April 2026

News from...

Dear Millbrook Families...

We our now in the home stretch as the third quarter comes to a close and our final quarter is just around the corner. In the upcoming month we have lots of very important dates to look out for that include NYS Testing in ELA (and Math in early May), our 8th grade trip to Washington D.C and of course our return from Spring Break. The 8th grade team will be in contact as the Washington D.C trip approaches with final reminders and rooming/bussing assignments that will be provided the day before the trip. I look forward to the many adventures and learning that our 8th graders will have on our capstone trip to Washhington D.C, it is always such an incredible experience to see history come to life in the place where it happened.

Attendance, lateness, and student sign-outs will be handled in the main office. Call 677-4210, x3129 to report an absence as soon as possible in the morning. An email communication to to our attendance office is an acceptable and legal form of communication: mms.attendance@millbrookcsd.org . Please call the main office in the case of an extended absence (two or more days) so that we are aware. To prevent your child from becoming overwhelmed by catching up on assignments, please be sure that work is done and submitted in a timely fashion so long as your child is well enough to complete it.

Dates to Note in April

10- PEACE Breakfast
14- ENL Night
15-17- 8th Grade Washington DC Trip
17- Q3 End Date
20- National Library Week, Start of Q4 & PR 4
22- Gr 8 Science Test
24-25- NYSSMA Solo Festival
29-30- NYS ELA Testing

May

6-7- NYS Math Testing
22-25- Memorial Day Break School Closed

Don't forget to follow us on twitter @MMSBlazers or Instagram @BlazersMMS to see our Blazers in action.

RSS Internet Safety for Parents (6).pdf

MMS is the newest Blue Ribbon School!!!

Every year the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. More than 9,000 schools across the country have been presented with this coveted award. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

Ms. Anita Clarke came to Millbrook to see all of the great things that we do. She appreciated the warm hospitality during the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence visit to Millbrook Middle School and working with and engaging with our dedicated faculty, families, and students. She recognized our commitment to providing strong structures and meaningful support for both the school community and individual learners and thought it to be admirable and refreshing. She wanted us to extend her thanks to everyone for their openness, professionalism, and authenticity. As always the dedication of this learning community is one we do not take for granted.

We are so excited that Millbrook Middle School has been officially recognized as one of the newest 2026 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) Lighthouse Schools in the nation!

We thank everyone who works inside and outside of this building for making this the best place to educate children. Go Blazers!

Elementary All County Festival & MIOSM

The following 6th Grade Band & Chorus students participated in the All County Elementary Festival:

Henry Boettger - Percussion

Owen Lewis - Alto Saxophone

Hailey Quinn - Trumpet

Beatrice Snyder - Clarinet

Wyatt Gosselin - Chorus

Freya Hersey- Chorus

Ms. Domino Recognized as a Blue Ribbon Blazer

Ms. Kelly Domino was recognized as the Blue Ribbon Blazer Award winner for the month of April. Ms. Domino goes above and beyond each and every day at Millbrook Middle School. As a school counselor, she is a calm, empathetic, and caring listener that works with students to learn to navigate the many challenges of middle school. She always works with students and their families to give children the skills to work to solve their problems whether they be academic, social, emotional or behavioral. She is a constant collaborator who serves students at every level by working with all teacher teams to best support our students.

While Ms. Domino is regularly hosting lunch bunches, counseling and mediations in her office, she can be found in the classroom as well. She regularly teaches lessons to our 5th graders at Alden Place and our 6th graders at MMS. She plans lessons in character education , social emotional supports and contests to build school spirit that teachers can implement in their HomeBase.

She will be taking a leave to welcome the birth of her first child, but has already laid the foundations for our 5th grade transitions to 6th grade. She has already begun meeting and planning with her temporary replacement. She will be missed, but we are all very excited for her and proud to name her our Blue Ribbon Blazer!

NJHS Induction Ceremony

A total of 14 students joined the prestigious Millbrook Chapter of the National Junior Honor society in front of existing members, parents/guardians, board members, and administration. After an evaluation of their qualifications in the areas of scholarship, character, service, and leadership, these select few followed in the footsteps of exceptional individuals to be recognized with this honor going back nearly 90 + years. A reception followed the induction as the attendees celebrated this achievement. Many thanks to Ms. Guley and Ms. Winters for all of their work on the event and the PTO for the snacks and decorations.

Congratulations to the NJHS Class of 2026!

Emma Bunga Jack Nichols

Mateo Bunga Harold Partelow

Jordan Eades Harvey Ryan

Evie Gonzalez Finneas Snyder

Evelyn Licis Robert Sosa

Thomas Martin Leif Spafford

Glory Ngouzong Claire Zmudosky

We Need Your Help!

We NEED Your Help! If you have any cool pictures of our students in action, we would LOVE to see them and promote them on Instagram, X, and our Newsletter.

Please email any images to mms.attendance@millbrookcsd.org

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! Vote will be open until May 15th.

Student Government Visits Albany!

I am writing to you as the President of the Student Government at Millbrook Middle School to express our sincere gratitude for the opportunity to visit Albany recently. It was an incredible experience for all of us here in Dutchess County. Meeting Senator Michelle Hinchey was a personal highlight for us. It was inspiring to discuss local issues with her and see firsthand how our state government functions. We also thoroughly enjoyed exploring the museums and, of course, the variety of options at the food court! Thank you for supporting these types of educational trips. They truly enrich our learning and make us feel more connected to our community and New York State.

Best regards,

Thomas Stalker

President, Student Government

Millbrook Middle School

It was fantastic that both our state assembly member and Senator made time in their very busy schedules to meet with the students and discuss the important work they do. We are very grateful to the folks in their respective offices who worked with me to make that happen. MMS Student Government continue to meet and collaborated with Mr. Cabello on upcoming events and actions that they are looking to take in the coming months to make meaningful change here at Millbrook for years to come. We are all so proud of their efforts!

NYS ELA & Math & Science Testing

Grades 5 & 8 New York State Science exam April 22nd, 2026

Grades 3-8 New York State English Language Arts (ELA) exam April 29th & 30th, 2026

Grades 3-8 New York State Mathematics exam May 6th & 7th, 2026

The purpose of these exams is the following:

-to provide data and identify student progress in these content areas;

-to identify the needs for Academic Intervention Services (AIS) and to provide more immediate student supports;

-to prepare students for the rigorous testing environment they will experience on the NYS Regents; and

-to predict student performance on Regents exams.

These state assessments do not impact student grades. Instead, they are one of many evaluation measures used to monitor student progress.

If your child intends to refuse the New York State exam, the District will need you to notify the principal or main office secretary specifically stating your intention to refuse the NYS assessment prior to the test taking day. Math, ELA and 8th Grade Science teachers have created Grade Level assignments for all students who refuse the NYS Examinations. This will allow our teachers to collect data and give them the opportunity to assess all students’ current progress within the content area to provide personalized learning for all students.

Accelerated students who take Algebra and/or Earth Science at the high school are automatically exempt from these exams since they wil be taking a Regents exam at the end of the school year.

Believe it or not... 8th Graders are headed to Washington, DC!

The time has come for our 8th graders to take their capstone field trip to Washington D.C this month. We always look forward to this event as it allows our students to see the history they have learned about all year come to life.

Parents, be on the lookout for an informational email from Mr. Gilroy for some important reminders as you start assisting your child in preparing for the trip. We thank you for all of your support as always.

Blazers in Action

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Wellness Corner

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News From Our
Supervisor of Student Services

Millbrook Wellness Fair

Join us for one of the most exciting community events of the year!

• Date: Monday, April 27
• Time: 5:30 PM
• Location: Millbrook High School

We encourage all families to attend this incredible Wellness Fair featuring 50+ vendors from across Dutchess County, all right here in your backyard.

• Explore local fitness and wellness opportunities including Pilates, martial arts, pickleball, golf, and more
• Connect with community organizations like Raiders Football and other youth programs
• Discover promotions, programs, and ways for your family to get involved and stay active

We know life is busy, but this is a can’t-miss event. If you are looking for ways to support your family’s health, stay active, and build stronger community connections, this is it.

Click here for the Millbrook Wellness Fair Website!