MHS Principal's Message

January 10, 2012

Happy New Year! We are excited to have had our first character education assembly today. Mr. Jared Campbell came and spoke/sang with students around a number of different issues that touch the lives of students: tolerance, diversity, bullying, loss, choices... We received some very positive feedback from students and staff and hope your student enjoyed the show. This assembly was funded through our Building Leadership Team project that was approved recently by the District Steering Committee. We have plans for another dynamic assembly for the Spring.

As we enter the new calendar year, we rapidly approach the mid-point of the school year. This means mid-terms and Regents exams for most from 1/24-1/27. Please note that students do not come to school unless they are taking an exam.

For our seniors, this is time to finish their 4 year school career strongly. We want students to sprint across the finish line and be fully prepared to take advantage of whatever opportunities/plans they have prepared. We certainly ask for parents to help us combat the effects of senioritis.

Before you know it, June will be rapidly approaching. Now, if we can only get through the winter without another snow day....

Ed Kossmann

November 2, 2011

Thanks for your patience with our phone system being out. I hope you all have powered restored by now.

I has been wonderful to see our Blazer Girl's soccer team do so well this post-season! We wish our Blazer Girl's volleyball team equal success.

We had an assembly today about our bringing the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life to Millbrook HS next spring in May. We look forward to being the first high school in Dutchess County to host Relay for Life.

We are excited to host 'Take a Vet to School,' a Power To Learn event that is a joint venture between Cablevision and the History Channel. We will have Congressman Chris Gibson here along with veterans groups for the event where our AP Government class will make some presentations.

We also look forward to honoring our first group of 7 students as 'Students of the Quarter.' These are students who have been nominated by teachers as exemplifying the characteristics of our Millbrook Blazer PRIDE (Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence) model. We will host the students and their families for a light breakfast this Friday morning.

Don't forget the 1st Quarter ends next Thursday (we have Friday 11/11 off) and the first set of official grades come out. Remind students to turn work in, study and be in school! 

Ed Kossmann

October 19, 2011

Please see the attached file below ('News and Notes from MHS') for a recent update.

Thanks,

Ed Kossmann

August 18, 2011

As in the past, the first day of school is intended to orient the newest high school members. The incoming 9th graders, the class of 2015, will attend school from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.on September 7, 2011. Students will participate in team-building exercises, orient themselves in the school, run through a brief version of their daily schedule and be addressed by myself and Mr. Devincenzi to explain expectations for students in the high school.

Regular bus services will transport our freshmen to and from home. The entire student body will begin school on a regular schedule Thursday, September 8, 2011.

August 2011

Dear Millbrook High School Parents, Guardians and Students,

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this first welcome back to school letter to you for the upcoming 2011-12 school year. I look forward to a long tenure here in Millbrook and truly view this principalship as a highlight in my career. I have no doubt that we can continue the excellent reputation and track-record of Millbrook High School in all areas: academically, musically, artistically, athletically, and in all other co-curricular areas.

This year will also introduce you to some new faces in our faculty as well. Mr. Ashton Morris joins the Social Studies team and Ms. Sarah Wolf joins our Special Education team. Mr. Morris comes to us from Onteora Schools as an experienced and previously tenured teacher. Ms. Wolf joins us from Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES with 2 years of teaching experience in Special Education. Please help me give these new teachers a warm welcome to the district. We are truly lucky to have found such qualified candidates to join the faculty here.

Two other highlights for the upcoming year I wish to draw your attention to and inform you about are a new phone system and a new POS (Point of Sale) system for the cafeteria. The new phone system should be ready to install sometime in September. We are told that this system will not change the main district school phone numbers. However, the extension number system currently used will be replaced. The new POS system, Meals Plus, in the cafeteria will allow students to receive a PIN number that will link to an account that can be replenished online or via check. In short, enrolled students will not need cash to purchase lunch, just their PIN number linked to an account. Parents will be able to log into the account and review purchases while replenishing the account. As we have more details on both these systems, I will be sure to pass them along.

 Communication is vital to our being able to forge a partnership where we can work together to support students in their goal of a great high school experience and graduation. Please take a moment to ensure that your contact information is correct and up-to-date with the Main Office. I would like to get a newsletter started via email, so please make sure we have a current email address as well.

 Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Eduard R. Kossmann

                                    Millbrook Blazer PRIDE: Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Determination, Excellence