Photo: MMI’s senior class served as the rest of the school’s welcoming committee.
MMI Preparatory School kicked off the 2026-2027 school year on Tuesday, August 25, by welcoming 176 new and returning students. 134 students are enrolled in the Upper School, and 42 students are enrolled in the Middle School.
Throughout the summer, MMI refreshed and enhanced the campus so that students could return to a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained space. Security improvements include a new access control system and additional security lighting on the south end of the Joseph A. Turri ’45 Library & Learning Center. Restrooms across campus received upgraded fixtures, and facilities throughout the School were thoroughly cleaned and refreshed in preparation for the new school year. Athletic facilities also received important improvements, including a newly resurfaced gymnasium floor and enclosed dugouts on the baseball and softball fields, providing additional protection for student athletes during Freeland’s often unpredictable early-season weather.
This school year marks the start of a bittersweet one for Head of School Mrs. Theresa Long, who will be retiring in June.
“First days are always special at MMI,” she noted. “There is an energy in the halls that reminds us why this School feels like home. As I begin my final year as Head of School, I find myself appreciating those moments even more. Welcoming our students back, seeing familiar faces and watching the excitement of a new year unfold is a wonderful reminder of what makes MMI so special. I am grateful for the faculty and staff who create such a welcoming place for our students, and I look forward to sharing this final year with the MMI family and seeing all that our students will accomplish together.”
Seniors marked their own last first day at MMI with a sunrise ceremony at 6 AM and then welcomed students as they arrived. All students received a special custom Pin It 4ward pin celebrating the start of school, created by Isabella Young, sister of MMI student Madalynn Young ’28, in partnership with The Luzerne Foundation. As an extra treat, students were given MMI cookies prepared by Chef Jack Ambrose and the MMI kitchen staff.
At an assembly to start the day, the community celebrated the Class of 2027, the new sixth-grade Class of 2033, other new students, the promotions of Dr. Tammy Chrin to Academic Dean & Director of College Counseling and Mrs. Lani Drobnock to Director of Admissions & Parent Engagement, and the addition of Mr. Anthony Samsel as a part-time armed security guard. MMI also welcomed back Mrs. Donna Titus, who retired as a full-time faculty member in 2025, as a part-time Middle School History Instructor.
Throughout the day, faculty and students reviewed syllabi, classroom expectations, supply needs, and any summer work that may have been assigned. In their first period advisory, students went over school processes, such as lunch orders and attendance, and received new class schedules for the year, a daily planner with the student handbook included, and locker assignments.
Changes to this year’s curriculum and schedule are designed to provide students with additional opportunities for academic growth, skill development, and exploration. The daily schedule now includes dedicated time for Open House preparation, Student Assembly presentations, and music ensembles, while the elimination of the Wednesday collaborative period from 8-9 AM returns valuable instructional time to the school week. Academic offerings have expanded with the addition of Calculus II, French III, and three new electives: Introduction to Marketing, Music Theory, and Sports Management. The Middle School Workshop program has been expanded to include dedicated time for developing research skills, building on its focus on study skills, organization, time management, social skills, and regulation. In addition, AP courses now include required summer work to help students develop the skills and content knowledge needed to meet the rigorous demands of advanced coursework.