Good afternoon Shady Lane families,

I hope you're all having a great spring! What strange weather for December. And you can certainly tell kids are ready for the holidays. It's always a fun task to balance the learning and the fun the week before break.

It's going to be a great week!

Brad Hoffman

Holiday Spirit Week

To help enjoy the week leading up to break, we're having some fun dress up days. Students and staff can participate as they want to.

Monday - Winter Wonderland: Hoping for a snow day? Wear all white and dress like a snowman.

Tuesday - Holiday Flair & Headwear: Do you have a favorite holiday shirt, vest, socks, jewelry, hat or headband? Today's the day to wear it all, let's see what you've got!

Wednesday - Light up the New Year: The New Year is almost here! Dress to impress in your fanciest duds!

Thursday - Ugly (or beautiful) Holiday Sweater: Break out your ugliest or most beautiful holiday sweater. We all have one; it's time to wear it!

Friday - Long Winter's Nap: Come to school in your coziest sleepwear and prepare for a long winter break!

Manners Minute

To help our students learn important life skills, we've started sharing a Manners Minute on Thursday mornings with announcements. Some of our students have been doing a great job sharing some videos with the rest of the school to help to build some skills. This one time lesson is helpful, but to really make a difference, we need to reinforce it at school and home. During the week, staff are on the look out for students displaying these skills and giving out Hawk Bills to recognize our learning and growth. Check out the 3 Manners Minutes we've shared so far.

Saying "Please" and "Thank you!"

How to ask for help

Avoiding the "He/she did it first" trap

Important Dismissal Reminders

It's important to us to get your children home safely and efficiently at the end of the day. Please see the important reminders below.

Playground pick up - Please park in legal parking spaces. And please use the cross walk if you have parked across Shady Lane or St. Thomas Dr. We have had too many close calls as students and parents have crossed in the middle of the street.

Drive through - Please read the reminders to the right, especially as it pertains to the line backing up to the intersection.

Weather and recess

This past week we had some pretty cold weather prompting us to have indoor recess, the earliest in the school year that I can remember.

When do we go out and when do we stay in?

We're hearty here in Wisconsin and try to go outside for recess whenever we can. Of course if it's raining or excessively cold, we'll stay in. As a rule of thumb, if the temperature is below 0 degrees (with or without the windchill), we stay inside. We make an exception if there is a long run of very cold temperatures and go out for shortened recesses, alway mindful of safety.

So, please send your child with proper outerwear (warm coat, snow pants, boots, hat and mittens) every day. Please label your child's clothing as it is very easy to get things mixed up. And please help your child learn how to get all of their gear on. If you do not have winter clothing, and need assistance, let us know.

Literacy Resource

The district is interested in your feedback as we explore new resources for the area of English Language Arts (ELA). Please use the survey link below to share your thoughts.

Elementary English Language Arts Family Survey

Cold and Flu Season

Just like everywhere else, cold and flu season has struck at Shady Lane. Please view the graphic at the right to help know when to send your child to school and when to keep them home, as well as some helpful tips below.

• Help teach your child proper handwashing and to cough in their "corner"
• If your child has a fever, is vomiting, has diarrhea, or a sever cold, keep them home.
• Please inform the office of any absence by calling 262-255-8480 or emailing attendancesl@sdmfschools.org

Shady Valley PTO News

December PTO Events are HERE! ❄️⛄️ LOTS of volunteer help needed this month, see how you can help below!

Tuesday, Dec. 5th (6:30 in the Shady Lane cafeteria) - Attend our last PTO meeting of the year (FREE child care provided!) and help PREP candygram bags!

Monday, Dec. 11th (4pm in the Valley View library) - Help FILL candygram bags!

Friday, Dec. 15th (2pm at Valley View) - Help with the 5th Grade DARE Graduation! **See link below to sign up for specific volunteer needs!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AAAAB2CAAF94-46457485-5thgrade

Wednesday, Dec. 20th - Drop off holiday treats to wish staff a happy holiday season and show our appreciation for all they do! (Watch for sign up coming soon!)

Thanks to all our amazing volunteers, we couldn't do it with out you!

-Shady Valley PTO

Falls Summer Academy 2024

(Summer School)

The FSA dates and locations are set for the summer of 2024 and are posted below. The grade levels are for the grades students will be entering in the fall of the 2024-2025 school year. Registration will take place later in the spring.

Dates:

Session 1: June 17-June 28

Session 2: July 8-July 19

Locations:

4K-2nd grade - Shady Lane

3rd-5th grade - Valley View

6th-8th grade - MFHS

9th-12th grade - MFHS

Camp Invention

Falls CE & Rec is hosting Camp Invention again this summer at Riverside July 29- August 2. There is a discount if you register before the end of 2023. Check out more information by clicking on the flyer.

What's for breakfast and lunch?

December Breakfast Menu

December Lunch Menu

Important Dates

• 12/23-1/1 - Winter break
• 1/15/24 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• 1/22/24 - No School - Staff inservice