Milton Town School District
 

MTSD NEWSLETTER

September 2026

 

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome Back

Welcome Back, MTSD Families!

The 2026-2027 school year is underway, and it has been wonderful to see our students and staff back in our schools! We hope the year is off to a positive start for our returning families and those new to the Milton Town School District. Our goal is to ensure every student feels known, supported, and inspired to learn, grow, and discover their strengths and passions. We are grateful for the dedicated faculty and staff who make our schools caring, engaging, and welcoming places to learn.

Family partnership is an important part of student success. We encourage you to stay connected, participate in school activities, and reach out whenever you have questions or concerns. As the world around us continues to change, our commitment remains constant: providing every student with a safe, joyful, and high-quality learning experience each day.

Your Presence Matters

September is National Attendance Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, #YourPresenceMatters, reminds us that showing up matters - not only for academic learning, but also for relationships, belonging, and the skills students build every day at school. Regular attendance helps students stay connected to their teachers, classmates, and school community.

We know that families sometimes face challenges that make getting to school difficult. Schools and families working together are key to overcoming those challenges. Throughout September, we’ll be sharing messages and resources focused on the importance of attendance and the impact of chronic absence. Our goal is to support every student in being here, engaged, and ready to learn.

Together, we can make sure our students are here today so they can be ready for tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Amy

 
 

What New at the District?

Introducing Rooms: A New Way to Stay Connected

 Building on the website, mobile app, and mass notification system we launched last year through Apptegy, we are excited to introduce our newest communication tool: Rooms.

Integrated directly into the Milton Town School District app and website, Rooms offers a safe, simple, two-way messaging platform designed to bring our school community closer together. It will be the primary means for communication between the school and families. 

Why Rooms?

• One place to stay connected: School announcements, classroom updates, and teacher messages can all be accessed in one convenient location—no need to manage multiple apps or extra logins.

• Automatic text notifications: Choose to receive text alerts when you have a new message, helping you stay informed even when you haven’t opened the app.

• Safe and secure: Built-in moderation and privacy features help create a safe, supportive communication environment for students, staff, and families.

 

Getting Started:

New to the Milton Town School District app?
Download the free app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and get connected today.

Already have the app?
No new download is needed! Rooms will automatically be available in the app beginning August 27. Simply update the app if prompted, sign in, and you’ll be ready to access classroom updates and messages from your child’s teacher.

We’re excited to make staying connected with our schools easier, more convenient, and more meaningful for every Milton family!

Link: Rooms Resources for Families

 

SCHOOL HIGHTLIGHTS

MES

Year of the Book Launch: Reading Sparks Joy!

We are excited to launch our Year of the Book: Reading Sparks Joy! at Milton Elementary School!

As part of our opening inservice, staff spent an afternoon learning more about our CLiF grant and thinking together about how we can inspire our students to discover—and rediscover—the joy of reading. Staff were invited to reflect on books that have made an impact on their lives: a favorite childhood book, a book they loved as a student, a book that shaped them as a teacher, or simply a story they have never forgotten.

And then came the fun part! Our staff put their incredible artistic talents to work, creating original book covers inspired by their favorite stories. These covers will welcome our students back to school and serve as a reminder that behind every great book is a story waiting to spark curiosity, connection, imagination, and joy.

This is just the beginning! We are looking forward to our first school-wide Year of the Book event on September 17, when we will welcome our first guest author and celebrate reading together. Every student will also receive a book of their very own to take home! Our next school wide event, A Family Literacy Night is scheduled for October 13th from 4-6pm.

We can't wait to see where this year of reading takes us.

Fueled by curiosity. Connected by stories.

 

MMS

 A Strong & Welcoming Start for the New School Year!

Our Back to School BBQ was a huge success and wonderfully well-attended! It was fantastic to welcome students and families into our building, share a delicious meal prepared by our Nutritional Service team, and give everyone a chance to connect with both new and returning staff and students. Families were also able to visit our lobby setup to access important information regarding PowerSchool, Milton Minds in Motion, school athletics, and the PTA.

The excitement continued into the first day with our Welcome Back Assembly in the MMS gym, bringing staff and students together as a unified school community. You could feel the positive energy as we introduced our teams and reviewed key expectations to help set everyone up for a successful year ahead. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the start of the school year so memorable!

 

MHS

Milton High School Remembering 9/11 Through 6th Annual Day of Service

Every September, MHS transforms the anniversary of September 11th, 2021 into a day of unity and local action. On Wednesday, September 16th, MHS marks its 6th annual Day of Service, sending 31 teacher advisories (TAs) out into the community to complete hands-on community service projects.

Over the years, MHS TAs have taken on a wide range of local service efforts. Some of the traditional service projects include: caring for the historic grounds of Milton Cemetery, performing seasonal maintenance and cleanup at Bombardier Park, running a car wash to fundraise for Milton Community Center, harvesting produce at Ballard’s Farm, and creating art projects for the children’s hospital.

Building on this tradition, the school is particularly proud of a new initiative launched last year where our students hosted a statewide Unified Sports Field Day right on school grounds. MHS students invite Unified athletes from across Vermont to connect, play games, and build friendships ahead of the upcoming Unified Sports seasons. This year, the event expands as MHS welcomes visiting teams from Burlington, South Burlington, and Middlebury high schools to join the festivities during the school day.

An undertaking of this scale requires months of preparation. Beyond the essential support of MHS faculty and administration, huge credit goes to Service Learning Coordinator Sara Meigs and the student planning committee, who dedicated a portion of their summer break to organizing the logistics.

2026 Student Planning Committee:

• Emily Banacos

• Yermos Damas

• Alex Harlow

• Kelsey Heath

• Henry Nguyen

• Maggie Pitts

• Danielle Pulling

• Charlotte Rose

• Willow Villemaire

MHS believes that the best possible way to honor the legacy of September 11th, 2001 is by strengthening the community together through service.

Have a Future Project Idea?

Community input helps this tradition grow. If you have a project or site you would like MHS students to consider for future service days, please contact the Service Learning Coordinator (Sara Meigs) at servicelearning@mymtsd-vt.org.

 
 

WHAT'S GOING ON AT MTSD?

Upcoming events
 

EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH

AUGUST🐾

Employees of the Month

For August, staff were invited to nominate a Therapy Dog of the Month. The following Four legged friends were selected in recognition of their commitment to students, exceptional comfort, and positive impact on their school communities.

🐾Mack

Congratulations to Mack, one of our amazing therapy dogs! Mack works alongside Alicia Martisus in Wellness, where he loves greeting students, soaking up pets and belly rubs, and listening to children read each week. His favorite toy is his stuffed Lambchop, he never says no to bananas, and at home he enjoys snuggling with his best friend, Pepper the cat.

🐾Bode

Congratulations to Bode, one of our beloved therapy dogs! Bode works with school counselor Tracie Hultgren and has been a familiar, friendly face at MES for most of his life. He loves head scratches, cuddles, and making connections with students and staff. At home, he enjoys walks in the woods, swimming, apples and bananas, and sharing his dog bed with his three cats, Louis, Kitten, and Stevie Nicks. 

🐾Miller

Congratulations to Miller, one of our wonderful therapy dogs! Miller and his owner, Angela King, love spending time with students at school, where he enjoys gentle pets, hugs, and the occasional treat. When he's not at school, you'll find him carrying his favorite toy, Bear Bear, swimming at Niquette State Park, or keeping a close eye on his greatest "enemies"—drones and hot air balloons!

 

 

SEPTEMBER

Employees of the Month

Please join us in celebrating Grace Weadock, Albert Sherman, and Tracy Lapan as our Employees of the Month! We’re grateful for all they do each day to support our schools.

🌟Employee of the Month: Grace Weadock — MES

Grace is someone you can always count on. She greets people with a smile and is always willing to help. Grace has been part of our school community for many years and works hard each day to keep MES clean and looking its best. She is flexible with her schedule and is always willing to step in when someone needs coverage. Grace also takes the time to help students and staff whenever she can. Her dedication to our school does not go unnoticed. Thank you, Grace, for all that you do for MES!

🌟 Employee of the Month: Albert Sherman — MMS

Albert is always willing to lend a hand and make sure things are taken care of. He works hard to keep our school clean and takes great care of the classrooms. Albert also brings a sense of humor to MMS and enjoys connecting with staff. His willingness to help and positive attitude make him an important part of our school community. Thank you, Albert, for everything you do for MMS!

🌟 Employee of the Month: Tracy Lapan — MHS

Tracy works hard each day to keep MHS clean and running smoothly. She is always ready to help and is someone others can depend on. Tracy takes care of many important tasks throughout the school, greets people with a smile and always makes time to lend a hand. Her work helps keep our school safe and welcoming for everyone. Thank you, Tracy, for all of your hard work and for being such an important part of MHS!

 

 

IMPORTANT LINKS🔗

Food Menu🥕

Concerns?

Transportation🚌

Events🌟

School Calendar🗓️

Website

Athletics⚽

 

Upcoming Events

*Since this is a live calendar - This will not pop up in your email

Please go to our website at www.mtsd-vt.org

Mobile App

MTSD Mobile App

You may have noticed some exciting changes this spring—Milton Town School District has a brand-new website! Along with it, we’re introducing a mobile app designed to make it easier than ever to stay connected. From following sports and school events to receiving important announcements, everything you need is right at your fingertips.

The app also includes translation features, so you can view updates in the language of your choice. Downloading is simple—just use the links below to get started and stay connected with MTSD wherever you are.

App Store
Playstore
District Website
School Year Calendar
FY27 Budget

Milton Town School District
12 Bradley Street
Milton VT 05468

App Store
Google Play Store