PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Family Update

November 2, 2026
Dear Pierce Families,
This week’s newsletter includes details about upcoming events in and around the school community. If you would like to view this newsletter in another language, you'll find the translate button at the top right corner of the document.
Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions.
Sincerely,
William Fish, Ed.D.
Principal
Upcoming Dates
November 3rd - No school (Professional day)
November 6th - PTO meeting (8:00 a.m.; Pierce conference room)
November 6th – Term 1 report cards issued
November 10th – Site council meeting (7:00 a.m.; virtual)
November 11th – No school (Veterans Day)
November 12th - MHS Information Night
November 18th – Early dismissal day for conferences (11:21 a.m. dismissal)
In this Newsletter
- Staff vs. Student Volleyball Game
- MHS Information Night for 8th Grade Families
- Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences
- Washington, D.C. Trip Registration
- Health Room Updates Screenings
- Pierce Wrestling Program
- Pierce PTO Updates
- Fruit Center Shopping Week
- Private School Applications
- MHS Theatre - The Addams Family
- Superintendent Search Update
- Milton Fire Open House
- November Flu Clinic
Pierce News
Happy Halloween from Pierce!
Staff vs. Student Volleyball Game
We had a great time last week at the staff vs. student volleyball game!
Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences (November 18, 2026)
November 18th will be an early release day for students to accommodate parent/guardian-teacher conferences. Families will receive a separate email during the week of November 9th with instructions for signing up for conferences.
MHS Information Night
At MHS Information Night, Principal Karen Cahill and Vice Principals Ngoc Tran and Brian Mackinaw will share what makes MHS so special. We are proud of our many and varied extra curriculars - students are able to participate in close to sixty clubs, many concerts, plays, and musical performances, as well as over two dozen Freshman, JV, and Varsity Athletic teams. Learn more about our Clubs and Activities here.
Academic excellence is an ongoing priority at Milton High School. Our Program of Studies linked here includes classes for all learners at the College Prep, Honors, and Advanced Placement levels.
At MHS Information Night, students and families will take tours of our campus, meet student leaders and learn all about MHS!
Thursday, November 12
6-7:30PM
25 Gile Rd
8th Graders - Check out the MHS Freshman Olympics Fun!
Washington, D.C. Trip Registration
Health Room Updates & Screenings
Below please find some announcements from the health room regarding annual health screenings and immunization requirements for students.
Annual Health Screenings
Annual health screenings will begin at Pierce on November 30th. Screenings will be conducted during students' PE or health classes.
Grade 6: Postural
Grade 7: Postural, hearing, vision, and BMI (height and weight)
Grade 8: Postural and SBIRT
Postural screenings involve an assessment of the spine and back, which is best performed without a shirt. However, students may choose to wear a sports bra, bathing suit top, or other appropriate attire that allows the back to be viewed for their screening. Screenings are conducted with student privacy and comfort prioritized throughout. If you wish to opt your child out of any applicable screenings, please contact Bridget Nims, Pierce Middle School Nurse, at bnims@miltonps.org.
Grade 7 Immunization Requirements
The school nurse must have an up-to-date physical examination and documentation of the meningococcal (MenACWY) and Tdap vaccinations for all grade 7 students.
If a medical or religious exemption applies, appropriate documentation must be submitted to the Health Office annually.
Students who are not in compliance with immunization requirements may be excluded from school and will be unable to participate in sports or extracurricular activities until the requirements are met.
Please submit updated immunization records to the school nurse by Monday, November 16th, to avoid potential exclusions.
For additional information about mandated health screenings and immunization requirements, please visit the MPS Health Services website or contact Nurse Nims directly.
Pierce Wrestling Program
Registration for Pierce wrestling will begin December 7th. Students in grades 6-8 are welcome to join. All practices and scrimmages will take place at the Milton High School Copeland Field House. More details about the program can be found here.
If you have questions, please reach out to Kevin Doyle at kvn_doyle@yahoo.com.
Pierce PTO Updates
Impact Spotlight – Because of your generosity and participation in Pitch in for Pierce, the PTO is able to support bus transportation for student field trips – including the 7th grade field trip to Treetop Adventures this week!
Join our November PTO meeting this Friday (11/6/26) from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. either in person at Pierce conference room or via google meet (https://meet.google.com/meet/mcj-vyej-mei) to learn about the exciting work that we do and how you can participate!
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November Volunteers Needed – Sign up geniuses for the following opportunities will be available soon. In the meantime, please email piercemiddlepto@gmail.com to express interest in any of the below:
Wednesday, 11/18/26 – Parent/teacher conference luncheon
Volunteer your time to keep Pierce staff fueled during afternoon conferences
Wednesday, 11/18/26 – Swag Sale
Volunteer your time to sell Pierce spirit gear during afternoon conferences
Mid-December, Holiday Staff Luncheon
Volunteer as luncheon planner
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Stay Connected
- Website: piercemiddleschoolpto.org
- Facebook: Pierce Middle School PTO
- Email: piercemiddlepto@gmail.com
Fruit Center Shopping Week
Get ready for the 17th Annual Fruit Center Marketplace Fundraising Program for our schools, happening next month.
Over the past sixteen years, the Fruit Center has proudly donated, though this program, over $210,000 to schools in Milton and Hingham. The program is open to all K–12 schools in these towns, including both public and private schools.
Here’s how it works:
Dates: The program runs from Monday, November 9 through Sunday, November 15, 2026.
Vouchers: Each school has its own shopping vouchers, available here. Present the shopping voucher for your school when you shop during the fundraising week. You can use your vouchers for unlimited shopping trips during the week.
Give Back: After the week ends, we’ll calculate 20% of the total purchases made using vouchers from each school and donate that amount back to the school. Some restrictions apply — see all details are on our website.
Raffle: Parents who shop with a vouch can participate in our raffle to win a $100 Fruit Center gift card! Just fill out your name, email, and phone number on your shopping voucher to enter. One winner will be selected from each store.
Thank you to the Fruit Center for supporting our schools!
Private School Applications
District News
MHS Theatre - The Addams Family
Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with a perfectly normal boy, and for her delightfully creepy family, that's a nightmare! When the two families come together for one unforgettable dinner, secrets spill, chaos erupts, and the Addams family discovers that being normal might just be the strangest thing of all!
Catch The Addams Family at MHS on November 20, 21, 22. Tickets available now at this link.
Superintendent Search Update
At the School Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 28 (linked here, Superintendent search discussion begins at 1:55 into the meeting), HYA presented the Leadership Profile Report synthesizing the input gathered through the community engagement process that included focus groups, interviews, community forums and a survey. We thank the many members of the district and community who took time to engage in the process thus far. The School Committee approved the Superintendent Desired Characteristics based on the data and analysis presented in the Leadership Profile Report. These characteristics will support ongoing recruitment of candidates and inform HYA's screening of the applicant pool to identify the panel of semi-finalists. The following community members will participate in the Selection Committee that will interview semi-finalists in December, using the Desired Characteristics as criteria.
- Winston Daley, Select Board*
- Brendan Bonn, MEA President
- Karen Cahill, MHS Principal
- Danielle Wetmore, Director of Student Services
- Lateefah Franck, MARC/CDM*
- Kate Murphy, SEPAC*
- Marieke Goldman-Silva, Tucker PTO*
- Kelley Balestracci, Pierce PTO*
- MFE Current or Incoming President*
- Stevie Caldwell, School Committee*
- Lizzy Carroll, School Committee*
- Nathan Hutto, School Committee*
*The community members on this committee are also current and previous MPS parents at all six schools as well as out-of-district placement. Finalists will then be interviewed by the full School Committee.
All information on the Superintendent Search, including all communication from the School Committee will be posted on the Superintendent Search landing page.
Important Links
Helpful Contacts
Ms. Janice Mazzola, Assistant Principal, jmazzola@miltonps.org
Mrs. Kristin Hallisey, Assistant Principal, khallisey@miltonps.org
Mrs. Erin Jaquette, Grade 6 School Counselor, ejaquette@miltonps.org
Mrs. Lisa Veldran, Grade 7 School Counselor, lveldran@miltonps.org
Mrs. Erica Benjamin, Grade 8 School Counselor, ebenjamin@miltonps.org
Mrs. Lynne Henry, School Adjustment Counselor, lhenry@miltonps.org
Ms. Katie Hewett, School Adjustment Counselor, khewett@miltonps.org
Mrs. Kara Sheridan, School Adjustment Counselor, ksheridan@miltonps.org
Ms. Amanda Gray, Special Education Team Chair, agray@miltonps.org
Dr. Seth Harmon, Special Education Team Chair, sharmon@miltonps.org
Mrs. Bridget Nims, School Nurse, bnims@miltonps.org
Mrs. Sandra Wyse, Administrative Assistant, swyse@miltonps.org
Mrs. Kristen Lesser, Administrative Assistant, klesser@miltonps.org
Pierce Middle School
Email: wfish@miltonps.org
Website: https://www.miltonps.org/pierce/
Location: 451 Central Avenue, Milton, MA, USA
Phone: (617)696-4568