Milwood Weekly Newsletter Master
August 13th, 2025
Welcome Back Families
Introductions....
Interim Principal: Brandy Stiver
I am honored to introduce myself as the Interim Principal at Milwood Magnet Middle School for the upcoming school year. Having served as your Assistant Principal last year, as well as our Climate and Culture Coach previously, I am thrilled to continue serving our amazing school community in this new capacity.
Kalamazoo Public Schools has been my professional home for the past 27 years. Over the years, I've had the joy of working directly with students and families as a teacher, coach, and assistant athletic director. Those experiences shaped my passion for education and gave me a deep appreciation for the incredible people who make up our community.
My primary goal is to create a safe, positive, and collaborative environment where every student can thrive. Central to our mission this year is instilling a growth mindset across our school community—ensuring that every individual is given the encouragement, resources, and space to learn and grow each day.
Open communication between home and school is vital to our shared success. I am committed to keeping you well-informed throughout the year. Please review this weekly newsletter regularly for essential updates and upcoming events. Additionally, we are actively updating the Milwood Magnet Middle School website to serve as another reliable resource for timely information.
I look forward to partnering with you to make this an exceptional, successful school year for our students.
Warm regards,
Assistant Principal: Tracy Chappell
Hello, I hope everyone had a great summer and I would like to welcome you to Milwood as your new Assistant Principal. I have 25 years teaching experience, the last 11 as a Milwood Science Teacher. I have experience in leadership roles as department head, summer school principal, mentor and instructional leader. I have also enjoyed running various clubs at Milwood.
I am very excited to have this opportunity as Assistant Principal. I will work hard with Ms. Stiver to accomplish our Milwood goals. I look forward to meeting everyone.
Important Dates in August
Athletics
Football
There will be Football conditioning for 7th and 8th grade students at Milwood next week; Monday, August 10th - Thursday, August 13th from 9:00am - 11:00am. Meet in the back by the basketball courts.
Cross Country
There will be Cross Country practice at Milwood next Wednesday, August 12th from 9:00am - 10:00am. Please meet at the basketball courts in the back and be ready to run! All students/grade levels welcome!
Volleyball
Look out for more information in next week’s newsletter!
Updates...
We are currently updating the Milwood Athletics page on our website. Thank you for your patience—in the meantime, please look for updates in our upcoming newsletters.
WEB- Where Everyone Belongs
6th Grade WEB Orientation Details:
The 6th-grade WEB orientation is for all incoming Milwood students. Parents will drop their students off at the front entrance off Konkle at 9:00 sharp, and pick them up at 12:00 PM. During this time, our 8th-grade WEB Leaders and WEB staff will guide our incoming 6th graders through team-building activities, campus tours, and mentorship sessions designed to help them feel welcomed, confident, and excited for the new school year.
Back to School Information
Key Dates & Bell Schedules
Monday, Aug 31 (First Day of School - 1/2 Day): 7:25 AM – 10:40 AM
Tuesday, Sept 1 – Friday, Sept 4 (Full Days): 7:25 AM – 2:20 PM
Monday, Sept 7 (No School - Labor Day)
Tuesday, Sept 8 (School Resumes): 7:25 AM – 2:20 PM
Daily Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Doors Open: 7:00 AM (Breakfast available in the cafeteria)
Pick-Up Times: 10:40 AM on half days | 2:20 PM on full days
Location: Front entrance
Safety Requirement: All vehicles MUST use the Konkle Street Entrance for drop-off and pick-up.
First Day Details & Arrival Routine
Morning Arrival: After passing through the front metal detectors, students may go to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the gymnasium to sit with their grade level. Students must remain in their chosen area until the bell rings.
Finding 1st Hour: Class rosters will be posted in both the cafeteria and gym. Students will check the lists to find their 1st-hour teacher.
Extra Help Available: 6th-grade teachers will hold up signs, and staff members will be throughout the building to guide students. Teachers will distribute full class schedules while in first hour.
1/2 Day Class Flow: Students will visit all 7 classes, spending about 22 minutes in each.
Schedule Changes: Schedules previously viewed in PowerSchool are subject to change as counselors finalize balanced class sizes.
Parent Action Item: Please ensure your child knows their bus number and at least one emergency phone number.
✏️What to Bring on Day One
Less is more! Because students pass through metal detectors and store items in lockers, they only need:
A pencil
A positive attitude and patience!
Teachers will share specific supply needs for the semester during the first week.
📵 Electronics & Phone Policy
To keep focus on learning, phones, iPads, and personal laptops are not permitted during school hours and must remain stored in lockers.
Student Access: Students may use the main office phone in an emergency.
Reaching Your Child: If you need to contact your student during the day, please call the main office directly at 269-337-0670.