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
SUMMER CLASSES FOR KIDS AND TEENS
See our list of summer classes HERE
QUICK LINKS:
Parent/Student Handbook On Rights, Responsibilities, And Discipline
Helpful Guidelines for Sick Children
MPS Covid-19 Testing Consent Form