE (fee associated with MSE) for a fantastic July of learning and fun!
• Spots in BTB are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up at this link now!

Is 4 hours of Milton Summer Enrichment (MSE) a better fit for your child? Great! MSE registration is OPEN at this link!

• MSE is for students in rising grades K-8
• MSE takes place at Milton High School
• MSE runs from July 5-28, five days a week, 8:00 p.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Classes include academic enrichment, arts and crafts, sports and outdoor fun, technology, and much more!

Please visit this link for the MSE 2023 Brochure to review course information, program details, and registration information. We are excited to offer some great new classes as well as popular MSE favorites. Please email [email protected] with any questions. We are looking forward to a fun and enriching summer!

Bus Registration 23-24 School Year

Registration for the Bus for the 23-34 school year is now open. All details can be found on the Transportation page of the website linked here.

Health and Wellness

MPS Director of Nursing Kim Coughlin shares the following.

The flowers and trees are blooming and seasonal allergies are back in full swing once again. Please reach out to your student’s pediatrician for suggestions on preventative allergy measures that they recommended to help ease seasonal allergy symptoms.

May is Mental Health Month: Mental health is important for the overall health and well-being of children and adults. It is okay to ask for help. Help us end the stigma surrounding mental health.  If you or someone you care about is struggling with mental health or substance use there is help and resources in the community many of which can be found on the Milton Coalition website. Additional support can be found at the MMS website and Mass THRIVE website.

Community Schools 23-34 School Year

All information about Community Schools Enrollment for the 23-24 school year can be found at this link. Rates, registration dates and program information for After School Enrichment (ASE) and Early School Arrival (ESAP) can be found here.

MPS Intrumental Music Lessons

Save the date! The Instrumental Lesson Program Information Night will be held on Wednesday, June 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the MHS Auditorium. Those interested in beginning instrumental lessons will receive information on the program and students will have an opportunity to try various instruments and speak with high school students about their experience playing instruments. All details are here.

MPS Good To Know

MHS Scholastic Honors Night

Congratulations to our outstanding MHS students who were honored at last week’s Scholastic Honors Night at MHS! The full program with award descriptions can be found here. 2023 inductees to the National Honor Society can be found here, Boys and Girls State, Century Club Honorees and Book Award winners are below and listed in the program. A special shout out to our Four-Year Century Club members Sophie D’Alessandro, Olivia DiSandro, Sophie Kosiba, Claudia O’Neill, and Hōkūlani Panerio-Langer.

As Principal Cahill wrote to honorees, Scholastic Honors Night is an evening to recognize and honor students for their high academic achievement, excellent leadership skills, and civic responsibilities. The students who are honored exemplify and embody all that we hope for in every Milton High School student. They are intelligent, hard-working, goal-oriented, and self-motivated; they exude a commitment to academic excellence that should serve as a blueprint for others to follow. Moreover, these individuals make the school and community a better place. These prominent members of the school community will be the leaders of tomorrow, and I am certain that they will continue to succeed in life and make their families, Milton High School, and the Milton community very proud.

Superintendent Shoutout

MHS AP Exams

Director of School Counseling Barbara Meyer shares the following.

Between May 1 and 12, 2023, 399 students took 880 Advanced Placement exams at Milton High School. Exams are a required component of the 22 (next year, 24) AP courses offered at Milton High, and all students are encouraged to experience the rigor of an AP class while in high school. AP classes are taught at a collegiate level and prepare students for the rigor of higher education. In addition, many colleges award college credits to students who earn a qualifying score on an AP exam. Congratulations to Milton’s AP students on a job well done this May!

MPS Nice To Know

Mhs Journalism Award

Edited to add two senior newspaper senior staff! Congrats to Sam Lawrence and Samantha Pincus and the rest of The Elephant in the Room staff!

MHS’s school newspaper, The Elephant in the Room, recently won two awards from The New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA). The awards were announced during NESPA’s spring conference at Boston University.

• The first award, awarded to the newspaper as a whole, was for “Superior Achievement in Scholastic Editing and Publishing.” Congratulations to the entire newspaper staff of Sam Lawrence, Samantha Pincus, Lillian MacLaughlin, Joe Kreugger, Griffin Angus, Charles Baltay, Lawson Beaudoin, Skyler Dasilva, Rory Martin, Emily Tobin, Javier Vargas, Leo Waldbaum, Melina Zullas, Nicholas Pulgini, Jackie Segall, Isabella Murphy, Sienna Angus (editor), Mia Gilmore (managing editor), and Isabelle Gobbi.
• Freshman Griffin Angus also received a “Special Achievement Award” in the category of “Personality Profile” for his article on head custodian Jason Scherer: “He Rides Motorcycles on Sunday and Manages on Monday” (Found on page 3 at this link)

Congratulations to the entire newspaper staff on this recognition!

Forbes House Lincoln Contest Winners

Glover’s 5th Grade ACE class participated in the Annual Forbes House Museum Lincoln Contest and our young artists submitted great work! The museum invited the winners and their families to the museum for an awards presentation and reception last Saturday. It was the perfect sunny day to celebrate them in the South lawn at the museum and see their work displayed in the museum. Thank you to the Forbes House Museum for presenting full-year memberships for participating students. Congratulations to the winning students!

• First Place – Madeline O’Donnell
• Third Place – Eleanor O’Connor and Alex Fernandez (tie)
• Honorable Mention – Haley Stoddard

Cunningham and Collicot Art Show

Collicot and Cunningham hosted their Annual Art Showcase last week. It was a great event highlighting the creativity of our young artists and our wonderful art teachers. Mrs. Bernini and Mrs. Correia welcomed the community into the Glow Rooms – check out the video here as it’s a cool experience to walk through the blue light-lit art painted in neon. A shout-out to all the artists for adorning the hallways and glow rooms with their amazing artistic talents.

Wildcat Marching Band News

The Wildcat Marching Band and Colorguard is gearing up for their 2023-24 season! The Wildcat Marching Band is an ensemble that performs at community events such as parades, ceremonies and football games throughout the year. If your student is entering grades 9-12 and would like to participate in the Marching Band and Colorguard please fill out this form.

MHS Athletics

MHS Athletic Director Ryan Madden shares the following. Save the dates below!

We are hosting a College Athletics Recruiting Night on Monday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the Field House! Speakers include; Julie Ryan, Babson College Field Hockey Coach; Jason MacDonald, Navy Football Coach; Katie Conover, Stonehill Women’s Lacrosse Coach; Greg Sullivan, Boston College Baseball Coach; and Tara Watchorn, Stonehill College Women’s Hockey Coach. This is designed to be a panel for students to ask questions and hear from local college coaches about the recruiting process! Please pass this along to any Milton residents and students that would like to attend.

The MHS Girls Soccer team will be holding a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, May 20, 9 am-noon at Cunningham Elementary School.

Community News & Events

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities!

The 2nd Annual Grace+Grit 5K will be held on Saturday, May 20, at the Glover School. The race is held in honor of Glover’s past PTO president and an amazing member of the community. Visit GraceGrit5K.racewire.com for additional information.

The Milton Road Race is fast approaching, on Tuesday, June 13! Sign up here to help support scholarships for graduating Milton seniors and grants to local nonprofit organizations.

The Milton Early Childhood Associations Spring Newsletter filled with many free fun spring programs, parent information, and local resources can be found here!

Stories and Friends Meet Up – Signs of Spring: Join MECA for a spring adventure which will include enjoying fun spring activities, listening to stories, and making new friends!
Create a bird’s nest, measure yourself against the wingspan of various birds, make beautiful butterfly wings and more. This program will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 10:30 a.m. and is for children 2 1/2 to 6 years old with their parent/guardian. We’ll meet at Discovery Schoolhouse, 101 Blue Hills Parkway in Milton. Program will be co-facilitated by an experienced Teacher Naturalist with over 30 years of early childhood experience.

Registration is not required, however we will ask you to sign in on arrival. Many thanks to our Kindergarten T-shirt sponsors for their generous support of this program!

Children’s Concert: Join us for some crazy fun on June 7th at 6:00 p.m. at our annual Children’s Concert on Milton’s town green! If your child received their yellow shirt at kindergarten screening, have them wear it to the Concert and make new friends. Feel free to bring a blanket and snacks, relax, and enjoy the fun.  Co-sponsored with Milton Parks and Recreation Dept.

Attention Wildcat Nation! Registration for the 2023 tackle football, cheer and flag football programs is now open – register here. We have two different closing dates, one for cheer and one for tackle. Cheer closes on May 31 and Tackle closes on June 21. Flag is on a rolling registration.

Summer Art Camp at the Milton Art Center is open for registration. The camps will run for nine weeks from June 26-August 24. Each session has a different theme and children can sign up for half day or full day sessions. Visit the website to find out more and register.

Milton Field Hockey is open for registration for the Winter (K-8) and Spring (K-8) 2023 season and summer camp (up to age 18)! All details can be found here.

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of  May programs for kids can be found here.

• Attention Chalk Artists: Join Ms. Tory in the Story Hour Room Garden for a chalk party on Saturday, May 27 at 2:30 p.m.. We will provide the music and materials for you to get into the artistic zone and create the next chalk masterpiece. Sign up here; families are welcome to join!
• Peep! Peep! The Story Hour Room is now the new home to baby chicks. Come by anytime that we are open to meet our little chick friends: Beakle, Chickerella, Minerva, Buddy Jr., and Artemis Fowl!

To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

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The Milton Public School system does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, gender identity, transgender status, gender transitioning, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its programs, activities or operations. These include, but are not limited to, admissions, equal access to programs and activities, employment, provision of and access to programs and services, as well as a selection of volunteers, vendors, and employers recruiting at the Milton Public Schools.  We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, students, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.