Mill Valley Weekly

Baby, it’s cold outside! To help warm your spirits during this chilly week, we’re looking ahead to the sunny days and exciting milestones waiting for us this spring. Please mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights:

• 90th Day of School: Wednesday, January 28th

• 100th Day of School: Wednesday, February 11th

• Cupid's Cafe: Friday, February 13th

• SPRING BREAK!: March 30 - April 6th (return to school on Tuesday, April 7th)

• 4th Grade Concert: Wednesday, May 20th at the MHS Performing Arts Center

• Spring Concert: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade, Thursday, May 28th

• Planting & Field Day: Friday, June 5th

Keep an eye on future newsletters; we will send home specific details as we get closer.

In Partnership,

Allyce Harris

MV Principal

Please familiarize yourself with the district’s protocol for closing school due to inclement weather HERE.

If your child has been absent due to illness or appointment, please send the doctor's note to the office or email it directly to kimberly.reichart@muskegonorway.org.

Doctor's notes will change the attendance code from ILL (illness) or APT (appointment) to DRX (doctor excused). Absences coded DRX are taken into consideration when looking at attendance.

Your Monthly Attendance Email will be sent on Monday, February 2nd to review your student's absences.

At any point in time, you are able to look at attendance in Infinite Campus through your Parent Portal.

As we settle into the first month of the year, many of us are juggling New Year’s resolutions. Often, these goals revolve around getting organized, clearing out clutter, or finally finishing those long-overdue projects. While some people seem born with a "natural" ability to stay on top of everything, many of us—and many of our children—struggle to keep the gears turning. If your child (or you!) finds organization and task completion difficult, it isn’t necessarily a lack of effort. It’s often a matter of Executive Function.

Think of Executive Function as the "CEO of the brain." Located in the prefrontal cortex, these mental skills help us:

• Plan and Prioritize: Figuring out what to do first.

• Organize: Keeping track of thoughts and physical items.

• Initiate Tasks: Simply getting started on a project.

• Stay Focused: Filtering out distractions to finish a job.

It is important to remember that these skills are not "on/off" switches; they develop slowly over time. Neurologically speaking, the prefrontal cortex is the last part of the brain to mature. In fact, this "CEO" isn't fully developed until roughly age 25.

When we see our children struggle to turn in homework or keep their rooms tidy, they aren't being intentionally difficult. Rather, they are practicing a skill that their brain is still physically building. Just like reading or riding a bike, Executive Function takes time, patience, and intentional practice.

• Break it Down: Large tasks can feel overwhelming. Help them divide a big goal into "micro-steps."

• Use Visuals: Since internal clocks and calendars are still developing, use whiteboards, checklists, or phone reminders to make time visible.

• Model the Struggle: It’s okay to say, "I’m feeling a bit unorganized today, so I’m going to make a list to help my brain stay on track."

• Celebrate Progress: Focus on the effort of starting a task, rather than just the final result.

As we move through this year, let’s trade the pressure of "perfect resolutions" for the patience of "skill building." Growth is a marathon, not a sprint!

If you would find any of these sample organizers helpful, please reach out to me.

With gratitude for your partnership, Dr. S

Open enrollment seats for the 2026-2027 school year were approved by the School Board. The DPI open enrollment period begins February 2. Please share information with anyone living outside our community who is interested in joining our schools and becoming 1Warrior! Use the following links for more information; DPI Open Enrollment Muskego-Norway Open Enrollment

• Jan 26 = Epic Snow Day! 4-6pm

• No school? No problem! Hit the slopes at Crystal Ridge for tubing, laughs, and all the thrills. Grab your friends—let’s ride!

HERE is the link to register and purchase discounted tickets

Parents United is a nonprofit consortium of southeastern Wisconsin special education departments that have joined together to provide an educational community service. The lectures and presentations offered each school year provide essential links, knowledge, and networking to the entire community ultimately benefitting our students. The mission of Parents United is to present timely and relevant information in a neutral forum for parents and professionals who work with children.

Click here for the Parents United website and click here for the 2025-26 brochure of all events. Below are flyers for the next five exciting upcoming events:

• January 29 (Behavior that is Challenging to Us)

• February 26 (Ferrari Brain with Bicycle Brakes)

• March 9 (Supporting Student Attendance)

• April 21 (Supporting Children’s Success with Self-Determination)

• May 20 (ROUTINES RULE!)

To view current support staff job vacancies, click HERE

Email: allyce.harris@muskegonorway.org
Website: muskegonorway.org
Location: W191 S6445 Hillendale Dr, Muskego Wi, 53150
Phone: 262-971-1830
Facebook: facebook.com/millvalleyelementary