Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter

Dear Muskego Lakes Families,

We can't wait for Spring Conferences ahead next week on Thursday, February 27th!! We love any chance we can get to see you at Muskego Lakes and to partner with you to support your child.

Important to know is that all teachers will be teaching until 3:05 pm. We want to ensure they are able to eat some dinner and that our custodial team can tidy things up before conferences start. With that in mind please know that doors will not open until 3:50 pm and conferences will start promptly at 4pm. We have a few things we want to share with you to ensure you are ready for conferences next week below based on the type of conference you have.

If your conferences are in-person:

• Maps will be available to help you find teacher rooms. In addition, we will have members of our national junior honor society available to help you locate the rooms as well. We will have maps available for you upon entering the building.

• We will have maps available upon your arrival to help you locate the spot for your specific conferences.

• Tables will be set-up outside of student services and all our lost and found items. If your child is missing something, we highly recommend stopping to see if the item is there.

If your conferences are virtual:

• You will want to ensure that your using a compatible web browser. The following web browser are supported to make virtual calls:

• iPhone/iPad: Safari

• Android: Chrome or Firefox

• Windows: Chrome, Firefox, or Edge (latest version only)

• Mac: Safari, Chrome, or Firefox

• Check your firewall settings. This test checks to see if there will be any firewall issues. Firewall issues during conferences are exhibited by seeing "black screens" or "Error 53000."

• To test your firewall settings visit https://networktest.twilio.com/.

• You will need to allow access to your microphone and camera.

• If you are having difficulty accessing your conferences…

• Consider using a personal smartphone if you have access to one. Smartphones often have the microphone and camera enabled. Additionally, there are generally no firewall issues with these devices.

• When accessing video calls for the first time, your web browser should ask you if you wish to allow access to the camera and microphone. If your camera and/or microphone is not detected, you'll see an error message. Please follow these suggestions below and then press Try Again:

• Try refreshing the page to see if the web browser prompts you for access to the camera and microphone. If you're prompted for access, choose Allow. Otherwise, continue to step 2.
• Check if your web browser is blocking access to the camera and microphone and if so, unblock access. The steps to do so depend on which web browser you're using. Click on the link to view the guide:
• iPhone/iPad: Safari - open Settings from the Home screen, then choose Safari, and scroll to the Camera & Microphone Access option.
• Android: Chrome, Firefox
• Windows: Chrome, Firefox, Edge (latest version) - press the three dots in the upper right and choose Settings, press Site permissions on the left, followed by Camera and Microphone on the right. Ensure camera and microphone access isn't blocked for this website.
• Mac: Safari, Chrome, Firefox

If you are on a waitlist for conferences:

• Teachers are working through their waitlists to contact you to set-up another time to meet and connect with you. Please be on the lookout for communication coming directly from those teachers within the next week.

For detailed information on how to schedule your conference, needing assistance or troubleshooting tips click HERE.

If you are looking for other ways to engage with what your students are learning we want to share other opportunities for you to engage with what students are learning, and how your child is progressing. Listed below are various means to gain insight into the student experience and student outcomes:

• Grade Level and School Newsletters

• Infinite Campus

• SOF Trackers

• Rubrics with Feedback

• Phone Calls or Emails

• Personalized Report Card Comments

Again, we can’t thank you enough for all that you do to encourage your children as they continue to set goals, monitor their academic progress, and demonstrate achievement here at school. We hold our students to high academic expectations but we also are here to support them every step of the way, and we know you are too!

In partnership,

Rachel Rydzewski and Nancy Pasch

MLMS Principals

• 2/27: Spring Conferences 4-8pm

• 2/28: No School - Professional Development Day

• 3/3: MLMS PTO Meeting

• 3/10-3/14: MLMS PTO Penny Wars

• 3/24-3/28: No School Spring Break

• 4/5-4/6: MLMS Musical Newsie's Jr. Performance

We are proud to announce that Mrs. Sarah Milton has been recognized by CIVIC MUSIC MKE with their prestigious Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Choral Instruction. This incredible honor highlights Mrs. Milton's unwavering dedication, passion for music education, and the profound impact she has on our students and school community.

Mrs. Milton’s influence reaches far beyond teaching notes and rhythms. She inspires confidence, nurtures creativity, and builds connections that extend well past the final performance. Whether guiding students through a challenging piece or celebrating their achievements, she shapes not only talented musicians but also compassionate, resilient individuals.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Milton on this well-earned recognition! We are so fortunate to have her leading our choir program and couldn’t be prouder that she was awarded this huge honor!

Muskego Lakes students will take the WI Forward Assessment and the spring diagnostic iReady Exam in a few short months. We ask that families check the dates of these assessments below and communicate with us if you know your child has a pre-planned reason/vacation to be out during those times, so we can plan accordingly to ensure testing can be completed.

Wisconsin Forward Testing Dates: April 14-17, 2025

Spring iReady Dates:

• Literacy: May 12-14, 2025
• Math: May 19-21, 2025

If you do have a pre-planned absence during these dates, please reach out nancy.pasch@muskegonorway.org

Track and field is a co-curricular sport for 7th and 8th graders at Muskego Lakes. There will be a 15-20 minute informational meeting next week Wednesday, February 26th after school for all interested in joining Track and Field. Packets with all the information for the season will also be printed beforehand, if people can't make the meeting. If you have any questions, please reach out to coach Jack Thompson at jack.thompson@muskegonorway.org.

Please be advised that the 7th & 8th graders are not to report to Muskego High School for their classes on Tuesday, March 11th, as they will be hosting ACT testing for the Juniors only. All 7th & 8th graders who typically start their day at the high school should report to Muskego Lakes at the start of the school day.

Muskego Lakes Middle School production of Newsies Jr. are open to the public now! We will have four fantastic performances for you to come and see all our talented middle schoolers! Mark your calendars for the following show performances:

• Friday, April 4th at 7pm (Brooklyn Cast)
• Saturday, April 5th at 1pm (Brooklyn Cast)

• Sunday, April 5th at 7pm (Bronx Cast)
• Sunday, April 6th at 1pm (Bronx Cast)

You can check out the cast list HERE! Tickets are available for purchase by clicking HERE.

We often have requests from families to communicate with outside providers and/or family members that are not biological parents (i.e. step-parent/grandparent). However, we are unable to do that without permission. To grant that permission, you will need to complete and submit to Student Services the Release of Information document.

Once this document is filled out, it allows us to learn or share information with those individuals. In addition, our student services team can work with your outside provider (pediatrician, counselor, therapist, psychiatrist, etc.) to ensure that strategies or plans can stay consistent between home and school. Teachers also need the release form emailed or sent to Student Services with the rating scale and teachers’ names to complete any assessment tools doctors give.

Did you know that your volunteer applications expire every 2 years? If you have registered with us before 60 days before your registered volunteer status expires, you will receive an email to re-apply.

We highly recommend that you please renew your application if you are want to be able to volunteer in the classrooms or with a potential field trip. If you haven't completed the Volunteer Application, CLICK HERE to do so.

Your voice matters. .. Taher, the MNSD Food Service vendor is wanting to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to take their survey.

Our goal is to help you and your child reunite with items they have lost or misplaced. This means that our staff checks items turned into Lost and Found for names, and when possible call students down to reunite them with their belongings. One way that would help us do this, is to ensure that you label items as much as possible with first and last names.

Common items we find are:

• water bottles
• school supplies
• assignment notebooks
• lunch bags
• sweatshirts

Please encourage your child if they are missing sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, pencil cases, hats, headbands, etc. to stop by student services to check for their missing items. Anything still left on Friday, February 28th will be donated.

Shown below are the upcoming co-curricular events at Muskego Lakes.

If a change occurs from the date of this newsletter, we post on Infinite Campus in the announcement section. We commit to letting students/families know about changes and updating Infinite Campus announcements as soon as possible once we've been notified of a change.

For more detailed information about MLMS events, click here and double-click the calendar item you are interested in.

Thank you for starting to save any loose change for your child to particpate with! All procceeds directly benefit experiences PTO sponsors for students.

Looking for a way to get involved and support our amazing school community? The PTO is always looking for helping hands, and we’d love to have you on board—no commitment necessary! Whether you can spare a little time to make phone calls, lend a hand at events, donate resources, or even consider serving on the board, there’s a place for you. We do have a few open board seats for next year, but even if that’s not your thing, any support is welcome. Interested in learning more? Drop us a line at muskegolakespto@gmail.com . We can’t wait to hear from you!

The MLMS PTO is looking to continue the traditon to have snacks for staff each Wednesday. We need your help though by signing up to donate snacks each week. This greatly helps them make it through the week. You can donate snacks or a group of families can donate. We have roughly 100 staff members. Snacks can be anything you'd like.

Please sign up HERE for a date below if you can. Drop off will be in the front office by 8am on the Wednesday you sign up.

Please consider joining the Muskego Lakes PTO. We meet monthly in the MLMS library at 6:30pm. We always welcome new faces and would love to hear your ideas on how we can make this an amazing school year ahead!!

Our last meeting Dates for the 24-25 School Year are:

• March 3
• April 7
• April 28

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 they have gotten their finger scanned.

For you ease, we have linked the September menu below with other helpful resources. You can always find the link to updated lunch menus, at the end of this newsletter.

• Lunch Menu
• Guide to Making a Complete Meal
• Top Ten Reasons For School Meals

2024-25 Lunch Prices:

• Elementary School $2.55
• MS Diner meal $2.95
• MS Pizza meal $3.50
• MS Grab n Go $3.50
• MS Creation meal $3.90
• Adult $4.65
• Milk Carton $0.50
  
  

Questions related to the food service program can be directed to Benny D’Epiro, Food Service Director at 262-971-1790 x4522.

We are proud to continue to partner with Clinical Psychology Associates (CPA) to offer on-site counseling services 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.

Please make note of days off and important events on the 24-25 calendar. It is ideal to make dentist and doctor appointments on days we do not have school whenever possible.

The 2025-2026 school calendar is now available for you to review and use for planning purposes.

We encourage you to follow us on Facebook.

Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muskegolakesmuskies

To view current support staff job vacancies, click HERE