Mill Valley Weekly

The Muskego Norway School District is dedicated to creating a positive experience for our students, parents, staff and community. We are excited to invite you to share your valuable feedback with us by completing the Parent/Guardian Satisfaction Survey.

At Mill Valley, our staff pours their hearts into every student's success. As you fill out the survey, help us celebrate our incredible team by sharing what you love most about our school. We'd love for you to share a favorite moment or shout-out for a staff member and programs that have made a difference for your child this year.

In Partnership,

Allyce Harris

MV Principal

Mr. Ernst's

4th Grade Class

Each month, every classroom sets its own behavior goal to work toward together. These goals might include things like: walking quietly and respectfully in the hallways or making good choices about who we sit with during learning and work time.

At the end of the month, classrooms that meet their goal get to participate in a Minute-To-Win-It game during our Golden Awards assembly. Take a look at the fun below!

Thank you for your partnership in making your student's testing days successful!

ALL testing will take place in the morning. Please avoid scheduling any appointment during testing times.

Please ensure your student...

• gets enough sleep each night
• has a healthy breakfast each day
• arrives to school on time everyday

Specials and lunch schedules will be adjusted to provide an uninterrupted morning testing window.

Soon, our 3rd and 4th grade students will be taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam. Please note that there are strict guidelines stating that personal communication devices are not permitted in the testing environment. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smart watches, and all other similar electronic devices.

ALL students and families should be familiar with the school’s Personal Communication Devices & Electronics guidelines, which are outlined below and in the school handbook:

While elementary and middle school students may possess personal communication devices (PCDs) in school, on school property, during after school activities (e.g., extra-curricular activities), and at school-related functions, they must be kept out of sight and off during the instructional day (from the bell at the beginning of the day until the dismissal bell at the end of the day). For purposes of this policy, "personal communication devices" (PCD) include computers, tablets, electronic readers, cell phones, smartphones, MP3 players, handheld games, and/or other web-enabled devices of any type. The school is not responsible for these items if they are stolen. Given that our lockers are unlocked throughout the day, we ask that electronic equipment as described above is not brought to school. See Board Policy 5136 for more information.

If you need to contact your student during the school day, please do so by calling the school office.

For parents of children in grades K-4, the "after-school hustle" can feel like just another item on an already packed to-do list. However, research suggests that these early elementary years are a critical window for development. Extra-curricular activities aren't just about keeping kids busy; they are a vital extension of the classroom that helps shape a child’s personality, resilience, and social intelligence. They give children something to look forward to throughout the week, and importantly keep them engaged with peers doing activities that develop skills like problem solving, following rules, time management as well as many other executive functions that relate directly to school success.

During the K-4 years, children are transitioning from "learning to play" to "playing to learn." Involvement in structured activities outside of school hours provides several key advantages:

• Social Confidence: For many children, the classroom can be intimidating. Activities like sports or art clubs offer a lower-stakes environment where they can practice making friends, sharing, and resolving conflicts.

• Resilience and "Grit": Whether it’s mastering a tricky piano piece or losing a soccer game, activities teach children how to handle frustration and try again—a skill known as "growth mindset."

• Time Management: Even at age seven, having a Tuesday practice teaches a child basic organization and the importance of commitments.

• Academic Boost: Studies from the National Center for Education Statistics show a strong correlation between extracurricular participation and better attendance and higher math and reading scores.

You don’t need a massive budget to give your child these opportunities. Muskego offers several high-quality, affordable options for families.

The Muskego Public Library

The library is perhaps the best-kept secret for free, high-quality programming.

• A.T.L.A.S. (At the Library After School): A monthly drop-in program for grades K-6 featuring rotating themes like STEM, Magic, or Art.

• Rock the Block LEGO Club: Excellent for developing spatial reasoning and engineering skills in a social setting.

• Read to Leo: For younger students (K-2) who might be shy about reading, they can practice their skills by reading aloud to Leo, a certified therapy dog.

Muskego Parks & Recreation

The city’s Rec Department is committed to providing affordable "instructional" leagues which are perfect for K-4 beginners.

• Youth Recreational Basketball: Seasonal leagues focused on fundamentals rather than intense competition.

• Art & Enrichment Classes: The department frequently offers "one-off" classes in dance, gymnastics, and safety (like "Home Alone" prep) for a nominal fee.

• Scholarships: Most municipal programs offer financial assistance or sliding scales for residents in need; always ask the department office about "Recreation Scholarships."

Community Sports & Scouting

• Muskego Athletic Association (MAA): While some "select" teams can be pricey, their recreational Little League and Flag Football programs are designed to be accessible to the community.

• Cub Scouts & Girl Scouts: Muskego has a very active scouting community. These programs are high-impact and low-cost, focusing on outdoor skills, community service, and leadership.

A few extra tips:

• The "Rule of One": To avoid burnout, start with one activity per season.

• Follow Their Lead: In grades K-4, the goal is exposure, not mastery. If they hate soccer after one season, it’s okay to try pottery next.

• Look for "Instructional" vs. "Competitive": For this age group, look for programs labeled "Instructional" or "Rec." These focus on fun and skill-building rather than the pressure of winning.

The best activity for your child is the one that makes them excited to get out of the car. Whether it’s building a LEGO tower at the library or kicking a ball at Park Arthur, they are building the foundation for a successful future.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s social or emotional health, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Happy Spring! Dr. S

Mill Valley students continue to work hard to demonstrate their respect, their responsibility, and their kindness. At the end of each month, behavior referral (majors and minors) graphs are shared with the staff and students. We wanted to share data trends with you, as well. When teachers share the graphs with their students, they facilitate important conversations about behavior in regard to trends, noticings, and potential actions to decrease the number of behavior referrals each month.

Below are some noticings and patterns from our staff and students for March:

• Second graders had no majors and minors for the month!!

• Referrals most often happened in the classroom followed by the playground.

• Most of the majors and minors were reported as disruption or disrespect.

• Referrals happen least often on the bus or in specials.

• Teachers and support staff have been having conferences, using “think sheets” and implementing restorative practices to help students build their skills to resolve conflicts with peers.

Mill Valley staff will be celebrating National Jelly Bean Day on April 22nd, and we’d love your help in making this day extra special for our teachers and support staff. If you are interested in donating, please use the sign-up below and send in items with your child or drop them off in the office anytime before April 22nd. A variety of flavors would be fun!

CLICK HERE to sign up!

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

Mill Valley PTO is looking for enthusiastic parents to join committees for the upcoming spring events. If you are interested in lending your time and skills to help plan and organize these community-building events and meet other parents, please sign up HERE!

Upcoming Events Include:

• Spring Fundraiser

• Dance

• Staff Appreciation

• Art Night

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:

• 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