Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter
February 10th, 2023
Dear Muskego Lakes Families,
For those of you who may not know, when our teachers are out of the building, we provide our guest teachers with information about how our school runs, detailed plans for them to continue instruction in the classroom, and seek out their feedback. We do this, so that your student is able to continue their learning in the best way possible. Each time a guest teacher is in our building, we provide them with a MLMS Evaluation Form, in which we ask all guest teachers to rate us as a school.
It is so fun getting to read what the guest teachers write on the MLMS Evaluation Form, so we wanted to share a few comments that have stood out in the last few weeks:
- “Uniformly exemplary school.”
- "The kids in this school want to learn. That's phenomenal to see especially in this day and age."
- “Students in this school are always so respectful and well-behaved. Always my first choice out of all the districts I work in.”
- “The kids are so helpful and respectful! Impressive!”
- “The students in this school are consistently engaged in their learning. Kudos to the staff for creating this kind of culture in a school.”
- “Top notch experience. Hope to return as often as I can.”
- “All went well- all day- in every way!”
- “Clear expectations school wide for students which makes it easy on us as guest teachers.”
- “Wonderful behavior! The students know what is expected of them.”
- “Lesson plans are always so well written in this school. They are always easy to follow which makes such a difference for me and the students!”
- “For middle school, these kids are so respectful and well-behaved. "To be honest, I was a little nervous to sub for this age but the kids in your school made it a great day!”
- “Very impressed with the teachers and their cohesive plans for the day. They make it a dream to fill in for them when they are out”
- “Everyone in your school are so friendly and happy. You can tell they like what they do and take pride in this school.”
- “Very special place for all.”
- “I am always happy to accept assignments from this school."
- “Students are so well-mannered and well-behaved.”
- "I'm retired now but this school would have been a dream to be part of during my career. This place is different than most schools I sub in."
- “Excellent all across the board. Well-managed school with superior classroom management systems in place.”
- "Your staff are kind, patient, friendly, and make me feel like I'm part of the staff when I'm at your school. In other schools, I could go all day without someone even saying hello."
- "I just feel good when I'm in your school. I don't know how else to describe it."
- "Love everything about this place."
- “Five star school.”
We love that our guest teachers see what we do on a daily! We couldn't be prouder of our students!
With gratitude,
Rachel and Nancy
Muskego Lakes Principals
Important Dates Ahead
February 15th: 8th Grade Courage Retreat
February 15th: PTO Meeting 6:30pm
February 17th: MLMS Community Day
February 20th: No Students/Professional Development Day
March 2nd: Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-8pm
March 13th- 15th: Musical Tech Week
March 16-19: Matilda Jr!
Weekly Muskego Lakes Co-Curricular Meetings
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.
Check out all MLMS events here which includes more detailed information!
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences Sign Up Opening Monday!
- In-Person 4-6pm
- Virtual 6-8pm
We will be using "Meet the Teacher'' to schedule these conferences, and each conference will be 10 minutes long with a 2 minute transition in between. This sign up will open on Monday, February 13, 2022 @ 7:00am.
When booking conferences, it's important to note that If you have more than one child at MLMS, you will be able to book conferences for all with the same log-in.
Steps Needed and Important Information When Scheduling
Link to Sign Up
How to Schedule Your Conference on Meet the Teacher Platform
Step 1: Login
Fill out the details on the page then click the Login button.
You must enter information as it is in Infinite Campus.
Use Samantha or Samuel not Sam, if Infinite Campus uses your child's full name
When entering an email address, ensure it is one associated with the Infinite Campus profile
If you have multiple children, you can decide which child's information to use. They will all give you family access to schedule for all of your children.
A confirmation of your appointments will be sent to the email address you provide.
Step 2: Choose In-Person or Virtual Conference
Click on the type of appointment you would like to make either in-person or virtual
**Please note that you will only be able to schedule your conferences in either in-person or virtual**
Step 3: Select Booking Mode
Choose Automatic if you'd like the system to suggest the shortest possible appointment schedule based on the times you're available to attend. To pick the times to book with each teacher, choose Manual. Then press Next.
We recommend choosing the automatic booking mode when browsing on a mobile device.
Step 4: Choose Teachers
If you chose the automatic booking mode, drag the sliders at the top of the screen to indicate the earliest and latest you can attend.
Select the teachers you’d like to book appointments with. A green tick indicates they’re selected. To de-select, click on their name.
Step 5a (Automatic): Book Appointments
Skip this step if you chose Manual.
If you chose the automatic booking mode, you'll see provisional appointments which are held for 2 minutes. To keep them, choose Accept at the bottom left.
If it wasn’t possible to book every selected teacher during the times you are able to attend, you can either adjust the teachers you wish to meet with and try again, or switch to manual booking mode (Step 6b).
Step 5b (Manual): Book Appointments
Skip this step if you chose Automatic.
Click any of the green cells to make an appointment. Blue cells signify where you already have an appointment. Grey cells are unavailable.
To change an appointment, delete the original by hovering over the blue box and clicking Delete. Then choose an alternate time.
You can optionally leave a message for the teacher to say what you’d like to discuss, or raise anything beforehand. Once you’re finished booking all appointments, at the top of the page in the alert box, press click here to finish the booking process.
Step 6: Finished
All your bookings now appear on the My Bookings page. An email confirmation has been sent and you can also print appointments by pressing Print. Click Subscribe to Calendar to add these and any future bookings to your calendar.
To change your appointments, click on Amend Bookings.
For screenshots to assist you in signing up, please visit here. If unable to schedule with a teacher, please reach out to them directly.
Help Requested for Community Day Ahead!
On February 17, all students will participate in their 3rd Community Day of the 2022-23 school year. The goal of our community day is to promote students building relationships with one another as a grade level and fostering friendships by having students explore high interest activities with one another. Our MLMS PTO is suppporting this community day, but is also looking for help with some donations to make the day run.
Please check out our Amazon Wishlist Here and consider purchasing an item. Items needed will help us run several different high interest activties for students as well as team-building events as a grade level.
All donations not from the Amazon wishlist can be dropped off in the main office. A heartfelt thank you from the MLMS PTO and staff for your consideration.
Nominate a Staff Member Today For A Musky Award
If so, consider nominating any member of the Muskego Lakes staff for a Musky Award!!! To do so, you can complete the form here. We will be taking nominations until Friday, Februart 24th, 2023. Thank you for helping us honor our staff here at Muskego Lakes!
8th Grade 2023 MHS Summer School Information
If you have an 8th grader that is attending MHS next fall, please review the following links for information about MHS Summer School Information. Summer School registration will take place February 10th - 17th.
Upcoming 8th Grade Courage Retreat
Just a reminder that on Wednesday, February 15th our 8th graders will need to bring a cold lunch (or order one through Taher) and come dressed comfortably for the Courage Retreat facilitated by Youth Frontiers.
The purpose of the Courage Retreat is to have fun, engage in high energy games, and build relationships with one another.
We have student leaders coming from Muskego High School coming to help facilitate the retreat, serving as role models as our students begin to look ahead at starting high school.
The day is an opportunity for our 8th graders to commit to acts of courage in order to break down social barriers and make their school a better place.
Should you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Rachel Rydzewski at rachel.rydzewski@muskegonorway.org
Help Needed to Plan 8th Grade Promotion
Muskego High School Cross Country
Is your 8th grade student interested in being a part of the Muskego High School Cross Country Team next year? If he/she did not sign up during freshman orientation, please contact Coach Beeck at katrina.beeck@muskegonorway.org for information on how to join our summer running program and to be added to our email list.
Things To Know About Attendance
Staff Member Spotlight- Mrs. Dwyer
We asked Mrs. Dwyer to share a little about herself and her career in education, in addition to what what makes her proud to work at Muskego Lakes and she said:
"My name is Melissa Dwyer, and this is my eleventh year teaching. I graduated from UW-Whitewater with my degree in Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence and a minor in Adaptive Education. Prior to coming to Muskego Lakes, I taught 8th and 7th grade in the Janesville School District for a couple of years. Then, I relocated to the Milwaukee area, and I taught 4th and 5th grade, in West Allis, for six years. I am very outgoing and enjoy dancing, being outdoors, fitness, and cooking. I enjoy spending time playing with my dog, Mia, spending time with my family and friends, and keeping up with my six year old son, Brayden and 9 month old twins, Addelyn and Nova! I am extremely passionate about making learning fun, inspiring students to become independent lifelong learners, and guiding students through personalized journeys to reach goals."
Here is a little more to help you get to know Mrs. Dwyer
Favorite coffee drink - Iced caramel macchiato
Favorite subject when you were in middle school - Literacy
Fun fact about yourself that may surprise students and families - When I was a kid, I disliked math so much! I never felt like I was “good” at it or that I did it the “right way.” I have always and only ever wanted to be a teacher, and because of my experience with math growing up, I decided I wanted to teach math! I wanted to do anything I could to make it a wonderful experience for my students! Teaching math and using personal pathways is my passion!
My Dream vacation - Overwater bungalow in Tahiti
My students describe me as - Fun, silly, energetic, caring, motivating
A Recipe from Chef Benny!
When asked about what Harissa is, Chef Benny said:
"Harissa is a very flavorful hot chili pepper paste, native to the Maghreb. It is made with a mix of herb and spices and then blended with olive oil. I learned how to make harissa during my recent Chef Council Trip to Tunesia and I presented a recipe that we really enjoyed over there.Tunisia is the biggest exporter of harissa and its origin goes back to the importation of chili peppers into Maghrebian cuisine by the Columbian exchange, during the 16th century. Recipes for harissa vary according to the family traditions and regional customs; but in every of its version is very tasty and flavorful. Great to enhance the taste of white meat, fish and vegetables."
Harissa Chicken Bites
8 yields
Ingredients:
- 6oz Skinless Chicken Breast
- 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt 1/4
- 1 tsp Chopped Garlic
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Ground Pepper
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Sweet Paprika
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Zest
- 1/2 tsp ground Chipotle
- 8 Thin Slice of Cucumber
- 8 pieces Bite Size Naan bread
- 1 Tbsp Harissa paste
- 1/4 cup Hummus
Preparation:
In a bowl, mix the black pepper, ground cumin, sweet paprika and ground chipotle. Toast it for a few second in a non-stick pan. Add toasted spices to the Greek yogurt along with the salt, garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest and mix well.
Pour mixture over the chicken and marinade for 4-6 hours. Place chicken in a baking pan and roast it in oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reach 165F. Set chicken aside and cool it down. Cut the chicken in small pieces.
To Assemble:
Place Bite Size Naan on platter. Top with the hummus, the cucumber slice, the cooked chicken and top with the Harrissa. Serve and enjoy it!
Did you know we have On-Site Mental Health Counseling at Muskego Lakes?
We are proud to continue to partner with Clinical Psychology Associates (CPA) to offer on-site counseling services at Bay Lane Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Mill Valley Elementary, Muskego Lakes Middle School, Lake Denoon Middle School, and Muskego High School. For information about CPA’s services and therapists or to get started with an appointment, please visit our website.
Have You Gotten Your Matilda Jr Tickets Yet?
Ticket sales for the Muskego Lakes Middle School production of Matilda Jr. are now live to purchase. To order tickets click here.
Performance Dates:
Friday, March. 17 at 7 pm (Miracle Cast)
Saturday, March 18 at 2 pm (Miracle Cast)
Saturday, March 18 at 7 pm (Naughty Cast)
Sunday, March. 19 at 2 pm (Naughty Cast)
Open Gym Schedule for Muskego Lakes
Reporting of an Illness/ Reporting of COVID Reminders
A friendly reminder that when you notify school of your child/children being out ill/sick, it's important that we get the reason that they are out as we keep track of illness to monitor outbreaks.
Reporting of Illness
If your student is ill please keep them home and notify us at 262-971-1860 ext 5000. You may also use the Campus Parent App to report the illness.
Reporting of COVID
If your student has a positive COVID test please keep them home and Report your student's COVID ISOLATION using the COVID-19 SYMPTOM OR STATUS NOTIFICATION.
Please refer to the Health Services website for additional information.
Get Involved By Joining The Muskego Lakes PTO!
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 in how we can make this an amazing school year ahead!!
MLMS PTO Meeting Dates for 2022-2023
- February 15
- March 15
- April 19
- May 17
PTO Mid-Week Munchies
Community Events
Speak Up Speak Out Wisconsin
Muskego Lakes Associate Principal
Muskego Lakes Principal
Muskego Lakes Middle School
Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Twitter: @MLMSmuskies