Mill Valley Weekly

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our fantastic PTO-sponsored Color Run! The energy on the field was incredible, and seeing our students, staff, and families running, laughing, and getting completely covered in vibrant colors will be a highlight of the season. Beyond all the bright smiles and unforgettable memories, your participation and generosity met the fundraising goal which directly supports our school, our classrooms, and future student activities such as the future playground. We are so grateful to our wonderful PTO for organizing such a dynamic event and to all of you for making it such a success!

I also want to thank you for taking the time to meet with teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences. These conversations are a vital part of supporting your child’s journey. By sharing feedback, celebrating milestones, and mapping out the next steps together, we build a strong partnership between home and school that empowers every student to learn, grow, and succeed. Thank you for your continued dedication to our school community and your child's education.

In Partnership,

Allyce Harris

Mill Valley Principal

As parent-teacher conferences wrap up, I am reminded how my children always felt a bit anxious about what was shared regarding their schoolwork and behavior. A common conversation starter around conferences may feel like “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”. So when you sit down to talk with your child, try opening with a warm, reassuring tone. Acknowledging that conferences can be stressful helps put them at ease, letting them know that you are in their corner as a partner and advocate, no matter what came up during the discussion.

To help your child process their conference, try framing both academics and behavior through the lens of a growth mindset; a concept that we often refer to at school. It can be so helpful for children to hear that skills like reading fluency, long division, active listening, and self-regulation are not things you are simply "born with"—they are muscles built through effort and practice. If there are areas where your child is struggling, reframe those challenges using the power of "yet" ("You haven't mastered two-digit subtraction yet, but with practice, you will"). Reassure them that making mistakes is a natural, necessary part of learning rather than a reflection of their character or intelligence. I always use the example that when my children first got on a two-wheel bike they fell several times; but with practice, they learned how to ride!

Finally, reinforce that school and home are a team, and look for simple ways to practice these target skills in daily life. Behavioral skills like focus or managing frustration can be practiced at home through board games, family chores, or shared cooking tasks. Academic growth can be supported by reading together, solving real-world math problems at the grocery store, or setting small, achievable weekly goals. By focusing on effort, strategies, and progress, we can teach our students that challenges aren't setbacks—they are just the next step in growing.

As always, if you need additional resources to practice these concepts at home, or feel that your child would benefit from some time working on skills with me, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Ski and Snowboard Club provides students with the opportunity to purchase lift tickets and rentals at significantly discounted rates at Alpine Valley Monday–Friday, as well as on Sundays after 3:00 PM.

Students enroll in the discount program by purchasing a $32 Club Card. The Club Card includes:

• One free lesson on scheduled Ski and Snowboard Club dates

• Access to discounted lift tickets and rentals

• The ability for friends and family to take advantage of special club pricing on designated dates

CLICK HERE for details and to sign up!

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