Milwood Weekly Newsletter Master

Welcome, Milwood families! We are excited to partner with you as we launch a new school year together. A strong, active connection between home, school, and our community is the foundation of student success, and we are fully committed to nurturing that bond. We are honored to support your family, with the clear goal of ensuring every student feels welcomed, valued, and empowered from day one. Working side-by-side, we will meet our students where they are, deliver engaging instruction, and guide them toward reaching their full academic and social potential.

To maintain an academically enriched, focused, and safe environment where every child can thrive, we ask for your daily partnership in reinforcing these key expectations:

• Cell Phones & Headphones: Must remain stored in lockers throughout the school day (7:25 AM – 2:20 PM).

• Personal Electronics: Personal iPads, AirPods, and laptops should remain at home. School-issued Chromebooks are provided in classrooms whenever needed for instruction.

• School ID's: Once students receive their school ID, they are required to wear it around their neck at all times during the school day for safety and security purposes. Students will need their ID to enter the building, access breakfast and lunch, and verify their identification throughout the day. Students will receive temporary ID's this first week. Their permanent ID's will be available following picture day.

• Parent-Student Communication: If you need to reach your child or deliver an urgent message during the day, please contact our main office directly. Our staff is always happy to assist and will ensure your message is delivered promptly.

• Dress Code: We appreciate your support in helping students dress for a respectful, distraction-free learning space. Outerwear—including hoods, hats, scarves, and skull caps—along with clothing featuring inappropriate language or imagery, should be left at home.

Thank you for your trust, collaboration, and shared dedication to making this a safe, inspiring, and successful year. We look forward to a fantastic partnership ahead!

Welcome back families,

We hope you had a wonderful summer and are excited to start the new school year! To help ease those first-day jitters, here is what to expect for our first day of school on Monday, August 31st, which will be a half day. Students can be dropped off anytime after 7:00 AM to eat breakfast. They will enter through the metal detectors at the front or back entrance before heading to the cafeteria or gym to wait. Dismissal to first-hour classes will begin at approximately 7:25, with 6th graders heading out first. Don't worry about getting lost—teachers, staff, campus safety, and WEB leaders will be in the halls to help everyone find their way. School will wrap up at 10:40 AM for buses and parent pick-up.

To find out who your first-hour teacher is, class rosters will be posted on the school windows by Sunday, August 30th. 6th grade lists will be on the doors by the basketball courts, while 7th and 8th grade lists will be at the main entrance (7th grade to the left, 8th grade to the right). Once students arrive in their first-hour class on Monday, they will receive their full schedules. While you are checking rosters on Sunday, feel free to use the sidewalk chalk we leave out to decorate the walkways with encouraging messages for our students!

To prioritize student safety, our car rider drop-off and pick-up location is moving to 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 note that the back lane (near basketball courts) is strictly reserved for buses only!

Tuesday, September 1st: Full Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 2nd: Full Day Schedule

Thursday, September 3rd: Full Day Schedule

Friday, September 4th: Labor Day Holiday Break- No School

Monday, September 7th: Labor Day Holiday Break- No School

Tuesday, September 8th: School Resumes- Full Day Schedule

Wednesday, September 9th: Picture Day- More to come!

Tuesday, September 1st: 2:30- 4:00

Wednesday, September 2nd: 2:30- 4:00

Thursday, September 3rd: 2:30- 4:00

Please come prepared with athletic clothing, tennis shoes, a water bottle, a great attitude an a love for running!

Tuesday, September 1st: 2:30- 4:00

Wednesday, September 2nd: 2:30- 4:00

Thursday, September 3rd: 2:30- 4:00

Please come prepared with athletic clothing, tennis shoes, a water bottle, and a great attitude!

There will be a sideline cheer information and sign up session after school Tuesday, September 1st in Ms. Kimbrough's room (220). Please attend for more information on Cheer! You can also contact Ms. Kimbrough at kimbroughcj@kalamazoopublicschools.net

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVTRFBNZ4. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!

Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com

Key Dates & Bell Schedules

• Monday, Aug. 31 (First Day of School - 1/2 Day): 7:25 AM – 10:40 AM

• Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Thursday, Sept. 3 (Full Days): 7:25 AM – 2:20 PM

• Friday, Sept. 4 and Monday, Sept. 7 (No School - Labor Day Holiday Break)

• Tuesday, Sept. 8 (School Resumes): 7:25 AM – 2:20 PM

• Wednesday, Sept. 9 - Picture Day- (More to come)

Daily Drop-Off & Pick-Up

• Doors Open: 7:00 AM (Breakfast available in the cafeteria)

• Pick-Up Times: 10:40 AM on half days | 2:20 PM on full days

• Location: Front entrance

• Safety Requirement: All vehicles MUST use the Konkle Street Entrance for drop-off and pick-up.

First Day Details & Arrival Routine

• Morning Arrival: After passing through the front metal detectors, students may go to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the gymnasium to sit with their grade level. Students must remain in their chosen area until the bell rings.

• Finding 1st Hour: Class rosters will be posted in both the cafeteria and gym. Students will check the lists to find their 1st-hour teacher.

• Extra Help Available: 6th-grade teachers will hold up signs, and staff members will be throughout the building to guide students. Teachers will distribute full class schedules while in first hour.

• 1/2 Day Class Flow: Students will visit all 7 classes, spending about 22 minutes in each.

Parent Action Item: Please ensure your child knows their bus number (this will be mailed to you approximately the week before school starts) and at least one emergency phone number.

✏️What to Bring on Day One

Less is more! Because students pass through metal detectors and store items in lockers, they only need:

• A pencil

• A positive attitude and

• Patience

Teachers will share specific supply needs for the semester during the first week.

📵 Electronics & Phone Policy

To keep focus on learning, phones, iPads, and personal laptops are not permitted during school hours and must remain stored in lockers.

• Student Access: Students may use the main office phone in an emergency.

• Reaching Your Child: If you need to contact your student during the day, please call the main office directly at 269-337-0670.

Once school has started, you can access the school menu 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.