Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter
October 28th, 2022
Dear Muskego Lakes Families,
Here at Muskego Lakes, we pride ourselves on living out our vision of "Connecting Hearts & Minds through Acceptance, Empowerment, and Achievement." An essential aspect of living out our vision is ensuring our students have a voice, know they belong here, and know we care about them as people, not just as students. The outcome of living this vision is so that we have a school culture that positively impacts all students' growth and development.
This means we take time to celebrate students, seek their input, and, most importantly, get to know them and their interests. Here are some ways that, as principals and staff, we do this to ensure a safe and positive experience occurs daily here at Muskego Lakes:
All students build learner profile sites that include information about their interests, strengths, preferences as a learner, and more.
Teachers provide voice and choice for students in class via pathways, choice boards, etc., tailored to students' strengths and needs.
Grade level/encore use student survey data monthly to monitor the student experience at each grade level and use the monthly data to plan the next steps to support their goal area.
Our school focuses on building intrinsic motivation within students
All students complete a self-rater of their proficiency on respect, integrity, determination, and engagement (PBIS pillars) on their learner profiles.
We have 30+ co-curricular clubs, most of which were developed based on student requests.
All staff takes time to recognize and celebrate students throughout the year (i.e. grade level awards, phone calls, emails, or postcards home).
Monthly rude, mean, & bullying reporting forms that 100% of students submit in homerooms once a month to notify principals of any rude/mean/bullying behaviors they witness or experience at MLMS so that we can follow up and work through with students.
We use principal surveys to check in with all students on what they are proud of, learn if there is anything we can do to support them, gather their ideas, and more.
While we have all these items in place, we know that to support our students, we also need our families' input, as you know them the best. We are looking to gather some information and ideas to continue to reflect, plan and ensure that what we do positively impacts your child's growth and development. Please visit our survey here if you have ideas and can share them with us. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this input.
With love,
Rachel Rydzewski & Nancy Pasch
Muskego Lakes Principals
Important Dates Ahead
October 31st: Halloween at MLMS
November 4th No School - Professional Day
November 10th 8th Grade Pre-Act
November 11th Community Day
November 23rd - 25th No School - Thanksgiving Break
November 30th- MNS Choral Festival
November 30th - Co-Curricular Group Photo Day
January 25th - Last Student Photo Day
Halloween Costume Reminders/Expectations for Monday
We look forward to seeing students in costumes on Monday, October 31st if they choose to do so. We reviewed the following expectations with students this past week, but ask that you also review them with your student.
Students should reach out to their homeroom teacher if concerned about a costume being appropriate prior to Halloween.
All costume preparations are to be completed at home. (No dressing or applying of makeup or colored hairspray once students arrive at school.)
Any accessory that is used improperly, distracts the learning, or is considered inappropriate for school will be turned in and students will be able to collect it at the end of the day.
Students wearing inappropriate costumes will be asked to call home (in the classroom) for a change of clothes.
Foot attire must be worn at all times. No bare feet, stocking feet or slippers
No inflatable costumes
No fake weapons (i.e. swords, guns, nun-chucks, etc.)
No costumes or accessories that which depict, represent, solicit or promote alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gangs, cults, sex, violence, or profanity.
No mask/headwear that covers your entire face can be worn.
Important Reminders for Boys Varsity Football Game Tonight
Boys Varsity Football, Level 2: Friday, October 28 @ 7 pm InPro Field
- We have moved to post-season WIAA playoffs. ALL spectators must present an entrance ticket to our events. All tickets are $6 and available via our digital ticket provider, GoFan. Once you have purchased an e-ticket via GoFan, please proceed directly to our ticket redemption staff located just past the ticket windows as you enter the stadium. Screenshots cannot be accepted.
- NO CASH SALES WILL BE ACCEPTED. Credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay ONLY will be accepted at the main gate.
- IMPORTANT TO KNOW: All admission protocols are determined by WIAA. This event is a WIAA event and not Muskego High School. We are simply the host venue. Any complimentary admission we offer during the regular season does NOT apply to post-season contests.
- The MAIN GATE will open at 5:30 pm. Reminder, the stadium is closed prior to 5:30 pm.
- Concessions for this game will be hosted by Boys Ice Force Hockey. Please patronize concessions to support these student co-curricular groups. All concessions are cash only.
8th Grade Completion Ceremony Input Needed
Coming Soon: 8th Grade Pre-ACT
We are excited to share that on Thursday November 10th, all 8th grade students at Muskego Lakes will be given the PreACT assessment. Eighth grade sudents who begin their day at Muskego High School should report to Muskego Lakes at 8:05am.
PreACT provides:
Early indication of progress and ideas for improvement—PreACT gives students an estimated ACT test score and can be used as an indicator of college and career readiness.
Fast, robust reporting—Reports are ready quickly, so teachers and students can get to work turning PreACT insights into action. Reports include a predicted score in all tested areas (Math, Science, STEM, English, and Reading), an overall composite score, and an item response analysis.
Career Map showing 26 career areas that are matched to students’ interests and predicted ACT score.
Please make sure that your child has the following on the testing day:
3 sharpened (No. 2) pencils with good erasers
A watch to pace yourself (no phones please)
Calculator for the math test (recommended, but not required); see ACT Approved Calculators.
Tips to share with your child:
Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test
Eat a good breakfast
Follow directions exactly and don’t be afraid to ask questions
Don’t spend too much time on a single question
Choose the answer you think is best and move on
If the test is completed before time is called, recheck work
Wondering Who Do I Contact?
Honoring Service Members
On November 11, Muskego Lakes students will be participating in Veteran's day activities. One of those activities is an honor walk. Our vision for the honor walk is to highlight past and current service members so that our students can learn about the different branches of the military and the various ways in which people serve.
To make this honor walk a success, we ask if you or a family member have served or currently serve in an armed force to consider being part of the honor walk by submitting some information. We will compile the information shared into a sign (as shown below) for students to review and learn from during their honor walk. Please consider filling out this short survey and sharing a photo so we can highlight as many different individuals as possible during our honor walk.
Help Support Service Projects at Muskego Lakes
Skateboard Club
Attendance Tip of the Week
As our mornings are getting colder, it’s harder to get out of our warm beds to start our days! Arriving at school on time helps your student learn routine and gives them time to settle into their morning to be ready to learn.
An article from Rachel Pancare titled Effects of Tardiness on Your Child's Education notes student effects of frequent tardiness including disrupted routines and lower grades. Please contact Stacy Pawlak, School Social Worker, if you are struggling with your child’s attendance and would like guidance. Her contact information is: stacy.pawlak@muskegonorway.org or (262) 971 1800 ext. 5403
Building Guest Teacher Opening
At Muskego Lakes, we are looking for someone to report to school every day from 7:15am-3:15pm. This role steps in anytime teaching staff are unable to be at school due to illness, attending a conference, medical appointment, etc. This position requires a minimum of an Associates degree but does not require a teaching license. If interested, please apply here Building Guest Teacher.
Holiday Assistance Available
Waukesha County Resources
Christmas Clearing Council
The 2022 Christmas Clearing Council Client Application is now available online! Parents struggling financially may apply for Christmas gift assistance for their children this season. Deadline to apply is Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.
http://www.christmasclearingcouncil.org/application
Hope Center
They offer a free shop and will help you find winter clothing, hats, gloves, etc., to prep for the cold weather. They have meals served on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 5:30 PM for those in need. In addition, they also accept once-yearly applicants for financial assistance if they are in the low-income population.
Reach them at:
502 N. East Avenue, Waukesha WI 53186
P: (262) 549-8726
Racine County Resources
Love Inc. can provide holiday assistance in many ways. Please contact at (262) 763-6226 to inquire about their "Thanksgiving Dinner Program" and "Adopt-a-Family Christmas Program." They also provided gently used coats, hats, scarves, and mittens for winter warmth.
If you have questions about any of the mentioned resources, don't hesitate to get in touch with Stacy Pawlak (stacy.pawlak@muskegonorway.org), the school social worker.
PTO Mid-Week Munchies
Health Services - Reporting of an Illness/ Reporting of COVID
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.
Yearbook Ordering Information
If you're not certain if you've already ordered a yearbook, please search your email for "Jostens" and look for a confirmation of sale. Or, if you created an account when ordering, you may login to Jostens.com, and view your purchase history.
To inquire about financial assistance, please reach out to Stacy Pawlak, Social Worker.
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
- November 16
- January 18
- February 15
- March 15
- April 19
- May 17
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