June 2026 Updates
Embedded Files
Dear Alden Place Families,
Can you believe we have arrived at the final month of the school year!? June is an incredibly meaningful season at Alden Place Elementary because it is a time dedicated to reflection, celebration, and looking forward to the bright futures ahead of our students.
We have a great lineup of events planned to close out the year, from our upcoming Field Day and grade-level orientations to our milestone 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony on June 18. There is so much to be proud of, and we look forward to celebrating these moments with you and your children!
As we head into these final weeks, the energy in the building is naturally very high. We ask for your partnership at home in encouraging your children to maintain their focus and stay committed to our daily expectations.
Thank you for your support, partnership, and dedication throughout this entire school year, especially the families of our fifth graders. We will miss you! Let’s make this a memorable, safe, and joyful final stretch for our amazing Blazers!
Warmest regards,
Andrew Cedermark
Principal, Alden Place Elementary
Millbrook Central School District
(845) 677-4220 X4102
Upcoming Dates
June 2 - 4th grade to Van Wyck Homestead
June 2 - Hicks/Webb/Agne/Credendino's classes to MMS for Orientation
June 3 - Olmstead and Propfe's class to MMS for Orientation
June 4 - Field Day! (rain date 6/16)
June 9 - 3rd Grade Orientation
June 10 - HS Seniors Grad Walk at Alden at 1pm
June 10 - Spring Band/Chorus Concert 6:30pm
June 15 - Grade 3 Field Trip to Millbrook Library
June 18 - 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony 1pm
June 19 - Juneteenth -- No School!
June 23, 24 and 25 - Early Release for Students (11:40 a.m.)
June 25 - Last day of school for students!
Grade 5 Panoramic Photo
Field Day Preview (June 4)
Field Day is scheduled for June 4 at the MHS Athletic Fields! (The rain date is June 16.) Outdoor activities will begin around 9:30 and run through 1:30.
Preparation:
The current forecast for June 4 calls for 80 degree temperatures and partly sunny skies. Please apply sunscreen in the morning, and send your child in athletic clothing and footwear. Please also send a refillable water bottle, as water stations will be set up so that students can stay hydrated.
Families wishing to attend:
Families are welcome to attend. Parking will be at your own discretion behind the middle school, guided to locations in the parking lot, and at Alden Place: creekside, through the bus loop and in various marked spots. Please enter the event through the check in/check out tent at the top of the pathway entrance to the fields.
Once you are checked in, you are free to move about the event. You might also bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and enjoy the day. There will be golf carts available to assist with moving up the hill.
Attendance:
As we look forward to Field Day on Thursday, June 4, please review our sign-out and dismissal procedures to ensure a safe and smooth afternoon for all students.
Advance Notice Required: In accordance with our district's attendance policy, if you plan to take your child home directly from Field Day, you must notify us in advance. Please email alden.attendance@millbrookcsd.org as soon as possible.
Leaving with Another Adult: Students are not permitted to leave with another student's family unless that adult is explicitly added to their approved pickup list. If your child is going home with someone else, you must submit that adult's full name to the attendance email prior to the event.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!
Grade 5 to Cary Institute
Last month our Grade 5 students visited the Cary Institute to participate in the Stream Life Cycles program, which focused on how macroinvertebrates (water bugs) develop in aquatic environments and transition to terrestrial ecosystems as adults. The experiential and learning goals were centered around fostering critical thinking, developing an appreciation for environmental stewardship, and building observation and data-collection skills.
The students were split into three small groups to cycle through the following hands-on learning stations:
Macroinvertebrate Sampling: Students wore chest waders to step directly into the Wappinger Creek and collect live larvae and biological specimens.
Lab Identification & Art: Students moved into the laboratory to examine their gathered specimens closely under microscopes to observe adaptations for life in the water, which was paired with watercolor painting.
"Water Across the Landscape" Hike: A teacher- and chaperone-guided 0.6-mile loop trail designed to prompt environmental observations utilizing a custom guide created by Cary Institute staff.
Thank you to our faculty and staff, in addition to the staff at the Cary Institute, for making this a reality.
Millbrook Music Salon Visits Alden
We were thrilled to host a wonderful musical partnership right here at Alden Place Elementary School! On Friday, May 29, our school enjoyed an exclusive, interactive assembly sponsored by the Millbrook Music Salon.
The performance featured the Balourdet String Quartet with clarinetist Graeme Steele Johnson. The performers shared pieces by Mozart and contemporary composers, and generously took student questions about the pieces, their training, and performance style.
We are deeply grateful to the Millbrook Music Salon and its Artistic Director, Sophia Zhou, for collaborating with our music teachers, Ms. Rubin and Mrs. Donaghey, to bring this exceptional cultural experience to our students at no cost to our district families or schools. It was a morning filled with beautiful music, learning, and inspiration!
Staying in Touch
For attendance, please contact:
alden.attendance@millbrookcsd.org
To update us about plans to pick up your child, please contact:
alden.parentpickup@millbrookcsd.org.
Library Books Due
Overdue notices have been distributed to students. Please be sure your students have returned their books and materials to the school library.
Fifth Graders Meets MS Team!
Our fifth graders are right around the corner from their next big adventure! We were thrilled to welcome the 6th-grade middle school team down to Alden Place to meet and work with our current 5th graders as they begin their transition into middle school academics.
All members of the middle school team introduced themselves and led our 5th graders through engaging activities in Math, ELA, and a fantastic lesson using the Question Formulation Technique. We know our students are in great hands, and they can't wait to head up to visit the middle school in June!
Renegades Stadium Field Trip
Alden Book Club:
Family, Friends and Fun
For our last Alden Book Club of the year, we are diving into stories that celebrate the bonds of family, the joy of friendship, and the pure fun of a grand adventure -- all things that make summer special in Millbrook!
Whether it’s sharing daily laughs with a sibling, uniting an unlikely group of neighborhood misfits, or exploring a vibrant city with a beloved grandparent and a faithful dog, these books remind us that the best journeys are the ones we share with others.
These picks invite us to embrace our unique qualities and remind us that with a bit of bravery and a sense of wonder, anyone can be the hero of their own story.
What is Alden Book Club?
At our Blue Ribbon Blazer Assembly each month, a special guest will introduce three texts with a shared theme. Ten copies of each text are available in the Alden Place Library.
(Titles are also available at Merritt Bookstore and the Millbrook Library.)
Throughout the month, students who read one of the books during independent reading or at home will be recognized at the next assembly. Thank you to the Millbrook Education Foundation and Merritt Bookstore for generously supporting this program!
Fun adventures with your brother and neighbors.
Meeting new friends in unexpected ways and being brave.
Stories about life in other countries and loving your dog.
Congratulations to our
Students of the Month!
Each month, our educators nominate one student per grade for each core value. All receive special recognition during our Blue Ribbon Blazer ceremony. This month's recipients have their names placed on the wall of our main lobby, and will have certificates sent home. Congratulations, and thank you to our teachers for recognizing students' excellence!
Purpose
I stay focused and work 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.
Get Your Millbrook Gear
Click here to visit the Millbrook School Store- Limited Time Only! 15% OFF $100 | Code SPARK20.
Blazer gear is a great gift for the new year!
Tracking Student Progress
The Parent Portal can be accessed on a computer, tablet, mobile browser, or through the SchoolTool mobile app. The app is available for download in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. To log in directly, visit Millbrook CSD’s SchoolTool portal at:.
https://st10.schooltool.com/Millbrook/Default.aspx
This URL must be entered into either the mobile app or web browser in order for you to be able to log in to your Parent Portal account.
If you need further assistance, please contact the main office where someone will gladly support!
Julie Ruuge
845-677-4220 ext. 4100
Updates from Pupil Personnel Services
Dear families,
You should have received an email with the subject line "Important Parent Survey" from my office.
Our school district is currently participating in the New York State Education Department (NYSED) State Performance Plan Indicator 8 (Parent Involvement) Survey. This survey is designed to gather feedback from families of students receiving special education services about their experiences working with schools..
Your input is extremely important. The results help NYSED and school districts understand how well schools are partnering with families and identify ways to improve services and outcomes for students with disabilities.
The survey:
Consists of 13 multiple-choice questions
Takes approximately 15 minutes to complete
Can be completed once per child receiving special education services
Is confidential and individual responses are not shared with the school district.
You may complete the survey online using the link below:
Parent Survey
You should have received a Student Survey ID with your email.
If you prefer a paper copy with a pre-paid envelope be sent home, please let me know.
Please complete the survey as soon as possible. Your participation plays a vital role in helping us improve how we support students and families.
Please keep in mind that if you are one of the families that filled out the survey during parent teacher conferences, your survey ID may not work.
If you have any questions or need assistance accessing or completing the survey, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your time and continued partnership.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Ana Nyarady
Interim Supervisor of PPS
Pupil Personnel Services/ENL
ana.nyarady@millbrookcsd.org
845-677-4200 ext. 1116
spp-indicator-8-flyer-for-families (2).pdfAna Nyarady - Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services
845-677-4200 ext. 1116
ananyarady@millbrookcsd.org
Danielle Leonardi - Administrative Assistant
845-677-4200 ext. 1107
danielleleonardi@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
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