Big Reds Family Newsletter

April is a busy month with Spring Break, State testing, and a full slate of sports- spring is definitely in the air at MHS! April always brings a fresh sense of energy to our school, and it’s one of our favorite times of the year. As we head into the final stretch, it’s a great opportunity for students to refocus, stay consistent, and finish the year feeling proud of their progress.

One of the biggest ways families can support that success right now is through regular attendance. Even a few missed days this time of year can make it harder for students to keep up with important lessons, projects, and assessments. Being here each day truly makes a difference, and we appreciate your help in making attendance a priority.

We also know spring is full of exciting opportunities—sports, performances, and other activities that make high school such a meaningful experience. We love seeing our students involved and encourage them to enjoy these moments while continuing to stay on track academically.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We’re looking forward to a strong, positive finish to the school year together!

Watch your e-mail for information regarding enrollment for next school year. We will not be doing a summer mailing this year with back-to-school and registration information, everything will be done online through email and PowerSchool. If you need to update your e-mail address, please reach out to the main office for assistance.

All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will participate in mandatory state testing on Tuesday, April 14th. 11th graders will also test on Wednesday April 15th. Please make every effort to send your child to school well rested, on time, and with their fully charged school Chromebook and charger. Also, please avoid scheduling any appointments that would take your child out of school that day. If you plan to excuse your child from afternoon classes, please use the absence reporting form (link at the bottom of newsletter), or call the main office to excuse them.

A makeup date for students who are ill will be scheduled for later in April. Thank you for your help in ensuring a smooth testing block for all of our Big Reds!

Every spring, students across the state of Michigan participate in the Michigan Merit Exam, designed to assess students' skills. At the high school level, this test is made up of 3 components: The SAT (or PSAT), The WIN Work Readiness Test, and the M-Step. All 9th grade students will take the PSAT 8/9, 10th graders will take the PSAT 10, and 11th graders will take the SAT, WIN, and M-Step assessments. These 11th grade tests are part of the requirements necessary for graduation from Milan High School. In the document below, the Michigan Department of Education explains the MME and why it's important for all students in the state.

For more information about each of the College Board tests happening on April 14th, review the appropriate document below with your child. It's got information on how to prepare, what to expect, and information you will need after the test is complete.

On April 14th and 15th, during the testing block, all seniors who are enrolled in Consortium classes should still plan on attending. The bus will be available at the regular time to transport them. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Barbara in the counseling office.

Senior Families: Graduation is quickly approaching and, as such, your student may feel nervous about what comes next. In case you would like concrete information to share with them, we've included here lists of certificate programs at Washtenaw Community College and Monroe County Community College. We encourage families to talk about these together. As a reminder, in-county community college is free for every student as long as the student applies to the college, enrolls full-time, and completes the FAFSA.

Skilled Trades Scholarship: This scholarship is for students pursuing skilled trades and hands-on career pathways that build practical skills, open doors to stable employment, and strengthen our local community. Eligible fields include, but are not limited to, plumbing, electrical, cosmetology, nursing, and other careers that keep our communities running and offer meaningful, long-term opportunities. There is no age limit on eligible applicants. Scholarship awards are typically paid directly to the accredited trade program or educational institution and are generally non-taxable. Fill out the application here: Skilled Trades Scholarship Application. Deadline = April 30!

Life Needs Support Scholarship (Due April 30, 2026) This scholarship provides need-based financial assistance to students and young adults from the Greater Milan area who face barriers that may prevent them from completing a degree or skilled trades training program. You must be already enrolled in the trade program to apply.

Students from the Greater Milan area may apply for life needs grants to help make training more accessible at accredited skilled trades and career training programs. Eligible fields include, but are not limited to, plumbing, electrical, cosmetology, nursing, and other careers that keep our communities running and offer meaningful, long-term opportunities. There is no age limit on eligible applicants. (Note: There are related Trade Scholarships also available, but you must apply for one or the other—not both.)

Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. We recognize that unexpected hardships can disrupt educational progress, including expenses related to books and supplies, medical care, transportation, childcare, trade tools. Apply here.

Championship Shoutout! First off, we want to give a huge shoutout to our Girls Varsity Bowling Team! They captured the 2026 MHSAA D3 State Championship for Milan this winter in dramatic style. It was a total team effort led by our seniors and supported by a strong youth movement of key underclassmen. Great job, girls and coaches!

Big Reds Roots Initiative I also want to update everyone on the status of the Big Reds Roots initiative we launched in Spring 2025. This program is designed to promote the growth of multi-sport athletes through two specific incentive awards:

• R31 Award: Earned by participating in a sport during all three seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring) in a single school year. Currently, we have approximately 25 high school athletes on track to earn this award! This takes incredible dedication and willpower.

• R34 Award: Our "Legacy" award, earned by athletes who achieve the R31 Award in all four years of their high school career.

Building the Multi-Sport Culture While we currently have no seniors who qualify for the R34 Award this year, we are working hard to build this culture for our younger Big Reds. Research consistently shows that students involved in athletics perform better academically and develop greater resilience. Also, emerging research shows that being a multi-sport athlete provides protection for athletes from some harmful effects related to injury and burnout.

To see the "Roots" mindset in action, please take a moment to read this featured article: Stacking Varsity Letters Article. The athlete featured, Ella Salenbien (Adrian Maple), perfectly embodies the type of versatile competitor we are striving to develop here at Milan.

A Challenge for our Athletes Please consider having a conversation with your student-athletes about making these awards a part of their "bucket list." Milan needs dedicated, well-rounded athletes, and the R31 and R34 awards are the roadmap to getting there!

Go Big Reds!

Herb Morelock Athletic Director, Milan High School

Principal: Aaron Shinn

shinna@milanareaschools.org
Assistant Principal: Kristyn Pierfelice pierfelicek@milanareaschools.org
Office phone: 734-439-5000