Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter

Dear Muskego Lakes Families,

As you know, over the last two weeks, our students have been completing their iReady testing for both math and literacy. You will have your child's Fall iReady assessment results in the upcoming weeks. Math/literacy teachers plan to review these results and goal-set with the students, and then your child will bring their results home in their Musky folders after this is complete.

iReady assesses students across multiple grade levels, allowing for the identification of root causes of students' struggles and/or for the identification of areas where a student is ready for further challenge. This information provides our teachers with a "road map" for instruction for the year and gives us a goal for your child's growth for the 2023-24 school year. In addition, it gives you feedback on how your child is learning three times a year on grade-level state standards, in addition to the Forward test results you get each year.

On the report that will be sent home, you will find your child's Overall Placement in the upper right corner of the report, along with their score in parenthesis. Our target for students is to be at "Mid On Grade Level" or higher by the end of the school year. For a 6th grader, the target is to be Mid-6 or higher by the end of the year. Placements are broken into "Early," "Mid," and "Late" for your child's current grade level. If your child is placed above or below their current grade level, you will not see "Early", "Mid," and "Late" as part of their placement. In addition to the Overall Placement, each report gives your child's grade level placement for each subject domain.

It is important to us that all students grow throughout the school year. iReady provides two goals to help teachers, students, and families measure growth.

• Typical growth goal: This is the average annual growth for students at your child's grade and placement level. The typical growth goal line is the solid line on the bar graph.

• Stretch growth goal: For below-grade-level students, the stretch growth goal is an ambitious but attainable level of annual growth that puts below-grade-level students on a path toward proficiency. Stretch Growth for on- or above-grade level students is an ambitious but yearly attainable growth that puts on-grade level students on a path to achieve/maintain advanced proficiency levels. The stretch growth goal line is the dotted line on the bar graph.

As you review the iReady assessment with your child, know that this data provides us with one way to understand your child's progress. If you have questions about their results, don't hesitate to get in touch with your child's literacy or math teacher.

In partnership,

Rachel and Nancy

Muskego Lakes Principals

• September 11-15: Spirit Week
• September 13: MLMS PTO Meeting 6:30pm
• September 14: School Picture Day
• September 15: PTO Pastries with Parents
• September 25: No School
• October 3: Make-Up Picture Day
• October 19: Fall Conference Night
• October 23:Fall Conference Night

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.

Check out all MLMS events here which includes more detailed information!

Every morning, families that drop off students have the same objective: to get to their final destination safely and on time. Our morning drop-off procedures have been refined based on feedback from our families and are designed to move the maximum number of cars quickly.

Thank you to everyone for respecting and working with our staff in the morning and afternoon to make this happen. To continue to allow for this, we are asking that all families please help us ensure the following is your daily norm to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all:

• As you pull into the drop-off zone (red curb), pull all the way forward and fill in all available space.
• Please have your student(s) ready to exit the car as soon as it comes to a stop. If your student needs extra time, please park in the bus lot and assist them.
• We ask that students only exit cars on the sidewalk side of the vehicle to keep students out of traffic.

The lead car must pull up to the end of the painted curb indicated by the red line in Illustration 1 to help us get as many families through the line safely. Consider the chart below, assuming we cycle a group of cars every 30 seconds.

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.

Technology, such as social media, texting and online gaming can be very appealing to teens. It helps them connect with peers and learn new things. However, teens are spending more and more time online, according to studies. Too much screen time can have a negative impact on teens’ physical and mental health. This can lead to:

• Sleep loss: Teens who use digital devices in the hour before bed often have trouble falling asleep. Teens need eight to 10 hours of quality sleep each night to learn and thrive.
• Depression: Teens who compare their lives with others’ social media posts may feel bad about themselves and over time this can have a negative impact.
• Academic problems: Teens who use multiple devices while doing their schoolwork tend not to learn or perform as well.

Managing teens’ digital media use can be quite challenging, but we wanted to share some tips that might help you in supporting you with your teen as you navigate social media together.

Tip #1: Work with your teen to develop a media plan. Experts recommend developing a consistent media plan to fit each family member. It should include:

• Positive ways to use technology.
• Amount of recreational screen time allowed each day.
• Times devices should be turned off at night.

When you work with your teen to create this plan, your teen shares the responsibility and is more likely to stick to it.

Tip #2: Designate device-free times and traditions. Establish device-free activities, such as mealtimes and family get-togethers. And set aside special time when you and your teen can really focus on each other, without the distraction of devices. This may be when you:

• Drive in the car together.
• Do home and garden projects.
• Play sports or board games.
• Go on a walk or hike.
• Cook together.
• Volunteer with a local organization.
• Talk and relax in each other’s company
  

Tip #3: Give your teen the tools to make good choices. Talk about basic online courtesy, safety and appropriate behavior. Make your expectations clear, such as:

• Be respectful.
• Never engage in online bullying and always get help if feeling bullied.
• Do not share inappropriate content.
• Be careful about interacting with people you do not know and trust in real life.
• Do not give out private details that can put security at risk.

To make it a two-way conversation, ask what your teen already knows. Discussing these issues ahead of time can help your teen make better choices when tough situations do arise.

Tip #4: Embrace the benefits of technology. Your teen may stop listening if you talk only about what’s wrong with the use of devices. Instead, show that you understand how technology can be used positively, such as:

• To build social connections.
• To seek out support.
• To be exposed to new ideas and knowledge.
• To develop academicand job-related skills.
• To become civically engaged
  

When you show that you understand the benefits and value of screen time, you’ll have more credibility when it comes to putting limits on it.

Tip #5: Discuss Making a Positive Online Presence

Another thing to discuss with your teen is how to create a positive online presence. This is the social media presence that friends, family, possible employers, college recruiters and others may be able to view. What does your teen want that first impression to be? And what posts, photos or videos has your teen shared that could negatively impact that impression?

Registration is now OPEN for the Muskego Lakes PTO Pumpkin Spice Fest 2023. This year's event is Sunday, October 22nd from 9am-2pm at Muskego Lakes Middle School.

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/FPiTbauBC9cQiBgn7

After completing the form, a confirmation email with payment instructions will be sent within 48 hours. Our Muskego Lakes PTO is Looking forward to another great event!

Students are required to ride their assigned bus home. From time to time, students want to or need to go to a friend's house after school. In this situation, a signed note from home is needed. The note should contain the following:

• Student's first and last name
• Date of travel
• Assigned bus route #
• Friend they are going home with
• Friend's bus route #
• Parent/Guardian signature

The note should be dropped off at Student Services in the morning. Student Services will issue a bus pass that can be picked up in Student Services on the way out of school. Students are only able to ride a different bus if they have a school issued bus pass. Following this procedure ensures that buses leave on time and that all students are on the correct buses. Thank you for your help.

The Muskego-Norway School Board invites your participation in developing a desired Profile to inform the search and selection of our next Superintendent of Schools to begin on July 1, 2024.

The New Superintendent Profile will be based on both survey and focus group participation and responses. The online survey, linked below, will be on our district website through September 29 and the focus groups with various stakeholder groups will be scheduled at convenient times during the month of September. Parent and community member focus group dates, times, and locations are listed below. Based on the survey and focus group results, the New Superintendent Profile will be presented to the School Board for approval on October 9, 2023.

Responses to the survey and focus group questions will help to inform the “greatest strengths” of the district to sustain and continue to grow, and the “greatest challenges” of the district to prioritize and address. Your responses will also seek input on the projected initial priorities/goals of the new superintendent and the “most important characteristics/skills” needed to make the connections to address the priorities/goals together.

So, your participation in the online survey, linked below, and the in-person focus groups during the month of September is essential to informing the search - both as an encouragement for qualified candidates to apply and as an encouragement for the school board in their vetting process to discern the most qualified candidate to continue to lead the continuous improvement steps of our sought after Muskego-Norway Schools.

SURVEY LINK HERE - available through September 29, 2023

Parent and Community Member focus group meetings will be held at the Educational Services Center, S87 W18763 Woods Road, Muskego, WI at the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 9:00 AM at the ESC

• Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 10:30 AM at the ESC

• Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 6:30 PM at the ESC

• Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 6:30 PM at the ESC

On Friday, September 15th we will be holding our annual Pastries with Parents. Please join us from 7am to 8am for delish pastries, coffee and milk. This is a great way to meet new families, the PTO Board and start off the new year.

The event will be held in the middle school cafe. This is the PTO's first fundraiser of the year. Everything will be sold for $1.00 and this is a cash only event. So please bring your dollar bills to the event.In order to make sure that we have enough goodies, we ask that you sign up for this event. Please include how many will be attending and what you will be buying.

When you arrive, please park in the parking lot to the right and make sure you do not park in any of the bus spots. Thank you for supporting your PTO and we hope to see you there.

If you are interested in signing up, do so 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.

At Muskego Lakes, we pride ourselves on having a variety of co-curricular activities for our students to participate in! On Friday, September 15th, your child will have an opportunity at lunch to explore and learn more about the following co-curricular options available to them:

• Boys Basketball (7-8th grade)

• Girls Basketball (7-8th grade)
• Volleyball (7-8th grade)
• Track (7-8th grade)
• Cross Country (5-8th grade)
• Wrestling (5-8th grade)
• Cheerleading (5-8th grade)
• School Musical (5-8th grade)
• Student Council (6-8th grade)
• Ski & Snowboard (5-8th grade)
• Skateboarding (5-8th grade)
• NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) (8th Grade)
• Bike (5-8th grade)
• PHab Lab (6-8th grade)
• Robotics (5-8th grade)
• Chamber Choir (6-8th grade)
• Doo Wop Dudes (Choir) (6-8th grade)
• Soul Sisters (Choir) (6-8th grade)
• Science (5-8th grade)
• Open Gym (5-8th grade)
• Art (5-8th grade)
• Generations Club (5-8th grade)
• Creative Writing (5-8th grade)
• Jazz Band (7-8th grade)
• Dungeons and Dragons (5-8th grade)
• Wellness (5th grade)
• Mindfulness (5-8th grade)
• Best Buddies (5-8th grade)
• SPLASH/Homework (5-8th grade)
• Yearbook (5-8th grade)
• Jewelry (5-8th grade)
• Chess (5-8th grade)

If you have a 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Muskies who is looking for a fun group to join this year, recommend Student Council. Student council gives students a chance to represent our school, host events, plan fun activities, and meet new people. Student council meets twice a month after school in Mrs. Koeller's room. This group is a great way to promote Musky Pride, become an active student council member before high school and have a ton of fun! If you are interested in joining, talk to Mrs. Koeller or come to our first meeting after school on Tuesday, September 12 from 3:15 until 4:20. Hope to see you there!

In an effort to ensure students can move through the lunch lines efficiently, 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 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.

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

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.

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!!

Meeting Dates for the 23-24 School Year:

• September 13
• October 11
• November 8
• January 10
• February 14
• March 13
• April 10
• May 8

Please make note of days off and important events on the 23-24 calendar. It is ideal to make dentist and doctor appointments on days we do not have school whenever possible.

Thank you!

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.

Speak Up Speak Out Tip Form

Non-discrimination Notice

Muskego Lakes School Lunch Menu

Muskego Lakes School Handbook

We encourage you to follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Twitter: @MLMSmuskies