DATE CHANGE!! Due to unforeseen circumstances, the dates for the Mills University Studies production of Peter/Wendy have changed. The production will take place on two days:
Thursday, May 8 at 7:15 pm (immediately following the choir concert)
or
Friday, May 9 at 1:30 pm (in conjunction with Mills/Maumelle Theatre & Dance recital)
Tickets are only $2!!
Mills University Studies High is proud to announce our 2024-2025 support staff of the year - Ms. Vickie Jackson! We are so thankful to have Ms. Jackson on our team as our Lead Custodian. She will represent Mills University Studies High to compete for the title of PCSSD Support Staff of the Year! Congrats, Ms. Jackson!
Part of our observation of Month of the Military Child, Purple Up! Day is a chance to wear purple in support of our military families. This special day recognizes the resilience and sacrifices of military children.
Shout out to our Purple Star schools: WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON and SYLVAN HILLS ELEMENTARY.
#pcssdproud #serveall
Tomorrow , Tuesday, April 15th, begins four days of ATLAS state testing at Mills University Studies High School. It is imperative that students be at school and on time!
Testing will begin each day at 8:30. Tuesday and Wednesday will be testing for all 9th and 10th graders for reading and writing. On Thursday, all students in geometry and Algebra I will test. Friday will be the biology test for students in that course.
Please help us ensure students are at school, on time, well-rested, and ready to go. We offer breakfast daily and hope students will take advantage of that option. Chromebooks need to be charged and brains need to be ready!
We can do this! Let's show up and show out!!!
The end of the school year is approaching, and all the special events are beginning to happen! Today, the seniors walked their elementary schools and were celebrated for reaching this milestone. Just look at these big smiles!
#ElevatingExcellence
#CometNation
#ClassOf2025
#Seniors
#MillsUniversityStudiesHighSchool
#MUSHS
Mills University Studies High is proud to announce our 2024-2025 teacher of the year - Mr. Michael Flowers! We are so thankful to have Mr. Flowers on our team. He is truly an inspiration for our students! He will represent Mills University Studies High to compete for the title of PCSSD Teacher of the Year! Congrats, Mr. Flowers!
Here we are! It's time for the ATLAS testing this week! Testing begins tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m.
We know students will be at school, on time, with charged Chromebooks and without electronic devices including phones in the testing sessions. We know they will get good sleep, eat breakfast daily, and do their very best to show their skills in reading, writing, math, and science. Let's go, Comets! #ElevatingExcellence #ShowUpAndShowOut
April is Occupational Therapy Month, and the 2025 theme is Inspiring Hope, Changing Lives. Across PCSSD, OTs inspire hope & change lives by helping students develop skills they need in the classroom, like fine & gross motor skills, sensory processing & more. #pcssdproud #serveall
Tax day is this week! Use this weekend to finish up your taxes and make sure they are postmarked by Tuesday, April 15.
#pcssdproud #serveall
Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Passover! This major Jewish holiday celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and will begin this evening with a ceremonial meal called a seder. #pcssdproud #serveall
Chart Your Career Course with PCSSD! We are always hiring support staff positions, including bus drivers, student nutrition, paraprofessionals, office, and more. Find out more about openings at our Career Expo on May 3. Details here: https://www.pcssd.org/career-expo
#pcssdproud #serveall
Did you know that EVERY student can have access to extended time and text-to-speech tools on the ATLAS test? This is a big difference from previous types of state tests, so we want to be sure students are taking advantage of these capabilities.
Also, the test platform has other tools such as highlighters, calculators, and word counters on the test.
Students will also always have scratch paper, and we are expecting them to use it as much as possible, especially when planning for writing their essays!
When students have tools at their disposal, they should use them! The tools will help students be more successful as they take this year's ATLAS.
#ElevatingExcellence #ShowUpAndShowOut
The MILLS UNIVERSITY STUDIES HIGH basketball team is making the rounds this week for some well-deserved recognition! On Tuesday, the boys' team and coaches were recognized at the PCSSD Board of Education meeting. Then, on Wednesday, the boys' and girls' teams visited the Arkansas Capitol. Senator Jamie Scott recognized the teams on the Senate floor for their hard work and accomplishments this season. Let's go, Comets!!
Every year, students take state-mandated tests, and this year is no different. On the ATLAS assessment, we just want our students to show what they know!
The reading test is given to the 9th and 10th graders, and they will have multiple choice and short answer questions after reading different types of passages like fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or other genres.
The writing test - also for 9th and 10th graders - may ask students to read texts and write a full essay or they may just have an essay prompt with no reading portion. Those essays may be narrative, argumentative, or informative.
The Algebra I, geometry, and biology tests can have multiple choice, constructed response, and even click-and-drop.
No matter what the test is asking, we just want students to show how much they've learned this year and how successful they have become as learners!
#ElevatingExcellence #ShowWhatYouKnow #ShowUpAndShowOut
Yesterday we posted about no cell phones during testing. Additionally, students cannot have any electronic devices AT ALL in test sessions. So, this includes earbuds, headphones, smart watches, tablets, or anything electronic. These devices should either stay home or be kept in the backpacks that will be left in the hallways outside the testing rooms on test days.
Like cell phones, having these devices in the test rooms is a violation of state and district rules. Students will receive disciplinary consequences if they have any items with them during the test sessions.
We appreciate everyone helping us make this a violation-free testing season!
Are you ready to fill every shelf in PCSSD classrooms? Starting now, every donation for books on @Donorschoose will be doubled, while funds last. 📚 Let’s help our students explore the world through the page-turning magic of books. https://bit.ly/4iNpooJ
During state testing, it is a violation of state and district rules for students to have cell phones in the room at all during the administration of the ATLAS. So, we ask that students place their phones in a tub which teachers will place in a secure location until the testing sessions end.
Keep in mind our student handbook states the following:
"Electronic devices, electronic communication devices, and/or electronic devices with
photographic capabilities confiscated during interim, summative, and state mandated tests will
be held at the school for 10 student contact days from the time of the incident.
Additional violations shall result in loss of phone privilege for the remainder of the school year." (pg. 72)
Students will receive disciplinary consequences for such behavior. Depending on the situation, the most severe consequence can be a recommendation for expulsion.
So, NO PHONES during testing. We appreciate everyone following this expectation!
For National Assistant Principals Week, we’re celebrating the leadership & dedication of our APs! Your hard work & commitment make a daily difference. Thank you for serving our students and staff. Today, let’s give a shout out to the APs of the MILLS feeder. #pcssdproud #serveall
Ms. Foote's 10th grade English classes have been demonstrating what they know about point of view this week using their white board paddles. After reading a sample text, the students had to determine if it was first or third person point of view and whether it was limited or omniscient. Yes, this is part of prepping for ATLAS testing, but it is also just great instruction! #ElevatingExcellence
Last week we shared lots of test-related suggestions for things to do BEFORE taking the state test each day. This week, we will share those ideas that help DURING testing! First up, students should use their time wisely when testing.
The ATLAS tests are set for 60-75 minutes, but all students are allowed extra time if needed. However, once a test has paused and students resume that session, they may not go back to any previous questions.
With this in mind, students need to move in such a way that they aren't going too fast or too slow while testing. Students should read questions carefully, consider the answers, and move at an appropriate pace to be as successful as possible on the test.
#ElevatingExcellence #ShowUpAndShowOut
