The Raptor Report

Welcome back, Rolling Hills students, parents, and staff, and Happy New Year! 🎉

I hope your holiday break was filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of relaxation. As we step into 2025, I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities, growth, and adventures that await our incredible Rolling Hills community!

Even though winter seems to be taking its sweet time to arrive, we know it’s just around the corner! ❄️ Please remember to send your children to school with boots, snow pants, hats, gloves, and warm coats so they can fully enjoy recess outdoors. Fresh air and outdoor play are essential for students to release energy, reset, and return to learning with focus and enthusiasm. As always, we’ll head outside unless the temperature or wind chill drops below zero—so let’s bundle up and embrace the season!

Here at Rolling Hills, we’re committed to preparing students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. During Library time, students are diving into Project Lead the Way, our engaging STEM curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Through hands-on, real-world problem-solving activities, we aim to spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and encourage exploration—not because students have to, but because they want to! This year, they’ll also continue learning coding and robotics, adding even more excitement to their STEM experiences.

Our Rolling Hills staff and I remain deeply dedicated to creating the best possible learning environment for every child. Building strong, positive relationships with students is at the heart of what we do, and we strive to nurture these connections every single day. We also continue to prioritize a respectful, safe, and supportive atmosphere—both in the classroom and on the playground. Please encourage your children to seek out a trusted adult if conflicts arise, rather than trying to resolve issues on their own. Physical aggression is never acceptable, and by working together, we can ensure a positive, welcoming environment where everyone can succeed.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. With all of us working together, I know we can make 2025 a year full of growth, happiness, and success for our students, staff, and families.

Let’s make it a great year, Rolling Hills!

Warmest regards,
Dr. Ron Schlicht
Principal

1 - Happy New Year!

2 - School Resumes

3 - Green Bay Packers Day! Wear Green and Gold 🏈🏈

6 - 5th & 6th Grade Music Concert - 2:00 p.m. - Rolling Hills Gym (see sign up below)

7 - 5th & 6th Grade Music Concert - 6:30 p.m. MHS PAC

7 - 5th & 6th Grade Bake Sale @ Music Concert

8 - Milwaukee Bucks Day - Wear Green and Black

8 - PTO Meeting 6:00 p.m. - Library

9 - 4K Parent Information Night - 6:30 - MHS PAC

13 - No School

17 - Family Fun Night

23 - Early Release - 1:35 p.m.

24 - No School

29 - Pajama Day

30 - PVMS Course Information Night - 5:30-7:30 p.m.

31 - Raptor Way Assembly

February 1 - School Dance

5th & 6th grade families, please fill out the linked Google Form if you plan on attending the daytime concert on January 6th at 2pm at Rolling Hills. This concert features 5/6th grade Band, Orchestra, Choir, and General Music (all students singing). Please note that the evening concert will be the following day on Tuesday, January 7th at 6:30pm at the Performing Arts Center at Mukwonago High School. Thank you!

On Thursday, January 9, at 6:30 pm, the Mukwonago Area School District will host a 4K Parent Night at the Greenwald Foundation Performing Arts Center at Mukwonago High School. This is an informational presentation for families with incoming 4K students or families wanting more information about enrolling their child in 4K. This presentation will include information on our 4K sites, daily expectations, and goals of our 4K program.

In addition, after our presentation, families will have the opportunity to talk with staff from our 4K sites. Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year will begin on February 3, 2025.

Winter weather is here! Be sure to review MASD's procedures for closing school due to extreme cold or unsafe roads.

We want to review our school policy regarding clothing requirements for outdoor recess during the winter season.

• Jackets, hats and mittens are needed in cold weather.

• All students are required to wear snow/ski pants and changeable boots if they go off the blacktop and play or walk in the snow. If they do not have boots or snow pants they must stay on the blacktop
• Please make sure your child leaves the house with all his/her winter gear in the morning so that parents are not dropping off during the day and disturbing class.

• Please mark all outerwear with your child’s name.

• If the temperature is 0 or above the students will be going outside, so plan accordingly.

We appreciate your help in making sure your child is appropriately dressed.

All RHES students all participated in the Hour of Code in December. It was an opportunity for students to spend some time learning computer science through coding. 3rd to 6th grade students used the website www.code.org/learn to play games that taught them computer programming. Some used Scratch to create their own code, some coded using Minecraft aquatics, and some created their own dance party. In addition, many students got to use coding kits like Coding Awbie on the Osmo and Ozobots. Grades K-2 chose between some free coding iPad apps: Code-a-Pillar, Coding Safari, and Codeable Crafts. Most students had fun with this challenge! Feel free to visit the website above at home or download the free apps for your student(s) and practice coding some more- the United States needs more students interested in and following the path of computer science!

Dear Families,

Happy New Years!! The start of a new year is a great time to set new routines - especially if old routines aren’t working. Routines are how families organize themselves to get things done, spend time together and have fun. Routines help family members know who should do what, when, in what order, and how often. Family life is often smoother with a few routines.

Morning

To make the household function well in the morning, everyone needs to know what has to be done to get ready for the day. Try the following:

• Put as many things in order as possible the night before.

• Keep wake-up routines cheerful and positive. We start each day in my house with positive affirmations!

• Be sure your child eats breakfast, even if he or she is not hungry in the morning.

• Finally, round out each morning by saying goodbye to your children. A simple hug and a wave as he or she heads out the front door or slides out of the car are extremely important. This will give your child a positive feeling with which to begin the day's activities.

Bedtime

On school nights, children need a regular time to go to sleep. Lights can go out early enough to allow children ages 6-12 to get 9-12 hours of sleep. Nighttime rituals can help ease a child to sleep. These rituals can include:

• Reading aloud or silently

• Conversation about the day or to prepare for the next day

• Songs or storytelling

Weekends

Weekends are good times for family togetherness. You might go grocery shopping as a family, visit museums and zoos, do chores​ that everyone participates in, go on hikes or bike rides, or attend family gatherings. On weekends children in the middle years can usually be allowed a later bedtime than during the week. Keep in mind that, although family time is essential, it is equally important for parents to set aside some time just for themselves, too!

Some books for our young readers with themes related to routines are:

• Eddie Gets Ready for School by David Milgrim

• Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London

• My Morning Routine by Estee Santoni

• Even Superheroes Have to Sleep by Sara Crow

• Goodnight Tiger by Timothy Knapman

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Mrs. Jes Langer
Rolling Hills School Counselor

langeje@masd.k12.wi.us

* * * NEXT MEETING Wednesday, January 8 - 6:00 pm * * * *

(Rolling Hills Library)

The following dates will have an early dismissal time of 1:35 p.m.:

Thursday, Jan. 23

Thursday, Feb. 13

Thursday, April 17

**** Please mark your calendars.****

Every Friday is a Rolling Hills Theme Day. Wear your Rolling Hills wear, Mukwonago wear or Blue and Gold!

Email: schliro@masd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.masd.k12.wi.us/schools/rolling-hills/index.cfm
Location: W322S9230 Beulah Road, Mukwonago, WI, USA
Phone: 262-363-6318
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RollingHillsElem
Twitter: @masdschools