Happy New Year, Mill Pond Families!

January 2nd is the 70th day of school! That fact is amazing to me as it seems like yesterday, we were outside welcoming our students into Mill Pond on the first day of school. We are so close to the half way mark for the 24-25 school year, that I am just in awe by the growth I have seen thus far.

We have grown by leaps and bounds in such a short time! Our students are maneuvering through their daily routines with ease.

The transition into the new year means setting new goals. We may look for ways to be more organized or focused. 2025 may be the year that we look to improve our overall health and well being. The beginning of the winter was certainly a germy one. If that sounds familiar, then you share my resolutions!

However, there are some goals that should never be abandoned. These goals will continue to be in the forefront of everything we do every day at Mill Pond. They include:

~ Be kind

~ Be Respectful

~ Be Responsible

Small steps pave the way for consistency and success!

Mrs. Donohue

#wearemillpond

1/2 - Welcome back!

Beat the winter blues! Dress comfy in your favorite athleisure wear.

1/3 - School Spirit ~ Show your pride with Lacey colors / MP swag

1/9 - 75th Day of School ~ Dress for the 70's

PTA Mtg. in the annex @ 6:30pm

1/10 - School Spirit ~ Show your pride with Lacey colors / MP swag

1/20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day ~ School Closed

1/21 - PTA "Make A Mascot" Event

1/24 - School Spirit ~ Show your pride with Lacey colors / MP swag

1/29 - Early Dismissal @ 1:15 Parent Teacher Conferences - Evening

1/30 - Early Dismissal @ 1:15 Parent Teacher Conferences - Day

1/31 - Early Dismissal @ 1:15 Parent Teacher Conferences - Day

2/14 - School Closed for Students (Staff PD Day)

2/17 – Presidents’ Day

4/18 - 4/25 – Spring Break

5/23 - Holiday Half Day Dismissal @ 1:15

5/26 – Memorial Day

6/16-6/20 Half Day Dismissmal @ 1:15

6/19 - Last Day of School

Your child cannot be in school if their immunization records are not up to date. If your child comes to school and their shots are not up to date, you will receive a call to pick them up. They will remain out of school until their updated/completed shot records are received. If you experience any difficulties regarding Health Office communication, please email me at gbuttich@laceyschools.org to follow up!

All students should have a spare, weather appropriate, outfit in their locker. Please send in additional clothing with your children if needed, including shoes. The Health Office has a limited amount of clothing and sizes to borrow. We also accept new donated clothing and shoes sizes 4-7 if possible! If a change of clothes is needed, please wash and return as soon as possible. Thank you!

~ Adequate sleep and a well-rounded nutritional diet. Adequate sleep and food, such as breakfast, are crucial a child’s physical health, emotional health, and school performance.

~ Establish a consistent bedtime routine and limit screen time! This helps regulate their internal body clock, better sleep quality, positive moods, health, leading to better development and daytime functioning.

~ Proper hand hygiene! Germs spread quickly in schools. Hands should be washed regularly – before eating, after using the restroom, after they come in from outdoors, and after coughing or sneezing.

~ Proactively keeping your sick child at home. Giving children fever-reducing medication before school also puts everyone at risk of illness. We need to be healthy to teach andtolearn!

BONUS! My kids and I LOVE StoryBots. Have you heard of the show? Take about 20-25 minutes to watch Season 2, Episode 8, with your kids called “How Do People Catch a Cold?"

What a wonderful event at Mill Pond Express!! With Cubbie and Santa...who could ask for more!? The hot chocolate was just right, the santa stationary ready, the holiday treats all made the night just right! Thank you to all our volunteers for making this memorable night so much fun!

January 21st in the Mill Pond Community Room, 4-7 pm

Make your own Lacey Lion mascot!! Resevations are required.

December was a busy month! Thank you to all our PTA parents for volunteering your time to support us!!

Please take a moment to complete this survey regarding the Superintendent search. Thank you!

For those dropping off in the morning, please try to have your child in the back seat behind the driver's side. This assists us in the smooth movement of the line. We will come to your car, open the door, and assist your child to exit the vehicle. Our SRO, Officer Frulio, will direct cars as to when to move. We unload 4 cars at a time, please do not park in the drop off lines. I know that the line can be long. Help us to help you, please do not use a tablet to occupy your child, if they struggle with leaving it once it is time to get out of the car. We appreciate your assistance as we attempt to start the day off in a positive way!

Due to the complexities of our students' schedules and current student enrollment, you must let the main office know if there is a change to your child's normal routine. You can contact the main office via phone, write and send in a note, or utilize the daily google form. All notifications must be to the main office by 2pm each day.

The daily google form can be found in your child's portal if you can not find the link.

On all early dismissal days, student lunches are not served.

At the end of December, we said farewell to Mrs. Deuchler, as she is on to new adventures in retirement. Mrs. Deuchler has been a part of Lacey Township School District for 25 years. We are certainly going to miss her as she kept the main office humming like a well oiled machine.

You will still see Mrs. Rusak, Ms. Knauer, and Mrs. Vecchio as they are ready to keep the main office moving smoothly. We welcome, Mrs. Haythorn to Mill Pond as she will be greeting everyone as they arrive. Please make sure that you have your ID at all times as Mrs. Haythorn will need to get to know everyone.

If you have a minute, please click the link and complete our community needs assessment survey.

The students of Mill Pond have been learning about citizenship! Our building expectations include being kind, being respectful, and being responsible. When students display these qualities, the staff recognizes the students with cute wristbands so they can proudly talk at home about how they earned it. The more they earn, the better their chances of being recognized as a "Pawsome Citizen".

Congratulations to more Pawsome Citizens!

As the winter season approaches, 92.7 WOBM FM will broadcast emergency school closing for the Lacey Township School District and our automated call system will also be used.

The main office is available from 8am - 4pm, Monday through Friday.

Phone: 609-971-2070

Address: 210 Western Blvd. Lanoka Harbor, NJ

Website: https://www.laceyschools.org/mps

Join our Remind Messaging system!

https://www.remind.com/join/millpondes

text @millpondes to 81010