Elm Drive News
Elm Drive News
Embedded Files
May is set to be another exciting and eventful month for our students and families. We are looking forward to a number of engaging activities and meaningful school-wide events, including the Spring Music Festival, Open House, Staff Appreciation Month celebrations, and our Scholastic Book Fair. Additionally, please be reminded that we will have a Reunification Drill on May 12th at 1 p.m. with ALL Kindergarten students. Communication went home to families and we will send out a reminder as we get closer. Please reach out with any questions.
There’s so much to look forward to—please see below for important dates!
Samantha Lynch
845-677-4225 ext. 5102
Elm Drive Elementary Principal
Budget Vote
Budget Vote
BUDGET VOTE MAY 19,2026
12:00 PM TO 9:00 PM
MILLBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND ROOM
(NEXT TO THE AUDITORIUM)
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
May 1: School Lunch Hero Day/2nd Grade Cary Institute Field Trip
May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: School Nurse Day
May 6: 2nd Grade Panoramic Picture
May 12: Elm Kindergarten Reunification Drill 1 p.m.
May 14: Staff Appreciation Lunch/Wear Green Day (Mental Health Awareness)
May 18: Speech Pathologist's Day
May 19: Elm Drive Spring Concert at MHS/District Budget Vote
May 21: Blazer Assembly (Students Only)
May 26-29: Book Fair
May 28: Open House 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Families Welcome)
June 5: Field Day
June 8: ENL Cultural Day Celebration/Field Day Rain Date
June 9: 2nd into 3rd Grade Orientation at Alden (Students Only)
June 12: Flag Day Celebration (Students Only)
June 18: Blazer Assembly (Students Only)
June 25: Last Day for Students
Elm Drive Recognized by Project Adam
Elm Drive Recognized by Project Adam
With Sudden Cardiac Arrest, every moment counts. Project ADAM recognizes schools, sporting programs, and community sites that are Heart Safe. Elm Drive has worked to connect the resources needed to respond during those first critical minutes after a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. We are so proud to be recognized by Project Adam as a school prepared to keep our community safe!
Project ADAM has saved lives, and can do so in our community as well.
Paraprofessional & Administrative Professionals Day
Paraprofessional & Administrative Professionals Day
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our paraprofessionals and administrative assistants for all that you do. In April, we celebrated Paraprofessionals Day and Administrative Assistants Day, and we truly appreciate the important role you play in supporting our students, staff, and school community.
Grandparents'/Special Friends Day 2026!
Grandparents'/Special Friends Day 2026!
Elm Learning & Fun!
Elm Learning & Fun!
Whether we’re getting lost in a good book during Mystery Reading, laughing together at recess, or celebrating at our Elm Drive events, the moments we share here make Elm Drive a truly special place!
From now through June, our mystery reading theme will focus on Social-Emotional Learning by using the RULER approach—helping students recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate emotions. As we read, we’ll explore how characters’ feelings influence their actions and decisions.
Pre-K is having so much fun in their Plant Unit! They are learning about plant parts, what plants need to grow, and different kinds of plants. Students are exploring through plant-themed play-based centers, including running a “Flower Shop,” building with flower materials, and planting real sunflower seeds. They are so excited to watch their flowers grow and sending them home to continue caring for them!
Earth Dome in Honor of Earth Day!
Earth Dome in Honor of Earth Day!
Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring the Mobile Ed Earth Dome in celebration of Earth Day this April! Students had a memorable experience engaging in this interactive assembly, which provided a hands-on way to explore geography, the environment, and how different parts of the world are connected.
Arbor Day
Arbor Day
Millbrook Shade Tree Committee
Millbrook Shade Tree Committee
Thank you to the Millbrook Shade Tree Committee for their generous tree donation in honor of Arbor Day. Your support helps keep our first grade’s annual Arbor Day tree planting tradition alive!
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Core values
This year, you may hear more about 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.
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.
Congratulations to our Blue Ribbon Blazers!
Congratulations to our Blue Ribbon Blazers!
Each month, we recognize one student from each grade who demonstrates one of our Core Values, and they are proudly awarded certificates. We are so proud of our students for the positive examples they set each day. In addition, we honor a staff member as well. This month, our Elm Drive monitor was nominated! Ms. Monahan was recognized for exemplifying the core value of community. Her smiling face brightens our days—she is always ready to lend a helping hand and helps make our school a place where everyone can grow and shine together.
Wellness Corner
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
May 14th- Join us in WEAR IT GREEN DAY!
May 11-17- Mental Health Awareness Week
At Millbrook Central School District, we recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health. Throughout the month, we are committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing resources to support the emotional well-being of all students. We encourage everyone to take time for self-care, check in on friends, and reach out if you need support.
May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
Order Your Yearbook Now!
Order Your Yearbook Now!
Read Aloud QR Codes-Dr. Seuss FUN!
An Important Medication Alert From The Nurse
This is a friendly reminder to all parents and families that before any prescribed medication can be administered to any student during school hours, the school requires one, a written request from the parent(s) or (guardians) giving permission for such administration, two, a written note from the prescribing medical provider which will include the student's name, the date and name of the medication, the purpose of the medication, the dosage and time to be administered, and a list of all the possible side effects and three, a medication request form which includes the health care provider and parent signatures.
All prescribed medications to be administered during school hours should be delivered by a parent, guardian, or other designated adult to the staff at the front door for delivery to the School Nurse. (Students are not to deliver medications to the School Nurse or carry and/or self-administer medications during school hours.) All medications delivered to the school should be in their original dispensed boxes or containers with the attached pharmacy prescription labels on them. The medications should be placed and sealed in a clear plastic bag and labeled with the student's full name for delivery to the School Nurse. We appreciate your compliance with this policy in order to maintain the continued saftey of our students.
Safety Reminders
Safety Reminders
For the safety of our students, parents and visitors are NOT PERMITTED to enter the building during the school day.
If your child is arriving late, leaving early, or you need to drop something off, please use the buzzer at the front door. A member of our main office staff will meet you at the entrance to assist.
All student sign-in and sign-out procedures will take place OUTSIDE the building.
Families will receive one week’s notice prior to any scheduled safety drills.
For everyone’s safety, please do not hold the door for others—even if you know them. All visitors must be buzzed in by the main office.
Please be mindful of students in the parking lot during parent pick-up and drop-off. We understand that the parking lot can be busy at these times, and your patience and caution help keep all of our students safe. Thank you for slowing down, following staff directions, and staying alert. Your cooperation makes a big difference in ensuring a safe and smooth drop-off and dismissal for everyone.
Student Drop Off/Pick Up
Student Drop Off/Pick Up
Student drop-off begins at 8:40 a.m. at the main entrance, which serves as the single point of entry each morning. Parents/guardians must park their car and walk their child to the main entrance; no parents enter the building.
Dismissal begins at 3:15 p.m. for all other students. If you are picking up your child, please park in the side parking lot and proceed to the side All-Purpose Room door, where staff will assist with sign-out. We kindly ask that once you have signed your child out, you exit in a timely manner so that dismissal can run smoothly.
Please note: Parents/guardians may not pick up students directly from the main office. All student sign-in and sign-out procedures will take place OUTSIDE the building. For safety, identification is required each time a child is signed out.
If you are picking up your child early, you must do so before 3 p.m. to avoid disrupting dismissal procedures.
REMINDERS:
Always send an email or note if you are picking up your child from school if they're not normally Parent Pick Up.
**The email address for these requests is elm.parentpickup@millbrookcsd.org**
*Please be mindful of students in the parking lot during parent pick-up and drop-off. We understand that the parking lot can be busy at these times, and your patience and caution help keep all of our students safe. Thank you for slowing down, following staff directions, and staying alert. Your cooperation makes a big difference in ensuring a safe and smooth dismissal for everyone.
Transportation & Attendance
Transportation & Attendance
Please CLICK HERE or visit the transportation page on our District website. Feel free to call the First Student Bus Company at 845-677-6666 if you need assistance or Transportation Secretary, Jessica McRoberts at 845-677-4200 ext. 1104.
To communicate about absences, please email:
elm.attendance@millbrookcsd.org.
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. The email address is: elm.parentpickup@millbrookcsd.org
“Chronic absence” is defined as missing at least 10% of the school days for which a student is enrolled over the course of an academic year for any reason. It serves as an early warning sign that children may be falling behind academically and are at risk of academic failure.
As a friendly reminder, our Board of Education policy emphasizes that consistent, daily attendance is essential for student success. The Board is committed to reducing unexcused absences, tardiness, and early departures, and we need your partnership to make this possible for your child. We will continue to monitor attendance closely and be in communication when we see these trends and work collaboratively with families to find solutions that ensure we provide interventions aimed at our students maximizing their potential. Our team led by, Principal, Samantha Lynch, and School Psychologist, Elizabeth Rizzi, will be working with students and their families who are regularly missing school to create personalized plans of support to ensure we get the most of our time at Elm Drive!
A.C.E.s (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
Supporting our children mentally, emotionally, and socially is of the utmost importance to the faculty and staff at Elm Drive Elementary. Many children may have difficulty expressing how they feel or adjusting to the social and academic rigors of school. Our staff are learning how exactly these circumstances are impacting the overall well-being of our children, students, and families and want to help navigate these challenging times together.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are stressful or traumatic events that can lead to social, emotional, and cognitive impairment that impact the overall functioning of a student. Exposure to ACEs produces chronic stress that often leads to children struggling in school because of their inability to focus, process information, and or cope emotionally.
The importance of continuing to support our children and putting in place protective factors are essential. Understanding how our children experience various circumstances is pertinent for their overall growth and success. Therefore, the mental health staff at the middle school are committed to sharing information about ACEs with school personnel to help guide social-emotional support throughout the building. Thank you for supporting your children at home and partnering with school staff.
If you are interested in learning more about ACEs please visit the following websites:
Please contact Samantha Lynch (Building Principal) for any questions or concerns related to ACES.
samantha.lynch@millbrookcsd.org
845 - 677 - 4225 ext. 5102
and/or
Elizabeth Rizzi, School Psychologist
845-677-4225 ext. 5126
Handle with Care
If your family is experiencing difficulties at home, we would like to provide additional support at school. We understand that you are not always able to share details and that's okay. If your child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning or weekend, please let us know. A simple email to our team with the subject line "Handle with Care." Nothing else will be said or asked. This will let us know that your child may need extra time, patience, or help during the day.
Click Here To Access the Google Form or Click on the QR Code above
Lost and Found
If you notice your child’s belongings in the lost and found, please contact the main office at 677-4225 ext. 5108 or ext. 5100.
Interested in Joining PTO?
Interested in Joining PTO?
Get Your Gear!
Get Your Gear!
We encourage students & staff to show their Millbrook Pride by wearing our school colors.
Get your Blazer Friday Fresh Gear Now!
Click here to visit the Millbrook School Store
20% off on Blazer Gear!!!
Millbrook Listens Vote is Open!
Millbrook Listens Vote is Open!
The voting period for Millbrook Listens is now officially OPEN! They have listened to what our neighbors care about most and after analyzing the results have identified 14 distinct ideas and 10 new community groups to be formed. All are welcome to vote and participate in what matters most to you! For details visit the Millbrook Listens landing page here. Hard copies will be mailed this week.
"Sound off, sound off, it's time to be heard!" - Dr. Harold Hoovey
To vote click here! Voting will be open until May 15th.
Student Services Website
Student Services Website
Student Services Website
The Student Services website is a great resource for students and families. Please check out the details by clicking here.
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
ASD Panel - 2026 Recruitment Flyer.pdfASD Panel - 2026.pdfENL Night
Thank you to our ENL team who helped make our ENL World Cup Night a huge success! Students from different grade levels competed in exciting indoor soccer matches against their parents, showing incredible teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit. It was a wonderful evening of fun, community, and friendly competition!
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