Millis High School September 2026

- November 2nd: Boys Soccer Senior Night

- November 6th: Quarter 1 Closes

- November 11th: No School - Veterans' Day

- November 12th: Early Release - Day Parent/Guardian Conferences

- November 18th: Retake Picture Day

- November 19th: Winter Player/Guardian Meeting

- November 25th: Early Release - All Grades

- November 25th: Winter Sports Registration Closes

- November 26th-November 27th: No School - Thanksgiving Break

Dear MHS Families,

We had another super fun and action-packed week here at MHS! There was plenty happening throughout the building. We have lots of great pictures and highlights to share below. I encourage you to take a few minutes to scroll through and check out all the great things our students and staff have been up to!

Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!

Sincerely,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

The MHS staff departments had some fun on Friday with each staff member wearing a Scrabble Letter to spell out a word. Thank you to Mrs. Graham and staff who helped organize!

Athletic registration is open and will close on Nov 25th. Please make sure you register on time.

Click here to complete the Millis High School Athletics Registration (Basketball & Indoor Track):

Millis Athletics Registration

Click here to complete the Co-op Athletic Registration (Boys & Girls Ice Hockey, Gymnastics):

Co-op Registrations

Athletic User fees - For those who have not paid for their fall season please make sure you do so. Payments must be paid in order for your student athlete to participate in the upcoming seasons.

The winter family/players meeting will be held on Nov 19th at 6:00 PM. All players and families are expected to attend the meeting to review our winter athletics season, expectations, and answer any questions. If you cannot attend, please email our athletic director at mrector@millisschools.org.

On Sunday, October 25th, Millis’s Environmental Action Club met up at the High School for their annual fall cleanup! Everyone who participated found lots of litter, and the school grounds are looking much cleaner! Thank you to Mrs. Glynn for joining and to everyone who came to clean up.

On Columbus Day weekend, senior Kevin Brynczka volunteered at the Glenn Ellen to assist at their Cabaret Night, a show where the actors performed a variety of songs, from Simon and Garfunkel to Billy Joel. Kevin was placed in charge of the camera, filming the show. Here are some images Kevin took during the production!

Mr. Kraby's philosophy class completed a brand new project for the first time last week, vision boards! The main idea behind vision boards is the law of attraction: what we vibrate and put out into the universe, can and will happen when we focus our attention on it. So, the students wrote down what they want in their life and made vision board projects! The students had lots of fun, and the boards helped them realize what they want in the future. Then, they presented their vision boards to their classmates. The students wanted me to say it was fire!

There is lots of exciting science happening in Room 117! First, Officer Manganello joined us as the guest speaker in anatomy and physiology class. The classroom is studying the integumentary system, and she came to speak on finger printing. Even with DNA evidence, finger printing is still important in solving crime.

The freshman biology classes continue to study how science works. Last week featured period 3, and this week we are featuring period 7. The students made observations, and brain-storming the variables involved in bouncing a ball. They then designed mini experiments based on their observations. Next, both classes will work on designing a controlled experiment and writing their first lab report.

Finally, the zoology class conducted a squid dissection. The students were very engaged and enthusiastic. As part of the dissection, they removed the pen from the squid. The pen is all that is left of the shell that the squid's ancestors had. Squids also have an ink sac; they release the ink into the water as a form of protection to confuse their predators. The students dipped the pen into the ink sac of the squid and wrote their names.

It’s been a busy Quarter 1 in the Art Room! Students in Art, Design, and New Media have been learning the basics of design while exploring digital art-making platforms. In Fundamentals of Studio Art 1, students have been engaged in exercises to enhance their observational drawing skills, such as grid method and shading with graphite. Studio Art 2 students have been exploring color in a variety of media. For examples, check out the oil pastel insects and disco ball paintings below. Finally, in AP Studio Art, students are exploring their own concepts and ideas.

As a culminating activity for their unit of El Camino de Santiago, Spanish 5 CP1 seniors created paintings inspired by the famous pilgrimage route in Spain. Through their artwork, students explored the route’s cultural, historical, and spiritual significance while expressing their understanding of the landscapes, landmarks, and experiences associated with the journey. The paintings turned out great, and students thoroughly enjoyed this hands-on learning experience.

Next Tuesday, November 3rd is election day! Ms. Ziemba's AP U.S. Government & Politics class further researched these highly anticipated midterm elections. Of the 100 seats in the Senate, 35 are contested. Students focused on seven of the top battleground states where the polling numbers are so close the results could change the partisan balance. Students analyzed recent polls, campaign websites, priority issues, campaign funds, and even made their own winner predictions. We'll see next week if their predictions hold true.

This is a reminder that the following screenings are planned:

• Grade 9: Postural (scoliosis) screening will take place during the month of November.

• Grade 10: On Monday, November 16, students will participate in:

• SBIRT screening: A private, one-on-one conversation with our community social worker using the CRAFFT screening tool to identify substance use risks and provide education and support. Massachusetts requires school districts to provide this screening.

• Health office screenings: The school nurse will conduct height, weight, vision, and hearing screenings.

To opt your child out of any screening, please email Lynn Molinari and specify which screening(s). For Grade 10 screenings, please email before November 16.

Hello family and friends! Our local drama club is in need of a little help to bring their costumes to life. The club's wardrobe department is essential for every performance, helping kids and teens transform into their characters. Right now, they’re running low on resources to keep up with the growing number of plays and participants. This is to help my senior project. I am curating costumes for drama club productions and your support will help them build a better collection of costumes and props, ensuring every actor feels confident and ready to shine on stage.

Millis will be taking students to Peru in April of 2028. The itinerary includes a tour of Lima, the San Fransisco Church, Larco Museum, Machu Picchu, Maras Salt Mines, a cultural exchange, and a traditional Peruvian pottery ceramics workshop. For the application and more detailed information, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/MillisPeruApplication

We are currently seeking additional transportation providers to support our students’ needs. We will train you to receive your 7D, school van certificate. If you or someone you know is interested in providing transportation services, please contact Gail Corbett for more information at gcorbett@millisschools.org. Your support helps ensure all students have safe and reliable access to school!

Do you have a plow truck and want to help keep Millis roads safe this winter? The Town of Millis Department of Public Works (DPW) is seeking snowplow contractors for the upcoming winter season! For information, please call 508-376-5424 or email Amanda Hamlin, DPW Business Manager, at ahamlin@millisma.gov

Dear MHS Families,

We had another great week here at MHS! It was great to see so many of you at parent/teacher conferences last night.

At Tuesday’s school committee meeting, Superintendent Mullaney and the School Committee honored Abigail Kaye, Phoebe Alan and Nicholas Roy for their outstanding academic excellence and contributions to the school and community. Abigail earned the MASS Superintendent’s Award. Phoebe and Nicholas were awarded the NESDEC awards. Congratulations!

Our high school students were excited to connect with our CFB friends this week. Ms. Copice's Science Curriculum Development and Instruction Methods class worked hard to prepare and develop an experiment for our CFB third graders. The third grade class came over yesterday and really seemed to enjoy the experience. Check out the pictures below!

Our girls' soccer team had a busy week celebrating their seniors during Wednesday night's game, which ended in a 1-1 tie. They also kicked off our first CFB welcome of the year! Our high school students were excited to cheer on our CFB friends as they started their school day. It's always great to see our students connecting across grade levels and supporting one another.

Speaking of soccer teams, congratulations to the boys’ soccer team who had a hard fought 1-0 victory over Medway this week!

If you're looking for something to do tonight, come out and support our football team as they take on Norton at 6:00 PM. The team will also be celebrating their seniors for senior night!

And if you're looking for something fun to do Saturday night, be sure to check out the MERIT Haunted Hayride at Tangerini's from 5:00-9:00 PM! This is a great fundraiser that supports enrichment opportunities not only here at the high school but also at the middle school and CFB. We appreciate everyone who comes out to support our students and programs across the district.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

Sincerely,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

Congratulations to Abigail, Phoebe and Nicholas for their outstanding academic performance, leadership and contributions!

On Wednesday morning, October 14, Ms. Young’s Financial Literacy and Investing class took a field trip to the Coffee Den, a mobile coffee shop owned and operated by Julia Grattan, a member of the Class of 2022.

Grattan launched the business after noticing the growing popularity of mobile coffee shops on TikTok. Since opening, the Coffee Den has become a successful small business, serving customers at various locations throughout the region. Grattan announces the shop’s locations on Instagram and TikTok, allowing customers to find her mobile café.

During the visit, students had the opportunity to purchase fall-themed specialty coffees and ask Grattan questions about starting and operating her own business. She explained that it took approximately four months to build the mobile coffee trailer and obtain the necessary business permit.

Grattan said her goals were to earn money and establish credibility in the Millis community as a barista. Her business has continued to thrive, demonstrating how creativity, planning, and an understanding of social media can help turn an idea into a successful venture.

The visit gave students a firsthand look at the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Students left impressed by Grattan’s creative business idea and gained valuable insight into what it takes to launch a small business.

The college prep biology classes are exploring how science works. They spent a class outside collecting qualitative and quantitative data and have been learning the roles of independent and dependent variables in a controlled experiment and how to properly graph. Next week they will discover how the idea of a linear scientific method is incorrect. The process of science is iterative and can follow different paths!

Millis Girls Varsity Soccer serves as the CFB morning greeters today. It was smiles for everyone!

Dear MHS Families,

It may have been a shorter week but we certainly packed in plenty of action at MHS!

Over the past three days, our seniors presented their Senior Project ideas for approval. This class brought plenty of creativity and excitement to the table. From launching a weekly video announcement to organizing puppy yoga, we can’t wait to see these ideas come to life throughout the school year.

I enjoyed popping into classrooms this week and seeing the learning happening across the building. In Mr. Neville’s history block, students were discussing Andrew Carnegie’s sale of his steel company to J.P. Morgan and the creation of U.S. Steel. In Ms. Young’s financial literacy class, students explored how making only minimum payments on a credit card can add up when high interest rates and outstanding balances are involved.

On the athletic front, our cross-country team celebrated their lone senior, Nora Doherty, at their home meet this past week. Congratulations to Nora!

If you’re looking for something to do this evening come support our girls’ soccer team as they take on Medfield at 4:30 PM. The football team will head to Winchendon to take on Murdock High School at 7:00 PM.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

We are excited to share that our parent/guardian conferences will be taking place on the evening of October 22rd and during the day on November 12th. There is the option to meet virtually or in-person. Please see our sign-up sheet by clicking the link below. Please click on each teacher's link that you would like to meet with and choose a time.

Parent/Guardian Conference Sheet Link

This week in Ms. Streck’s Engineering Your World classes, students were tasked to create a light tight box, with boxes ranging from cardboard to 3D printed material, in order to start brainstorming ideas for the Pinhole Camera Project. This project involves creating a camera where a pin size hole will allow light to enter onto the film paper in a light tight container. By using optics calculations, students will find where their photo paper needs to be located in the container for the best results. Also, students will create this camera for those who suffer from manual dexterity impairments, so students will be wearing oven mittens while using their camera!

Mr. Kraby took his freshman history class to Millborn farm on the Millis/Sherborn line. Many people are unaware, but right in our backyard is very interesting and relevant history. In 1658, George Fairbanks settled on land on the north side of South End Pond. For 10,000 years, the Nipmucs lived on this land, using the Bogastow Brook and Charles river for food, transportation, and the exchange of goods and services. When the Puritans came here in 1620, it took until the late 1650's to settle in this frontier community.

Mr. Fairbanks built a Stone House called the Palisades, where for one of the first times in the history of North America, iron smelting took place. He used the bog iron in a nearby cranberry bog to figure out how to separate iron metal from earth. He made nails and other metal items to help build this settlement. In 1676 during King Philip's war, the Nipmuc people attacked Medfield in February, burning 39 homes to the ground and killing many. Nine families were able to escape to George Fairbanks's stone house and protect themselves from the Natives. The Natives attacked, but were unsuccessful. Sadly, George Fairbanks died in 1682 when he fell through the ice on South End pond and drowned.

In addition to the history, we explored the flora and fauna of the property. We walked the entire 2 mile loop, which was good exercise. It was a beautiful day, and the students really enjoyed it. Thank you to Danielle Wainwright for coming with us as a nurse, and also a volume of knowledge on Millis history as well!

Claudia Fraile Torres is an 'auxiliar de conversación' from Madrid, Spain, who will be joining the Spanish Department at Millis High School. Claudia will work alongside our Spanish teachers and students, providing an authentic Spanish perspective and helping students develop their listening and speaking skills. Through classroom activities, conversations, and cultural experiences, she will introduce students to the language, traditions, and everyday life of Spain. We are excited to welcome Claudia to Millis High School and look forward to the many ways she will enrich our Spanish program and give our students the opportunity to connect with someone from Spain.

Dear MHS Families,

It was great to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather this week, with a few of our classes heading outdoors for some hands-on learning! Mr. Fallon's Outdoor Pursuits class enjoyed an adventure kayaking on the Charles River, while our other Mr. Fallon (yes, we have two!) brought his class out to explore the Mohawk Trail behind campus. It's always nice to see our students learning and making the most of the opportunities around us.

Our golf team took time this past week at Pinecrest Golf Club to celebrate our seniors. Congratulations to our senior golfers and thank you for all you have contributed to the team!

Thank you to Chief Soffayer and Officer Manganello for working with MPS staff on school safety as a part of our professional development day.

A quick reminder that sign-ups for parent/guardian conferences can be found in the newsletter below. We look forward to connecting with families and continuing to work together to support our students.

We have some great pics below including our students and staff of the month. Check them out!

I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and has a chance to relax and spend some time with family and friends. Enjoy the extra day!

Sincerely,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

Grade 9 nominees: Ben Lewis and Kloee Powers

Winner: Ben Lewis: "Ben just completed a website that exceeded all project expectations. He was engaged and worked with little intervention to learn the HTML programming language. When I am needed he is a joy to work with - very respectful. In a rather social classroom he remains focused bell to bell."

Grade 10 Nominees: Bryce Ferguson, Nate Holmes, Lexi Barrett, Claire Ahmad, Anna Sieczkievicz

Winner: Lexi Barret: "Lexi has come into sophomore year with a positive attitude and wants to do well in her classes! We are seeing a lot of growth with Lexi this year and are so proud of her!"

Grade 11 Nominees: Jocelyn Bibeau

Winner: Jocelyn Bibeau: "Jocelyn just continues to shine. She is such a hard-worker, she always does the right thing, and helps out others."

Grade 12 Nominees: Hannah Roman and Molly Rand

Winner: Hannah Roman: "Hannah has shown dedication to self-improvement. She tries hard and isn't afraid to make mistakes and learn from her mistakes."

The NHS Staff Member of the Month for the month of September is Mrs. Radcliffe. She is noted for being both helpful and kind, and explaining content to students in a way that makes sense! She fosters creativity in the classroom, and she makes learning fun.

Back by popular demand, Mr. Fallon's Outdoor Pursuits class has been having a blast exploring different outdoor activities outside of your typical physical education course. This week the class went kayaking on the Charles River!

Mr. Saegh encourages students to dress professionally at the last meeting of the week. This is great practice for sophomore research presentations!

The zoology students are wrapping up their first unit. The unit started off with evolution, followed by an introduction of the different body systems and their different forms. Lastly, the students learned about the phyla Porifera and Cnidaria. The pictures the students are holding feature an organism in the middle picture frame and the characteristics of that organism in the surrounding picture frames.

Chemistry II students have been building their skills in gravimetric analysis by experimentally determining the formula of the hydrate of copper sulfate. They are working collaboratively to generate procedures, conduct, analyze and then refine procedures to minimize sources of error.

Dear MHS Families,

It’s hard to believe we are already approaching the midpoint of Quarter 1 next week! The weeks continue to fly by. It has been great to see our students settling into the school year and all that comes with it.

I'm going to keep this week's letter brief as we have plenty of pictures below for you to enjoy. We rolled into this week off of our Homecoming weekend. Please scroll down and enjoy our pictures from our Homecoming game and dance.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be here next week. See details down below.

A quick reminder that next Friday, October 9, is a teacher professional development day, so there will be no school for students.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Patrick Nash

Principal

Millis High School

Millis student Annie Connors is a finalist for this week's Artsonia Artist of the Week Award! The winning schools receive a $100 gift certificate and the winning students receive a $50 gift certificate provided by Blick Art Materials. Voting closes Saturday, October 3, so don't miss your chance to vote for Annie and support MHS!

The Scholastic Book Fair will be open to students every school day next week (10/5-10/8) from 7:45–2:35. Students are welcome before school, after school, or with a pass from a teacher during the school day.

Payment

-E-wallets set up through Scholastic are a simple and safe payment method.

-Additionally, the book fair accepts cash, check (made payable to Millis High School), and Google/Apple Pay.

-Please note that while most credit cards work, we have had issues with kid debit cards like greenlight. If the card is set up through Apple/Google pay, it should work.

We also have a Share the Fair fund for students in need. If you have a student in need, I'd be happy to arrange a way where we can get them a book discreetly.

Lastly, you can shop the fair online and still help us out, but orders at the physical fair contribute a much higher percentage to our school library.

Terpsichore is just finishing up their fourth week of rehearsals for their 18th Annual Production of the Nutcracker. There are over 200 registered participants this year from grades preK - 11, and the shows are the first weekend in December at the High School. Pictured are Junior Jocelyn Bibeau, Sophomore Averi Frappier, and First Year Naomi Briggs at a morning rehearsal (these folks come in at 7:10 am) for the Sugar Fairy variation to Duke Ellington's version of the Sugar Plum Fairy from his Three Suites.

This FAQs document has all the information you might need for a successful start to the new year.

Q: What does “phone-free from bell to bell” mean?

A: From the first bell in the morning until lunch, and again from the end of lunch until dismissal, students may not use or carry their phones/electronic communication devices. Phones/devices must be turned off and stored in their backpack or locker. To be clear, cell phones, smart watches, portable listening or recording devices, earbuds, Bluetooth devices, cameras or photographic equipment, and other electronic communication devices are not allowed to be used during the school day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. with two exceptions:

1. Students are allowed to access their phone/device in the cafeteria during their designated lunch.

2. Students may access their phone/device in a class if a teacher directs them to do so for educational purposes as a part of the lesson.

Q: Can I check my phone at lunch?

A: Yes. Lunch is the one time during the day when phones can be accessed for personal use.

Q: What about during directed study/passing time/bathroom?

A: Phones are still off-limits during these times. This helps reduce distractions and increase focus and personal interactions.

Q: What if I need my phone for a medical reason?

A: Students who require medical monitoring on a device that connects through their phone (for example, certain diabetes monitors) may keep their phone on them with prior approval from the school nurse and administration.

Q: How will I contact my family during the school day?

A: If you need to reach your family, you can go to the main office to make a call. Likewise, families can contact the school office if they need to reach you. In an emergency, classrooms have phones available as well.

Q: What if I use my phone throughout the day anyway?

A: Violations of the policy will be addressed according to the student handbook. Our goal is not punishment, but to build a healthier, more focused learning environment.

Q: Why are we doing this?

A: Last July, the Massachusetts State Senate passed legislation to make schools cell-phone free. Studies show that reducing phone use during the school day improves focus, learning, social interactions, and overall well-being. Many students also report feeling less stressed without the constant pressure to check their phones.

There is now an app you can use to keep current with all the happenings in Millis Public Schools.

Catch up with the latest student stories, events, and news updates. It's everything Millis Public Schools, in your pocket.
If you haven't already, download the app!
Download for Android
Download for iPhone

If your student’s Chromebook stops working or requires maintenance, please have them email our Tech Department at helpdesk@millisschools.org to advise they have an issue. Students can also bring their device to the Library and speak to a student at the SHOP desk. The SHOP desk is our student technology team that now handles the loaner devices. If there are no students present at the SHOP desk, please see our librarian, Mr. Carter, at the circulation desk. The same is true if they forget their device at home. They can go to the Library and borrow a device and/or charger any day school is in session as long as supply lasts. We have also created a Chromebook Care and Use Guide for everything Chromebook related.

Insurance for Chromebooks is suggested and the information can be accessed below.

School lunch continues to be FREE to all students this year. Every student is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each daily, and you can check out the menus here. If you feel your family qualifies for free and reduced lunch, you should still fill out the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2025-2026 school year. The application is used to determine qualification for free transportation, as well as waivers, such as athletic fees.

• How to Apply
• Application

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If your student is going to be late to school, a parent/guardian must contact the office, by or before 8:00 AM. The office can be reached one of the following ways:

Attendance line: 508-906-3713

Attendance email: hsattendance@millisschools.org

or you may send your student in with a note

If we don’t hear from a parent/guardian, the tardy will be unexcused. Upon arrival at school, the student should go directly to the office and sign in.

If your student needs to be absent from school, a parent/guardian must notify the office via the attendance line at 508-906-3713 or by emailing hsattendance@millisschools.org as close to 8:00 AM as possible. If we don’t hear from a parent/guardian, the absence is unexcused and the student will be marked as truant. Attendance at school is incredibly important, and every effort possible should be made to maintain regular attendance at the high school.

If your student needs to be dismissed, a parent/guardian must send their student in with a note or email the office at hsattendance@millisschools.org, listing the dismissal time and reason. Just a reminder that driving hours should not be scheduled during the school day, and do not constitute excused time away from school.

Phone calls for dismissals are not permitted.

Students are expected to check in with the office to confirm their dismissal and receive a pass. If we do not receive a note, a parent or guardian must come into the office to sign their student out at the time of dismissal. Please make every effort to adhere to this dismissal policy to minimize disruptions to class time. Please also be mindful of how a dismissal may impact your student’s eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.

• Activities Eligibility Dismissal: If your student is involved in extracurricular activities and needs to be dismissed during the school day, they will need to provide a note from the place of their appointment (not a parental note) so they remain eligible to play or practice.
• Medical Dismissal: Any student requesting to leave for any kind of medical reason must go through the nurse’s office.
• Emergency Dismissal: In the event of a true emergency, a parent/guardian should contact the office. Every attempt will be made to expedite the dismissal. Please note, driving hours scheduled during the school day are not considered an emergency nor excusable under any circumstance. Every effort should be made to complete these hours outside of school hours.

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For the most up-to-date information on the Millis Middle/High School Building Project, please go to the following website: https://www.millisschoolproject.com/.

Small School.. Big Family

MHS Vision of a Graduate

Communication * Collaboration * Critical Thinking * Character

The Millis Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, gender identity, religion, national origins, sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.

Website: https://hs.millisps.org/
Location: Millis High School, 245 Plain Street, Millis, MA, USA
Phone: 508-376-7010