Lake Denoon Timberwolves
March 5, 2021
A Message from Our Principals
A gift to give your student this week is the gift of honesty and integrity. Why? Honest people tend to feel better about themselves, enjoy their lives more, and sleep better at night. Next question: what’s the root cause of children’s dishonesty? It’s complicated … and gets more complicated as they get older. They might be protecting someone, but many times it can be that they are worrying about how you will react.
How do we turn this around? Again, it’s about modeling. Anytime you are modeling integrity, say it out loud, like “Looks like I got too much change back. Here’s your dollar back.” Also, acknowledge when you’ve not lived up to your own values with something like “I wish I hadn’t ….” Sometimes, a child might need an off ramp to tell the truth. Tell them you don’t expect them to be perfect, but you do expect them to be honest.
Finally, overall, let your child know that lies hurt relationships. Let them know that being dishonest is not who your family is.
In partnership,
Linda O’Bryan and John McEwing
Important Dates, Events and Activities
March 22: Virtual PTO Meeting 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
March 26: 3rd Quarter Ends
March 26: Muskego Food Pantry Food Drive Ends
March 26:Remote Learning - Deep Cleaning Day
March 29 - April 5: No School - Spring Break
April 20: Forward Exam for English Language Arts for In Person and Virtual School Students
April 21: Forward Exam for Math for In Person and Virtual School Students
April 22: Forward Exam for Science and Social Studies for 8th grade In Person and Virtual School Students
News and Announcements
RESET MindBody: Mindfulness
Here is the weekly lesson for students to help students focus and manage stress to support achieve and other goals in our Vision of a Graduate.
Week of March 1: Lesson 7 - Upper
Youth Art Month
The Muskego Art Department is excited to share this year’s K-12 Youth Art Month with the Muskego Norway Community digitally this year. Please help celebrate Youth Art Month during the Month of March by viewing the digital Youth Art Month on the District’s website. The Muskego Norway Art Department would like to express our gratitude to Alyssa Meyer for placing the k-12 student art pieces in a digital slideshow for the community to view. Thank you Alyssa we could not have done this without your help.
Muskego Food Pantry Food Drive
The food drive will run now through March 26.
Here is a list of the most needed items are:
Canned meats and fish
Canned pasta
Cream soups for cooking
Canned chilli
Boxed potatoes
Canned tomatoes
Cereal
Shampoo, body wash
Toothpaste
Laundry detergent
Diapers, sizes 4&5
Of course, any non-perishable foods and toiletries are welcome. Pet food is also needed.
Warrior 101 Registration
Each year, the Warriors 101 transition program helps support incoming freshmen by facilitating opportunities for them to meet upperclassmen, run through their class schedule, meet their teachers, tour the building, bond with peers, and learn about co-curricular opportunities at the high school. The program is planned for Wednesday, August 25th from 8am-12pm. Please click here to complete registration for your student so you are kept up-to-date with program plans. We look forward to helping your son/daughter have a smooth transition to the high school.
Outstanding Balances in Infinite Campus
As we move towards the end of the year, please allow this to be a friendly reminder to check your student's fee assignments, via your Infinite Campus portal, for this year (and any previous years) and bring any settlement up to date.
Payments can be made:
-via your Infinite Campus Parent Portal (ACH or credit card only)
-paid directly at the main office (cash or check/money order only)
Muskego-Norway School District Covid-19 FAQs & Resources
Please make sure to review the Parent FAQ frequently to find answers to the most commonly asked questions. Updates are highlighted in blue. Our school psychologists have also created a presentation to provide resources on how to help your children cope with mental health during these challenging times.
Please complete the COVID form below if your child...
- Experienced the symptoms of COVID-19
- Diagnosed with or tested positive for COVID-19
- Had CLOSE CONTACT with a person that has been diagnosed with COVID-19
- If already in Quarantine and the quarantined person receives a positive test
- If already in Quarantine and the quarantined person experiences symptoms
- If a household member of someone in Quarantine or Isolation becomes symptomatic
- If a household member of someone in Quarantine or Isolation receives a positive test
Student Services
From the Desk of your School Psychologist
This post is a continuation from the previous week's information on managing anxiety, and how we can partner together as families and school in helping our students work through their anxious symptoms. For this week, I’d like to share the notion of “riding the wave of anxiety.”
There are important steps in helping someone manage anxiety. The first is to help them learn how to identify what triggers their anxious responses. Knowing the triggers allows the person to engage in coping strategies leading up to a trigger (if it is inevitable, like a test in school) to manage the anxiety before it heightens. Anxiety is like a wave. It starts at baseline (calm, then slightly stressed), then it increases (slowly and steadily for some and for others, quickly), and then it eventually tapers off.
Anxiety can look and feel really scary at times--especially panic. Our natural response when we see someone panicking or having an anxiety attack is to step in and try to take control of the anxiety for that person. This person with good intention, however, becomes the “rescue” person...and what we know about anxiety is if a rescue person intervenes during an anxiety attack, then the person with anxiety becomes dependent on that person to “help” them through the anxiety in the future. The anxiety feels harder to manage on their own, and they only remember the worst part of the anxiety attack. In contrast, when a person with anxiety is taught and practices emotional regulation (or coping) strategies when they are calm, and then knows how and when to apply them during anxiety, they are “riding the wave” of anxiety.
R: Recognize the anxiety
I: Involve yourself in your surroundings (grounding/mindfulness techniques)
D: Distract yourself from the anxiety (use predetermined coping strategies)
E: End--acknowledge the anxiety has subsided
As you can see, when a person starts taking control of their anxiety and they “ride that wave,” future experiences of anxiety and panic will lessen in the degree of severity. They learn that anxiety doesn’t last forever and that anxiety doesn’t control them.
If you or someone you know experiences anxiety, please consider looking at this newsletter together. Student services at Lake Denoon appreciates working with parents to meet the ultimate goal of empowering the student with anxiety to manage it on their own. If you are in need of additional resources, like individual or group therapies, to help treat and manage anxiety or any other mental health concern, please reach out to Lake Denoon Student Services. 262-971-1820, x7011.
In solidarity
~Dr. R
What's Happening at Lake Denoon
In a hectic world, here's a real challenge: Project i 8th grade gravity investigation - Make the marble go as SLOWLY as possible!
Mrs. O'Bryan read "Oh the Places You Will Go" to Ms. Schmidt's class. What a respectful and curious class! They had some great questions about middle school. Can't wait for them to join Lake Denoon next year!
It's the board game version of Oregon Trail in Mr. Dooley's room.
Thanks, Lake Denoon PTO, for purchasing this for our students!
That look when a snake bite
takes you out of the Oregon Trail...