PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Family Update

October 19, 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
October 20th – Washington, DC family meeting (6:30 p.m.; Pierce auditorium)
October 27th – School picture retake day
October 30th – Term 1 ends
November 3rd – No school (Professional day)
November 6th – PTO meeting (8:00 a.m.; Pierce conference room)
In this Newsletter
- Food Service Shoutout
- PowerSchool Forms - Please Complete Now!
- Washington, D.C. Informational Meeting - October 20, 2026
- School Pictures & Retakes
- Private School Applications
- Chromebook Loaner Program
- Pierce PTO Updates
- Superintendent Job Posting
- Laboure Purchase Update
- DEIB LIT Community Connection Series
- Help Shape Milton High School’s New Computer Science Pathway
- National Honor Society Collection for Rosie's Place
- My Brother's Keeper Holiday Assistance
Monster Dash - One Week Away!
Pierce News
Food Service Shoutout - Terrific Tray Winner!
MPS Food Service was excited to be awarded the Terrific Tray award by Massachusetts Farm to School!
Students at Milton High School and Pierce Middle School recently enjoyed Turkey Gyro Bowls (recipe here) alongside a popular cucumber salad (recipe here) that went viral on TikTok, bringing a student-centered trend from social media to the cafeteria. The bowls featured homemade tzatziki (recipe here ) made from Greek yogurt from Cabot Creamery Cooperative in Cabot, VT and feta from Maplebrook Farm in North Bennington, VT, celebrating the abundance of local dairy from the region. The meal was rounded out by Empire apples from Pine Hill Orchards in Colrain MA.
For more inspiration and see more of the great food our students are enjoying , follow MPS menu offerings at @miltonfoodservice on Instagram.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is happening at Pierce the week of October 19th-October 23rd! Students will all be visiting the Book Fair with their English classes. For a preview of what's available, check out Pierce Scholastic Book Fair. All purchases at the Book Fair directly support the Pierce library!
Washington, D.C. Informational Meeting - October 20, 2026
Families of students interested in the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. in May 2027 are invited to attend an informational meeting on October 20th at 6:30 p.m. in the Pierce auditorium.
School Pictures & Retakes
Private School Applications
If your child is considering applying to a private/parochial school, please follow the guidelines listed below:
When you have made the decision that your child is going to apply to a private/parochial school, contact your child’s grade level school counselor (Mrs. Jaquette for grade 6, Mrs. Veldran for grade 7, or Mrs. Benjamin for grade 8). This must be done at least 3 weeks prior to the application deadline date, via email or phone. Please do not send a recommendation request through the private/parochial school's portal if you have not personally contacted a school counselor. Recommendations/records will not be submitted unless you have made direct contact with the school counselor.
Ask your child to complete the student information sheet. Counselors need this form to complete the recommendations. Students must make a copy of the form before completing it and submitting it electronically to their school counselor (ejaquette@miltonps.org, lveldran@miltonps.org, or ebenjamin@miltonps.org).
School counselors are responsible for completing the school report form and the principal/guidance recommendation.
If other teacher recommendation letters are required, please contact your child’s teacher(s) directly via email to make that request and follow up directly with those teachers.
PowerSchool Forms - Please Complete Now!
Please log in to PowerSchool through the website or the app to complete all forms for the 26-27 school year. If you have not established your PowerSchool credentials, you will need to do so before accessing your child's forms. Once you log in to PowerSchool, navigate to STUDENT FORMS.
Under "General", you will see the following forms linked:
- Back to School 26-27 (photo opt opt, digital use agreement, information opt out)
- Emergency Contacts / Guardian Contact Info
- Google Consent Form (only needs to be submitted once, so may have been completed last year)
- MPS Technology Equipment Use Policy (Chromebook Loan Agreement)
- Prescription Medication Authorization (if applicable)
- Health Authorizations/OTC Consent (all students)
Please complete all forms. These forms are required. It is also imperative that we have the most up-to-date contact information for your family.
Chromebook Loaner Program
Students will have access to school-issued Chromebooks throughout the school day in every classroom. Any student who would like to borrow a device can pick one up in the library during flex time this week.
Loaner Chromebooks will remain at home for the entire year and will not be brought back and forth to school. The Chromebook will be returned to Pierce at the end of the school year.
Pierce PTO Updates
Thank You for a Great Trivia Night!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Trivia Night! We loved seeing so many Pierce parents and friends come together for a fun night out. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated raffle items, and helped make the evening such a success. We truly appreciate the support of our Pierce community!
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Mini Photo Sessions
Our first weekend of Mini Photo Sessions was awesome! A big thank you to Kat Marshall for sharing her time and talent with our Pierce families.
Ellen Rogers will be photographing our next round of sessions next Saturday, October 24, and there is ONE session still available! If you've been meaning to get those holiday card photos checked off your list, this is your chance! Sign up HERE !
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Looking Ahead - Volunteers Needed!
We have several opportunities coming up and would love some extra hands! We're currently looking for volunteers to help with:
Parent/Teacher Conference Luncheon - help us organize a meal for Pierce staff during the long day of conferences.
Swag Sales at Parent/Teacher Conferences - help sell Pierce gear at our biggest swag sales event of the year!
Holiday Staff Luncheon - we're looking for volunteers to help organize one of our staff favorites! This special luncheon takes place on the last day before winter break and is always a fun way to send our amazing Pierce staff into the holidays.
Interested in helping with any of these? Reach out to the PTO! Whether you can take the lead or just lend a hand, we'd love to have you.
Thank you, as always, for supporting Pierce and helping us make these events possible!
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Stay Connected
- Website: piercemiddleschoolpto.org
- Facebook: Pierce Middle School PTO
- Email: piercemiddlepto@gmail.com
District News
Superintendent Job Posting
The MPS Superintendent job posting is now live and ready to be shared. Please share with your network and anyone you would like to encourage to apply. Applications will be received until November 24.
DEIB LIT Community Connection Series
MPS Friends & Families!
Continuing off the heels of our recent DEIB Open House, we announce The DEIB LIT Community Connection (LITCC) Series. LIT is an acronym standing for love, inclusion & trust and LITCC meetings will take place on the last Monday of the month through May, with exception for the month of December.
Meetings will be from 6-7:15 PM on the following dates: 10/26, 11/30, 01/25, 02/22, 03/29, 04/26 & 05/24. We will connect in the Key Room of our Milton Public Library. Each meeting will have a topic(s) for discussion. For October 26, we will establish our Community Agreements and share updates regarding equity at MPS. Our LITCC meetings are continuous opportunities for us to have sustained, informed and open communication regarding DEIB at MPS and within our community.
If you have suggestions or thoughts to share in this regard, please email me at jadams@miltonps.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
"Always WE. Always LOVE." -jma
jamele adams
Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)
Laboure College Update
There are two articles on the upcoming Town Meeting docket that we want to bring to your attention. Article 6 pertains to the proposed purchase of Laboure College by the Town of Milton, while Article 7 pertains to using funds to explore a potential school building project at the Laboure property.
At last week’s School Committee meeting (linked here), the School Committee discussed the upcoming Town Meeting (which begins on October 19, 2026) and Article 7, which is related to the schools.
Article 7 reads: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds an amount of money to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee for the purposes of architectural, engineering, and project management services for the design of an addition to and renovation of the facility located at 303 Adams Street (Laboure College) for a new school, and to act on anything relating thereto. The full Article can be read here.
The School Committee voted 3-2 to support Article 7. This support is contingent upon a favorable vote by Town Meeting on Article 6, which concerns the proposed purchase of Laboure College by the Town of Milton. If Article 6 passes at Town Meeting, a town-wide special election would be held in December to determine whether to approve funding for the purchase.
During Town Meeting, Article 6 will be considered before Article 7. Article 6, as it appears on the Warrant, concerns the proposed acquisition of Laboure College. In September, the Select Board voted to approve a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the property for $11,750,000. Additional information related to this proposed acquisition is available on the Town of Milton website and the Laboure Milton Purchase and Sale Fully Executed 9-22-2026 is posted here.
The Laboure presentation and discussion at last night's meeting begins at one hour into the meeting. If Laboure is purchased it would become a Town of Milton property and school use would be explored in the coming months. The School Committee and the School Building Committee would continue the trajectory of the potential MSBA school project at Gile Road while the Laboure property is considered as a possible option for future school use.
My Brother's Keeper Holiday Assistance
The Milton Community Food Pantry will be available for families to complete the applications for My Brothers Keeper holiday program. If your family could benefit from this holiday program, please go to the Food Pantry on October 24th between 9am-11am. The pantry is located around the back, to the left, at Parkway Methodist Church, 158 Blue Hills Parkway, Milton, between West St and Brook Rd. Please reach out to Jennie Beliveau, Director of Counseling, jbeliveau@miltonps.org with any questions.
Help Shape Milton High School’s New Computer Science Pathway
Milton High School is excited to launch a state-designated Information Innovation Career Pathway next school year, offering students hands-on technical training, college-level coursework, and career experience in the high-demand field of Computer Science. To ensure our curriculum and work-based learning experiences align with real-world industry needs, we are seeking input, feedback, and partnership interest from local business owners, industry professionals, and families. Whether you can offer 3 minutes of feedback, guest speak to a class, or consider hosting a student intern or a capstone project down the road, your voice is essential. Please take a moment to complete our brief MHS Information Pathway Interest & Feedback Form by Friday, October 23rd. Thank you for supporting MHS students!
National Honor Society Collection for Rosie's Place
The MHS National Honor Society invites you to join us in supporting Rosie’s Place, an incredible organization dedicated to providing a safe space and critical support services for women in need. From Monday October 19th through Friday October 23rd, we will be collecting donations of hygiene items, books and more to stock their pantry and shelter. Drop Offs are located at all Milton Schools and the Milton Public Library, in boxes decorated in the main entrances. Any donation is greatly appreciated!
MFE Monster Dash - One Week Away!
Get your costumes ready, lace up your running shoes, and join the Milton Foundation for Education's (MFE) Annual Monster on Sunday, October 25th at Cunningham Park! The event features a 5K, kids’ fun run, bouncy houses, a DJ, costume contests, and local food vendors!
Proceeds support Sam’s Fund, which honors Tucker student Sam Cichello’s passion for science and love of Halloween,while providing science enrichment to all six Milton Public Schools.
Register today! For more details, visit MFE’s website! Interested in volunteering or sponsoring at Monster Dash? Email us at miltonfoundationforeducation@miltonmfe.org. See you at Monster Dash!
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