Message from Superintendent Skelly |
Dear SMUHSD Families and Students
Week one of the 2020-21 school year is in the record books. Only 35 more to go!
Our themes for the year are Equity, Flexibility, and Choice. It’s crucial that we continually reflect on our efforts and modify according to the feedback we receive. Toward that end, staff will host the first of our series of Virtual Parent Education Convenings on Tuesday, September 1 at 6 p.m. We look forward to a robust conversation on student success in Distance Learning. We ask parents, guardians and students to tell us what’s on top of your heart and mind using the Thoughtexchange Platform as soon as possible.
This will inform the District on what issues families think are most important and drive the conversation toward providing information families need to help their students be successful. You can learn more by viewing this brief video.
On we go, with a commitment to exchange thoughts!
Sincerely,
Kevin Skelly, Ph.D.
Superintendent
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Although the Mills School Counselors are working remotely for now, we are eager to connect with our students and continue supporting their academic, college & career and personal growth. This year, counselors are assigned according to last name as follows:
Rachel Mack - A to Fr
Lisa Laux - Fun to Lee
Kalani Vasquez - Lei to Ng
Alex Stillman - Ngo to Z
Students wishing to meet with their counselor can drop in to our weekly office hours, and will soon also have the ability to schedule appointments with us online. Parents seeking to contact their student's counselor can find our contact information on our School Counseling website.
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Welcome to the Mills Family (or welcome back), and thank you to the 51 parents who attended our first 20-21 PTO meeting on Wednesday 8/19!
Let’s work together to ensure that learning and connection take place safely and successfully this year.
Who We Are
We are a dedicated group of parent volunteers, teachers, and staff who work directly with Principal Duszynski & administration to support the needs of our school.
What We Do
Your $50 membership and generous donation of time allow our PTO to:
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Provide parent volunteers & services to teachers, staff and students of Mills High School.
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Curate & send parent e-news coverage of important dates, events, activities, and relevant news to Mills.
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Educate & inform parents and the community on discussion topics, i.e. colleges, mental health, student activities/events, to better equip and assist the Mills community at Mills High School.
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Spearhead the Annual Fund campaign to provide much needed supplemental funding which directly benefits our students. More information will be coming your way in September on how the Annual Fund helps to elevate the enriching educational experience for which Mills is known.
How YOU Can Help
Here are ways to support our PTO and keep informed and involved at Mills High School this year:
· Regular email updates - sign up to receive school updates by going online to http://tinyurl.com/millspto or by texting MILLSPTO to 22828
· Attend our next PTO Meeting on Wednesday, September 16 at 7pm on Zoom regarding Distance Learning Technology (PTO meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month.)
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Update on Mills PTO Class Liaisons |
Hello Mills Family!
This year we are happy to announce that as part of the Mills PTO Board, we have a Class Liaison for each grade level who will be your connection to the Board and school. These Class Liaisons are parents in the school who have children in the grade levels they represent. Below are your Class Liaisons for this school year and their email addresses. Feel free to reach out to them with grade-level specific questions and they will help find the answer for you. They will also be sending out email notifications throughout the school year to share information about various events/topics that are of interest to each grade level. With the unusual times that we are currently living in, we realize there is a greater need for connection with each other. We hope you stay connected with us -- your Mills Family!
9th Grade Class Liaison
Karen Field
10th Grade Class Liaison
Lili Johnson
11th Grade Class Liaison
Kevin Yan
12th Grade Class Liaison
Angelica Gonzalez
We hope you are all well and staying healthy!
-Mills HS PTO
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Rapid Relief Fund (RRF) Update |
Welcome back Viking Families! Our distanced learning is now underway with a renewed sense of education and commitment to our MHS community. As you may know, last spring, the PTO in partnership with the MHS administration, our MHS community partners and fantastic MHS families, created the Rapid Relief Fund (RRF). The RRF was created specifically to address the emergency needs of our fellow MHS families who have lost jobs, lost housing and/or have fallen ill. More recently, a housing fire also highlighted the need for emergency funds to support our MHS families.
To date, we have supported over 60 MHS families with grocery and pharmacy gift cards to make sure those at Mills who are most vulnerable can still have access to food, medicine and household essentials to weather this pandemic a little easier.
The PTO is excited to announce that the RRF was granted charitable status by PayPal which reduces the transaction fees so that even more of each donation goes directly to those who need it most. If you donate (or donate again), more of every dollar provides a lifeline for a recipient family. https://www.smuhsd.org/Page/894
Together we are Viking Strong!
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Parent Volunteer Opportunity |
Are you looking for a way to volunteer and support our teachers and staff during this new era of distance learning? Look no further! Our MHS PTA is forming a volunteer "help desk" to provide technology support to our teachers and staff. We're looking for volunteers from our Viking parent community who are comfortable trouble-shooting and providing technology assistance, especially with Zoom and other video conference and eLearning technology.
If you are able to provide support, please complete the MHS Parent Technology Volunteers form. We appreciate your help in providing a strong start to this uniquely challenging school year!
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Foro Virtual de Familias Latinas |
El Superintendente del Distrito, Dr. Kevin Skelly, los invita a participar en el:
Foro Virtual de Familias Latinas
el Lunes 24 de Agosto, de 6:30 a 8:00 pm.La junta se conducirá exclusivamente en español.
Súmense para recibir las últimas novedades sobre los planes para comenzar el nuevo año escolar. Su participación es imperativa. Esta es su oportunidad de expresar sus inquietudes y preguntas.
Meeting ID: 938 1779 0427
Passcode: 587521
Si desean enviar preguntas con antelación, por favor hágalo a través de un correo electrónico a la siguiente dirección: comments@smuhsd.org
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In the News
How to give kids a sense of routine and stability in a school year that is anything but normal
The uncertainty of what school will look like and how long all of this will go on, along with the fear of the virus, are stressful for parents and kids alike. Research suggests that stress and trauma can affect executive function, which includes skills in organization, critical thinking and problem-solving, planning, decision-making and executing tasks. (Ana Homayoun)
— The Washington Post: On Parenting
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Are You Overpraising Your Child?
All those “Good jobs!” might be undermining kids’ independence and self-confidence.
It’s helpful to praise what your child has control over, such as the choices they made along the way of solving a problem or drawing a picture. This helps keep expectations realistic, and encourages them to continue doing the activity.
— The New York Times: Parenting
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400 Murchison Drive
Millbrae, CA 94030
Phone: 650.558.2599
Fax: 650.558.2552
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