Mills High School Parent eNews
2/26/18
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Mills PTO Meetings

Date:  3rd Wed

Time:  7pm

Location: Faculty Lounge
___________________

Schedule of Key Events for 2017-18

Week of 2/26/18
  • Monday, February 26, Drama Guild Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm (Faculty Lounge)
  • Tuesday, February 27, Mills Track & Field Invitational Parent Meeting, 6:00-7:00 pm (Principal's Conference Room)
  • Wednesday, February 28, CCS Basketball Semifinals, Mills vs Riordan, 7:30 pm at St Ignatius
  • Thursday, March 1, Academic Planning Night, 6:30-8:00 pm (Auditorium)
  • Thursday, March 1, Millbrae-Support Our Students Campaign Kickoff, 5:30-7:30 pm, Sixteen Mile House
  • Friday, March 2, MHS Children's Theatre Performance, 4:00-5:00 pm, Millbrae Library, 1 Library Avenue

Week of 3/5/18
  • Monday, March 5, Drama Guild Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm (Faculty Lounge)
  • Wednesday, March 7, PTO Meeting, 7:00-8:30 pm (Faculty Lounge)

PTO President's Message

Dear Mills Families,

I've limited the amount of times I write this section because life gets in the way and reviewing each edition is often enough for me each weekend.  But then there are some weeks where I wish I could write a book!  There are two topics I'd like to bring up in this newsletter, neither of which are related.  I found a few more gray hairs, which means I'm not getting any younger ~ for every moment I rethink my actions, I'm losing out on sharing my thoughts with you.  So I hope your BART ride is comfy, or you have a slightly long coffee break this morning ~ you have me to join you.

First off, on behalf of the PTO, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.  May this year be brighter and more prosperous than last year, filled with happiness and good health.

Discrimination
Although my kids were raised not to see color, many people see it. Everyone loves to touch my eldest and youngest daughters' hair, as if it's like cotton candy.  It bothered my daughter, Ema, so much she worked hard in middle school to straighten her hair.  And, of course, there's different types of offense ~ my 10 year old daughter recently got into a argument with her classmates about not being Asian enough ~ or at all (she had to show them a map and explain that the Philippines was, indeed, in Southeast Asia).

But here's the thing.  I tell the story of my kids and the discrimination they have experienced, but as I reflect upon the events which took place at the Mills vs BHS game a few weeks ago, that was an unfortunate situation which we can ALL learn from.  That is, I think we could all use a moment to reflect on ourselves and how we contribute to what our kids say and do, whether it's intentional or unintentional.  Why is it okay to make jokes or make light of one particular race and not another, simply because we think they are either privileged or a majority?  It's not okay. And it's never okay to use derogatory terms if you take out a letter or a few syllables (from a distance, I've heard kids say things which make me do a double take and think ~ what makes this generation think it's okay to say THAT word?? It's not).  Whereas things were easier for me because I am a light skinned (and, yes, unfortunately, that matters) Asian growing up in different countries throughout Asia, my multiracial daughters, even today, live in a society where they have to be tougher, fight a little harder for their place at the table (whichever table they choose to sit at ~ the Latina one, Asian one, athletic one, you name it...).

For the most part, I believe most people don't mean to offend others; but unfortunately, we live in a world where there are others who do mean harm and their words and actions are meant to hurt; so I think we need to arm ourselves with as much knowledge about one another and compassion towards humanity.  Underneath the skin color and different languages we may speak, we have the same heart, the same desire to protect who and what we love.

School Shootings
I try to refrain from commenting on issues which may stir the political pot. I am aware that not everyone has the ability to write or speak in front of parents. Therefore, I do not take that honor lightly.  Anything I write means something to me or means enough for me to write about.  I'd like to share this article with you and I hope no one takes offense; if you do, please address your concerns to me directly and not Mills or the District. Please know that I support the U.S. military wholeheartedly.  I don't believe the article is an attack on our troops but an attack on a very broken system.  As Dr. Skelly said, we need to do better.  And as many people have written on social media and on news circuits, prayers and positive thoughts no longer do the families of the victims any good; drastic changes in our country need to occur soon.

Thank you all for taking the time to allow me to share all this.  Have a wonderful week!

Take care,

Joy Pasamonte Henry
Mills PTO President

Counselors' Connection

Academic Planning Night THIS THURSDAY, March 1st

The counseling team invites ALL 9TH, 10TH & 11TH GRADE PARENTS to attend our Academic Planning Workshop on Thursday, March 1st, from 6:30 to 8:00PM in the Auditorium. Parents will receive critical information on selecting courses, preparing for college, using Naviance, and much more. Don't miss out on this important evening!

Spanish, Mandarin & Cantonese interpretation will be available. Click on flyer below for details:

Academic Planning Night (English flyer)

Course Information Day

Friday, March 2nd, is Course Information Day, during which students have an opportunity to learn about electives and course offerings for next year. Here is the  Bell Schedule   for the day. Seniors will report to Mr. Gomez in the auditorium.

Course Requests Due 3/5

Students need to submit course requests for next year by Monday, March 5th:
  1. Submit a Course Request Form with a parent's signature, along with a signed AS/AP Commitment Form (if relevant),
  2. Submit course requests online in Aeries
Throughout March, counselors will meet individually with students to review and finalize course selections.

Mills Track & Field Invitational: Volunteers Needed

Mills Track and Field will be hosting an invitational on April 28th. We will require many parent volunteers for various duties such as setting up, posting results, selling t-shirts, etc.

There will be a meeting on Tuesday, February 27th, at 6 pm in the Principal's Conference room to start the planning and organizing process.

Please join us and be a part of this fun event!

PTO Meeting: Please Join Us on Wed, March 7th

3/7 PTO Meeting ~ 7pm Faculty Lounge
Principal Duszynski will be joining our meeting to give us a progress report on the renewal of our WASC Accreditation and AP Feit will provide parents with an informative overview of the different levels of support for our students.  
We will have time at the end for an open Q&A Session.  We look forward to seeing you at our meeting!
~ Mills PTO

Come Be a Part of the Vibrant Mills Community!

Volunteering at Mills ~ Help Please

Sadly, we will be losing our Annual Fund Fundraising Chairs, Mills Mania Chairs, Recording Secretary, and Membership Co-Chair next year. These are six key positions.  We have not had a Vice-President the entire time I have been President and we also need Chairs to fund key events: Teacher Appreciation Lunch/Breakfast, Graduation Reception, Career Day, Summer Career Fair, etc.

After a lot of soul searching, speaking with my family and Board, I have decided to stay on as President one final year (after a tough year, I contemplated stepping down). The PTO and I will need YOUR help.  We need to fill the spots listed AND we need to find a VP who I can train to fill my spot in 2019-2020.  The PTO is the umbrella for all parent groups at Mills and does a lot to support our students and faculty ~ it works better with a slew of volunteers.

Please email us at millshspto@gmail.com  if you are interested in any of the positions mentioned.  We cannot function without all the spots filled and without volunteers chairing events.

The PTO and I will need YOUR help in filling these important positions! Thank you ~ Joy

Gate Parents Group: "Not For Boys Only"

GATE Parents Group Speaker Series presents:
The Mask You Live In

Film Screening & Discussion for Students and Families

More than ever, today's teens are dealing with increased stresses of modern life and the pressures of "succeeding". The Mask you Live In, a film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, looks through the lens of what it means to be a man in our culture, and how our society's narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men and society at large. In a time when the #MeToo movement has exploded, The Mask You Live In is a must-see film for just about everyone! Warning: contains strong language, drugs and sexuality. Appropriate for high school and older students.

Click  here for more information, and for the  flyer.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018
7:00pm Screening
8:30pm Panel and Discussion

Burlingame High School
Alumni Room
1 Mangini Way, Burlingame


Community Corner: Support Millbrae Students!

Get Involved with the Millbrae - Support Our Students Campaign!

Come to the Campaign Kickoff!

Thursday, March 1, 2018
Sixteen Mile House, 448 Broadway
5:30-7:30 pm

Millbrae - Support Our Students is a grassroots committee of parents and community volunteers coming together to support our Millbrae schools.  

This June, Millbrae voters will have the chance to vote YES on a measure that will provide much needed local funding to ensure the quality of education provided to Millbrae students.

Click here for more information.

This newsletter is produced by the Mills High School PTO.  To include information in future weekly editions, please submit your school related news by Wednesday 8 PM the week prior to publication by filling out a Newsletter Submission Request Form.

 

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