Big Reds Family News

It may still feel like summer, but fall is in full swing and MHS is settling into the routines of the school year. With 5 weeks of classes and activities under our belts, now would be a great time to check-in with your student about how things are going. Check PowerSchool for grades and attendance, and ask your child about their routines, friendships, and activities. Encourage your child to get involved with one of the many sports, clubs, or other activities available. Being an active part of the school community is an important part of feeling connected and happy.

The 3rd week of October is School Safety Week. During this time we focus on school safety protocols and procedures, making sure that staff and students know what to do in case of an emergency. On October 13th, Officer Marshall will talk to our staff about the new Standard Response Protocol being adopted in schools across the state. Having these conversations, and practicing what to do in case of a real emergency are important steps that we take as a school community to keep staff and students safe. The flyers below outline the new procedures. Take a moment to talk to your child about their school safety plan, and encourage them to participate meaningfully in drills and conversations about school safety.

As a reminder, the state-sponsored free lunch program came to an end on October 1st. Families in need of free or reduced price meals should fill out this form as soon as possible. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

On Wednesday, October 15th all students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will participate in the PSAT 9 (9th graders) or PSAT NMSQT (10th and 11th graders). The PSAT NMSQT is the test students take to qualify for the National Merit Scholar program. Students should come to school on time with a charged Chromebook, along with their charger. The test should take about 3 hours to complete. Students will continue with their school day after they have finished testing. Students wishing to leave after testing is finished must be excused by a parent ahead of time by calling the main office or using the online absence reporting form.

If you missed the original picture day, or want a chance to try again, our final opportunity will be on Thursday, October 23rd. Picture forms available in the main office, or you can click on this link to order

• Talk to your child beforehand and assure them that you are going to talk to their teachers in order to learn about what they are doing in school, and how you can help support their learning. Ask your child if he or she has any specific concerns about classwork, assessments, or the classroom environment.
• Familiarize yourself with classroom expectations and assignments. Review materials such as course syllabus, class assignments, and Google Classroom posts in order to have a better idea of what is expected of your child. This helps to inform your conversations with teachers.
• Make a list of questions to ask your child's teachers: Is my child completing assignments? Is my child engaged in classwork? Does my child struggle with focus or behavior issues? What are my child's strengths? What are their weaknesses? How can I best support my child's learning?

Coming to these important meetings prepared will help you and your child get the most out of the conference and can be an important step in the learning process.

For your planning purposes, this is a timeline of testing that will happen this spring. Additionally, AP testing will take place the first 2 weeks in May.

The Class of 2026 kicked off senior year with a senior class meeting. Please see here for the information that was shared with all students.

The class of 2027 also has a lot going on as they prepare for their junior year. Please see here for the information that was shared with all students.

Want to save some money on your college applications? Apply for FREE to most colleges in Michigan during the month of October. Please note: MSU is only free for October 1-10.

It is time to order Advanced Placement (AP) tests for spring! Each AP test costs $99, and payments and forms (form linked below) are due by Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Students will need to turn in this form and select to test online through AP Central by October 22, 2025.

There is a $40 late registration fee from College Board. If you cancel your test after November 15th, there is a $40 cancellation fee.

If you qualify for reduced or free lunch, you qualify for a reduced price of $15 per test. If a payment plan is needed, please contact Mrs. Barbara at barbarac@milanareaschools.org or 734-439-5026. Test accommodations may be available for students with IEPs or 504s. If you have an IEP or 504 and wish to apply for accommodations, please see Mrs. Barbara by December 4th.

Friday, October 3rd from 4-7pm

High School MCIS parking lot

Food trucks: Grumpy Monkey, El Mariachi Loco, S'Mac, Little Caesars, Kona,

New FFA Barn will be open to tour

Music and Outdoor Games

Come early, grab food, and then watch the parade from Symons

Come after the parade and then head to the game

The parade will stage again at Methodist Church parking lot, utilizing Park Lane and a portion of the access path to Wilson Park. For the safety of the students in the parade, ONLY parade vehicles will be allowed to turn onto Park Lane/enter the parking lots. If you are dropping students off, you will have to utilize the sidewalks or Wilson Park. The parade will begin at 5:15

The game starts at 7:00 pm, and the Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned at Halftime.

Who: MHS students and pre-approved guests who have purchased tickets ($25 tickets available at the door for MHS students only)

Where: MCIS

When: Saturday October 4, 7:30-10:00 pm (The dance will end promptly at 10:00, please do not wait for a text to pick your child up- they will be ready at 10!)

Washtenaw County voters are being asked to consider a 1 mill proposal to support operational costs to provide Career Technical Education (CTE) learning experiences from preschool through high school graduation. The millage would expire after 10 years.

If approved, the CTE millage would be used by WISD to reimburse all local public school districts for existing CTE expenses and also expand access to new countywide CTE learning opportunities for students in preschool through high school graduation.

Aaron Shinn- Principal shinna@milanareaschools.org

Kristyn Pierfelice- Assistant Principal pierfelicek@milanareaschools.org

Main office phone (734)439-5000