MacDowell Montessori School

MPS- Stacked-Logo (414) 935-1400
261@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
6415 W Mt Vernon Ave.
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You are here: Home / Archives for MacDowell Newsletter

School Newsletter Vol. 35

May 20, 2022 By sanfelax

MacDowell Families, 

This school year is nearly over. A huge shout out to all of our students and families for a successful, yet otherwise very unique, 2021-2022 school year. We hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you return in August. Please mark your calendars, the first day of school will be August 15th. Primary families, please look out for your staggered start first day of school date, which will be mailed to you over the summer.  For your future planning purposes our school calendar for the 2022-23 school year is linked HERE

STUDENT ENROLLMENT: As we look toward the next school year, for our planning purposes it is important for us to know whether your student(s) will continue at MacDowell next year.  Please take a moment to complete our short Enrollment Form at your earliest convenience so that we can plan efficiently.  Thank you in advance.  https://tinyurl.com/MacSurvey2022

IMPORTANT DATES

SPRING OPEN HOUSE & END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION! 
Thursday, May 19th from 5:30-7PM @ MacDowell

MacDowell Prom
May 21st
Hotel Metro
6:30 – 10:00 PM
Purchase tickets from the main office. FLYER

HS FINAL EXAMS May 24th, May 25th and May 26th
See exam info HERE and below. Families, please note that these are early release days.

 

Last Day of School
May 26th

8th Grade Completion Ceremony
May 26
5 PM
MacDowell Auditorium
6 tickets will be allotted to each student who is completing. Due to restrictions, no additional tickets will be available.

High School Graduation
May 31
4 PM
Obama School 5075 N. Sherman Blvd, Milwaukee
Students are to arrive by 3:30 PM.
Doors open for families at 3:30pm – Each student receives 6 tickets.


SUPPORTING LITERACY AT HOME DURING THE SUMMER

SUMMER READING: Please remember that it is important that you continue to read to your child and encourage your student reader to read over the summer. Summer Reading makes an incredible difference when children go back to school. Research shows that kids who don’t read during the summer actually enter the next school year reading on a lower level than they ended the previous year. Let’s all work to stop the “Summer Slump.”

The Milwaukee Public Library Super Reader Program begins June 1!
Please encourage your child(ren) to take the Summer Reading Challenge! 
The MPL Summer Reading program will go live on June 1st. Check back here for full details:https://www.mpl.org/summerreading/
Families, MPL also has an adult summer reading program!

Camp BOOK IT! is a summer reading incentive program open to parents of PreK-6th grade students (ages 4-12). Parents set reading goals for June – August and when students meet their goals, they are rewarded with a Reading Award Certificate, good for a one topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut®.
The Camp BOOK IT! Program is all digital. When your child meets their reading goals the certificate will be emailed to the address you used to enroll. Each reading award certificate has a unique code which you can use to order online or for carryout. You can print the certificate or present the email on your cell phone at the restaurant.
A parent or guardian can visit the enrollment page and select “I’m a parent of a student in grades PreK-6” to enroll. ENROLL ONLINE HERE

OTHER LITERACY RESOURCES:

  • Looking for great book recommendations for your child? Check out the MPS Reads lists here: MPS Reads
  • Another great source for book recommendations is through MPL’s Library Now. Choose “Novelist K-8’ to find suggestions based on what your child enjoys reading. You can also find audiobooks, eBooks, videos and more through Library Now. Novelist is a good resource for the times when your child has burned through every book in a series and doesn’t know what to read next.  MPL Library Now

YEARBOOK UPDATE! 
K3-6th grade and 7-12th grade yearbooks have been delivered. 
Extra copies will be available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. Info below:

  • If you are interested in purchasing a K3-6th grade yearbook you may buy one through the main office starting Friday, 5/20. The cost is $15, exact cash or check made out to MacDowell Montessori. 
  • 7-12 grade yearbooks may also be purchased through the office for $25 – exact cash or check made out to MacDowell Montessori. 

IN THE NEWS: MacDowell Lower Elementary students and Mrs. Lee were featured on the CBS 58 Sunday Morning Show for their participation in the Adopt a Cow program.  Ms. Lee’s class has had several virtual visits with their cow, cookie dough! To watch the news segment go to: https://tinyurl.com/3z5b5hxm


HELEA VS. THE SMARTPHONE

 
Congratulations to Ms. Benthien, Mr. Steve, our student stage crew, our student performers and all of the other staff and students involved in the Helea vs. the Smartphone musical production!  It was truly a wonderful show, and represented our K-12 program so well! We also want to thank Mr. Josh and Ms. Kaliyah from the LocoMotion Dance Company for putting together this wonderful production. Thank you to our art teachers Mr. Schwarten and Mr. Mcelrone for their work on props and set design. And lastly, thank you to all of our parent volunteers and families who supported our students! This was a tremendous team effort!

DECISION DAY 


STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!  MacDowell Montessori’s Annual Decision Day Event – May 6th 2022
So what is Decision Day? This is a day to celebrate 12th grade students who plan to pursue some form of education and training beyond high school. This day is also an opportunity to encourage younger students to take the steps necessary to make their own post secondary “Decisions” and achieve their dreams as they are inspired watching their older counterparts officially announce the productive paths they have chosen for themselves. Essentially, on this special day, we get to celebrate our 2022 graduates that have made commitments to pursue either a college degree, apprenticeship or some other productive pathway for their life after high school. This is exciting and a big deal! These decisions were not made lightly and our students had a lot to do and consider before making their final decisions. We are so proud of our Class of 2022!  We look forward to seeing them live their dreams!

CHALK THE WALK


The month of May is mental health awareness month and MacDowell participated in the “Chalk the Walk” initiative.  The initiative aims at erasing the stigma that is associated with having a mental illness and spreading awareness on mental health.  MacDowell had lower elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school students participate and create positive messages, words, and images on the sidewalk with chalk.

SOPHOMORE MYP PRESENTATIONS

The sophomore class recently presented their yearlong projects from the ‘MYP Personal Project’ class to students and staff.  The MYP (Middle Years Program) Personal Project course is project-based and completely student-driven. In this class students identify a skill they want to learn, something they want to physically create, or identify a need in the community to fill. Once they decide what their project is on, they spend the entire year creating it!  Some examples of projects include learning a different language, building a skateboard, creating a cookbook, coding a video game, and learning to play the guitar. We are so excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and the completion of their Middle Years Program (MYP) Projects! 

49TH BIENNIAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 


STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!   The 49th Biennial Music Festival featured over 100 MacDowell students.  Our students performed in the orchestra, choir groups, and modern band.  The event took place at the Panther Arena last week on May 4th and 5th.  Congratulations to all of our MacDowell performers for their contributions to this amazing event.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!   

Throughout the second semester, Elementary students in Mr. Shaw’s classroom have completed a service learning project aimed at improving our school and surrounding community. The class learned a bit about how garbage in the community can be a safety hazard both for humans and animals. Students felt motivated to do their part to keep the environment clean, and so each week students have been collecting litter outside. Even on windy or rainy days, students still asked to pick up litter! Altogether, the six students have picked up over 474 pieces of litter! A big THANK YOU to the students in Mr. Shaw’s class for their service to our school and our community!

AUTHOR VISIT: DEAN ROBBINS


Last week our Lower Elementary students enjoyed an author visit by Dean Robbins who spoke to our students in our school library. Mr. Robbins is the author of many books written about historical figures such as Dr. Salk, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass and Margaret Hamilton. His positive message to our students was about being a hero. There are superheroes that you know such as Superman, Spiderman, Mighty Mouse, and many others, but YOU can be the hero as well. 


STUDENT OPPORTUNITY!

Marcus Performing Art Center Vocal Masterclass
JUNE 1
For Students in Grades 6-12
Masterclass: 5:00-6:30pm in Bradley Pavilion
Please see the flyer for information on the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s vocal masterclass with a cast member of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory National Tour.
All participants will also receive two complimentary tickets to that evening’s performance of the show on June 1 at 7:30pm. Space is limited.
FLYER HERE:  Charlie Masterclass.pdf
Registration HERE 

REMINDER – REGISTER FOR THE MPS RUN BACK TO AUGUST 27


​​Join the team this year, and enjoy a run or leisurely stroll through Washington Heights and Washington Park. In the last three years, we have earned $2,500 in funds for sports and recreation activities at MacDowell because we have had the most individuals registered and won grants. Please consider joining our team!
To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. More Info and register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

RESOURCES

CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION CLINICS

Is your child up to date on vaccines? The City of Milwaukee Health Department offers free vaccines for children who qualify. Protect your child from measles, mumps, whooping cough, hepatitis A and B, and more!
Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd.
Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St.

  • Mondays & Fridays: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Vaccines are given on a walk-in basis. For a list of vaccines and how to qualify, visit Milwaukee Health Department Immunization Clinic Services.

For questions, please call (414) 286-8034.


MEN’S HEALTH & FATHERHOOD ROUNDTABLE
Wednesday, May 25
from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
4828 W. Fond Du Lac Ave.
FOOD & PRIZES PROVIDED
Please RSVP by calling 414-286-6751 or 414-286-0222
Flyer


MILWAUKEE PARENT INSTITUTE SESSIONS: The Milwaukee Parent Institute is made possible by M3 (pronounced M-cubed), a partnership among Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. M3 seeks to transform the future of Milwaukee through education.

Details:

  • Six-week session
  • Sessions are 1 hour and 30 minutes long, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Families with students in K-5th grade are invited
  • Parents will receive a gift card for attendance

Do you want…

  • Your child’s academic performance and potential to improve?
  • Support with how to talk to your child about school and his/her future?
  • Your child to focus on attending college?
  •  Help understanding adolescent behavior?
  •  Help understanding which high school courses will prepare your child for college?
  • These are just a few topics discussed during the sessions at the Milwaukee Parent Institute.

Register here for Zoom Link: https://forms.gle/GLrmQ5GrHWoeQQca8

FLYER


SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS

See our list of summer classes HERE


QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 22-23

School Website

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

 

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 34

May 17, 2022 By sanfelax

PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT – BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS NEWS:

Here’s a much-deserved congratulations to Big Brother Big Sisters School-Based Match of the Year: MORGAN AND LAURA!

Morgan is a 6th grader at MacDowell Montessori School and has been matched in our School-Based program with Laura since 2017! Over the years, Morgan has improved her organizational skills, overall attitude, and quality of schoolwork. At the beginning, most of their time was spent doing homework, but now they enjoy playing board games and doing crafts as well! Laura is a retired Milwaukee Public School teacher and has been a committed Big Sister for 15 years.

Cheers to Big Brother Big Sisters School-Based Match mentor2.0 Match of the Year: RYLEIGH AND PRAPTI! 

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentor2.0 program matches high school youth, many who are low-income and first-generation students, with a professional adult to promote high school graduation, post-secondary readiness, enrollment, and success. Ryleigh and Prapti have been matched for two years and have developed a strong bond! They love spending time together, and are often the last match to leave monthly events. Ryleigh recently graduated from MacDowell Montessori High School where she was part of the dual MacDowell/MATC program, taking classes at MATC for college credit. Ryleigh plans to go into the medical field, just like her mentor Prapti! Prapti works as the Medical Director at Well-Path, and in addiction recovery at Addiction Medical Solutions. Ryleigh commented that her and Prapti, “are a reflection of one another.” We couldn’t agree more!

MacDowell / Juneau Spirit Wear has been delivered to the school and I have contacted all those who placed orders. Thank you families for showing your school pride! I encourage you to wear your gear at our Open House on May 19th. I plan to organize another sale at the beginning of the next school year.  ~Ms. Claudine

ART UPDATE FROM MR. SCHWARTEN – 2D TO 3D SCULPTURE

Students in the lower Elementary classes learned about complementary colors which are opposite each other on the color wheel.  They work well together, though they want to be the most important color you notice. They also considered how shapes are 2D while forms are 3D.  They tried to design patterns on their plates with complementary colors and then attached them together to create these 3d sculptures called Geodesic Spheres.

Mr. Schwarten has hung these beautiful spheres in our hallways where students can admire them every day.

MACDOWELL SPRING CONCERT: 


What a wonderful spring concert we had last week! We are proud of our performers and so glad we were able to showcase our students and their talent. Hats off to our Music Department for preparing a fantastic show! Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made it happen. Thank you to our student stage crew as well! Thank you to our families who supported our Occupations sales. 

REMINDER – REGISTER FOR THE MPS RUN BACK TO AUGUST 27

​​Join our team this year, and enjoy a run or leisurely stroll through the Washington Heights and Washington Park. In the last three years, we have earned $2500 in funds for sports and recreation activities at MacDowell.

We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and won grants  – please consider joining our team!

To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. More Info and register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

SPRING OPEN HOUSE & END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION! 
Thursday, May 19th from 5:30-7 PM. 

Pack a picnic, bring lawn games, and plan to attend our Open House and End of the Year Celebration! Our PTO will be providing ice cream. This is also a great opportunity to look through the lost and found, clean out lockers and view the amazing work that we will have on display in our hallways. Families will get to check out classrooms and students will be able to show off their favorite work or projects. Please note that this is not a time to address concerns or conference with your student’s teacher but to learn more about their work in class.   For our High School students, this will be an opportunity for students to showcase their IB Projects. K3-6th grade families, please sign up for one 15-minute slot to visit your child’s classroom(s). To limit crowds, only 6 appointments will be available for each time slot. To reduce crowding we ask that families leave the classroom when their time is over.
Masks will be required.

Families, please sign up for a slot using the links below:

PRIMARY Teachers (K3-K5 students)

LOWER EL Teachers (1st-3rd) 

UPPER EL Teachers (4th-6th)

7-8th Grade Teachers

Specialists sign up (art, music, gym)

9-12th Grade Teachers will be in their classrooms – high school families, please feel free to visit them anytime between 5:30-6:30 PM.


K3-6th grade YEARBOOKS will be delivered this week to students who pre-ordered online. Still want a yearbook? Stay tuned for more information on how to order the remaining K6-6th grade yearbook copies. 

  • There is still time to order our 7-12th grade yearbooks online – cost is $25 – order HERE

ENROLLMENT SURVEY FOR SY 2022-23

We ask that families please let us know if their child(ren) will stay enrolled at MacDowell next year. If you have not already completed our Enrollment Google Form, please do so at your earliest convenience; this information helps us plan ahead. The form takes only a few moments – please complete one survey for all your MacDowell students.                   

Thank you! https://tinyurl.com/MacSurvey2022

 

RESOURCES

MILWAUKEE PARENT INSTITUTE: The Milwaukee Parent Institute is made possible by M3 (pronounced M-cubed), a partnership among Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

M3 seeks to transform the future of Milwaukee through education.

Details:

  • Six-week session
  • Sessions are 1 hour and 30 minutes long, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Families with students in K-5th grade are invited
  • Parents will receive a gift card for attendance

Do you want…

  • Your child’s academic performance and potential to improve?
  • Support with how to talk to your child about school and his/her future?
  • Your child to focus on attending college?
  • Help understanding adolescent behavior?
  • Help understanding which high school courses will prepare your child for college?
  • These are just a few topics discussed during the sessions at the Milwaukee Parent Institute.

Register here for Zoom Link: https://forms.gle/GLrmQ5GrHWoeQQca8
FLYER


VIRTUAL TRIPLE P PARENTING CLASSES: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth. Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information.  Classes are virtual. Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjc

Raising Resilient Children,  5/6/2022 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Learn how to help your children manage their feelings and become resilient in dealing with stress including expressing feelings appropriately, developing coping skills, and dealing with stressful events.


MPS/MKE Talks! Developing Oral Language in Young Children

Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Educators and community members are invited to attend a webinar series on the importance of having meaningful and intentional interactions between adults and children, which expand language skills and increase comprehension in children. Translation services are available for this event.

Join us as Dana Winters of the Fred Rogers Center along with Junlei Li from Harvard University’s Human Development and Education Program share a proven approach called “Simple Interactions” to positively connect with children to improve oral language development.

REGISTER at: https://bit.ly/3m3cRST


SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS

See our list of summer classes HERE


CALENDAR

SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR FAMILIES: Families, students, and staff are invited to join us for 90 minutes each Wednesday evening for seven weeks, April 20 – June 1, 2022. MPS will offer valuable training and classes to help parents, guardians, and family members gain the insight and skills needed to ensure their child succeeds in school. Topics include Individualized Education Programs (IEP), rights and responsibilities, and student conduct. Attend all sessions or select individual sessions that are appropriate to your unique needs.  To Register: https://tinyurl.com/SELIF2022              FLYER

MacDowell School Musical
Helena vs. The Smartphone. Tickets will be $5
2 Performances:
May 11th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium

May 12th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium

REMINDER: Important Calendar Change
Monday, May 16, 2022
All high school students will attend school on Monday, May 16 (previously a student day off for early start schools).
All K-8 students attending Early Start schools will not attend school.

MacDowell Prom
May 21st
Hotel Metro
6:30 – 10:00 PM
Purchase tickets from the main office
FLYER

Last Day of School
May 26th

8th Grade Completion Ceremony
May 26
MacDowell Auditorium
5 PM

High School Graduation
May 31
Obama School
4 PM

REMINDERS

Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program – Students 14-24 Years Old
The Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program is accepting student applications. The program is designed to provide meaningful work experiences and career exposure to young adults 14–24 years old residing in Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee
Students should use the following link to apply: www.employmilwaukee.org
Applications are due May 8, 2022.  FLYER

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

School Website

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 33

April 29, 2022 By sanfelax

CONGRATS TO OUR MAD HOT RHYTHM DANCERS

Congratulations to our Mad Hot Rhythm Dancers, who put on an amazing show at the Panther Arena last week! 

Our Latin-Jazz group placed 2nd overall! 

In addition, our Hip Hop group made it to the finals and our Swing group made it to the semi-finals. 

Congratulations to all of our dancers! 

We are so proud of your hard work and dedication.

Families can still watch a video of the competition HERE

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT BLOOD DRIVE

On April 8th, MacDowell Montessori held a student blood drive with the American Red Cross, where 45 juniors and seniors donated enough blood to save 108 lives. This was above the national average for a public blood drive, and we plan on improving on these numbers for next year during our third annual blood drive. 

We are very proud and thankful for our student’s support and thank the Red Cross for their commitment to our school and to saving lives. Way to go MacDowell Montessori High School!

EXTERNSHIP DAY

Recently several of our high school students attended Externship Day with Wisconsin Operating Engineers. This field trip was a fantastic opportunity to meet operating engineers, tour the training site, and learn about career opportunities and the apprenticeship process. Students enjoyed hands-on experiences with simulators and mini excavators.

SPRING OPEN HOUSE & END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION! 

Thursday, May 19th from 5:30-7 PM. 

Pack a picnic, bring lawn games, and plan to attend our Open House and End of the Year Celebration! Our PTO will be providing ice cream. This is also a great opportunity to look through the lost and found, clean out lockers and view the amazing work that we will have on display in our hallways. Families will get to check out classrooms and students will be able to show off their favorite work or projects. Please note that this is not a time to address concerns or conference with your student’s teacher but to learn more about their work in class.   For our High School students, this will be an opportunity for students to showcase their IB Projects. K3-6th grade families, please sign up for one 15-minute slot to visit your child’s classroom(s). To limit crowds, only 6 appointments will be available for each time slot. To reduce crowding we ask that families leave the classroom when their time is over. 

Masks will be required. 

Families, please sign up for a slot using the links below:

PRIMARY Teachers (K3-K5 students)

LOWER EL Teachers (1st-3rd) 

UPPER EL Teachers (4th-6th)

7-8th Grade Teachers

Specialists sign up (art, music, gym)

9-12th Grade Teachers will be in their classrooms – high school families, please feel free to visit them anytime between 5:30-6:30 PM.

K5-6th grade YEARBOOKS have been shipped! Because our Elementary yearbooks have shipped the online ordering has closed. Thank you to the many families who placed their pre-orders! Yearbooks will be sent home next week in the Thursday Folder to those students who ordered online. Still want a yearbook? Stay tuned for more information on how to order the remaining K5-6th grade yearbook copies. 

  • There is still time to order our 7-12th grade yearbooks online – cost is $25 – order HERE

ENROLLMENT SURVEY FOR SY 2022-23
We ask our families to please let us know if your child(ren) will stay enrolled at MacDowell next year. If you have not already completed our Enrollment Google Form, please do so at your earliest convenience; this information helps us plan ahead. The form takes only a few moments – please complete one survey for all your MacDowell students. Thank you! https://tinyurl.com/MacSurvey2022

 

6th-12th GRADE MUSIC OPPORTUNITY: Our 7-12 Music teacher Mr. Ash will be teaching 2 summer courses this year through MPS Summer Academy- he will be teaching Music Tech and Modern Band.  Info on these 2 courses can be found below (and on page p. 14 of the Guide), and registration info is on p. 3. of the Summer Academy Guide HERE

MPS Community Conversation May 4th
We invite families and community members to participate in important discussions about classroom behavior and promoting positive school environments. Download a flyer to learn more!

  • Share experiences regarding behavior and communication
  • Discuss approaches, actions, and attitudes to build trust
  • Suggest ways to strengthen school culture
  • Address concerns on discipline practices that deter learning
  • Provide ideas to enhance the learning climate/environment

MPS will host a virtual meeting on Wed., May 4th from 6:00 – 7:00 P.M.

Register at mpsmke.com/communityconversations

Share your comments at: http://tinyurl.com/mpscommunityinput

SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR FAMILIES: Families, students, and staff are invited to join us for 90 minutes each Wednesday evening for seven weeks, April 20 – June 1, 2022. MPS will offer valuable training and classes to help parents, guardians, and family members gain the insight and skills needed to ensure their child succeeds in school. Topics include Individualized Education Programs (IEP), rights and responsibilities, and student conduct. Attend all sessions or select individual sessions that are appropriate to your unique needs. The next workshop is Wednesday, May 4th, from 6-7:30 pm via Zoom.
To Register: https://tinyurl.com/SELIF2022
FLYER

RESOURCES

MILWAUKEE PARENT INSTITUTE SESSIONS: The Milwaukee Parent Institute is made possible by M3 (pronounced M-cubed), a partnership among Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. M3 seeks to transform the future of Milwaukee through education.
Details:

  • Six-week session
  • Sessions are 1 hour and 30 minutes long, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Families with students in K-5th grade are invited
  • Parents will receive a gift card for attendance

Do you want…

  • Your child’s academic performance and potential to improve?
  • Support with how to talk to your child about school and his/her future?
  • Your child to focus on attending college?
  •  Help understanding adolescent behavior?
  •  Help understanding which high school courses will prepare your child for college?
  • These are just a few topics discussed during the sessions at the Milwaukee Parent Institute.

Register here for Zoom Link: https://forms.gle/2Y4xPK7zqbb5WDph7
FLYER

MPS READS: Each month MPS features suggested titles for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students. The goal is to

  • assist teachers, librarians, parents, and others in finding interesting books that will encourage and excite students to read more literature and informational text;
  • suggest titles that allow students to see themselves, explore other cultures, and discover more about the world in which they live;
  • increase the volume of books that students are reading independently to ignite a passion for reading.

MPS Reads April 2022 Selections

VIRTUAL TRIPLE P PARENTING CLASSES: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth. Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information.  Classes are virtual. Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjc
Developing Good Bedtime Routines, 5/4/2022 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Teach your child healthy sleep patterns, so they can fall asleep and stay in their own bed. Focus is on ages 2-10. 

Raising Resilient Children,  5/6/2022 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Learn how to help your children manage their feelings and become resilient in dealing with stress including expressing feelings appropriately, developing coping skills, and dealing with stressful events.

SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS

-New! SUMMER MUSIC LESSONS (FEE-BASED) 
For students ages 7–17
Saturday mornings, June 18 – July 30, 2022
CLASSES: Woodwinds, Brass, Drums, Strings, Guitar, Ukulele, Piano/Keyboard
NEW! Contemporary Singing (Jazz, Musical Theater, Pop, R&B) for students Gr. 6–12: Sat. 9 AM – Noon
Elementary Chorus for students in Gr. 3–5: Mondays and Thursdays, 6–7:30 PM
REGISTRATION OPENED: April 25th FLYER 

-MPS SUMMER SCHOOL:  Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 
There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 
There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!
High School students can also take classes at either MATC or UWM to earn both high school and college credits for free in the College 101 Program
For full details and to register please visit: MPS: Summer Academy
Elementary Flyer           High School Flyer           College 101 Flyer

-UWM COLLEGE FOR KIDS & TEENS SUMMER PROGRAM: (FEE BASED) The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers exciting hands-on learning experiences in math, science, fine arts and humanities for students in K5 through high school. Prices vary and a limited number of scholarships are available! Visit uwm.edu/sce/kids for additional information. Class descriptions and schedules are HERE. Registration is open now!

-WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC  ENTERING GRADE 3 – 12 (FEE BASED)
Music camps for all. WCM has exciting summer camp opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels. Make new friends, prepare for school year auditions, learn new skills, and perform for your family and friends at one (or more!) of our awesome camps this summer. Class descriptions and fees HERE

-ARTS @ LARGE ARTS SUMMER CAMP 2022 ENTERING GRADE 3 – 8 (FREE)
This year, camp will meet in person and campers will be exploring the theme of BRIDGE BUILDERS. Campers will stretch the boundaries of the learning process and become immersed in creative flows of various art forms, such as Visual Art, Dance, Theater, Literacy, Multimedia Art, and Music. You are able to sign your child or children up for FREE, and campers will be provided with breakfast and lunch. 
Full details and registration HERE

CALENDAR

Biennial Music Festival
UWM Panther Arena
6:30 – 8 PM
MacDowell’s Performance Dates: 
May 4: Overture Orchestra and Modern Band
May 5: Modern Band and Ms. Benthien’s Overture Choir students
A Milwaukee tradition continues in 2022! Milwaukee Public Schools will host the 49th Biennial Music Festival on May 4-5, 2022, at the UWM Panther Arena. MPS student musicians will take the stage to perform in band, modern band, orchestra, choir, drumline, and world drumming. 

MacDowell School Musical
Helena vs. The Smartphone 
Tickets will be $5
2 Performances:
May 11th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium
May 12th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium

REMINDER: Important Calendar Change
Monday, May 16, 2022
All high school students will attend school on Monday, May 16 (previously a student day off for early start schools).
All K-8 students attending Early Start schools will not attend school.

MacDowell Prom
May 21st
Hotel Metro
6:30 – 10:00 PM
Purchase tickets from the main office
FLYER

Last Day of School
May 26th

8th Grade Completion Ceremony
May 26
MacDowell Auditorium
5 PM

High School Graduation
May 31
Obama School
4 PM

REMINDERS

Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program – Students 14-24 Years Old
The Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program is accepting student applications. The program is designed to provide meaningful work experiences and career exposure to young adults 14–24 years old residing in Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee
Students should use the following link to apply: www.employmilwaukee.org
Applications are due May 8, 2022.  FLYER

MPS Offers COVID-19 Testing Clinics: Milwaukee Public Schools is partnering with Novir to offer free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and staff and MacDowell is one of the testing sites.
Clinics begin Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and will take place every Wednesday and Saturday.
Wednesdays, 4:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is required at TrackbyNovir.com or by using the QR code in the flyer below. When prompted for the organization code, use the code below for the site you wish to visit.

Download the Flyer English | Spanish

MacDowell Montessori School

6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, 53213
Registration Code: w6415

Milwaukee Marshall H.S
4141 N. 64th St.
Milwaukee, 53216
Registration Code: w4141 

Pulaski High School
2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee, 53215
Registration Code: w2500

Save the Date! MPS Run Back to August 27

Join us for the 15th Annual MPS Run Back to School!
We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and won grants  – please consider joining our team!
To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. More Info and register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

 

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 32

April 22, 2022 By sanfelax

Thank you to all the families who participated in our first-ever Saz’s fundraiser! We appreciate your generosity and support of our wonderful PTO. 


KEEP GREATER MILWAUKEE BEAUTIFUL FIELD TRIP

Recently our Lower Elementary classrooms visited Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, an organization with a mission to create active stewards for environmental justice and sustainability through education and service opportunities.  Our students were introduced to the 4 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot). They played a game, watched a video, and explored some products made from recycled materials. Students learned that styrofoam cannot be recycled and that some items like fleece and paper are made from recyclables. At the end of the program, they got to visit the Materials Recovery Facility where they could watch all the machines working and see where our recyclables go. Students were excited to wear hard hats and be in the observation room!

Earth day is Friday, April 22nd! There are some great things happening around Milwaukee this upcoming weekend to help celebrate and foster environmental stewardship with your family. Here are some ways you can participate:

  1. Participate in a Local Clean up. Check the forecast before coming out, dress for the weather and be sure to wear shoes that can get dirty. 
    1. Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup. Choose from more than 65 locations, including Washington Park, Hank Aaron trail sites, and more. Saturday, April 23rd. Register in advance.
    2. Hank Aaron Trail Cleanup, Saturday, April 23rd from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Preregistration required. Register in advance for one of the six Hank Aaron State Trail sites, including one near MacDowell on the Intersection of Hawley St and W Dickinson St.
    3. Schlitz Audubon Beach Clean-up, Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Registration required
  2. Earth Day Events
    1. Earth Day Candlelight Hike, Friday, April 22nd  7- 9 PM. Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha. Candles will light your way through the self-guided trail route (approximately one mile in length). Dogs are not allowed at Retzer Nature Center. Free. No registration is necessary!
    2. Earth Day Event, Discovery World, Saturday, April 23rd from 9am-4pm. Celebrate Earth Day by learning about ways to help keep our planet clean through interactive demonstrations and workshops.
    3. Rock the Green Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 23rd 12-3 PM, Harley-Davidson Museum

Another way to celebrate Earth Day is to take on a challenge – Urban Ecology has 30 days of Eco-Friendly Tips. You and your family can try these ways to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle:

https://urbanecologycenter.org/images/pdf/MKE_EarthMonth_Tips_web.pdf


UPCOMING EVENT

MacDowell Spring Concert
April 27th
6-7:30 PM
Limited tickets will be available to families with students who are in the performance.

OCCUPATIONS SALE
(Cash only)
April 27th, before our Spring Concert
5:45-6 PM
See flyer

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING OPEN HOUSE & END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION!
Thursday, May 19th from 5:30-7 PM
Save the date for our combined Open House and End of the Year Celebration! The Open House is an opportunity for families to get a glimpse into the classrooms and for children to guide their family through a few special lessons. Students will be encouraged to present work(s) to their family. It could be something that they recently completed and are proud of, or it could be their favorite material. Families will sign up for one 15 minute slot to visit their child’s classroom. To limit crowds, only 6 appointments will be available for each time slot.  Please look out for the Open House signup links in next week’s newsletter.

 

Library Updates and Recommendations

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Raasch for support: RAASCHTL@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

NEW mobile library cart for 7th-12th grade students is a huge success! 

Every Tuesday and Thursday Ms. Raasch takes mobile library carts filled with great books for our middle and high school students down to the hallways outside their advisory classrooms. 
Students are excitedly browsing, checking out, and returning books each week!

Important library dates coming up!

Last day of library circulation: Friday, April 29th
Final due date for all library books: Friday, May 13th

The library is closed for circulation for the month of May to accommodate inventory
and a large organizational project to improve the browsing experience for our students!

This FREE app is designed for ages 2-7. 

It offers an engaging mix of age-appropriate reading and math skill practice and responds to each child as they engage with the app. It’s easy to sign up with a parent Google account. My 4.5-year-old son enjoys it when for short amounts of educational screen time!

Khan Academy Kids: Celebrating First Words Through First Grade

Happy Earth Day, MacDowell!

Enjoy video read-aloud/book talk of one of our newer books in the library, What is a River? by Monika Vaicenavičienė. Be sure to read this interview with the author-illustrator to get a glimpse of her incredible illustrations and learn about her process for creating this beautiful book.

 

ORCHESTRA STUDENTS AT WSMA

Recently our 7-12th grade Orchestra students performed at the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) Orchestra Concert Festival. Our students performed several songs for a panel of adjudicators. This was a great performance opportunity for our students; they did a fantastic job and gave it their all! 


RESOURCES

Virtual Triple P Parenting Classes: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth. Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information.  Classes are virtual. Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjc

Developing Good Bedtime Routines: Teach your child healthy sleep patterns, so they can fall asleep and stay in their own bed. Focus is on ages 2-10.

Class held  4/26/2022 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Grandparent Connections- Raising Confident, Competent Children: Learn how to help your grandchildren become confident and successful at school and beyond including strategies for having a healthy self-esteem, being a good problem solver, and becoming more independent. Are you raising your grandchildren? Parenting has changed and so have you! Join other grandparents who understand the challenges and special joys of parenting the second time around.

Class held 4/26/2022 from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM


SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS

-New! SUMMER MUSIC LESSONS (FEE-BASED) 
For students ages 7–17
Saturday mornings, June 18 – July 30, 2022
CLASSES: Woodwinds, Brass, Drums, Strings, Guitar, Ukulele, Piano/Keyboard
NEW! Contemporary Singing (Jazz, Musical Theater, Pop, R&B) for students Gr. 6–12: Sat. 9 AM – Noon
Elementary Chorus for students in Gr. 3–5: Mondays and Thursdays, 6–7:30 PM
REGISTRATION OPENS April 25th
FLYER 

-MPS SUMMER SCHOOL:  Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 
There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 
There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!
High School students can also take classes at either MATC or UWM to earn both high school and college credits for free in the College 101 Program
For full details and to register please visit: MPS: Summer Academy
Elementary Flyer
High School Flyer
College 101 Flyer

-UWM COLLEGE FOR KIDS & TEENS SUMMER PROGRAM: (FEE-BASED) The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers exciting hands-on learning experiences in math, science, fine arts and humanities for students in K5 through high school. Prices vary and a limited number of scholarships are available! Visit uwm.edu/sce/kids for additional information. Class descriptions and schedules are HERE. Registration is open now!

-WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC  ENTERING GRADE 3 – 12 (FEE-BASED)
Music camps for all. WCM has exciting summer camp opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels. Make new friends, prepare for school year auditions, learn new skills, and perform for your family and friends at one (or more!) of our awesome camps this summer. Class descriptions and fees HERE

-ARTS @ LARGE ARTS SUMMER CAMP 2022 ENTERING GRADE 3 – 8 (FREE)
This year, camp will meet in person and campers will be exploring the theme of BRIDGE BUILDERS. Campers will stretch the boundaries of the learning process and become immersed in creative flows of various art forms, such as Visual Art, Dance, Theater, Literacy, Multimedia Art, and Music. You are able to sign your child or children up for FREE, and campers will be provided with breakfast and lunch. 
Full details and registration HERE

CALENDAR

MacDowell Spring Concert
April 27th
6-7:30 PM
Limited tickets will be available to families with students who are in the performance.

SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR FAMILIES: Families, students, and staff are invited to join us for 90 minutes each Wednesday evening for seven weeks, April 20 – June 1, 2022. MPS will offer valuable training and classes to help parents, guardians, and family members gain the insight and skills needed to ensure their child succeeds in school. Topics include Individualized Education Programs (IEP), rights and responsibilities, and student conduct. Attend all sessions or select individual sessions that are appropriate to your unique needs. The next workshop is Wednesday, April 27th, from 6-7:30 pm via Zoom. To Register: https://tinyurl.com/SELIF2022         FLYER
Info on Upcoming Sessions

Biennial Music Festival
MacDowell’s Performance Dates: 
May 4: Overture Orchestra
May 5: Modern Band and Ms. Benthien’s Overture Choir students
6:30 – 8 PM
A Milwaukee tradition continues in 2022! Milwaukee Public Schools will host the 49th Biennial Music Festival on May 4-5, 2022, at the UWM Panther Arena. MPS student musicians will take the stage to perform in band, modern band, orchestra, choir, drumline, and world drumming. 

MacDowell School Musical
Helea vs. The Smartphone 
Tickets will be $5
2 Performances:
May 11th
6-PM @MacDowell Auditorium
May 12th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium

8th Grade Completion Ceremony
May 26
MacDowell Auditorium
5 PM

High School Graduation
May 31
Obama School
4 PM

REMINDERS

TOILETRY DRIVE: The district has received an influx of refugee students from Afghanistan and other countries affected by war. Therefore, there is an urgent need for supplies for refugee students and families who are new to MPS and the United States. Our high school student council heard about an MPS Toiletry drive and decided to help support this important effort by hosting a collection drive at MacDowell.

Now through the end of April, you can help by donating toiletries and other basic items. Our collection bins will be located on the ground floor near the safety desk and in the library. Please see the items list. Thank you for your support!

 

 

MPS DRIVE – Students 15 – 17.5 Years Old
We are fast approaching the next registration date (April 26th at 10am) for available MPS Drive classes. Classes fill up fast, so mark your calendars!
ELIGIBILITY: MPS Drive is a driver education program for MPS students who are:

  • 15 by the first day of class/not older than 17.5 by the last day of class.
  • Currently enrolled at an MPS school.

FEE: $35.00* (covers DMV temporary permit fee)
*Classroom and behind-the-wheel lessons are FREE.  FLYER

Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program – Students 14-24 Years Old
The Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program is accepting student applications. The program is designed to provide meaningful work experiences and career exposure to young adults 14–24 years old residing in Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee
Students should use the following link to apply: www.employmilwaukee.org
Applications are due May 8, 2022.  FLYER

YEARBOOKS! We have yearbooks for sale! Supplies are limited. There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below. Yearbooks will be delivered through student backpacks sometime in mid-May.

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

MPS Offers COVID-19 Testing Clinics: Milwaukee Public Schools is partnering with Novir to offer free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and staff and MacDowell is one of the testing sites.
Clinics begin Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and will take place every Wednesday and Saturday.
Wednesdays, 4:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is required at TrackbyNovir.com or by using the QR code in the flyer below. When prompted for the organization code, use the code below for the site you wish to visit.
Download the Flyer English | Spanish

MacDowell Montessori School
6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, 53213
Registration Code: w6415

 Milwaukee Marshall H.S
4141 N. 64th St.
Milwaukee, 53216
Registration Code: w4141 

Pulaski High School
2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee, 53215
Registration Code: w2500


Save the Date! MPS Run Back to August 27
Join us for the 15th Annual MPS Run Back to School!
We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and won grants  – please consider joining our team!
5K fun run/1.5-mile walk
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Adults: $15 through August 11, 2022, and $20 after August 11, 2022
Children: $5 anytime
Fee Includes: event t-shirt, race bag of goodies, snacks after the run/walk, DJ entertainment, carnival games and a great opportunity for school community team building! 
All proceeds benefit Youth Recreation Programs 

 

To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. More Info and register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

School Website

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

 

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 31

April 14, 2022 By sanfelax

NO SCHOOL Friday, April 15th 

NO SCHOOL Monday, April 18th

Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program – Students 14-24 Years Old
The Earn and Learn Summer Youth Employment Program is accepting student applications. The program is designed to provide meaningful work experiences and career exposure to young adults 14–24 years old residing in Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee
Students should use the following link to apply: www.employmilwaukee.org
Applications are due May 8, 2022.  FLYER

MPS DRIVE – Students 15 – 17.5 Years Old
We are fast approaching the next registration date (April 26th at 10am) for available MPS Drive classes. Classes fill up fast, so mark your calendars!
ELIGIBILITY: MPS Drive is a driver education program for MPS students who are:

  • 15 by the first day of class/not older than 17.5 by the last day of class.
  • Currently enrolled at an MPS school.

FEE: $35.00* (covers DMV temporary permit fee)
*Classroom and behind-the-wheel lessons are FREE.  FLYER

FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS: April is Financial Literacy Month! This is a great time to learn more about personal finances, managing money, and planning for the future.
MPS is hosting three informative sessions to offer helpful tips about banking, building credit, planning for college, and more! Students in grades 4–12, staff, and families are invited to virtual workshops to help grow knowledge of daily finances and investing. Attendees can play financial literacy games to earn prizes. Read more to get the full schedule and register.

!! Save the Date!!
MacDowell School Musical
Helea vs. The Smartphone 
Tickets will be $5
2 Performances:
May 11th
6-PM @MacDowell Auditorium
May 12th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium

Volunteers Needed! Please see the information below and touch base with Ms. Claudine if you are able to assist with any of these tasks or if you have questions. Many thanks! nuetzeca@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Volunteers for Spring Concert (4/27/22 – 6:00 – 7:30)
PROPS ASSISTANCE ( 2 for primary; 2 lower elementary; 2 upper elementary =  6)

  1.  Help Ms. B and Ms. Carlyn make props/streamers ( all materials provided).  
  2. Be present on 4/27 concert night to help distribute the streamers to students when they line up to perform.
  3. Supervise the collection of the streamers after the students’ performance.  Box/Container on both sides of the auditorium.

 BOX OFFICE/USHERS for Spring Concert (4/27/22 – 6:00 – 7:30)

  1. Take care of tickets and seating, and distribute program notes.

Volunteer for May 5 (Biennial Music Festival at UWM Panther Arena 5:30 – 8:30 pm)

  1. Choir Chaperone to assist Ms. Benthien.  The Choir will be split into two groups.

 

SPOTLIGHT ON MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP: We are very fortunate to partner with Marquette University. MU students provide educational support through math and literacy tutoring as well as Robotics clubs. Here are a few photos of what they have been working on this semester.

SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR FAMILIES: Families, students, and staff are invited to join us for 90 minutes each Wednesday evening for seven weeks, April 20 – June 1, 2022. MPS will offer valuable training and classes to help parents, guardians, and family members gain the insight and skills needed to ensure their child succeeds in school. Topics include Individualized Education Programs (IEP), rights and responsibilities, and student conduct. Attend all sessions or select individual sessions that are appropriate to your unique needs.
The first workshop is Wednesday, April 20th, from 6-7:30 pm via Zoom.
Info on Upcoming Sessions:

To Register: https://tinyurl.com/SELIF2022
FLYER

RESOURCES

Upcoming Virtual Triple P Parenting Classes: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth. Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information.  Classes are virtual. Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjc

Building Teenagers Survival Skills: Explore why teenagers may take risks and how they can learn to keep themselves safe while learning to be more independent.
Class held 4/20/2022 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Developing Good Bedtime Routines: Teach your child healthy sleep patterns, so they can fall asleep and stay in their own bed. Focus is on ages 2-10.
Class held  4/26/2022 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Grandparent Connections- Raising Confident, Competent Children: Learn how to help your grandchildren become confident and successful at school and beyond including strategies for having a healthy self-esteem, being a good problem solver, and becoming more independent. Are you raising your grandchildren? Parenting has changed and so have you! Join other grandparents who understand the challenges and special joys of parenting the second time around.
Class held 4/26/2022 from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS

-New! SUMMER MUSIC LESSONS (FEE-BASED) 
For students ages 7–17
Saturday mornings, June 18 – July 30, 2022
CLASSES: Woodwinds, Brass, Drums, Strings, Guitar, Ukulele, Piano/Keyboard
NEW! Contemporary Singing (Jazz, Musical Theater, Pop, R&B) for students Gr. 6–12: Sat. 9 AM – Noon
Elementary Chorus for students in Gr. 3–5: Mondays and Thursdays, 6–7:30 PM
REGISTRATION OPENS April 25th  FLYER 

-MPS SUMMER SCHOOL (FREE)  Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 
There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 
There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!
High School students can also take classes at either MATC or UWM to earn both high school and college credits for free in the College 101 Program
For full details and to register please visit: MPS: Summer Academy
Elementary Flyer                 High School Flyer              College 101 Flyer

-UWM COLLEGE FOR KIDS & TEENS SUMMER PROGRAM: (FEE-BASED) The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers exciting hands-on learning experiences in math, science, fine arts and humanities for students in K5 through high school. Prices vary and a limited number of scholarships are available! Visit uwm.edu/sce/kids for additional information. Class descriptions and schedules are HERE. Registration is open now!

-WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC ENTERING GRADE 3 – 12 (FEE-BASED)
Music camps for all. WCM has exciting summer camp opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels. Make new friends, prepare for school year auditions, learn new skills, and perform for your family and friends at one (or more!) of our awesome camps this summer. Class descriptions and fees HERE

-ARTS @ LARGE ARTS SUMMER CAMP 2022 ENTERING GRADE 3 – 8 (FREE)
This year, camp will meet in person and campers will be exploring the theme of BRIDGE BUILDERS. Campers will stretch the boundaries of the learning process and become immersed in creative flows of various art forms, such as Visual Art, Dance, Theater, Literacy, Multimedia Art, and Music. You are able to sign your child or children up for FREE, and campers will be provided with breakfast and lunch.  Full details and registration HERE

CALENDAR

NO SCHOOL Friday, April 15th 

NO SCHOOL Monday, April 18th

SEC Meeting
April 20th, 5:00-5:30 PM
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/huv-gago-xmf

PTO Meeting
April 20th, 5:30-6:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/MacMarchPTO   Passcode: PTO2122

Mad Hot Rhythm Competition
Thursday, April 21, 2022 
UW-Panther Arena
The competition will start at 10:15AM.  Awards will begin at 12PM.  This event is free and open to the public. Join us as 4-6th graders from SE Wisconsin come together to compete in dance! Can’t make it to the competition? No worries! The competition will be streamed live on Dancework’s Facebook Page. Watch it live from the comfort of your own home or watch it later in the evening with the whole family! Feel free to drop a comment to cheer on MacDowell.

MacDowell Spring Concert
April 27th
6-7:30 PM
Limited tickets will be available to families with students who are in the performance.

Biennial Music Festival
MacDowell’s Performance Dates: 
May 4: Overture Orchestra
May 5: Modern Band and Ms. Benthien’s Overture Choir students
6:30 – 8 PM
A Milwaukee tradition continues in 2022! Milwaukee Public Schools will host the 49th Biennial Music Festival on May 4-5, 2022, at the UWM Panther Arena. MPS student musicians will take the stage to perform in band, modern band, orchestra, choir, drumline, and world drumming. 

MacDowell School Musical
Helea vs. The Smartphone 
Tickets will be $5
2 Performances:
May 11th
6-PM @MacDowell Auditorium
May 12th
6-7 PM @MacDowell Auditorium

8th Grade Completion Ceremony
May 26
MacDowell Auditorium
5 PM

High School Graduation
May 31
Obama School
4 PM

REMINDERS

TOILETRY DRIVE
There is an urgent need for supplies for refugee students and families who are new to MPS and the United States. Now through the end of April you can help welcome them by donating toiletries and other basic items. Our collection bins will be located on the ground floor near the safety desk and in the library. See Items list below. Thank you for your support!

MPS LIFTS MASK MANDATE:  Beginning Monday, April 18, 2022, masks will no longer be required for students and staff in MPS schools and buildings. The wearing of masks will be optional at all MPS locations.  The decision was made on March 24, 2022, during the regular monthly meeting of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. Discussion included analysis of current trends of COVID-19 and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Milwaukee Health Department.   The April 18 date was selected to avoid any possible surges in COVID-19 following various dates for spring break across the state. 

Read more about optional masks in MPS.

MPS Offers COVID-19 Testing Clinics: Milwaukee Public Schools is partnering with Novir to offer free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and staff and MacDowell is one of the testing sites.
Clinics begin Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and will take place every Wednesday and Saturday.
Wednesdays, 4:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is required at TrackbyNovir.com or by using the QR code in the flyer below. When prompted for the organization code, use the code below for the site you wish to visit.

Download the Flyer English | Spanish


MacDowell Montessori School
6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, 53213
Registration Code: w6415

 Milwaukee Marshall H.S
4141 N. 64th St.
Milwaukee, 53216
Registration Code: w4141 

Pulaski High School
2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee, 53215
Registration Code: w2500

YEARBOOKS! We have yearbooks for sale! Supplies are limited. There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below. Yearbooks will be delivered through student backpacks sometime in mid-May.

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

!!!! OPT-IN TO TEXT MESSAGING: This will allow you to receive updates regarding transportation changes, school newsletters, school closings and so much more. Follow these instructions to ensure you are receiving important information:

  • Families should send a text message to: 67587 to connect to the new system. 
  • In the message, send Y or YES to ensure that you continue to receive important texts from your school and district.

Student Meal Benefits for MPS Families: Families–find out if you are eligible for food benefits for your child during the pandemic! The State of Wisconsin is compensating families for breakfast and lunch meals that students would normally receive in school but are unavailable when schools close due to COVID-19. MPS is committed to working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to make sure all families with eligible children get the benefits they need.
Most benefits will be provided on families’ existing QUEST or P-EBT cards. If a family is getting benefits for the first time, a new card will be sent to them in the mail.
In March, 2022, families began to receive benefits for the months of August, September, and October of 2021. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/yn8ab7vv

COVID Consent Form: Attached you will find the new student COVID-19 testing consent form that we ask all families to complete for their child at their earliest convenience.  This form is fillable. 
Please complete this form and return to school as soon as possible. 
Families should make sure they select Yes or No if you want your child to participate in the MPS COVID-19 testing program. Thank you for your support.
Form: MPS_COVID Test Consent Form_322 V5 RW.pdf

Save the Date! MPS Run Back to August 27
Join us for the 15th Annual MPS Run Back to School!
We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and won grants  – please consider joining our team!
5K fun run/1.5-mile walk
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Adults: $15 through August 11, 2022, and $20 after August 11, 2022
Children: $5 anytime
Fee Includes: event t-shirt, race bag of goodies, snacks after the run/walk, DJ entertainment, carnival games and a great opportunity for school community team building! 
All proceeds benefit Youth Recreation Programs 
To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. More Info and register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

UNEXPECTED ITEMS FOR CHECKOUT: Did you know that you can borrow passes for the Milwaukee Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the Library of Things has an incredible list of things for you to borrow. Get some lawn games and a movie projector for your next big summer family get-together. Get equipment to convert your old cassette tapes to MP3’s, or your VCR tapes to DVD. Pick up a hotspot to make sure you have wifi on your next trip up north. More Info: https://www.mcfls.org/non-traditional-materials-for-checkout/

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 30

April 8, 2022 By sanfelax

MPS LIFTS MASK MANDATE:  Beginning Monday, April 18, 2022, masks will no longer be required for students and staff in MPS schools and buildings. The wearing of masks will be optional at all MPS locations.  The decision was made on March 24, 2022, during the regular monthly meeting of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. Discussion included analysis of current trends of COVID-19 and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Milwaukee Health Department.   The April 18 date was selected to avoid any possible surges in COVID-19 following various dates for spring break across the state.  Read more about optional masks in MPS.

!! SAVE THE DATE! 
MacDowell Spring Concert
April 27th
6-7:30 PM
Limited tickets will be available to families with students who are in the performance.

!! SAVE THE DATE!
8th Grade Completion Ceremony
May 26
MacDowell Auditorium
5 PM

TOILETRY DRIVE
The district has received an influx of refugee students from Afghanistan and other countries affected by war. Therefore, there is an urgent need for supplies for refugee students and families who are new to MPS and the United States. Our high school student council heard about an MPS Toiletry drive and decided to help support this important effort by hosting a collection drive at MacDowell.

Now through the end of April, you can help by donating toiletries and other basic items. Our collection bins will be located on the ground floor near the safety desk and in the library. Please see the items list. Thank you for your support!

 

SPRING SPIRIT WEAR SALE: If you are interested in purchasing MacDowell and Juneau t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more for yourself or your children, now is the time! The sale will be open for one week only. This will allow time to receive the items before the end of the school year.

All items will be delivered to the school and Ms. Claudine will be in touch to confirm when they arrive, estimated delivery time is mid-May. The sale closes 4/11, so order now from the link below! 

ORDER:  https://tinyurl.com/MacSpirit22

 

SAVE THE DATE! This year’s Mad Hot Rhythm Competition will take place on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at the UW-Panther Arena. The competition will start at 10:15AM. Awards will begin at 12PM. Can’t make it to the competition? No worries! The competition will be streamed live on Dancework’s Facebook Page. Watch it live from the comfort of your own home or watch it later in the evening with the whole family! Feel free to drop a comment to cheer on MacDowell.

 

RESOURCES

Virtual Triple P Parenting Classes: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth. Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information.  Classes are virtual. Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjc

Power of Positive Parenting: This seminar introduces parents to the five key principles of positive parenting that form the basis of Triple P. Class held 4/8/2022 from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Dealing with Disobedience: Teach your child to accept limits, do as they are told and to understand the meaning of the word, No. Class held 4/12/2022 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Managing Fighting and Aggression: Learn how to teach skills that children need to be able to solve problems and get along with others, such as sharing, communicating, and being gentle with others. Class held 4/12/2022 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Building Teenagers Survival Skills: Explore why teenagers may take risks and how they can learn to keep themselves safe while learning to be more independent. Class held 4/20/2022 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

 

SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS

-MPS SUMMER SCHOOL:  Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 

There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!

High School students can also take classes at either MATC or UWM to earn both high school and college credits for free in the College 101 Program

For full details and to register please visit: MPS: Summer Academy

Elementary Flyer

High School Flyer

College 101 Flyer

-UWM COLLEGE FOR KIDS & TEENS SUMMER PROGRAM: (FEE BASED) The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers exciting hands-on learning experiences in math, science, fine arts and humanities for students in K5 through high school. Prices vary and a limited number of scholarships are available! Visit uwm.edu/sce/kids for additional information. Class descriptions and schedules are HERE. Registration is open now!

-WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC  ENTERING GRADE 3 – 12 (FEE BASED)
Music camps for all. WCM has exciting summer camp opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels. Make new friends, prepare for school year auditions, learn new skills, and perform for your family and friends at one (or more!) of our awesome camps this summer. Class descriptions and fees HERE

-ARTS @ LARGE ARTS SUMMER CAMP 2022 ENTERING GRADE 3 – 8 (FREE)
This year, camp will meet in person and campers will be exploring the theme of BRIDGE BUILDERS. Campers will stretch the boundaries of the learning process and become immersed in creative flows of various art forms, such as Visual Art, Dance, Theater, Literacy, Multimedia Art, and Music. You are able to sign your child or children up for FREE, and campers will be provided with breakfast and lunch. 

Full details and registration HERE

 

CALENDAR

DAC Meeting
Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 6:00-7:30 pm via Zoom
The District Advisory Council (DAC) meets monthly to learn about and advise on district strategies and programs impacting families, particularly related to Title I. This will be a virtual meeting. Link to join the meeting is HERE

Saz’s PTO Fundraiser – all day
April 13th
5539 W State Street
All dine-in and carry out orders placed directly with Saz’s State House  are eligible using our code “MacDowell”
See Flyer HERE

NO SCHOOL Friday, April 15th 

NO SCHOOL Monday, April 18th

Mad Hot Rhythm Competition
Thursday, April 21, 2022 
UW-Panther Arena
The competition will start at 10:15AM.  Awards will begin at 12PM. 
Can’t make it to the competition? No worries! The competition will be streamed live on Dancework’s Facebook Page. Watch it live from the comfort of your own home or watch it later in the evening with the whole family! Feel free to drop a comment to cheer on MacDowell.

MacDowell Spring Concert
April 27th
6-7:30 PM

Biennial Music Festival
MacDowell’s Performance Dates: 
May 4: Overture Orchestra
May 5: Modern Band and Ms. Benthien’s Overture Choir students
A Milwaukee tradition continues in 2022! Milwaukee Public Schools will host the 49th Biennial Music Festival on May 4-5, 2022, at the UWM Panther Arena. MPS student musicians will take the stage to perform in band, modern band, orchestra, choir, drumline, and world drumming. 

REMINDERS

Student Meal Benefits for MPS Families: Families–find out if you are eligible for food benefits for your child during the pandemic! The State of Wisconsin is compensating families for breakfast and lunch meals that students would normally receive in school but are unavailable when schools close due to COVID-19. MPS is committed to working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to make sure all families with eligible children get the benefits they need. Most benefits will be provided on families’ existing QUEST or P-EBT cards. If a family is getting benefits for the first time, a new card will be sent to them in the mail.
In March 2022, families began to receive benefits for the months of August, September, and October of 2021. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2p936jj5

COVID Consent Form: Attached you will find the new student COVID-19 testing consent form that we ask all families to complete for their child at their earliest convenience.  This form is fillable. 
Please complete this form and return to school as soon as possible. 
Families should make sure they select Yes or No if you want your child to participate in the MPS COVID-19 testing program. Thank you for your support.
Form: MPS_COVID Test Consent Form_322 V5 RW.pdf

YEARBOOKS! We have yearbooks for sale! Supplies are limited. There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below:

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

MPS Run Back to School August 27: Join us for the 15th Annual MPS Run Back to School!
We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022. This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and won grants  – please consider joining our team!

5K fun run/1.5-mile walk
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Adults: $15 through August 11, 2022, and $20 after August 11, 2022
Children: $5 anytime

Registration is now open and school/department teams that secure 25 or more registered team members by August 11, will get to walk/run in their own team t-shirt color, which will be distributed on the day of the
event. To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. Register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

UNEXPECTED ITEMS FOR CHECKOUT: Did you know that you can borrow passes for the Milwaukee Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the Library of Things has an incredible list of things for you to borrow. Get some lawn games and a movie projector for your next big summer family get-together. Get equipment to convert your old cassette tapes to MP3’s, or your VCR tapes to DVD. Pick up a hotspot to make sure you have wifi on your next trip up north. Find out more on our Unexpected Items listing here:

https://www.mcfls.org/non-traditional-materials-for-checkout/

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

School Website

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 29

March 25, 2022 By sanfelax

March 28 – April 1st – NO SCHOOL  (Spring Break) 
Classes resume Monday, April 4th.

Library Updates:  Don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Raasch for support: RAASCHTL@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
*MPS students have access to digitally borrow eBooks and AudioBooks with OverDrive, which can be accessed via Clever. Download the Sora app to read or listen from your device!

*MPS students also have digital access to the Milwaukee Public Library catalog to borrow eBooks and Audiobooks via Library Now link in Clever. Select OverDrive and then download Libby to access MPL eBooks and Audiobooks from your device.

Ms. Raasch’s Recommendation of the Week: Both of these titles are also listed on the Best-of-Audiobooks links below!
Middle-Grade: 4th-8th grades: Rick Riordan “Daughter of the Deep”
Book Riot’s 7 of the Best Middle-Grade Audiobooks

 


Young Adult: 7th-12th grades: Angeline Boulley “Firekeeper’s Daughter “
Book Riot’s Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2022

RESOURCES

This week we concluded our Mindfulness lessons for our students K5-6th grade. Families, please remember that mindfulness is not just for our students! We encourage all caregivers to practice mindfulness as well. If you would like to find our previous Mindfulness newsletters please see the link below.

Weekly Mindfulness Newsletter LESSON 10: How to Reset with Generosity & Gratitude In this, our final mindfulness lesson, we focus our attention on generosity and gratitude. When we are generous and we show gratitude and appreciation, we notice that we feel more happy, joyful and loving. We can intentionally pause and recall ways in which others have been generous toward us and what we are grateful for and notice how intentionally focusing on gratitude and generosity makes us feel.

Practicing at Home: Making a habit of thinking of even one thing you are grateful for at the start of your day, begins to hardwire the brain for positivity. That’s something we all could use more of. We tend to talk about gratitude a lot around the Thanksgiving holiday and then it falls by the wayside. See if you can find simple ways to keep it going year round. There are certainly days where it can be challenging to think of things for which we are grateful, so starting with the small things is often best. Maybe, with your child you can think of the little things you appreciate about each other. It doesn’t have to be anything big, just a conscious effort to notice the good in the other person.

Looking for our previous Mindfulness Newsletters? See them all HERE

 

FREE MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC
March 29th
9:30 – 2:30 PM
Incarnation Lutheran Church, 1510 W. Keefe Ave.
Registration Link
www.nwscdc.org/engage-events/free-dental-clinic

 

Save the Date! Wednesday, April 6th, 2022. In honor of Family Strengthening Month, The Parenting Network is hosting a virtual event that celebrates a parent’s indispensable team! 
Visit www.learnlistenlove.org to sign up to receive updates about this years event

 

Student Meal Benefits for MPS Families: Families–find out if you are eligible for food benefits for your child during the pandemic! The State of Wisconsin is compensating families for breakfast and lunch meals that students would normally receive in school but are unavailable when schools close due to COVID-19. MPS is committed to working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to make sure all families with eligible children get the benefits they need.
Most benefits will be provided on families’ existing QUEST or P-EBT cards. If a family is getting benefits for the first time, a new card will be sent to them in the mail.

In March, 2022, families began to receive benefits for the months of August, September, and October of 2021. For more information, visit https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Families/Resources/School-P-EBT-Food-Benefits-for-Students.htm

 

NEWS

COVID Consent Form: Attached you will find the new student COVID-19 testing consent form that we ask all families to complete for their child at their earliest convenience.  This form is fillable. 
Please complete this form and return to school as soon as possible. 
Families should make sure they select Yes or No if you want your child to participate in the MPS COVID-19 testing program. Thank you for your support.
Form: MPS_COVID Test Consent Form_322 V5 RW.pdf

Save the Date! Saz’s Fundraiser April 13th!

Save the Date! Biennial Music Festival
A Milwaukee tradition continues in 2022! Milwaukee Public Schools will host the 49th Biennial Music Festival on May 4-5, 2022, at the UWM Panther Arena. MPS student musicians will take the stage to perform in band, modern band, orchestra, choir, drumline, and world drumming. 
MacDowell’s Performance Dates: 
May 4: Overture Orchestra
May 5: Modern Band and Ms. Benthien’s Overture Choir students

 

CALENDAR

March 28 – April 1st – NO SCHOOL  (Spring Break) Classes resume Monday, April 4th.

4th Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration
March 31, 2022
This annual celebration’s programming highlights the youth in our community who interpret César E. Chávez’ words through art, speech, and writing contests. This year’s theme is: Respect For All Living Things Contests are open now through March 1, 2022 for this year’s student art, writing, and speech contests! Details: MARCUSCENTER.ORG/CESAR-CHAVEZ

Tuesday, April 5, 2022: All Students Attend School (Previously a No School Day)

Saz’s PTO Fundraiser – all day
April 13th
Code: “MacDowell”

 

REMINDERS

MPS Student Job Fair coming up! 
-For Seniors, virtual on April 13th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Additional flyers and information:
Senior Flyer and Sign Up: SENIOR FLYER MPS Virtual Student Job Fair
Combo Flyer/Poster: COMBO Flyer-Poster_2022.pdf

YEARBOOKS! We will have yearbooks for sale! One for K3-6th grade & one for 7-12 grade students.  There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below:

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
The Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic is now open and provides same-day care for children and teens (ages 5-18) experiencing urgent mental health issues.
Services provided

  • Evaluation to determine any immediate safety concerns
  • Brief intervention through temporary, on-site counseling and coping tips
  • Coordination of care with the child’s existing care team (pediatrician, school or other providers) to ensure everyone is aware of the child’s needs
  • Referrals to helpful resources following the child’s clinic visit, including follow-up care, if needed

For more Info

MPS SUMMER SCHOOL:  Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 

There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!
High School students can also take classes at either MATC or UWM to earn both high school and college credits for free in the College 101 Program
For full details and to register please visit: MPS: Summer Academy
Elementary Flyer
High School Flyer
College 101 Flyer

Please Take Our Family Survey! MacDowell family members, we need your input! Take our parent/guardian survey to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. 
The goal is for each school to have at least a 20% response rate and we have not yet met that goal.
The survey takes about 10 minutes and answers are confidential. Your answers will help guide decisions about district planning and improvement. Access the survey in multiple languages at mpsmke.com/spcssurvey

The survey will close March 31, 2022.

Save the Date! MPS Run Back to August 27
Join us for the 15th Annual MPS Run Back to School!
We invite you to join us on Saturday, August 27, 2022! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and won grants  – please consider joining our team!
5K fun run/1.5-mile walk
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Adults: $15 through August 11, 2022, and $20 after August 11, 2022
Children: $5 anytime
Fee Includes: event t-shirt, race bag of goodies, snacks after the run/walk, DJ entertainment, carnival games and a great opportunity for school community team building! 
All proceeds benefit Youth Recreation Programs 

Registration is now open and school/department teams that secure 25 or more registered team members by August 11, will get to walk/run in their own team t-shirt color, which will be distributed on the day of the
event. As a reminder, if a team member registers after August 11, they will not receive a team t-shirt.
Schools who register at least 25 participants will also qualify for a $500 grant to support a recreation need within their school community! The school with the most participants will receive a $1,000 grant.
Additionally, if you would like to pick up your official t-shirt and swag bag early, you can stop by the race
bag drive-thru on August 25, from 3-6:00 pm at the Wick Field parking lot, 4929 W. Vliet St.
To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. Register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

College and Career Night – April 6
Middle and high school students and families should plan to attend College and Career NIght! Learn to explore career paths, find out about schools and programs, narrow down your interests, and more! This virtual event will be hosted on Zoom.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Register by April 4 at mpsmke.com/mpschooseyourpath
For more information, download a flyer or contact Karolyn Taylor at henderkt@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

UNEXPECTED ITEMS FOR CHECKOUT: Did you know that you can borrow passes for the Milwaukee Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the Library of Things has an incredible list of things for you to borrow. Get some lawn games and a movie projector for your next big summer family get-together. Get equipment to convert your old cassette tapes to MP3’s, or your VCR tapes to DVD. Pick up a hotspot to make sure you have wifi on your next trip up north.
Find out more on our Unexpected Items listing here:
https://www.mcfls.org/non-traditional-materials-for-checkout/

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 28

March 17, 2022 By sanfelax

Friday, March 18th NO SCHOOL DAY

MPS Athletics honors the top student-athletes from each sport at the conclusion of each City Conference season. 

  • Congrats to Sincere Whaleysmith, Boys Basketball Blue Division Player of the Year!
  • Congrats to Silas Harris-Coleman, First Team!
  • Congrats to James Ferguson, Honorable Mention!


MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT: The Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic is now open and provides same-day care for children and teens (ages 5-18) experiencing urgent mental health issues. For more Info

Services provided

  • Evaluation to determine any immediate safety concerns
  • Brief intervention through temporary, on-site counseling and coping tips
  • Coordination of care with the child’s existing care team (pediatrician, school or other providers) to ensure everyone is aware of the child’s needs
  • Referrals to helpful resources following the child’s clinic visit, including follow-up care, if needed


MPS SUMMER SCHOOL:  Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 

There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!

High School students can also take classes at either MATC or UWM to earn both high school and college credits for free in the College 101 Program

For full details and to register please visit: MPS: Summer Academy

Elementary Flyer

High School Flyer

College 101 Flyer


Milwaukee Rec registration is open! See the full guide HERE.

MacDowell is hosting several classes including Red Cross babysitting certification, basketball, martial arts, Piranhas Swim Team and adult enrichment including a Couch Potato to 5K, yoga, and more.

 

Order Free COVID-19 Tests at Covidtests.gov
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 2 sets of 4 free at-home tests. If you already ordered your first set, order a second today by clicking here: Order Free At-Home Tests
Need help placing an order for your at-home tests? Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

Save the Date! MPS Run Back to August 27: We invite you to join us for the 15th Annual MPS Run Back to School on Saturday, August 27, 2022! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families. In the past we have had the most individuals registered and have won grants  – please consider joining our team!

  • 5K fun run/1.5-mile walk
  • Saturday, August 27, 2022
  • Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
  • Adults: $15 through August 11, 2022, and $20 after August 11, 2022
  • Children: $5 anytime
  • Fee Includes event t-shirt, race bag of goodies, snacks after the run/walk, DJ entertainment, carnival games, and a great opportunity for school community team building! 
  • All proceeds benefit Youth Recreation Programs 

Registration is now open and school/department teams that secure 25 or more registered team members by August 11, will get to walk/run in their own team t-shirt color, which will be distributed on the day of the event. As a reminder, if a team member registers after August 11, they will not receive a team t-shirt.

Schools that register at least 25 participants will also qualify for a $500 grant to support a recreation need within their school community! The school with the most participants will receive a $1,000 grant.

To sign up for a team, make sure you specify MacDowell during the registration process after you add the race to your cart. Register here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School


Help Children Develop Early Language Skills: Learn ways to help young children develop language skills! Early support helps infants and toddlers grasp language and comprehension. 
Attend a webinar on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Register at https://bit.ly/3m3cRST
For more information, download a flyer.


Please Take Our Family Survey! MacDowell family members, we need your input! Take our parent/guardian survey to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. 
The goal is for each school to have at least a 20% response rate and we have not yet met that goal.
The survey takes about 10 minutes and answers are confidential. Your answers will help guide decisions about district planning and improvement. Access the survey in multiple languages at mpsmke.com/spcssurvey
The survey will close on March 31, 2022.


MacDowell GRADUATION – Senior Families, Save the Date!


College and Career Night – April 6: Middle and high school students and families should plan to attend College and Career NIght! Learn to explore career paths, find out about schools and programs, narrow down your interests, and more! This virtual event will be hosted on Zoom.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Register by April 4 at mpsmke.com/mpschooseyourpath
For more information, download a flyer

RESOURCES

Weekly Mindfulness Newsletter LESSON 9: Kindness As A Tool to Reset

What we learned: In this week’s lesson we learned about the importance of being kind, not only to others but to ourselves. We thought about and imagined what it feels like to be safe, happy, healthy and peaceful. Just thinking about those things can make us feel happier and more calm inside. Once we feel that we can treat ourselves with kindness, and we notice what that feels like, it’s easier to want to treat others the same way, so we imagined what it would be like to offer kindness to someone else. Often there is a real sense of quiet happiness in the classroom during and after this practice. We discussed the idea that kindness can be contagious. In other words, it spreads. If we do something kind for someone and someone else notices, they want to do something kind too, since they sense what is felt when kindness is given and received.

Practicing at Home: One of the most valuable qualities we have as human beings is our ability to be kind.

Together with your child, you can practice making kindness contagious. Kindness can be as simple as a word or a pat on the shoulder or a nod to someone so they know you understand how they are feeling. Practicing kindness can leave us feeling as good as, or even better than the person we are extending kindness to. No one has to know you are pausing to think kind thoughts for someone, yet asking your child to do it with you would be a wonderful way to show him/her that you understand the benefit of doing so. You might notice someone struggling at home or work or even on the street, and just think some kind thoughts for them even if you don’t know them. We all need kindness sometimes but maybe there is no one around to offer it to us in that moment. Practicing “Hugging Breath” is a tool you can use in those situations. Simply spread your arms wide as you breathe in and as you breathe out, wrap your arms around yourself in a firm hug. Maybe even pat yourself on the back for being the amazing person that you are.

May you be safe
May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you be peaceful

Looking for our previous Mindfulness Newsletters? See them all HERE

 

CALENDAR

March 18th NO SCHOOL DAY

Help Children Develop Early Language Skills
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Learn ways to help young children develop language skills! Early support helps infants and toddlers grasp language and comprehension. 
Attend a webinar on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Register at https://bit.ly/3m3cRST
For more information, download a flyer.

March 28 – April 1st – NO SCHOOL  (Spring Break) Classes resume Monday, April 4th.

4th Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration
March 31, 2022
This annual celebration’s programming highlights the youth in our community who interpret César E. Chávez’ words through art, speech, and writing contests. This year’s theme is: Respect For All Living Things Contests are open now through March 1, 2022 for this year’s student art, writing, and speech contests! Details: MARCUSCENTER.ORG/CESAR-CHAVEZ

Tuesday, April 5, 2022: All Students Attend School

 

REMINDERS

YEARBOOKS! We have yearbooks for sale! One for K3-6th grade & one for 7-12 grade students. 
There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below:

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

MPS Offers COVID-19 Testing Clinics: Milwaukee Public Schools is partnering with Novir to offer free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and staff and MacDowell is one of the testing sites. Clinics begin Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and will take place every Wednesday and Saturday.

  • Wednesdays, 4:00–8:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is required at TrackbyNovir.com or by using the QR code in the flyer below. When prompted for the organization code, use the code below for the site you wish to visit.
Download the Flyer English | Spanish

MacDowell Montessori School
6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, 53213
Registration Code: w6415
 

Milwaukee Marshall H.S
4141 N. 64th St.
Milwaukee, 53216
Registration Code: w4141 

Pulaski High School
2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee, 53215
Registration Code: w2500

 

HS JUNIORS AND SENIORS BETWEEN THE AGES 16-19
Summer Earn & Learn: The Earn & Learn program will once again take place this summer. The City of Milwaukee will have 130 internships within city positions. Applications for the 2022 Earn & Learn Summer Youth Internship Program are being accepted online at milwaukee.gov/SYIP until Friday, March 18, 2022. Interns earn $15.00 an hour. Applications are online only.
FLYER HERE: EarnLearn2022.pdf

MPS Student Job Fair coming up! 
For Seniors, virtual on April 13th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Additional flyers and information:
Senior Flyer and Sign Up: SENIOR FLYER MPS Virtual Student Job Fair
Combo Flyer/Poster: COMBO Flyer-Poster_2022.pdf

 

UNEXPECTED ITEMS FOR CHECKOUT: Did you know that you can borrow passes for the Milwaukee Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the Library of Things has an incredible list of things for you to borrow. Get some lawn games and a movie projector for your next big summer family get-together. Get equipment to convert your old cassette tapes to MP3’s, or your VCR tapes to DVD. Pick up a hotspot to make sure you have wifi on your next trip up north.
Find out more on our Unexpected Items listing here:
https://www.mcfls.org/non-traditional-materials-for-checkout/

 

 

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

 

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 27

March 15, 2022 By sanfelax

Women’s History Month: Celebrate female leaders and achievers!  Women’s History Month recognizes the accomplishments of trailblazing females who helped change the world in big and small ways.

From https://www.womenshistory.org/

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.

Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week . . .

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week. 

Wisconsin has its own share of notable women. Browse the list linked below and celebrate these groundbreaking females! https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/News/Celebrate-Womens-History-Month.htm

 

MPS SUMMER SCHOOL

Learn more about our SAFE and FREE summer programming for K5–grade 12 city of Milwaukee residents! Breakfast and lunch are provided. 

There will be Montessori Summer School for K5-8th grade students at Lloyd Barbee, which will be held June 27–July 27, 2022 (no student attendance July 4) from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

There is a wide variety of Summer School options including credit recovery and acceleration, Montessori programming, career exploration programs, and Specialty Programs such as Kids in the Kitchen (3-5), Culinary Arts (6-8) Music Technology (6-12), Modern Band (6-12), Gardening Camp (6-8) Intro to IT Programming (9-12) and more!

For full details please visit: https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Programs/Summer-Academy.htm


MPM FIELD TRIP: Recently several of our Lower Elementary students participated in an in-house field trip through the Milwaukee Public Museum called “Get Wild Wisconsin”. Students learned about habitats and biodiversity and explored ways in which nature is interconnected. At the conclusion, students planted wild bergamot seeds to grow at home.  


FOOD RIGHT: We concluded our Food Right classes this week and look forward to partnering with them next school year. Our students learned so much with this fantastic program! Are you looking for their recipes? You can find them archived here: https://www.foodright.org/blog

A list of some of the most recent recipes students made are linked below:
Simple South Indian Potatoes (Youth Chef Academy @Home)

4-6th GRADE:
Zucchini Fritters with garlicky yogurt sauce
Oatmeal Pancakes with apple compote
3 bean chili and Southwest corn fritters

7-8th GRADE:
Oats Upma
Harira soup

College and Career Night – April 6
Middle and high school students and families should plan to attend College and Career NIght! Learn to explore career paths, find out about schools and programs, narrow down your interests, and more! This virtual event will be hosted on Zoom.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Register by April 4 at mpsmke.com/mpschooseyourpath
For more information, download a flyer or contact Karolyn Taylor at henderkt@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.


Conferences (virtual, by appointment)
March 14th 3:45 – 7:30 PM   &   March 15th 3:45 – 7:30 PM
Sign Up Is At: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ew6d5

UNEXPECTED ITEMS FOR CHECKOUT: Did you know that you can borrow passes for the Milwaukee Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the Library of Things has an incredible list of things for you to borrow. Get some lawn games and a movie projector for your next big summer family get-together. Get equipment to convert your old cassette tapes to MP3’s, or your VCR tapes to DVD. Pick up a hotspot to make sure you have wifi on your next trip up north.
Find out more on our Unexpected Items listing here:
https://www.mcfls.org/non-traditional-materials-for-checkout/

 

REMINDER Elementary Sports ~ Call for Coaches! We are hoping to form several sports teams for Spring Athletics, but we need coaches to make it happen! Please consider volunteering your time. See below for details. Coaches are paid through Milwaukee Recreation. We will notify parents which teams we have and the registration procedure, based on the teams that we are able to form. Please contact Torre Johnson if you are interested or have any questions. johns119@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

-Games are held on Saturdays, practice is 1 day a week minimum, practice ideally begins shortly after school dismissal time.

COACHES and ASSISTANTS needed! The teams we are wishing to form are:

  • 1st through 3rd co-ed Soccer 
  • 4th and 5th co-ed Soccer
  • 6th and 8th co-ed Soccer
  • 5th through 8th grade co-ed Track
  • 5th through 8th grade co-ed Tennis

Take Our Family Survey! MacDowell family members, we need your input! Take our parent/guardian survey to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. The goal is for each school to have at least a 20% response rate. The survey takes about 10 minutes and answers are confidential. Your answers will help guide decisions about district planning and improvement. Access the survey in multiple languages at mpsmke.com/spcssurvey

The survey will close on March 31, 2022.

 

HS SPRING SPORTS

  • Track and field started this week – co-op with Pulaski
  • Softball starts on March 14 – co-op with Pulaski
  • Baseball and girls soccer start on March 21 – co-op with Pulaski
  • WE HAVE OUR OWN CO-ED TENNIS AND GOLF TEAMS, both start on Monday, April 4
  • Complete registration must happen online at https://mpsathletics-ar.rschooltoday.com/home.  You will get an approval email from Ms. Schenk once registration is complete and student can begin practice.  Please reach out to Ms. Schenk with questions.

THE FINAL DEADLINE TO BEGIN A REGISTRATION IS MONDAY, APRIL 4.  ON THIS DATE, THE SYSTEM WILL LOCK AND NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.  Even though the deadline is April 4, student-athletes are encouraged to get registered early to attend practice as soon as possible. 

Students who participate in a Pulaski co-op sport will have a shuttle bus to take to practice after school to Pulaski.  The bus will return from Pulaski to MacDowell at 6:30.  Students can either get picked up from practice at either Pulaski or MacDowell or get a bus ticket to go home from either location.  

REMINDER FROM NURSE SARAH: Hello Parents/Guardians of MacDowell students. As the COVID-19 vaccine has now been opened for 5 and older, I am requesting immunization records. If you get your child vaccinated for COVID-19, please be sure to send a copy of the immunization record to me. This will help to ensure I have the most up to date records and will assist in determining quarantine times should your child be identified as a close contact. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. My email is: gruettsd@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

!!!! OPT-IN TO TEXT MESSAGING: This will allow you to receive updates regarding transportation changes, school newsletters, school closings and so much more. Follow these instructions to ensure you are receiving important information:

  • Families should send a text message to: 67587 to connect to the new system. 
  • In the message, send Y or YES to ensure that you continue to receive important texts from your school and district.

RESOURCES

Weekly Mindfulness News LESSON 8: Exploring Our 5 Senses (K5 – 3rd Gr.)

What we learned: This week, we explored our 5 senses with a mindful eating exercise. Because this is such a fun way to practice mindfulness, we would like to encourage you to allow your child to walk you through a mindful eating experience.

Practicing at Home: Exploring your 5 senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting) while eating is an enjoyable way to practice mindfulness with your child. We can always pause to notice and enjoy the experience of eating, slowing down to savor the flavors that we love and feeling grateful for what we have. Eating even one bite of our food mindfully changes our experience from eating distractedly to eating with purposeful attention. Often we eat less mindfully or perhaps less healthy, or we overeat, when we are stressed. Next time you are feeling stressed, before you automatically reach for something to eat, pause for a few moments and take time to identify what is causing you stress. Then, notice how you are feeling in your body and your mind. Just taking a moment to do that can help us Reset to a place of calm. 

Mindfulness Newsletter for K5-3rd Grade HERE

Weekly Mindfulness Newsletter LESSON 8: How to Reset When We are Stressed (4-6th Grade)

What we learned: This week, we explored some things that cause us stress and discussed tools we can use when stress arises. We talked about many things that can be stressful like friends, chores, school, social media, etc. and how our own thoughts can cause us stress. The movement tools below allow us to relieve stress in the areas of the body where tightness and tension due to stress can manifest.

Practicing at Home: The best way for children to learn stress management and how to regulate the strong and often challenging emotions that accompany stress, is for us to model healthy ways to deal with stress. So, the next time you are feeling stressed, perhaps you could let your child see how you try to cope with the stress by pausing for a few moments and taking time to identify what is causing you stress. Then, notice how you are feeling in your body and your mind. Just taking a moment to do that can help us Reset to a place of calm. You can also use a breathing tool we have talked about in earlier newsletters, like Purposeful Breathing or Calm Breathing. If this is the first newsletter you have read, ask your child to show you one of the breathing practices he/she has learned. It won’t necessarily take the stressors away, but it gives you a few moments to connect with your child and let go of the stress instead of carrying it around for hours, or days or weeks or longer. 

Mindfulness Newsletter for 4th-6th Grade HERE

Triple P Parenting Classes: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth.
Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information. 
Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjc
Raising Confident, Competent Children: Learn how to help your children become confident and successful at school and beyond including strategies for having a healthy self-esteem, being a good problem solver, and becoming more independent.
Class held on 3/14/2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Managing Fighting and Aggression
Learn how to teach skills that children need to be able to solve problems and get along with others, such as sharing, communicating, and being gentle with others.
Class held on 3/17 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

 

CALENDAR

Class of 2026 Virtual Meeting for MacDowell Incoming Freshman
Thursday, March 10
6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/iek-kqig-vun

Parent Teacher Conference Dates (virtual, by appointment)
Monday March 14th 3:45 – 7:30 pm
Tuesday March 15th 3:45 – 7:30 pm
Sign Up Is At: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ew6d5

SEC Meeting
March 16th @ 5:00-5:30 PM
https://meet.google.com/ome-xizj-bdv

PTO Meeting
March 16th
5:30-6:30
Join Zoom Meeting: https://tinyurl.com/MacMarchPTO
Meeting ID: 816 0074 4746   /     Passcode: PTO2122

March 18th NO SCHOOL DAY

March 28 – April 1st – NO SCHOOL DAY (Spring Break) Classes resume Monday, April 4th.

4th Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration
March 31, 2022
This annual celebration’s programming highlights the youth in our community who interpret César E. Chávez’ words through art, speech, and writing contests. This year’s theme is: Respect For All Living Things Contests are open now through March 1, 2022 for this year’s student art, writing, and speech contests! Details: MARCUSCENTER.ORG/CESAR-CHAVEZ

Tuesday, April 5, 2022: All Students Attend School

 

REMINDERS

MPS Offers COVID-19 Testing Clinics: Milwaukee Public Schools is partnering with Novir to offer free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and staff and MacDowell is one of the testing sites.
Clinics will take place every Wednesday and Saturday:
Wednesdays, 4:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is required at TrackbyNovir.com or by using the QR code in the flyer below. When prompted for the organization code, use the code below for the site you wish to visit.
Download the Flyer: English | Spanish

MacDowell Montessori School

6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, 53213
Registration Code: w6415

Milwaukee Marshall H.S
4141 N. 64th St.
Milwaukee, 53216
Registration Code: w4141 

Pulaski High School
2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee, 53215
Registration Code: w2500

HS JUNIORS AND SENIORS BETWEEN THE AGES 16-19

Summer Earn & Learn: The Earn & Learn program will once again take place this summer. The City of Milwaukee will have 130 internships within city positions. Applications for the 2022 Earn & Learn Summer Youth Internship Program are being accepted online at milwaukee.gov/SYIP until Friday, March 18, 2022. Interns earn $15.00 an hour. Applications are online only.

FLYER HERE: EarnLearn2022.pdf

 

MPS Student Job Fairs coming up! There are TWO this year!
-For Seniors, virtual on April 13th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Additional flyers and information:
Senior Flyer and Sign Up: SENIOR FLYER MPS Virtual Student Job Fair
Combo Flyer/Poster: COMBO Flyer-Poster_2022.pdf

YEARBOOKS! We will have yearbooks for sale! One for K3-6th grade & one for 7-12 grade students. 
There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below:

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

 

QUICK LINKS

MPS School Calendar 21-22

MPS School Calendar 22-23

Lunch Menu

Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline

MPS Family Guide

Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children

MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

 

Filed Under: MacDowell Newsletter, News

School Newsletter Vol. 26

March 4, 2022 By sanfelax

Important Calendar Changes

March 15, 2022: ACT Testing for Juniors
All MPS high school juniors will take the ACT test on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, during the school day. All juniors should arrive at school prepared to take the exam. All high school freshmen, sophomores, and seniors do not report to school. March 15th is a virtual learning day for all 9th, 10th, and 12th-grade students. All students in grades K-8 will have a regular school day.
Why is the ACT test important? This test is required by some colleges and universities for admission. All students in Wisconsin take the exam each spring to assist in applying to college and qualifying for scholarships.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022: All Students Attend School
Because of the school closure due to weather in February, students will now attend school on Tuesday, April 5. This date had been previously scheduled as a student day off.

Monday, May 16, 2022: Important Changes
All high school students will attend school on Monday, May 16 (previously a student day off for early start schools).
All K-8 students attending Early Start schools will not attend school.

 

Student and Alumni Spotlight! 

Each year, MacDowell students who are interested in careers in the trades are eligible to participate in the MPS Youth Apprenticeship Program.  A MacDowell alumnus, who is now an MPS carpenter, and current MacDowell 12th grade apprentices were interviewed and showcased.  We are #mpsproud !!!
The link to the news clip is here: https://youtu.be/QtiHsmTbYKA

 

PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

MacDowell’s annual high school trip to Washington DC was a great success! The students returned home excited about all of the experiences they had. Our students visited:

University of Maryland ~ Anacostia Community Museum ~ Arlington National Cemetery ~ Marine Corps War Memorial ~ World War II Memorial ~ Lincoln, Vietnam Veteran, and Korean War Veteran War Memorials ~ Gettysburg Visitor Center Museum, Cyclorama and Film ~ Gettysburg Battlefield Tour ~Jefferson, FDR, and MLK Memorial ~ White House Photo stop ~ Ford’s Theatre and the Peterson House ~ Future’s Smithsonian, and the Nature History Smithsonian ~ Walking tour of Capitol Hill

We are so grateful to Herb Kohl Philanthropies and the MPS Foundation for making this trip possible for our students! 

 

MPS Offers COVID-19 Testing Clinics: Milwaukee Public Schools is partnering with Novir to offer free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and staff and MacDowell is one of the testing sites.Clinics begin Wednesday, March 2, 2022, and will take place every Wednesday and Saturday.

Wednesdays, 4:00–8:00 p.m.

Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required at TrackbyNovir.com or by using the QR code in the flyer below. When prompted for the organization code, use the code below for the site you wish to visit.  Download the Flyer English | Spanish

MacDowell Montessori School
6415 W. Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, 53213
Registration Code: w6415

Milwaukee Marshall H.S
4141 N. 64th St.
Milwaukee, 53216
Registration Code: w4141 

Pulaski High School
2500 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Milwaukee, 53215
Registration Code: w2500A

A Note from Ms. Benthien about our upcoming Musical: Helea Vs. the Smart Phone. The audition result for 18-20 Cast members will be announced March 3, Thursday.  I will post the Elementary Choir and Dance ensembles by Friday, March 4.   Play ensembles will be announced by Friday, March 4. 
Details of rehearsal schedules will be given to:
 –  students who passed the audition. They will go home with a new Parent Permission slip & Agreement.
 –  Teachers of cast members and ensembles. 

Come get your Girl Scout cookies!  Girl Scout Troop 13024 will be at our neighborhood Pick n Save this Sunday!

When: Sunday, March 6th, 1:30-4:30 PM
Where: Pick n Save, 8151 W Bluemound Rd.
Each box is $5 and proceeds stay in the community.  Support MacDowell k5 and 1st Graders! Thank you for your support.

 

UPCOMING Elementary Sports ~ Call for Coaches!

We are hoping to form several sports teams for Spring Athletics, but we need coaches to make it happen! Please consider volunteering your time. See below for details. Coaches are paid through Milwaukee Recreation. We will notify parents which teams we have and the registration procedure, based on the teams that we are able to form. Please contact Torre Johnson if you are interested or have any questions. johns119@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

-Games are held on Saturdays, practice is 1 day a week minimum, practice ideally begins shortly after school dismissal time.
COACHES and ASSISTANTS needed! The teams we are wishing to form are:
1st through 3rd co-ed Soccer 
4th and 5th co-ed Soccer
6th and 8th co-ed Soccer
5th through 8th grade co-ed Track
5th through 8th grade co-ed Tennis

Thank you to all who attended our PTO meeting in February. Please see our minutes HERE

Our next virtual PTO meeting will be Wednesday, March 16th at 5:30 PM. If you have any ideas, comments or suggestions but cannot attend a PTO meeting, we want to hear from you!  Email us: ptomacdowell@gmail.com 

You can also join our PTO Facebook page HERE

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences (virtual, by appointment)
March 14th 3:45 – 7:30 PM   &   March 15th 3:45 – 7:30 PM
Sign Up Is At: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ew6d5

 

Library Updates

Ms. Raasch is seeking volunteers to support a large organizational project in the library in the month of May. If any parents or community members are willing to help between the hours of 8:00-3:30, please email Ms. Raasch. Any amount of time is welcome and greatly appreciated. RAASCHTL@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
All committed volunteers will need to complete the volunteer application with Ms. Claudine.

Last day for check-outs: Friday, April 29

Final due date for all books: Friday, May 13

Ms. Raasch’s Recommendation of the Week: https://www.brainson.org/

Be sure to check out this quirky and silly, kid-approved, and family-friendly podcast! With a reliable format that values curiosity, the dynamic adult hosts enlist a new child host each episode to take a quick science-oriented deep-dive into common questions and wonderings of the world. Be sure to listen for the “mystery sound” and take a guess!
We enjoy podcasts in the car, as an alternative to TV or video games, and sometimes before bed. Listening to podcasts or audiobooks can help train a child’s ear for active listening and support listening comprehension skills.

 8 Mental and Physical Benefits of Audiobooks

Neuroscience of Audiobooks
Advanced Academic Programs is excited to announce a workshop for parents! Parents can register to attend sessions to learn more about the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), Teacher’s Observation of Potential in Students (TOPS), Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and parenting tips for supporting gifted children. The virtual workshop will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2022, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. All sessions will be hosted on Zoom. Registration is required.https://tinyurl.com/mpz23h9nFLYERMilwaukee Public Schools Family Interest Survey Extended!In Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) families play a vital role in the success of their students. We want to know your opinion to help us understand how best to support you to improve family and community engagement. Please complete one survey per household. This survey is voluntary and should take you 10 minutes to complete.   https://mpsresearch.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LD3SdQgfkwQdy6FLYERRESOURCESWeekly Mindfulness Newsletter LESSON 7: How Can We Reset When We Become Distracted?What we learned in lesson 7: This week we discussed how easy it is to get distracted and unfocused by all kinds of things like; thoughts, emotions, people, or things we take in through our five senses. Then, we practiced some tools to help us pause and notice when that distraction happens and Reset to bring our attention back to what is happening right now. We practiced some breathing and movement tools that are useful in guiding us back into the body when we are stuck in our mind. These tools cultivate a sense of calm when we feel that our thoughts are causing disruption, discomfort or lack of focus.Practicing at Home: We can all relate to being distracted or unfocused, especially in this day and age of advanced technology. Our devices are designed to not only demand our attention, but to take our attention away from what is happening right now. Scientific research has shown that just the presence of a phone for example, impedes our ability to focus and reduces scores on standardized testing. So, since technology is here to stay, as well as the basic nature of our mind to think and get distracted, how can we bring our attention back to the present? We can pause and notice when we are daydreaming while our child is speaking to us. We can pause and notice when our child is standing in front of us and we are more engaged with our device than with them. Then, we can Reset by taking a mindful moment to focus on our breathing or just feeling the sensations of standing with two feet on the floor. These strategies can bring us back to the present. Ask your child to show you some of the movement practices. Notice how you feel after pausing for just a few moments.Mindfulness Newsletter LESSON 7 HERERESOURCESTriple P Parenting Classes: The programs offered are brought to you by a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, The Parenting Network, and Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth. Parenting is hard! Sign up for the programs that meet your parenting goals. Click on the class names linked below for more information.  Full class schedule here: https://tinyurl.com/y2sj7mjcCoping with Stress:Learn how to handle day-to-day stress so you can act consistently and calmly with your children. 
Class held on 3/7/2022 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PMRaising Resilient Children:Learn how to help your children manage their feelings and become resilient in dealing with stress including expressing feelings appropriately, developing coping skills, and dealing with stressful events.
Class held on 3/8/2022 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PMRaising Confident, Competent Children: Learn how to help your children become confident and successful at school and beyond including strategies for having a healthy self-esteem, being a good problem solver, and becoming more independent.
Class held on 3/14/2022 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PMCALENDARThe Sixth Annual Celebrating Abilities Family Forum (virtual)
March 2-4, 2022
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 
This family-friendly event will include informative workshops and community connections for our families. The forum will provide families with information and resources to support their students with special education needs.  To register:https://tinyurl.com/37md7vntDAC Meeting (virtual)
March 3rd @ 6:00 – 7:30 PM
The District Advisory Council (DAC) meets monthly to learn about and advise on district strategies and programs impacting families, particularly related to Title I. This will be a virtual meeting. Link to join the meeting is HEREMontessori Advisory Committee Meeting – Strategic Plan Revision Process (Virtual)
March 7, 2022 @ 5:30 pm-6:30pm
At the March 7 MAC meeting,  we will begin the revision process for the Montessori Strategic Plan.  We would love to see input from parents and staff.   Link to register: https://tinyurl.com/2dyvu467
MAC Agenda HEREClass of 2026 Virtual Meeting for MacDowell Incoming Freshman
Thursday, March 10 @ 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/iek-kqig-vunParent Teacher Conference Dates (virtual, by appointment)
Monday March 14th 3:45 – 7:30 pm
Tuesday March 15th 3:45 – 7:30 pm
Sign Up Is At: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ew6d5SEC Meeting
March 16th
5:00-5:30 PMPTO Meeting
March 16th
5:30-6:30March 18th NO SCHOOL DAY
March 28 – April 1st – NO SCHOOL DAY (Spring Break) Classes resume Monday, April 4th.Tuesday, April 5, 2022: All Students Attend School4th Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration – Date Correction
March 31, 2022
This annual celebration’s programming highlights the youth in our community who interpret César E. Chávez’ words through art, speech, and writing contests. This year’s theme is: Respect For All Living Things Contests are open now through March 1, 2022 for this year’s student art, writing, and speech contests! Details: MARCUSCENTER.ORG/CESAR-CHAVEZ
REMINDERS
REMINDER: Online Student-Athlete Registrationfor Spring 2022 Sports. Please take this opportunity to get an early start on participating by registering before the April 4, 2022 deadline. (Baseball (Pulaski), Softball (Pulaski), Girls Soccer (Pulaski), Tennis (JUNEAU), Golf (JUNEAU), Boys/Girls Track & Field (Pulaski)) is now open.   Families SHOULD NOT create a new or separate account for each Sports Athlete in the family that has already registered/created an account in the past.  Only one family account should be created or used per family with multiple Sport Athletes (siblings/same parent/legal guardian).  In addition, free physicals are available (see attached flyer HERE).Get moving with the Be Active WI Challenge: Milwaukee Recreation invites all MPS staff and community members to participate in this virtual challenge to promote active lifestyles, connect people to the outdoors by encouraging use of our parks and engage Wisconsin communities in friendly competition! During the month of March, keep track of all active minutes and log weekly on a Google Form.Let’s get moving, Milwaukee! Whether you are running, walking, biking, practicing yoga, or any other exercise, all active minutes count. The winning community will receive a trophy and all participants will receive a t-shirt. The challenge runs through the month of March, and registration is now open! Registration information HEREHS JUNIORS AND SENIORS BETWEEN THE AGES 16-19Summer Earn & Learn: The Earn & Learn program will once again take place this summer. The City of Milwaukee will have 130 internships within city positions. Applications for the 2022 Earn & Learn Summer Youth Internship Program are being accepted online at milwaukee.gov/SYIP until Friday, March 18, 2022. Interns earn $15.00 an hour. Applications are online only.FLYER HERE: EarnLearn2022.pdf
MPS Student Job Fairs coming up! There are TWO this year!
-For Juniors, in-person at UWM on March 9th, times vary by school.
-For Seniors, virtual on April 13th, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Additional flyers and information:
Junior Flyer: JUNIOR FLYER MPS Student Job Fair
Junior Permission Slip: JUNIOR Permission Slip MPS Student Job Fair
Senior Flyer and Sign Up: SENIOR FLYER MPS Virtual Student Job Fair
Combo Flyer/Poster: COMBO Flyer-Poster_2022.pdf
YEARBOOKS! We will have yearbooks for sale! One for K3-6th grade & one for 7-12 grade students. 
There are separate Yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below:

  • K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online HERE
  • 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online HERE

MPS Kindergarten Enrollment Info:

  • If you have a younger child that you wish to enroll in K3 or K4 at MacDowell, you must enroll during this enrollment window to receive sibling preference. The current student’s name should be included in the application. Sibling preference is not granted after this enrollment window (February 5 to March 6, 2022)
  • There is no advantage to completing the enrollment application on the first day of the process.  
  • Current MacDowell students do not need to reapply.  They are automatically re enrolled. 

Wondering if you can enroll your child?

  • Students enrolling at K3 need to be 3 years old by September 1st and must reside in Milwaukee.
  • Students enrolling in K4 need to be 4 years old by September 1st.

MPS Kindergarten Enrollment Page; https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Schools/How-to-Apply/Kindergarten-Enrollment.htmIf you have enrollment questions, please contact Parent Coordinator Claudine at 414-935-1339. 
QUICK LINKSMPS School Calendar 21-22MPS School Calendar 22-23School WebsiteLunch MenuParent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And DisciplineMPS Family GuideHelpful Guidelines for Sick ChildrenMPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form

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