Fernwood Family Newsletter #19, 01/02/2021
Important Dates
~January 11th-15th is an A week
~Supply Distribution, January 13th 8am-7pm
~PTO Meeting, January 14th, 5:30pm https://meet.google.com/grm-dgzn-qpe
~No School, Monday January 18th
~SEC Meeting, Monday, January 25th, 5:30pm https://meet.google.com/ahm-gzgz-mzf
Supply Pick Up Wednesday!
More materials have arrived to aid in Montessori lessons and virtual learning. We have 1 set of material available per student.
Pickup will take place on Wednesday, January 13th from 8:00am-7:00pm. Unlike previous pickups, this pick up will be CURBSIDE. Please stay in your car and someone will be out to help you. Please drive westbound on Falling Heath Place and proceed forward to the glass doors. (see the map below)
Those that live close to the school and will not drive can pick up their materials by the Falling Heath Place entrance to the school (glass doors).
Upon arrival, you will receive a bag of materials for the grade of your child(ren).
We ask that you please wear a mask.
If you have questions or need to make alternate arrangements, please contact Kristy Lowell, Assistant Principal, at 414-294-1306 or lowellkm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.
Sincerely, John A. Sanchez, Principal
The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting, BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Fernwood parent Gina Boyer enjoyed the book “The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting” and would like to host a discussion group for other Fernwood parents and staff. This book was mentioned in last week’s newsletter. This book is available to listen as an audio book for free through Hoopla and in hard copy from Milwaukee Public Libraries. https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12141230
Gina is a mom to three students, two 5th graders and a 3rd graders. Please email Gina, at gina.boyer2006@gmail.com. if you would like to join a group to discuss the book or learn more about it. Thank you to Gina for being willing to host this discussion!
Camp Fernwood Receipts for 2020
To obtain a receipt for tax purposes for Camp Fernwood, please reach out to Elizabeth Breitenfeldt at Milwaukee Recreation. Her email address is breiteem@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.
Stop, Grab, and Go (MPS Meal Program) Updates
The MPS Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program has been a hit with families! The Department of Nutrition Services is extending the program. The theme for 2021 is Healthy Habits for the New Year.
Free weekly produce bags are available on Thursdays at MPS Stop, Grab, and Go locations. All children age 18 and under can receive a bag. Pick up your bags and join the fun!
Weekly themes are designed to help families cook together, enjoy new foods, and learn more about nutrients that are essential for good health, growth, and learning. Each produce bag has been specially selected to provide healthy fresh fruits and vegetables along with nutrition facts and recipes.
Additionally, beginning January 4th, a dinner meal will also be provided with each breakfast and lunch pick up at all meal locations.
2020-21 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech, Art and Writing Contests
This 37th annual—and first virtual—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration will be a momentous occasion. The theme “Keep Moving Forward” was a unique and most fitting theme, capturing how the legacy of Dr. King has shaped the lives of our children, and it gave them a platform to research Dr. King’s life and his “beliefs, words, and actions,” connecting how it related to them or others in their families, schools, and community.
MPS will celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event on Sunday, January 17, at 1 p.m. You and your families can watch the entire program virtually at
https://marcuscenter.org/community-engagement/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-birthday-celebrationIf you
Please join this special event to watch our four Fernwood students, along with other MPS students, share their moving speeches and writing.
MPS Special Board Meeting to Discuss Virtual Learning/Phase 2
January 21st and 26th 5:30pm
We all continue to have questions about what the rest of the year will look like in our district. The MPS school board is planning to discuss how we should move forward with this year on January 21st and will also discuss the plan at the general board meeting on January 26th. If you have an opinion, would like to submit as testimony or testify virtually or even just listen in, please visit this link for instructions.
Weekly Parenting Tip
I’m Ms Lorinda, one of the primary teachers at Fernwood Montessori. In our classroom, we practice something called Peaceful Parenting. It’s sometimes called Positive Parenting, or Conscious Communication. Whatever one decides to label it, it’s grounded in respect. As a mother of three teenage girls, and a Montessori teacher, I have found that the best way to deal with explosive behavior is to reconnect with your child before addressing the behavior that isn’t working for you. When both you and your child reconnect, you both are able to think again with your prefrontal cortex, and that’s when behavior will begin to change for the better (for BOTH of you). Before a child can receive correction or instruction, they must first receive a sense of safety. Remember this: “Being With” comes before “Being Taught. “We have to teach our children how to love, how to bond, how to deal with their emotions, how to have healthy relationships, and how to get out of relationships that aren’t healthy. Our relationship with them is the one they will come to base all relationships on, so let’s not base it on control and fear.” ~Rebecca Eanes
Art Map For Upcoming Weeks
Please click on the link to check out the updated letter from Ms. Makula, our wonderful art teacher. The letter will let you know the plan for art lessons for the upcoming six weeks. It lists all the supplies that will be needed and gives families some insight into each lesson. Art Map
Fernwood Clothing Sale: Coming Soon!
Keep your eyes on the Fernwood newsletter in the coming weeks as the PTO will soon be selling new Fernwood gear. Tshirts, hoodies, and tote bags will be available. Thank you to talented Fernwood parent Gemma Ryan for creating the beautiful, new, Fernwood design!
K3 and K4 Fernwood Enrollment! Coming Soon!
Online enrollment for new K3 and K4 students will begin in MPS on February 6th and run through March 21st. The application will be online through the MPS website. Please watch the newsletter for more information. We will share information and links as soon as it becomes available. Please share this information with any potential families who are interested in attending Fernwood in the Fall. Students must be 3 by September 1st, 2021 to be eligible to apply.
~If your new to Fernwood K3/K4 student has a sibling currently enrolled at Fernwood, a spot is guaranteed. However, in order to get a spot, an application must be submitted during the application window and the current student’s name should be included in the application.
~Applications can be submitted throughout the application window. There is no advantage to completing the application on the first day of the process.
~Current Fernwood students do not need to reapply. They are automatically re enrolled.
