Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter
August 18th, 2023
Dear Muskego Lakes Families,
A huge thank you to everyone who was able to make it to Back to School Night this past week! We had so much fun catching up with so many of you, and we are grateful that we were able to meet so many new families!
As we look ahead to the start of another school year, it is important to us that you know just how much we already love your child. As a staff at Muskego Lakes, we see ourselves as a family. And, we hope that Muskego Lakes will feel like a home away from home for your child. We care about our students as people first. And we will do just about anything we can to make sure your child feels seen, heard, and accepted here at school.
We understand and recognize the challenges that often come with the middle school years, so we truly understand the importance of collaborating with you to ensure your child experiences a fantastic year ahead. If there's anything in our power to help pave the way for a successful year, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Finally, we extend our gratitude for entrusting us with your precious children. We understand the privilege this holds and want you to rest assured that we handle each child with the utmost care.
As these final days of summer linger, we hope you savor each moment. The anticipation to welcome students back on August 24th fills us with excitement. We're eagerly looking forward to the days ahead!
In partnership,
Rachel and Nancy
Muskego Lakes Principals
Important Dates Ahead
- August 24: First Day of 23-24 School Year for all 5th-8th Graders
- August 30-Sept 1: Literacy iReady Testing
- September 4: No School - Labor Day
- September 5-7: Math iReady Testing
- September 14: School Picture Day
- September 25: No School
- October 3: Make-Up Picture Day
Drop-Off & Parent Pick-up Information
This year, please note that due to a road closure on North Cape, there will be a temporary change to our pick-up and drop-off procedures at Muskego Lakes. All traffic will continue to enter from our main entrance with a change for exiting the school grounds. This change is for drop-off and dismissal times only (7:35-8:05 AM and 3:05-3:20 PM), the following arrangements will be in place:
- 5th & 6th grade students: Pick-up and drop-off will take place using the lane in front of the building, and exiting will also be through the main entrance.
- 7th & 8th grade students: Pick-up and drop-off will occur using the lane behind the building. Exiting will be via our service drive leading to Hi View Drive.
If you need to drop off or pick up your child anytime between 8:05 AM and 3:05 PM, please use the loop in front of the building. Access to the area behind the building will not be available until 3:05 PM.
Help Keep Drop-Off and Pick-Up Safe
All families share the same objective: to drop off or pick up their student(s) as quickly as possible and continue with their day's plans. We are committed to assisting you in achieving this goal with ease. Our procedures have been refined over time based on feedback from our families, and they are designed to efficiently move the maximum number of cars while ensuring safety. Achieving this requires teamwork! Please follow the instructions below to ensure a smooth experience.
- Proceed slowly and be aware of surroundings once you enter/exit Muskego Lakes. Many individuals are outside of our building, in vehicles, and on foot; excessive speed puts everyone in danger.
- The drop-off and pick-up zones are designated in the image above by the red lines. The curb of our pick-up and drop-off area has been painted red in front of the school, while cones mark this area at the back. As you enter the pick-up zone, please continue all the way forward before coming to a stop, making use of all available space.
- Students who are being dropped off can exit the car once they have entered the red zone and moved as far forward as possible. They will exit their vehicles and enter through the main entrance if being dropped off in front of the school, or through the library doors if being dropped off behind the school.
- Students waiting for a ride will remain on the sidewalk outside the main entrance or the library. When their ride enters the pick-up zone, students will be instructed to wait until the car has moved all the way forward and come to a stop. Due to the requirement for cars to pull forward and use all available space, students may need to move either forward or backward to reach their car. This is essential to maximize the number of cars in the pick-up zone, and consequently, the number of students picked up at once.
- Stay in a single file line and only drop-off or pick-up by the designated area. We ask that you stay in the drop-off/pick-up lines and do not pull out to bypass parts of the line or others dropping-off/picking-up. If this happens, it negatively impacts the systems in two ways: (1) it causes a safety concern for pedestrians, and (2) cars pulling out to pass and then moving back into the line causes congestion and could surprise families leading to a fender bender.
It takes a couple of minutes for students to exit the building and get the pick-up line moving. Encourage your student(s) to promptly leave the school and wait in the pick-up zone. Once the line starts moving, the process becomes efficient when everyone adheres to the procedures outlined above.
We appreciate your partnership in ensuring a safe and efficient experience when dropping off and picking up students.
School Lunch Updates
In an effort to ensure students can move through the lunch lines efficently, we ask that you remind your student to ensure that they bring their school ID card with them to lunch daily or ensure that you have gotten your finger scanned.
For you ease, we have linked the August menu below with other helpful resources. You can always find the link to updated lunch menus, at the end of this newsletter.
2023-24 Lunch Prices:
- Elementary Lunch: $2.55
- MS Lunch 1: $2.95
- MS Lunch 2: $3.50
- MS Creation Station: $3.90
- Milk Carton: $.50
- MHS Ala carte meal rates as noted on the monthly menu will apply.
Questions related to the food service program can be directed to Benny D’Epiro, Food Service Director at 262-971-1790 x4522.
Does Your Child Have Their Finger Scanned for Lunch?
At Muskego Lakes, we also provide students the option of scanning their finger when purchasing food. This form of identification is called Biometrics. It is important to know this is not fingerprinting. At no time will your child’s fingerprint be stored.This is no different than the process used to unlock many smartphones using a finger/thumb.
Finger scans allow students to spend more time eating, more time outside, and less time in line. The finger scanners will be able to read the scan and identify the student in less than a second.
In order for students to use the finger scanners at lunch, families will need to complete the consent form, bring back to school, and complete an initial finger scan to get them into the system.
Most of our students have already completed this process, but if you have not or are new to our school, we strongly suggest completing the agreement and having your child bring to school, so we can get them in the system. If students do not have their fingers scanned, they will need a school ID to purchase their lunch.
Cellphone and Headphones
Across both middle schools, we are only allowing the use of wired headphones. Please have your child keep their bluetooth/wireless headphones (i.e. airpods, earbuds, etc.) at home.
In addition, please know that student cell phones are to remain off and out of sight throughout the school day. Should you need to contact your child, feel free to send them an email or reach out to the school office. We're available to assist you in relaying messages to your child or arranging for them to return your call.
Upcoming iReady Fall Testing
Students will take the Fall iReady Assessment on the following dates:
Literacy: August 30- September 1st
Math: September 5-7th
The iReady Assessment is designed to get a clear picture of what students know and what they need to work on next. Talk with your child about doing their best and not stressing about wrong answers. In addition, it will be beneficial for students to ensure their chromebook is fully charged, has a pair of wired headphones, get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast on test days.
Dress Code Reminder for Back to School Shopping
The Board of Education, under the authority of state statute 120.13(1) can make rules pertaining to the conduct and dress of pupils in order to maintain good decorum, a favorable academic atmosphere, and appropriate student health and safety. Student dress guidelines are decency, safety, and moderation. Dress and grooming behaviors not allowed include those deemed to be 1) disruptive or interfering with the learning process; 2) unsafe or harmful; 3) not in keeping with good health standards; 4) the cause of excessive maintenance problems (i.e. cleats on boots); or 5) considered vulgar or offensive. Student attire must be respectful of others and appropriate for the educational setting at Muskego Lakes Middle School. School administrators will make the final decision as to what constitutes appropriate dress. Limitations in the dress code during the school day or at school activities (except in such instances where a school sanctions the wearing of any of the following for special activity) are as follows:
No wearing hats in the building. Hats are allowed at recess.
No insignia, jewelry, clothing or accessories which depict, represent, solicit or promote alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gangs, cults, sex, violence, or profanity.
No costumes (including animal costumes and accessories), chains or spiked jewelry.
Foot attire must be worn at all times. No bare feet, stocking feet or slippers.
No clothing determined to be offensive in a discriminatory fashion will be allowed.
No part of any undergarment is to be visible while standing or sitting.
No sunglasses (unless worn under the recommendation of a doctor).
We know, especially in middle school, students have a strong desire to express themselves and communicate their identity to their peers. The purpose for a dress code is so students themselves focus on their educational experience rather than their attire. The dress code is not about how certain attire would be perceived by others but rather is for the purpose of maintaining an environment focused on learning. We encourage students to express themselves through their clothes at social events (not school sponsored) and/or weekends. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure students come to school each day following the following expectations. Should they come to school and not, we will ask them to put on a different item of apparel which could require a parent/guardian coming to school to drop an alternative off. In the event that the student does not have an alternative item of apparel at school and a parent/guardian cannot drop off an alternative, students will work in the main office with access to learning until they meet the dress code. We offer items from the nurse office for students or encourage PE apparel when we cannot reach parents/guardians. Please know it is never our intention to embarrass a child so thank you for helping us by making sure your child comes to school dressed for the learning environment.
One-to-One Devices at Muskego Lakes
If your child is an incoming 5th grader, he or she will pick up their Chromebook during the first week of school.
If your child is a 6th-8th grader who is new to Muskego Lakes, and he or she did not pick up their device at Back to School night, they will be able to pick up their device on the first day of school.
If your child is returning to Muskego Lakes but his or her device is not working, please reach out to Julie Flasch, our LIbrary Technical Aide, who can help problem solve next steps at julie.flasch@muskegonorway.org
Student Photo Day & Ordering Information
Students will get their photo taken for their ID cards and the yearbook on September 14th during the school day. Please be aware that students may leave classes for a short period of time on this date to have their photo taken.
If your child is sick that day, we will have a photo retake day later on in the school year.
Ordering Student Photos
If you'd like to order pictures, they can be ordered online using the following link:
https://orders.schoolandsportpics.com/ordering
When ordering, you will need to use the access key 5ZXRCJS2 or use the drop-down menu to type and search for Muskego Lakes Middle School to start your order.
We Are Hiring!
We wanted to reach in in case any of our students' families are interested in the openings that we have at Muskego Lakes! You can learn more about the positions below, and you can apply on WECAN or Milwaukee Jobs. And as always, reach out if you have any questions!
Library Assistant
We are looking for a Library assistant to join our staff for the 2023-2024 school year.The position includes processing of libary materials(i.e. cataloging, circulation, inventory,etc.). In addition, the person would manage library study halls, share book talks with classes (provided by the Library Media Specialist), and assist with chromebooks. The position that is open is a 5 hours a day, so it is a part-time position. (And when students are not in school, our Educational Assistants are off too.) If you are interested or know anyone who might want to spend their days with middle school students, please have apply HERE on WECAN.
Educational Assistant
We are looking for an Educational Assistant to join our staff for the 2023-2024 school year. The position is includes operating office machines, typing, student management and supervision at drop off or pick up and over lunches, mail distribution and other duties, as assigned by an administrator. The position that is open is 5.5 hours a day, Monday through Friday so it is a part-time position. (And when students are not in school, our Educational Assistants are off too.) If you are interested or know anyone who might want to spend their days with middle school students, please have apply HERE on WECAN.
Supply Lists for 23-24
A reminder in case you needed to still get school supplies for the upcoming school year we are including the links to our supply lists for your convenience!
Clinical Psychology Associates Services
We are proud to continue to partner with Clinical Psychology Associates (CPA) to offer on-site counseling services through the summer months for students enrolled in Lakeview Elementary, Mill Valley Elementary, Bay Lane Elementary, Lake Denoon Middle, Muskego Lakes Middle, and Muskego High School. For information about CPA’s services and therapists or to get started with an appointment, please visit our website. Therapeutic services will continue into the 2023-24 school year as well.
Muskego Lakes Middle School
Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Twitter: @MLMSmuskies