Milwood Weekly Newsletter Master

Dear Milwood Families,

I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your continued support in reinforcing our schoolwide expectations at Milwood. The positive impact of your support at home is remarkably evident. Our students are doing an outstanding job keeping their phones and personal belongings secured in their lockers from 7:25 AM to 2:20 PM. This success is a direct reflection of your partnership. Thank you, families!

ID's: A friendly reminder to please ask your students to wear their IDs around their necks rather than swinging them. Keeping IDs visible and secure helps prevent accidental damage and keeps our hallways running smoothly.

As a reminder, students need their physical ID badges for several daily activities:

• Morning Access: Entering the building early

• Lunch: Joining the front of the lunch line

• Events: Free admission to all after-school athletic events

If a student needs a replacement ID, they can purchase one for $2.00 or 50 Minga points. They can check in with Ms. Chappell, Ms. Peake, or Ms. Stiver during lunch to get set up with a new one.

Thank you for your help in keeping our school day running seamlessly!

To prioritize student safety, drop-off and pick-up location is located at the front circle loop off Konkle Street (see aerial view below).

• Car Riders: Drop-off and dismissal pick-up will occur exclusively in the Konkle Street circle loop.

• Buses Only: Please do not use the staff parking entrance. Also note that the back lane (near basketball courts) is strictly reserved for buses only!

Monday, September 21st: NWEA Testing Continues

Tuesday, September 22nd:

Cross Country Meet - Linden Grove @ 4 p.m.

Volleyball Match- 8th Grade Home, 7th Grade @ Portage Central @ 3:45

Wednesday, September 23rd:

Football Game - Loy Norrix @ 4:00

Sideline Cheer - Loy Norrix @ 4:00

Thursday, September 24th:

Cross Country Meet- Gull Lake Gilmore Car Museum @ 4:00

Volleyball Match- 7th Grade Home, 8th Grade @ Linden Grove @ 3:45

Soccer Club Match @ KZOO Soccer Complex @ 4:00

Friday, September 25th: Have a fantastic Friday!

Saturday, September 26: Fox and Hound - KVCC @ 10:15

Homework expectations will vary based on each student's individual needs. Establishing a consistent daily routine can help students build healthy habits and feel confident in meeting their goals. We recommend setting aside 30 to 60 minutes each evening for academic practice. Students should first focus on completing any assigned schoolwork. Additional time can be dedicated to studying for upcoming quizzes, tests, or presentations. If no specific assignments or study materials are brought home, students are encouraged to spend their dedicated homework time reading independently.

Parents and Guardians,

We deeply value the diverse learning needs of our students and fully recognize how beneficial sensory tools and manipulatives can be in helping children focus, self-regulate, and feel comfortable throughout the school day.

Recently, we have seen a significant increase in fidget items brought from home—specifically sensory stress balls such as NeeDohs. While our staff understands and supports the use of sensory items, NeeDohs have unfortunately created unique challenges in our classrooms. Beyond becoming a central distraction during instructional time, they present a major cleanup hazard and safety concern when punctured or broken.

To maintain a focused, safe, and orderly learning environment, our teachers will be asking students to leave NeeDohs at home and select alternative, non-messy sensory tools for use during classroom instruction, breakfast, and lunch.

We kindly ask that you speak with your child about these guidelines and help them choose appropriate alternative sensory items if needed. We truly appreciate your understanding, partnership, and continued support in keeping our classrooms engaging and safe for all learners.

The school menu can be accessed via the Nutrislice app or website. Please search for "Milwood Middle School" to view daily menus.

Additionally, please note that all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch. To ensure the continuation of this program, we kindly ask that all families complete the free and reduced lunch application form.