Communication
Authentic two-way communication between parents and schools is essential to building an effective partnership and, ultimately, student achievement. Significant changes in your child’s life (e.g. divorce, major illness or death in the family, etc.), should be shared with his/her teacher in order to receive the appropriate support during difficult periods. There are many benefits that result from two-way dialogue:
Continuity is created across the home and school settings.
Parents can support/enhance what the teacher is trying to accomplish in class.
Teachers can assist the parent(s) on issues the family may be facing.
Issues can be addressed early on before more significant problems surface.
Students are ultimately aware that their teacher and parent(s) are working together toward a unified goal -- student success!
Communication: School to Home
There are many ways your school may communicate with you. It is your responsibility to read or review any materials or events created for your benefit. The purpose of these items is to make sure you are aware of upcoming programs and activities, understand new policies, and are knowledgeable of expectations for the coming year. Here are some of the ways your school may communicate with you.
Automated phone messages
E-mail messages
Text messages
MPS App
Video Conferencing & Phone Calls
Newsletters
Report Cards
Parent-Teacher Conferences
PowerSchool Parent Portal
Social media applications, such as Twitter and Instagram
Emergency Contact Information: PowerSchool
At the beginning of each year, parents/guardians are required to update their student’s information online in PowerSchool. Once you update and submit all required documents online, your child’s schedule will then be available to you.
With regard to emergency information, please remember to ensure the names of at least two additional emergency contacts and numbers for each child. This is extremely important for us, in case we cannot reach you, personally.
Changing information on your PowerSchool Account: If any part of your information changes throughout the school year, (new phone number, new address, etc.) you must call your school secretary to make the revisions to your PowerSchool account.
Apptegy/Thrillshare: Our Auto-messaging system
The Milford Public School system currently uses an automated messaging system to reach members of our school community. Phone calls, emails, text and push notifications are sent by school and district administrators to communicate information regarding school, district and community events. The emails can sometimes include attachments and/or links to event flyers and newsletters. These messages are sent to the contact information entered on your child’s account in Powerschool. The information you enter in Powerschool automatically updates each night to the Apptegy/Thrillshare program.
Note: It takes 24 hours for updates to become active.
Tips for Parents on Receiving Recorded Messages
There are a few things you can do to ensure you will receive messages from the Apptegy/Thrillshare system properly.
1. Update new phone numbers and e-mail addresses with your student’s school secretary promptly.
During the back to school process in PowerSchool at the beginning of each school you will review emergency contact information for your student. Should your information change throughout the year, it is crucial that you update your information. This way, when any message is sent, it will reach you. Please note: The system looks for at least one of the following; Custody, Lives With or Receives Mail; to be checked off in order to receive these messages.
2. Add district and school phone numbers to your approved call list or contacts.
Make sure you add the district’s and your student’s school main number to your approved list of numbers or contacts so the call will not be blocked from your phone. If you do not regularly receive communications from your school or the district, please contact your school secretary to rectify this situation.
MPS District/Central Office: 203-783-3400
Calf Pen Meadow: 203-783-3521
John F. Kennedy: 203-783-3568
Live Oaks: 203-783-3564
Mathewson: 203-783-3527
Meadowside: 203-783-3555
Orange Avenue: 203-783-3537
Orchard Hills: 203-783-3566
Pumpkin Delight: 203-783-3531
East Shore Middle: 203-783-3559
Harborside Middle: 203-783-3523
West Shore Middle: 203-783-3553
Jonathan Law HS: 203-783-3574
Joseph A. Foran HS: 203-783-3502
The Academy: 203-783-3652
3. SMS text messages will come from 98900 for all Milford Public Schools communications.
Should you not want to receive text messages from the Milford Public Schools please contact your student’s school secretary to be added to the block list. In the future, if you wish to be re-added to the text message listing, you can do so by contacting the school secretary.
4. Push notifications
Be sure to have the Milford Public Schools App installed on your phone. These can be found here for apple or here for android. Select your default school(s) you would like to receive push notifications from, and don’t forget to select Milford Public Schools also to get these messages from the district as well.
Channels of Communication
When you have a question about your child's classes or work in school, it is best to first contact the person who is closest to the situation. In most cases this is the teacher. If you do not come to resolution or you need to discuss a matter further, we ask you to use the following information path. Using this path will help you get the information you seek quickly and, in most cases, resolve the issue without delay.
High School
Communication Path
Teacher
|
School Counselor
|
Dean of Students
|
Asst. Principal
|
Principal
|
Asst. Supt.
|
Superintendent
Middle School
Communication Path
Teacher
|
Team Leader
|
School Counselor
|
Asst. Principal
|
Principal
|
Asst. Supt.
|
Superintendent
Elementary
Communication Path
Teacher
|
Teacher Leader
|
Principal
|
Asst. Supt.
|
Superintendent
School Administrators, 2023-24
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (Gr. PK-5)
Calf Pen Meadow
Principal: Jamie Whitaker
203-783-3521
jwhitaker@milforded.org
John F. Kennedy
Principal: Amy Rizzo
203-783-3568
arizzo@milforded.org
Live Oaks
Principal: Rose Marzinotto
203-783-3564
Mathewson
Principal: Melissa Currier
203-783-3527
Meadowside
Principal: Gail Krois
203-783-3555
Orange Avenue
Principal: Joseph Apicella
203-783-3537
Orchard Hills
Principal: Sarah Scionti
203-783-3566
Pumpkin Delight
Principal: Sherrod McNeill
203-783-3531
MIDDLE SCHOOLS (Gr. 6-8)
East Shore Middle School
Principal: Shannan Carlson
203-783-3559
Asst. Principal: James Genova
203-783-3559
Harborside Middle School
Principal: Steve Gottlieb
203-783-3523
Asst. Principal: Suzanne Vitaletti
203-783-3527
West Shore Middle School
Principal: Carrie Keramis
203-783-3553
Asst. Principal: Kenneth Hayes
203-783-3553
HIGH SCHOOLS (Gr. 9-12)
Jonathan Law HS
Principal: Bryan Darcy
203-783-3574
Asst. Principal: Amy Farotti
203-783-3574
Asst. Principal: Lindsay Sulzycki
203-783-3574
Dean of Students: Gianni Ragaini
203-783-3574
Joseph A. Foran HS
Principal: Max Berkowitz
203-783-3502
Asst. Principal: Dena Kelly
203-783-3502
Asst. Principal: Bethany Gilman
203-783-3502
bgilman@milforded.org
Dean of Students: Justin Zywocinski
203-783-3502
ACAD
Principal: Danyelle Williams
203-783-3652
dwilliams@milforded.org
District Administrators, 2023-24
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP
Superintendent: Dr. Anna Cutaia
203-783-3433
Asst. Superintendent: Steven Autieri
203-783-3422
PHYSICAL PLANT/OPERATIONS
Asst. Superintendent of Business & Operations: Sean Brennan
203-783-3405
Director of Facilities: Patrick Bradbury
203-783-3432
Transportation Coordinator: Judy Messologitis
203-783-3405
Director of Business & Instructional Digital Services (BIDS): Louis Giancola
203-783-3446
SPECIAL EDUCATION/PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES (PPS)
Director of PPS: Jennifer Stewart
203-783-3410
Supervisor PPS (PK-5): Andrea Giannattasio
203-783-3493
Supervisor PPS (6-8): Sarah Gallipoli
203-783-3467
Supervisor PPS (9-12): Eric Paradis
203-783-3411
Supervisor of Early Childhood Education: Terese Maguire
203-783-3627
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISORS
Student Dev/Wellness (PK-5): Sean Smyth
203-783-3450
Student Dev/Wellness (6-12): Dr. Christianne Golesky
203-783-3600
STEM (PK-5): Dr. Thomas Nobili
203-783-3486
STEM (6-12): Lisa Swanson
203-783-3476
Humanities (PK-5): Bethany Mauro
203-783-3480
Humanities (6-12): Sarah Harris
203-783-3671
Art/Music/Library/Media: Amy Perras
203-783-3412
Equity and Engagement (Districtwide): Marissa Acampora
203-882-6101
HUMAN RESOURCES
Director of Human Resources: Wendy Kopazna
203-783-3403
Benefits Supervisor: Maria Benedetti
203-783-3431
Communication Policies
Reporting to Parents/Report Cards, (5124)
Parental Notification Under ESSA
At the federal level, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires school districts to provide numerous notices to parents, the public, and others. Please be aware of the following items required by ESSA.
At the beginning of each school year, school districts that receive Title I funds must notify parents (of each student attending every school receiving Title I funds) that they may request, and the district will provide parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers. Such a school must also give timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.
A school that receives Title I funds must provide each parent information on the achievement level of their child on each of the state academic assessments as soon as is practicably possible after the test is taken.
A school district that uses federal funds to provide a language instruction education program for children with limited English proficiency must provide information each year about the child’s placement in the program.
A district receiving Title I funds must distribute to parents a policy on parent involvement. Milford’s policy on parent involvement can be found in this Handbook.
A district receiving safe and drug-free school program funds must inform and involve parents about violence and drug prevention efforts. Information will be provided to parents during the school year.
Districts receiving federal education funds must notify parents of secondary school students that they have a right to request that their child’s name, address, and telephone number not be released to a military recruiter without their prior consent. Parents can accomplish this by indicating their wishes on the student's PowerSchool account at the beginning of the school year.
A district must develop and adopt policies regarding the rights of parents to inspect third party surveys before they are distributed to students.
Local school districts that receive Title I funds are required to prepare and disseminate an annual school district report card. Milford will distribute annual report cards to all parents.
Title I Schools in Milford
Contact the Student Development and Wellness office at (203) 783-3450 for the current listing of Title I schools in Milford.
Open House
All of our schools offer an Open House at the beginning of the academic year. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn about the school activities planned for the year, policies and procedures and general expectations of you and your child. It is not, however, a time to visit with your child's teacher to discuss specific issues about your child. We suggest you reserve your specific questions relating to your child for the Parent-Teacher Conference or you may schedule an appointment with the teacher for another time when you both will be able to concentrate on the issues at hand.
2023-24 Open House Schedule
Elementary Schools
Calf Pen Meadow: Sept. 12, 2023
John F. Kennedy: Sept. 19, 2023
Live Oaks: Sept. 19, 2023
Mathewson: Sept. 19, 2023
Meadowside: Sept. 14, 2023
Orange Ave: Sept. 19, 2023
Orchard Hills: Sept. 14, 2023
Pumpkin Delight: Sept. 12, 2023
Middle Schools
East Shore: Sept. 18, 2023
Harborside: Sept. 18, 2023
West Shore: Sept. 18, 2023
High Schools
Jonathan Law HS: Sept. 28, 2023
Joseph A. Foran HS: Sept. 21, 2023
The Academy: August 28, 2023
Parent Conferences
Two Parent-Teacher Conferences are conducted per year: one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Parents receive direction from the school regarding how to reserve an appointment and more in the weeks leading up to the conferences. Additional meetings between a teacher and a parent can be arranged at any time. For the 2023-24 Academic Year, Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on:
Fall 2023 Conferences
Wednesday, 10/18 (Elementary, Middle, High)
Thursday, 10/19 (Elementary, Middle, High)
Friday, 10/20 (Elementary only)
Spring 2024 Conferences
Wednesday, 3/20 (Elementary, Middle, High)
Thursday, 3/21 (Elementary, Middle, High)
Friday, 3/22 (Elementary only)