Timberwolves Weekly
February 21, 2020
Tonight is our fundraiser for the PTO Respect and Responsibility Scholarships. Each year, there is an essay contest for former LDMS students who are graduating from Muskego High School. The essay asks for them to describe how they have continued to show respect and responsibility after leaving LDMS. The $500 scholarships are given to two MHS students during our 8th grade promotion ceremony. We appreciate all the enthusiastic Dodgeball teams, their supportive families and other fans for attending tonight’s fundraising event. We start around 3:30 with the 5th grade teams. We’d love for you to come and join us. Special thanks to Mr. Wolak for organizing the event and to all the teachers who are volunteering their time on a Friday night.
With Gratitude,
Mrs. Linda O'Bryan & Mr. John McEwing
Lake Denoon Principals
February 20 - 28: Lake Denoon Book Fair
February 24-27: Winter Spirit Week
February 27: Parent Teacher Conferences - 3:45 to 7:30 pm
February 27: Ice Cream Social - 4:00 - 7:30 pm
February 28: Professional Development Day for Teachers - NO SCHOOL
March 3: PTO Meeting - 4:30 pm
March 3: 8th Gr Parent Meeting to plan for 8th Gr Promotion Events (Library) 5:30 pm
March 13: Musical - 7:00 pm
March 14: Musical - 2:00 pm
March 23 -27: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
March 30: School Resumes
PARENT/GUARDIAN TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES
Ice Cream Social
We’re holding an Ice Cream Social Fundraiser during conferences on February 27, from 4:00 - 7:30 pm. Parents and students can enjoy a sundae and make a donation to support programs for our school. Students will also have a chance to write a note for their teachers and staff members for Teacher Appreciation Week in May.
In order to make this event a success, we are looking for multiple donations of materials as well as your time, Please click the following link to browse the list of needs!
LOST & FOUND
There are a number of clothing articles, etc. in our lost and found. Please note that any items that are not picked up by Thursday, February 27, 2020, will be donated to charity.
Yearbook 2019-2020
Only one more week to order a 19-20 LDMS yearbook. Click here to order online. Last day to order is Friday, February 28. Cost: $25
National Junior Honor Society
Dear Parents & Guardians,
This year, Lake Denoon has started a National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Chapter. National Junior Honor Society is an organization that is focused on service to others, maintaining high academic standing, and being role model students with behavior and citizenship. Seventh grade students with eligible academic and behavioral standing at school were invited to learn more about NJHS during a resource period in early February. At this meeting, all of those eligible students were given Candidate Information Packets that they can complete and submit if they would like to be considered for NJHS membership for their eighth grade school year at Lake Denoon.
The timeline for the NJHS selection process is below:
Candidate Information Packets due Thursday, February 27
Selection / Non-Selection Letters mailed home week of March 9
Spring 2020 NJHS Induction Ceremony: Thursday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm at Lake Denoon
Any current seventh grade students not invited this school year are encouraged to think about how they can better embody the five qualities of NJHS members (scholarship, character, leadership, service, and citizenship) so that they can potentially be eligible to apply to National Honor Society (NHS) once they get to high school. Additionally, parents of fifth and sixth graders should help support and encourage their child to be role model citizens and students so that they may be eligible for NJHS when the time for them to apply in 7th grade comes.
If you have any questions about Lake Denoon’s NJHS chapter, please contact Ms. Stephanie Fote at stephanie.fote@muskegonorway.org or 262-971-1820 ext. 7218.
Track
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Kamperschroer at nicole.kamperschroer@muskegonorway.org or (262) 971-1820, ext. 7213.
BUS PASSES
Students who wish to ride a different bus must bring a note from their parent/guardian to Student Services for a bus pass before 2:30 pm. Students will not be allowed to call home for permission to ride a different bus, as written permission is necessary. LDMS only issues daily bus passes. If your student needs to take a different bus long term, please contact Dairyland Bus Inc. at (262)-203-9938. Please note we will not issue bus passes for LD route 52. This bus is at capacity.
OPTIONAL PARENT INFORMATION SHEET FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
If you would like to identify any specific information about your child’s learning needs and information that would help your child’s transition into the next school year, please feel free to complete the following form:
Optional Parent Information Sheet
Please return this form to the Main Office at Lake Denoon Middle School in a sealed envelope marked “Office-Placement” by Friday, March 6, 2020.
Tickets are now on sale online for our musical.
Click HERE to access the ticket store for FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020
Click HERE to access the ticket store for SATURDAY, MARCH 14, (2:00 pm)
Tickets bought at the door will cost an additional $2.00.
As your school psychologist, I often read research and articles to learn more about how our kids think, act, learn, feel, and react. I recently read an article linked here that highlights how friendships and peer relationships can affect our kids’ behaviors. Most, if not all, of us have heard of peer pressure--how kids can be pressured by their peers into making choices they wouldn’t necessarily make on their own. What this article explains is a phenomenon we should become familiar with called the peer effect. Recent research has uncovered that kids are actually influenced into making choices by the mere presence of their peers. There need not be any direct commands or suggestions by peers for our kids to make certain choices. The presence of peers can influence a pre-teen/teenager to engage in risky behaviors, like driving faster than the speed limit, skipping school, trying alcohol, being mean to others, etc. But the peer effect ALSO shows positive influence on our kids. Kids who hang out with other kids that study hard, are respectful and kind to others, and pursue healthy interests are influenced in a positive way. These kids eventually become stronger students, kinder to others, and engaged in activities that promote inner strength and good character. Middle school is a critical time in our kids’ development. They’re learning how to be more independent, trying out new personas, figuring out who they relate to best, navigating through social structures of school and social media and friendships, yet still needing our reassurance and support. They aren’t quite adults yet and our guidance is important in helping them figure out who should be in their friendship circles--especially since we know the peer effect is strong. Continue to help our kids be influenced in a positive way, especially knowing that our influence becomes weakened (and peers’ influence strengthens) as our kids become teenagers.
Attendance
Please provide written documentation from the doctor when your child is absent from school for an appointment. If a provider recommends that a child miss future days of school, please provide specific, written documentation from the provider stating that information.
If you have questions about keeping your child sick or taking your child to their healthcare provider, please see the following documents from our district nurse:
When To See Healthcare Provider
Please reach out to Amanda Rosman, School Social Worker, if there are extenuating circumstances impacting your child’s attendance. amanda.rosman@muskegonorway.org 262-971-1820 x7428
Academic and Career Planning
ACP is intended to equip students and their families with the tools necessary to make more informed choices about post-secondary education and training as it leads to careers.
XELLO, Our Online Career Research Program
XELLO is the new online career research program that Muskego Norway Schools is using with students in grades 6-12. The program is designed to help your student prepare for academic, career and future success.
Your child will be utilizing the XELLO online program in their sixth grade Dollars and Sense class and in their seventh and eighth grade Social Studies classes. Through career exploration in XELLO, students will begin to define their interests, skills, preferences and aspirations to further explore career opportunities available in their future.
As a parent/guardian, you are encouraged to explore XELLO with your student by logging in together. Please ask your student to share with you what they have learned once they have logged in to complete their assessments.