MTSD September Newsletter 2024

MTSD Board Corner

The MTSD Mission Statement and Vision of Learning was finalized in March of 2020 after an 18 month long community engagement process. Every five years thereafter, the School Board must review and update them. Once that is set, the School Board, in collaboration with the Superintendent, develops the MTSD Five Year Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is how the District will strive to achieve the Mission and Vision. We are currently in year four of our five year Strategic Plan.

Annually, the school district, and then each school, takes the Strategic Plan and develops their Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) which is what gets submitted to the state to ensure that every school is focused on improving student achievement. The Agency of Education (AOE) requires schools to do this through an aligned curriculum, high quality evidence-based instruction, a comprehensive assessment system, tiered levels of support, and on-going professional development.

The School Board strives to keep the Mission and Vision at the forefront of all decision making and monitors the District’s progress through updates from each school’s principals, the Superintendent’s reports, and presentations about school improvement initiatives. This information is all presented to the School Board at their public meetings so that community members can stay informed on the District’s progress as well (see the MTSD website for meeting dates).

The School Board Monitors District Goals by:

Reviewing student academic progress and wellness (through Presentations to the Board)
Learning about District initiatives and professional learning toward achieving those goals (Superintendent and Principal’s Reports)
Ensuring that the Continuous Improvement Plan aligns with the Strategic Plan

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Board Information: Get the latest info on board meetings.
Budget Information: Stay informed about the budget process and ways to get involved.
Facilities Updates: Stay informed about community engagement opportunities for capital planning, and. keep track of current projects.
District Newsletter: Enjoy stories, events, and highlights from our schools.

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Faculty & Staff Recognition

Every year, the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) at the University of Vermont, together with Vermont supervisory unions and school districts, the Vermont Agency of Education, and the Vermont NEA, join to honor the accomplishments of our state’s outstanding educators.

Congratulations to Celia Watson and Therese Drummey for their exceptional achievements! They were given the Milton Outstanding Educators Awards-Celia represents the elementary level, and Therese represents secondary level. Your dedication to education is truly inspiring!

We're thrilled to announce that Andrea Bevins, one of our dedicated custodians at Milton High School, has been recognized as the Statewide Custodian of the Year!

Andrea's exceptional work, unwavering dedication, and positive impact on our school community have earned her this well-deserved honor. She goes above and beyond every day to ensure our school is a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for students, staff, and visitors.

Join us in celebrating Andrea's incredible achievement! Thank you, Andrea, for all that you do.

Spirit Week at MHS

Milton High School recently wrapped up an incredible Spirit Week, filled with fun, creativity, and school pride! From themed dress-up days to energetic events, students and staff came together to celebrate what it means to be a Yellowjacket. The week was capped off with our annual Day of Service, where students stepped out into the community to make a positive impact. Check out the photos below to see the highlights of this spirited week!

Day of Service

Each year, Milton High School students participate in a Day of Service to honor the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001. This meaningful event allows our students to step into the community, and work together to clean, repair, and enhance the beauty of Milton.

Meet Scott MHS's New Principal

We’re excited to introduce Scott Sivo, our new principal at Milton High School! Scott comes from a family of educators and brings over 20 years of experience to our school. He’s passionate about creating schools where students feel safe, cared for, and truly belong. Scott’s journey in education began at Colby College, where he majored in Government and minored in Education. He later earned his master’s in administration from Endicott College and has held leadership roles in several schools. He has a deep appreciation for storytelling and believes in its power to create a sense of connection and belonging within the school community. Now, he’s ready to make an impact here at MHS!

Getting to Know Scott: Fun Questions

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
"I could use a few extra hours a day to get all my emails answered...so I’d like to be able to 'turn time.'"
What’s your favorite food?
"Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! I can’t get enough of them."
What’s your favorite sport or hobby?
"I’m a huge fan of live music, especially jam bands and bluegrass, and I’m a die-hard Aston Villa supporter in the Premier League."
How do you spend your time when you’re not at school?
"My family has a camp in the Adirondacks, where we love to hike, paddle, and fish. I also follow English football (soccer) closely, and my mood often matches the fortunes of Aston Villa Football Club."
What’s something surprising people might not know about you?
"In college, I was a starter on the Colby College rugby team that made it to the National Final Four for Division II. My whole family drove in a minivan to Ohio State University to watch us compete."
What’s your favorite book or movie, and why?
"The Royal Tenenbaums might be my favorite film of all time."
If you weren’t in education, what career do you think you’d be in?
"When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming a politician. Running for office still sounds exciting!"

We’re Looking Forward to Great Things with Scott!

As Scott settles into his role, we’re looking forward to seeing how his leadership will shape our school. He’s eager to get to know everyone and become part of the MHS community. Scott’s love for storytelling will help weave the fabric of our school, ensuring that every student and staff member feels like an important part of the MHS story.

Let’s give him a warm welcome as he joins our team and brings his unique perspective to our school community!

Math Camp!

In June MTSD hosted a fantastic two-week grant-funded Math Camp for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Each morning, 43 enthusiastic students had fun learning new math skills, while 20 of our dedicated teachers and support staff spent the whole day learning new ways to teach math in ways that support all students. This camp was offered to all students in these grades, and we had a blast!

Our teachers worked with the All Learners Network, a Vermont-based group that helps schools make math learning great for everyone. Their goal is to make sure every student gets the best math education and every teacher has the tools and training to provide it.

The All Learners Network helps teachers by increasing their math knowledge, giving helpful feedback, and building strong teaching skills. They believe in being present in schools over time, not just for a single session, to truly make a difference. This is our fourth year working with them in both our elementary and middle schools.

One of the big ideas our teachers focused on is called High Leverage Concepts (HLCs). These are the most important math ideas that students need to learn to be ready for the next grade. The HLC Learning Progressions show the steps students take to understand these key concepts. Teachers also use High Leverage Assessments (HLAs) to see what students already know and what they need to learn next.

With these tools, we are working to solve the challenges in math learning and help every student succeed. We’re excited about the future and can’t wait to share more about our plans to support our students in their math journey.

Two students, Lilly Boyer (6th grade) and Christy Nguyen (5th grade) and their teachers Logan LaMoy and Catherine Thibault-Cote from Milton Middle School spoke about their experiences at Math camp at the September 10th School board meeting.

MTSD Event Calendar

Check out the upcoming MTSD and community events! Please note that not all events may be listed, and details are subject to change. Stay updated by visiting our events calendar. For the full year schedule visit our school year calendar here.

September 19 - Community Activities Fair & Community Dinner @ MHS

September 20 - MHS School Picture Day

October 10 - Professional Development Day, No Students

October 11 - No School

October 15 - Community Engagement Board Forum