Dear Lower School Lakers,

Our creative and inspired LS Student Government has compiled a list of special dress 'spirit' days for next week. All are welcome to participate, if desired!

Monday, 3/9: Crazy clothes and crazy hair day

Tuesday, 3/10: Comfy clothes & bring a stuffy day

Wednesday, 3/11: Dress like a famous person day

Thursday, 3/12: Twin Day (find a buddy and dress alike)

Or find two friends and be triplets! :)

Friday, 3/13: Green Day (ULS gear or St. Patrick's Day/Irish attire)

A big thank you to all who attended our first Ladies Night In yesterday! It was a great success 

and a fun new ULS community event.

Wishing you a relaxing, restorative weekend with family and friends!

Jeanne Flesch

LS Administrative Assistant

Dear Lower School Lakers,

Happy February 34th! It's beena month of woodland creatures from groundhogs to blind mice, honoring  and celebrating famous presidents and civil rights leaders, and having every virus in Wisconsin course through our student body's bodies. As the month reluctantnly draws to a close, we are thankful for our health, our community, food in our bellies, and our ability to get outside as much as we possibly could. It has been a  pleasure to sit with families for parent teacher conferences and share our visions about spring for our students. We have enjoyed the winter and can't wait for spring to arrive bringing muddy recesses to March, through April showers to run through, and with any luck, May flowers. Have a wonderful weekend and goooooooooo Lakers!

Mr.  Peter Humphreys-Loving

Dean of School Life

Dear ULS Lower School Families,

Family conferences are next week! We are looking forward to seeing everyone. The teachers have been working especially hard preparing and organizing their thoughts and observations to share with you. If you have not yet had a chance to sign up, please see the link listed in the notes below. Keeping the communication open and flowing between families, educators, and students is something we value and treasure here at ULS!

Speaking of hard work, Mrs. Smyczek, Mrs. Andersen, Ms. Skowronski, and the whole cast and crew of Shrek the Musical have been pouring their hearts and souls into the production that begins tonight!!  Ms. Synold had the chance to get a sneak peek of the performance at last night's dress rehearsal and said this..."People - run, don't walk to see Shrek!"  😄  There is just something magical about our community coming together in a dark theater to cheer on our amazing young people as they put forth their very all to make a spectacular musical even more special and standing ovation worthy.  We hope to see you there!

The link to buy tickets is also below.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Jeanne Flesch 

LS Administrative Assistant

Dear Lower School Families,

Happy hearts weekend!  Love and friendship filled the air today!  Enjoy each other and the sweet treats of the weekend, and we will see you all on Tuesday!

Please watch for the 2nd trimester report cards, published on Friday, February 20th.  We are so proud of the work of the students!

Warmly,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear Lower School Families,

It's the month of love and kindness - and hearts - here in the lower school!  We are so excited to focus on friends and little Valentine celebrations next week.  On Friday the 13th, please send your kiddo in comfy cozy pajamas, or Valentine's colors, whatever that means to your child!

During heart month, we remember all important heart-healthy and safety issues and reminders to take care of our insides, too! During this month of love and care, we wish to celebrate and shine a light on two of our  Lower School students who cared for someone's heart in a life-saving and meaningful way!  A few weeks ago, Annemarie (1st) and Everett Rierdon (3rd) were home with their grandpa, and he, we now know, started having a heart incident.  Everett and Anne Marie called 911 and were able to give their address, and stayed on the phone until EMS arrived.  Grandpa was able to get the care he needed and is healthy now, all because of their bravery, and Mrs. Gray's and Mr. Wilson's unit, where all 3rd graders have to learn their addresses and phone numbers!  This is character through service and personal integrity all rolled up into one!  If you see Everett and Annemarie, please thank them for being real- life heroes for hearts - heroes come in all shapes and sizes!

Hug all your people and know how greatly we care for each member of our community!

Warmly,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear Lower School Families,

 I hope everyone's tummies are feeling better today!  We are looking forward to rescheduling our Conscious Discipline Training - so please stay tuned for the date!  

Also, I will be away from ULS serving on an accreditation team for The College School in St. Louis.  They are one of the first Reggio Emilia-inspired schools in the country, and I am excited and honored to support them through their re-accreditation process. I should return on Thursday, travel dependent. Please reach out to Becky Tiffany, our Assistant Head of School for Academics, if you need support during my absence.

Please enjoy the balmy weather compared to last week, and we will see you in the halls and in the forest next week!

Warmly,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear ULS LS Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying a cozy day at home today - while unexpected, I know I am enjoying time with my  family, my sweet dog, some delicious hot tea, and making lemon blueberry pancakes for Natalia (ULS, Class of 2026) and me!  (They were a big hit!)

I want to emphasize an event coming up this coming Thursday, courtesy of The Falk Family Center for Learning Engagement,

Please join us in learning together about Conscious Discipline.  ULS Lower School Staffulty have had the great pleasure of working with Conscious Discipline and Abbi Kruse, our consultant, to support our students as they grow, in their emotional intelligence and self- regulation.  As families and educators, we need support, too!  Come learn with us about supporting our children in their emotional and social growth and development.  We hope you can join us!  Details are below.

Conscious Discipline Parent Evening at ULS

Presenter: Abbi Kruse, Conscious Discipline Facilitator and Trainer, Founder of The Playing Field

When: Thursday, January 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Lower School Library.  High attendance will require us to move the event to a different location within ULS, so please check your email the day of this event!

 Please RSVP: by 1/28/26, Conscious Discipline RSVP

Sponsored by: Falk Family Center for Learning Engagement

Enjoy the weekend!  I hope your hot chocolate has all of the marshmallows!

Warmly,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear Lower School Families,

What a fun-filled few days it’s been in Lower School! The snowy weather brought lots of extra joy, rosy cheeks, and big smiles—clearly, winter decided to show off this week - and the snow forts and giant snow boulders prove this!

We also had a wonderful assembly led expertly by the 2nd graders that reminded us just how thoughtful, creative, and kind our students are. Seeing them gathered together, sharing and celebrating, is always a highlight of our week.

Now it’s time to take a deep breath and enjoy a long weekend ahead. We hope your days are filled with rest, play, and maybe a little lingering winter fun.  We are closed on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a true advocate of education. Dr. King once said, "Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”   

Thank you for being such a supportive and joyful part of our community and for being part of the partnership here at ULS, which marries character and learning.

Warmly,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear Lower School Families,

Happy 2026! Despite the on/off gloomy weather this week, the Lower School was full of energy upon our return from winter break. The 2nd graders are studying ancient Greek myths and learned that Arachne the Weaver gave us the word "arachnid".  Our SK class is learning about farming, and the students used blocks to create their own farms with animals. The JK4Butterfly class used their senses while hiking the campitheater path, and found a squirrel nest, moss, mushrooms, heard rain dripping off the roof, geese in the sky, saw and heard wind, and smelled mud!  And to top it all off, we had a bald eagle flying around us overhead while 2nd-4th grade was on the playground today for recess! These are just a few examples out of hundreds of learning moments shared this week in the LS community, both within our walls and out of doors. It's hard to believe the school year is half over, but we have so much more to learn in the next 4 & 1/2 months!

We would like to take a moment to thank our wonderful kitchen staff, Jennifer Bennett, Courtney Dewis, and Sasha Johnson.  They work incredibly hard every day and somehow manage to feed 150+ students and staff with just the three of them! The farm to table lunch program continues to grow and evolve each and every week, with new local partnerships, delicious, healthy offerings for our students, and positive reinforcement of good manners in the lunch line and cafeteria. It's amazing. If you have the time, please stop by the kitchen to say hello and thank you...we are so lucky to have them!

Lastly, we leave you this week with our heartfelt wishes for a happy and healthy new year, and with this poignant, short poem of joy and optimism...

Happy Thought

by Robert Louis Stevenson

 “The world is so full of a number of things

I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”

Enjoy your weekend!

Jeanne Flesch 

Dear Lower School Families,

What a wonderful holiday and joy filled week we had together!  Cookies, and cocoa, and concerts - oh, boy!  We congratulate all of our cherubic singers who set the stage literally for the holiday season!

We hope your holidays are full of good cheer and connection.  We can't wait to shepherd in 2026 together!

Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases, the happiest of Hanukkahs, and a beautiful New Year!

With warm wishes,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head and the whole team

Dear Lower School Families,

Thank you for filling our entry with toys and tiny treasures for our annual toy drive. Watching students arrive each morning proudly clutching gifts for someone they’ll never meet has been one of the season’s quiet joys. Your generosity is seen and felt!

As the temperatures plummet, I hope everyone stays cozy with hot chocolate and happy holiday moments. Please take a moment to peek at the concert schedule below so you don’t miss a single joyful note from our students.

Wishing a bright and beautiful Hanukkah to all who celebrate when the first candle is lit on Sunday evening!

With gratitude and a generous dollop of seasonal cheer,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head and the whole team

Dear Lower School Families and Friends,

What an extraordinary week it has been in our celebration of light! Walking through the hallways has felt a bit like traveling the world in ten steps—lanterns, stars, candles, sparkling garlands, and glowing symbols of every winter tradition our community holds dear. Thank you to every family who climbed ladders, untangled twinkle lights, wielded tape like superheroes, and brought such creativity and heart to our “Holidays of Light” decorating days. Because of you, our building doesn’t just look beautiful—it feels like a place where every child belongs, where every family’s story is honored, and where love shines from every corner.

As if our decorated halls weren’t magical enough, Mother Nature delivered her own celebration this week: our first glorious foot of snow! The children tumbled into it with the kind of pure joy only small humans can muster—snow angels, tiny snowfolk, and the triumphant announcement of the season’s very first “cold mitten emergency.” Please take a moment to peek at the calendar and important dates below so you don’t miss any of the wonderful events coming up during this bustling month.

Wishing you continued joy, ease, and peace as December sweeps us along with all its sparkle. May your days be filled with cocoa, cozy socks, and traditions that feel even sweeter while your little ones are still little. Enjoy every giggly, glittery moment.

With joy and cheer,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head and the whole team

Dear Lower School Families and Friends,

Wishing you a lovely Thanksgiving and a beautiful holiday season!  The teachers will not be blogging extensively this week in honor of the holiday, so stay tuned for more learning adventures next week!

Have a great weekend and gobble gobble!

With gratitude and love,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head and the whole team

Dear LS families and friends,  

This week has been a wonderful week full of celebration...the acclaimed opening of Finding Nemo, an amazing Turkey Fashion Show, and the wonderful kindness shown to the staffulty by the Lower School Student Government.  We are so proud of this loving and dynamic lower school community - and you as families play a huge role in that!

We hope you can make one of the final two performances of Nemo this weekend.  It's less than an hour full of heartwarming feels, amazing music, and cuteness galore!  The hard work is show-stopping.  We thank our amazing directors, Mrs. Andersen and Mrs. Smyczek, and all of the other helpers and volunteers for their hard work.  And for the students - you are all sea-stars!

Please note, due to the short week next week, there will be no Lower School Blog

Have a great weekend and gobble gobble!

Your forever grateful and lucky Lower and Middle school Head,

Stacy Synold

Dear LS families and friends,  

Wow, what a week! Thank you, thank you for making our parent-teacher conferences so meaningful. We felt the great energy and collaboration, and we left feeling so optimistic about your students' journeys this year - we hope you did, too!  Enjoy a long weekend celebrating your amazing children!

The Gentle Art of the Lighthouse

You know how much we adore your students and how deeply invested you are in their success. It's so tempting to be a "Tugboat Parent"—right there, pushing, pulling, and guiding every little maneuver!

But we’d love to encourage the wonderfully thoughtful and gentle superpower of the Lighthouse Parent. Think of yourself not as the engine of the ship, but as the steady, reliable beacon on the shore. You stand tall and bright, offering a consistent light that says, "You are safe. I see you. You have everything you need to navigate this storm—even if it's just a sprinkle!"

It's about letting them steer their own little boat, allowing for those natural, tiny bumps that build confidence and resilience. We promise, watching them figure it out on their own is one of the greatest (and rewarding parenting joys.

If this idea sparks curiosity, here's a lovely article to read more about this philosophy: Lighthouse Parenting, from Parents.com.

Speaking of safe harbors and good journeys, our Book Fair is open next week! It’s the perfect excuse to sniff some crisp new pages and stock your home library for those chilly evenings. Stopping by the Lower School Hallways after drop-off or before pickup is a fun little tradition, and every purchase directly supports wonderful new books for our school.

Finally, I am away for the next week, visiting our youngest child who is studying in London this semester.  Having two of my kiddos study abroad for a semester has forced me to become a Lighthouse parent, but I must admit, I am looking forward to hugging them tightly!  Please reach out to Mr. H-L or Mrs. Tiffany if you need anything in my absence.  I look forward to seeing you again on November 17th!  Cheerio, darlings! 

Thank you for being the amazing, supportive community that you are. Wishing you all a restful and joyful weekend!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear LS families and friends,  

As Thanksgiving approaches, we begin to focus on being grateful. Of course, we are grateful all year long for our wonderful school families, but this week we had the ULS Book Fair here in the Lower School, and so we had even more moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and many other special friends coming in the building to shop. It was wonderful. In addition, we have parents who volunteered their time to work the fair and make it a success. We are so appreciative! We would especially like to mention Anna Bussewitz and Rachal Krenke, who were our parents coordinators for the fair. We could not have done it without you!

Each Thursday afternoon at our Lower School Staffulty Meeting, a different member of our team teaches us a new skill, imparts a bit of wisdom they have learned, or simply shares something meaningful. This week Mrs. Tjugum, our Academic Support Specialist, shared snippets from one of her favorite books The Positive Shift by Catherine A. Sanderson, Ph D.  A great take-away from her talk with us was the idea of how a mindset of gratitude can improve one's happiness and health, and that taking even one minute each day to focus our minds and thoughts on everything that we have, instead of what we want, can have a powerful impact on our own personal happiness. It's so true and it works!

On that theme, we are beyond grateful for Mrs. Smyczek and Mrs. Andersen and the whole cast and crew of Finding Nemo KIDS! which begins next week, Thursday in the Treiber Theatre. Please be sure to grab your tickets before they sell out! The link is below in the notes.  Looking ahead, please return your permission slip for Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day to your child's teachers as soon as possible. We also are asking families to please RSVP HERE so that we have an accurate count for refreshments and seating in the theater.

Have a great weekend!

Jeanne Flesch

LS Administrative Assistant

Dear LS families and friends,  

What a wonderful day, spending time celebrating Halloween as an entire school community!  We hope you have safe and spooky celebrations this weekend!

We had a day made magical from all of your support - thank you!  We hope you found that loving sense of community for which we all strive.

Please join us for our school food drive, which starts Monday, November 3rd - November 21st.  We are committed through kindness and character through service in serving the many folks who experience hunger in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Have a wonderful weekend and stay cozy!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear LS families and friends,  

Fall is a busy time of year, and we are grateful for the activities and moments that warm our hearts.  From the fire safety day, to crispy and crunchy leaf hikes, and magical stories and fairy houses happening at recess, we enjoy the moments of childhood which are alive and well on campus!

Please remember to sign up for conferences (see below) so time and care can be spent in the active partnership of learning with a family, a student, and the teachers.  This is the dream - all of the adults working together in support of a young learner.

We wish you a beautiful weekend!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear LS families and friends,  

Thanks to everyone who showed up at our All-School Open House!  A special thanks to the parent ambassadors who helped ensure the night's success. Please make sure to read the updates below about all of the events to come.

We hope everyone has a great long weekend and enjoys the crisp fall air.  I'm off to find some pumpkins...

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear LS families and friends,  

It was a week of MAPs testing for our 3 and 4th graders and a short Friday for us all.  Our students are taking juicy hikes, going to see plays, and celebrating creations of Tall Tales! 

Please come one and all to the Open House next Thursday, 10/16, from 4-7 p.m.  Come explore the other grades and meet teachers in all the divisions.  There will be a Middle School scavenger hunt to complete, and a great college fair happening in the Upper School.  We hope you can join us!  It is a great community night on campus - all are welcome and please bring a friend!

Have a wonderful weekend - stay cozy!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear LS families and friends,  

Happy fall, ya'll!  We hope you get a chance to enjoy this gorgeous weather this weekend at the Homecoming festivities tonight and tomorrow night at the Barn Bash.  All are welcome!

October is a busy and exciting month with the All-School Open House on the 16th from 4-7 p.m., and Trunk or Treat and the Annual Costume Parade on the 31st.  The Open House is a great event where families can visit all of the grades, meet the teachers, and explore the other divisions, too.  Trunk or Treat is our annual Halloween celebration, from 8:15-9 a.m., and next week, we will have families sign up for trunks and candy and trinkets.  Folks go all out with themed trunks and parents are welcome for costumes along the very brief parade route!

We know Lower School and ULS traditions can feel overwhelming the first year, and we are here to support.  Please feel free to reach out to me or Jeanne Flesch in the office.  We can be your ULS translators!

Have a great weekend and hope to see you at the fields and at the Barn Bash!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

Dear LS families and friends,  

It's an exciting and busy day on the fields today for Field Day!  Go Hawks...ok, and Eagles! 

Please join us for the Fall Family Fest tomorrow down at the barn - please see below for registration!  Also, we hope to see you at our various Homecoming events, like the Apple Crisp Run on Wednesday and the Homecoming Parade and after-school festivities next Friday.  All are welcome - our whole community gets involved!  No one is too big or too small!

Next week is Spirit Week in the Lower School!  Here are the days and fun ways in which to participate:

Monday: Dress Like Someone Else (ULS student/faculty - for example - Do you have funky glasses and cool skirts like Ms.P?)

Tuesday:  Dress Like a Celebrity (think: movies, music, characters)

Wednesday: "Wacky Wednesday" (think: sparkly hair dye, silly hats, crazy socks, inside/out), it is also the Apple Crisp Run, so dress for running!

Thursday: Dress from any Decade, 50's 60's, 70's, or even 80's?

Friday: ULS gear/green and white

Please reach out if you have any questions - we are so glad you are here!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

It's hard to believe we have been back to school for an entire month already. Time has flown! It is easy to see why, as we have so many fun events happening this fall.  We are always looking forward to something! Be sure to keep a close watch on the Wednesday Reminders and the Friday Newsletters so you don't miss a thing.

Speaking of anticipated events, next week Friday, September 26th is Fall Field Day. The lower school students come together on the Michels Campus Green from 10:00-11:30 for some fresh air, sunshine (hopefully!), games and activities. Please be sure to dress your child for the weather forecast and look for the teachers' instructions regarding extra clothes & shoes to send. 

Finally, Ms. Synold and I have been in touch with a wonderful group of 16 parents who have volunteered to be the Lower School Room Parents this year! You will be receiving communication from them on everything from Homecoming activities to teacher appreciations. They are your parent ambassadors for fellowship, community, and fun:)  We are enormously grateful to them, and to ALL of our ULS parents. 

Enjoy the weekend! Go Pack, Go Brewers, and Gooooo Lakers!

Jeanne Flesch

LS Administrative Assistant

Dear LS families and friends,

Wow!  We made it through our first 5 day week!  Thanks to the many folks who showed up for our Room Parent meeting this morning.  If you would like to volunteer for other opportunities, please let me know.  We'll send you our background check form so we can call on you when needed.  Also, we are thrilled everyone came to listening conferences and allowed us the opportunity to hear about your child and yours/their wishes and hopes for the year.

A reminder for everyone that mosquitoes are still tough so please send in spray or wipes for your kiddo.  The weather should be pretty warm into next week, so we need to save ourselves from these little vampires.

Finally, remember to enjoy the weekend, allow yourself and your child some downtime, and know we will be here to welcome you back on Monday!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

September 5, 2025

Dear LS families and friends,

How wonderful for another week to go by, with children settling into routines, learning how the day passes by, appreciating transitions, a snack with a friend, a swing, a book read to a whole class, and rewriting the end of stories.  It's a magical place, here at ULS, and I am so grateful your children are a part of it.

Thank you to many of you who joined us for coffee this morning.  We hope to share many events together in community over the coming year.

Please note:  There is a slight shift in our Winter Holiday Concert Date for JK3-JK4.  Our JK3-Jk4 classes and Mrs. Smyczek, our music teacher, will host a morning concert in the Lower School on the morning of Friday, December 19th, at 8:10 a.m.  All are welcome but seating preference will be given to these families.  The rest of the Lower School, grades SK-4th grade, will have their concert on December 18th at 6:30 p.m., as published on the School's calendar.  Please reach out to me with any questions.

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head

What a wonderful week it has been!  We have gotten to know one another, played outside, fought off mosquitoes, and gotten to the business of learning, which has been exhausting and exhilarating!

We will keep it short and sweet this week, ask you all to enjoy the long weekend, and rest up for another great week together.  Please know you all belong here! To see how this looks in action, please take a look at our ULS Statement of Belonging, linked below with other important and handy information. This document truly warms our hearts and was created by faculty, students, and input from families, as well as unanimously supported by our Board of Trustees.  ULS is a place we all find our home away from home. We are so glad you are here!

With gratitude and respect,

Stacy Synold

LS and MS Head