Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
Embedded Files
October 2026:
10/5 PEACE Awards
10/5 PTO Public Meeting 7 p.m.
10/9 Early Release at 11:40 a.m.
10/9 Jr. Interact 7:45 a.m.
10/12 Columbus Day (no school)
10/13 Spirit Week - details below!
10/16 Fire Prevention Assembly
10/23 Jr. Interact 7:45 a.m.
10/27 BOE Mtg., Red Ribbon Week celebration
10/29 Fall School Pictures (Makeups 12/4)
Dear Alden Place families,
It has been a wonderful start to the school year, and we are so glad to welcome both returning families and new faces to our learning community. Over the past few weeks, our teachers have focused on building strong routines and meaningful relationships with students and families.
Our fifth graders kicked off the year with a fun team-building challenge to see who could build the longest and strongest paper chain. This gave students a hands-on way to reflect on how they can support and collaborate with one another all year long.
That same spirit of teamwork was on display during Back to School Night. You might have seen chart paper in classrooms filled with colorful student signatures. These charts capture how students want to feel at school and what everyone can do to help create that environment. This activity is part of RULER, our social-emotional learning framework, which helps us build welcoming classrooms where students feel safe and supported as they grow.
Beyond the classroom, our community has come together to offer wonderful new experiences for our students. Alongside popular programs like Interact and the Intramural Sports Club, rehearsals are already well underway for our student performance of The Wizard of Oz on Saturday, November 21.
The success of these programs is a true reflection of our dedicated staff and the caring community that supports our students every day.
Warm regards,
Andrew Cedermark
Principal, Alden Place Elementary
Millbrook Central School District
(845) 677-4220 X4102
Clubs and Activities
Looking to get involved, learn new skills, or showcase your talents this school year? Check out these fantastic club opportunities:
Junior Interact Club
What: A community service club dedicated to making a positive impact both locally and globally through service projects and leadership development.
When: Meets twice a month on Fridays at 7:45 AM.
Who: Mrs. Link (maryellen.link@millbrookcsd.org)
Intramural Sports Club
What: A great place to learn and play different sports in a fun, non-competitive environment.
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until 4:30 PM.
Who: Nurse Bri (brianna.jimenez@millbrookcsd.org)
Drama Club
What: The Drama Club, open to fifth graders, is currently meeting to prepare for an upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz. The play has been cast.
Spirit Week Preview
Spirit Week will take place district-wide from October 13th to October 16th. In addition to the annual dress-up celebrations, we’ve adapted the games that the high school Student Council developed so that our students can share in the excitement.
81c95cf3-70f6-42d4-b6ac-a11708655a8b.pngAlden Students Bring the
Art Room to Life! (Literally!)
Alden’s artists kicked off the school year by exploring classroom routines and expectations through performance. Working in small groups, students were assigned topics such as Responsible Use of Art Materials or Staying on Task in Art and collaborated to “act out” their scenario. Each student had a role and lines to read—some even added costumes for extra flair.
This creative activity brought energy and laughter into the art room while helping students learn what it means to work safely, responsibly, and productively. It was a fun, memorable way to start the year and set a positive tone for the months ahead.
First Days of School
The weather has been beautiful, and learning has kicked into high gear. Here are a few highlights from the first days of school!
Food Service Update
With MySchoolBucks, parents can check their child’s meal purchases to see how account funds are being spent. It offers a straightforward way to view daily account activity and ensure their balance remains updated.
Millbrook_MySchoolBucks_Parent_Flyer.pdfTeacher Recognitions
Each month, our staff nominates a teacher who exemplifies our core values. Congratulations to our September Alden Place Blue Ribbon Blazer, Maryellen Link, who will display the G.O.A.T trophy in her classroom for the month!
Below are the remarks from our celebration.
When we think about the core values at the heart of our district, no one exemplifies them with such steadiness. Her deep care for every child, her genuine connections with families, and her quiet generosity set a standard for us all.
There is a familiar truth in education that people may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Whenever you cross paths with this teacher in the hallway, she offers a quiet gift—a thoughtful word, a quick compliment, or a warm wave—that makes you feel good, subtly lifts your spirits and brightens the rest of your day.
Hundreds of students have walked through her classroom doors over the years, carrying that same light with them. Her impact has not gone unnoticed by her peers, either; week after week last year, her name appeared on our staff shout-outs more than almost anyone else's.
Maryellen Link, it is my distinct honor to present you with this month's Alden Place Blue Ribbon Blazer Award!
If Mrs. Link made an impact on your child, please let her know by writing her a quick note at maryellen.link@millbrookcsd.org!
Blazer to Blazer Connection
Our varsity girls soccer and football teams are helping build connections between our older and younger Blazers!
Ahead of Girls Soccer Senior Night on October 13 and Football Senior Night/Homecoming on October 15, the teams will visit classrooms at Alden, hand out blue Blazer bracelets, and invite students to come cheer them on.
At the games, students can stop by the Sports Boosters concession stand to trade their blue Blazer bracelets for a soccer or football bracelet. We look forward to bringing our Blazers together to celebrate our seniors and show their school spirit!
Halloween Costume Guidelines
Please see the guidance below for children hoping to dress up for
Halloween in school on Friday, October 30.
Scholastic Book Fair recap
Thank you to our PTO for generously hosting another successful Book Fair here at Alden Place. The fair gives kids students autonomy to choose own books, helping them discover new interests and build personal home libraries. By encouraging self-selected reading, it boosts vocabulary, comprehension, and reading confidence, while also helping raise funds for new school books and learning materials.
Technology Update
As a recent U.S. Department of Education brief highlights: "The question should not be whether teachers and students use technology. The question should be whether the technology we ask teachers and students to use improves learning..." We are proud to continue our 1:1 Chromebook program, using technology intentionally to support learning where we know that targeted use of technology will advance our instructional outcomes.
Our teachers rarely assign Chromebook-based homework, so, for the 2026-27 school year, we are shifting the default so Chromebooks stay in classrooms each day rather than going home. If snow or inclement weather is forecasted, devices will go home so we are prepared for a potential pivot to remote learning.
If you would like your child to practice on our digital learning platforms at home, please reach out to their teacher and they will gladly facilitate.
Too Good for Drugs in Grade 5
“Too Good for Drugs” will return to Alden Place starting Monday, October 5, providing fifth-grade students with fun and interactive weekly lessons designed to help them develop the skills they need to resist peer pressure, make healthy choices and foster positive relationships.
“Prevention education needs to start at a young age,” explained Dora Celestino, Community Prevention Educator for the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education of Dutchess County, who leads the 10-week program. “That’s why I’m so glad that we’ve been able to bring this to Millbrook students during these formative years.”
Too Good for Drugs is an evidence-based K-12 program, with age-appropriate curriculum available for each grade level. Based on its success with Millbrook’s fifth graders, Celestino hopes to expand into the middle school next year. “I’m looking forward to continuing this incredibly rewarding work with more Millbrook students.”
Ms. Dora with last year's TGDF students.
Attendance Matters
To communicate information about absences or lateness, please email alden.attendance@
millbrookcsd.org.
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Core values
In our work together we continue to emphasize our Core Values. Schools promote academic success in reading, writing, and math, but we also have a responsibility to help students feel a strong sense of belonging and develop the soft skills that will serve them well in the future. We build these skills through RULER, our social-emotional learning curriculum, and reinforce them by promoting and celebrating our Core Values. Together, these values give our diverse community a shared vision of what it means to learn and grow side by side. Each month, we’ll recognize one student from each grade who demonstrates a Core Value, and we’ll proudly display their certificates at the school entrance.
Purpose: I stay focused and strive to achieve my goals.
Ethics: I act with integrity and make responsible choices.
Acceptance: I respect differences and value diverse perspectives.
Community: I help create a supportive and inclusive environment.
Evolution: I reflect on my growth and work to become a better version of myself.
Updates from Pupil Personnel Services
Consistency Across Schools
We’re working to make sure families have the same smooth experience with PPS District Wide.
504 Plans
Annual and reevaluation consents have been sent out. If you haven’t received yours, please call the PPS office. A special thank you to Danielle Leonardi for organizing this process!
IEP Collaboration Portal
Consent forms were sent home so families can receive secure updates and notifications. Need another copy? Contact PPS and we’ll resend it.
Staff Training
CPI Training: Small group sessions have been organized for staff in CPI
CPR/AED Training; Targetted staff have been organized and trained to keep our students safe
English as a New Language (ENL) Services
ENL support started on the first day of school. We’ve welcomed many new students this month. Thank you to Ms. Ellis, our ENL Coordinator, for helping with assessments, placements, and family communication.
As always, if you have questions regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact the PPS Office:
Thank you for your help and continued partnership!
Danielle Leonardi- Administrative Assistant
845-677-4200 ext. 1107
danielle.leonardi@millbrookcsd.org
Alexandra Ellis- ENL Coordinator
845-677-4200 ext. 1109
alexandra.ellis@millbrookcsd.org
Joann Hobson- Special Education Coordinator
845-677-4200 ext. 1107
joann.hobson@millbrookcsd.org
Stay in Touch!
Attendance
To communicate information about absences or lateness, please email: alden.attendance@millbrookcsd.org.
Transportation
If you need to make a change to your child's pick up for the day, please use the following email address to do so, as we need changes in writing. alden.parentpickup@millbrookcsd.org
Individual teachers
To reach your child's teacher, click the letter icon on SchoolTool next to the teacher's name.
Principal
Andrew Cedermark
X4102, andrew.cedermark@millbrookcsd.org
School Psychologist
Tonya Pulver
X4103, tonya.pulver@millbrookcsd.org
Nurse
Brianna Jimenez
X4104, brianna.jimenez@millbrookcsd.org
Main Office
Julie Ruuge
X4100, julie.ruuge@millbrookcsd.org
School Resource Officer
Meghan Rhoades
meghan.rhoades@millbrookcsd.org
Page updated
Report abuse