MES Family Update

Parents,

Don’t forget to check out the MES website --your one-stop spot for everything happening at our school!

We’d love your input! If you have ideas or suggestions on how to make the website easier and more fun to navigate, feel free to send us an email at dbonikowske@manawaschools.org.

Thanks for helping us make MES even better!

Here is your online prepay information for your 2025-2026 yearbook. The prepay link will close 3/16/26 and will not reopen. A paper order form will be sent home with each student after Christmas Break if you prefer to order a yearbook with a check or cash.

The Before & After School Care and Wrap Around 4-year-old Kindergarten Program is available to ALL school-aged children from the community. Please reach out to Ashley Sanchez at asanchez@manawaschools.org for more information.

As the days get colder please have your child bring a winter coat, hat, and gloves/mittens to school every day. If your child is in need of winter outerwear please email Ms. Brauer, Ms. U, or call the office and we will get them set up.

Contact Ms. U (lujazdowski@manawaschools.org, or call the office) if you or anyone in your family is in need of clothing. She receives updates on the Traveling Closet and can get you an appointment.

January 17 - PTO Sponsored Family Dance 4:00-6:30 @ Masonic Lodge

January 19-20 - No School

February 16 - No School

they have a fever over 100 or have vomited at home or at school. We recommend any ill child with a sore throat, persistent cough, or diarrhea stay home 24 hours or until their symptoms have subsided.

If you send cough drops in with your child, please include a note in the bag with your signature so we have your permission to administer them at school. Thank you for your cooperation!

• Please call or email the office by 2:00 to change the plans for your child after school.
• If your child has a varying after school schedule, send a weekly or monthly schedule to the office.

We have a 4-day rotating schedule for our special classes this year. Students will have music and physical education every other day. Opposite days will rotate between art and library. It will be helpful for your child if they have shoes for phys. ed. that stay at school.

This rotation ensures that your child receives a well-rounded education, balancing core subjects with enriching activities.

Kindergarten - 5th Grade

7:30 - Students may arrive and will be supervised at the front entrance.

7:40 - Students may enter the building. Breakfast is served.

7:50 - Students should be at school getting ready for class to start.

8:00 - Announcements and classes begin.

3:10 - Students are dismissed

4-year-old Kindergarten and Early Childhood Special Education

Classes run Monday through Thursday (No class on Fridays)

Morning 4K - 7:45-11:05

Afternoon 4K - 11:55-3:10

We are in need of substitutes for paraprofessionals. Our parapros are an important part of our school community by supporting our students and staff. All you need is a high school diploma and background check to be qualified. Come and make some extra money in a fast paced, fun environment!

If interested, please call 920-596-5700

Students are "allowed" 10 excused absences each school year. These include sick days and other parentally excused days off such as a vacation. Absences can be medically excused by bringing a note from a medical professional (dentist, doctor, etc) stating that the student had an appointment during a school day or has an illness that prevents them from attending school until a certain day or symptoms subside. Medically excused absences do not count toward the 10 excused absences. At the 10th excused absences I will meet with the parents of the student to discuss a plan moving forward and the information below.

After the 10th excused absence all days the student misses are considered unexcused even if we get notification from a parent unless we receive a medical excuse. Students are "allowed" 5 unexcused days per semester before they are considered habitually truant. I will meet with parents again after the 3rd unexcused absence in a semester to revise the plan and discuss what could happen if the student misses more school. We may move toward truancy after the 5th unexcused absence in a semester.

Practicing school lunch at home is a critcial skill for school! Help your child succeed at school by teaching them how to open and each a lunch box meal.

Lunch time is 30 minutes for our students to open, eat, and clean-up from lunch. That is not a lot of time if your child is having to wait for an adult to help open their food. There are 2 adults assigned to lunch duty daily and approximately 100 students in each lunch peroid. It might be 15 minutes before your child could start eating if they are waiting for help.

In my opinion, that is way too long for them to wait, and then way too fast for them to have to eat before leaving the lunch room!

Be mindful when you pack something in your child's lunch that needs to be warmed up that it reduces the time your child has to eat.

Many students would rather eat something warm and parents may like to get rid of left overs by packing microwaveable foods in their child's lunch. While we do have 2 microwaves in the cafeteria, please remember that there are approximately 100 students and 2 adults. The line for each microwave can get long. Last year, we had students who had to wait 15 minutes for a microwave! This didn't leave them much time to heat, eat, and clean up.

We ask that students bring drinks that have no caffeine and as little sugar as possible to school.

Check labels! Many drinks that call themselves sparkling water are filled with caffeine and sugar. Bubbl'r can have twice as much caffeine than a can of coke.

Please reach out to MES if you need anything. We still have school supplies and the Food Pantry is available for anyone in need. We are here year round to support our families. Call the elementary office at 920-596-5700 if you need assistance.

Email: dbrauer@manawaschools.org

Website: www.manawaschools.org
Phone: 920-596-2238