Dr. Richardson's Notes
9/4/26
Dear Families,
Students crossed the bridge over Old Short hills road (either figuratively or literally) and joined us to start the 2026-2027 school year.
What a wonderful first week of school! Middle school energy on Day 1 is a dynamic, exciting mix, and watching your children step through our doors this week was an absolute joy. We know that sending your kids off on the first days—especially with new lockers, new schedules, and those typical middle school jitters—takes a lot of trust. I wanted to share a quick reflection on how your students were supported and cared for throughout the week.
From the moment our doors opened, our staff was there with big smiles, warm greetings, and reassuring words to ease those morning nerves. As the first day unfolded, teachers, administrators and staff filled the hallways between every period, helping students navigate tricky locker combinations, find their classrooms, and move through the building with confidence. This continued into Day 2 and by Day 3 students are not needing our help and are navigating on their own. Beyond getting used to the new routines, our primary focus this week has been taking the time to connect with your children personally, ensuring that each student felt seen, safe, and valued.
Next week will bring a whole new set of adventures as everyone continues settling in, but after seeing the patience, humor, and heart filling our building this week, I can confidently assure you that your children are in fantastic hands.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful kids with us!
Sincerely,
Dr. Richardson
Follow along with us as we celebrate middle school as not just a bridge between elementary and high school, but as a destination to honor and cherish first. Check out our Welcome Back post!
I was so happy this summer to share our plan to help our incoming 6th graders successfully transition to MMS. I am even happier to report out after seeing it in action! Our initial lessons and activities were specifically designed to build core executive functioning skills while fostering a strong community of learners.
These organization, time-management, and planning skills are integrated into the student experience. To support you at home, we have also created a parent companion program. This resource offers a window into what your child is learning, giving you insights to spark conversations and support them as they adapt to middle school expectations. The GoogleSite is active and linked below for you to check out.
Below is a screenshot of the website. You can see along the top you will have access to topics like Locker, Schedule (we help them read it), How to Email a Teacher with a Questions, How to use GoogleClassroom, Study Tips, Study Hall Etiquette and more.
Millburn Township Public Schools would like to share an important update regarding student use of personal internet-enabled devices during the school day.
In accordance with a recently enacted law and the New Jersey Department of Education, all school districts are required to adopt policies that prohibit the use of personal internet-enabled devices, from "Bell-to-Bell”. This policy requires that all personal internet-enabled devices must be turned off and not in use for the duration of the school day; from the first bell to the last bell. Devices, including smart phones, smart watches, tablets, smart glasses and personal laptops are prohibited.
Please review our Parent Student Handbook and note that student devices at the middle school (consistent with prior years) are to be off and away before they enter the building and stay in that disposition until after they leave.
