Fernwood Family Newsletter #21, 01/24/23

~Wednesday, January 25th,6pm, PAC Meeting, Library

~Monday, January 30th, 5pm, Music Parent Meeting, Library and virtually, https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk   

~New Date: Monday, January 30th, 5:30pm, SEC meeting, https://meet.google.com/srb-wjae-xko?hs=122&authuser=0

~Friday, February 17th and Monday, February 20th, No School

Yearbook Pictures Needed

Are you a wonderful family volunteer who is working with a Fernwood club, troop or sports team? (Thank you!!)   If you are, please submit a picture of your group to our Fernwood yearbook.  Please label your picture with grade level and group name.  We would also love to have pictures of your groups in action.  All pictures should be submitted to FernwoodYearbook@outlook.com by February 15th

Spirit Wear Sale: Time is running out!

Did you remember to submit your order for Fernwood spirit wear?  The sale is closing soon! 

~Fernwood PTO is excited to announce our annual spirit wear sale.  This year the sale will be through Dunn’s Sporting Goods website.  All items must be preordered. There are t-shirts, tie dye shirts, hooded sweatshirts, and zip ups.  Dunn’s charges a $3 bagging fee for each order.  The sale will close on January 31st!   

~Orders will be delivered to students in the beginning of March.  Please indicate the student’s name and classroom on each order. 

~Thank you to Fernwood parent Kevin Ristow for the cool design representing our labyrinth on the East playground with the words Fernwood Montessori written throughout.      Sale Website 

K3 and K4 Fernwood Enrollment!

Online enrollment for new K3 and K4 students will begin in MPS on February 4th and run through March 5th.  The application is online through the MPS website. Enrollment website.   Click “the online application” near the bottom fourth of the page.   

Please share this information with any potential families who are interested in attending Fernwood in the Fall.  Students must be 3 by September 1st, 2023 to be eligible to apply.   

~If your new to Fernwood K3/K4 student has a sibling currently enrolled at Fernwood, a spot is guaranteed.  However, in order to get a spot, an application must be submitted during the application window and the current student’s name should be included in the application.

~Applications can be submitted throughout the application window.  There is no advantage to completing the application on the first day of the process.  

~Current Fernwood students do not need to reapply.  They are automatically re enrolled.

~On Saturday, February 4th, MPS will hold a Kindergarten Enrollment Fair from 9am-12pm at North Division High School. Families will have the opportunity to learn more about Fernwood and ask questions of our leaders.   Additionally, families can visit with other MPS schools and complete the online application.   

Fernwood Parking/Driving guidelines:

*Do not park or drop off or pick up students on Pennsylvania Avenue or Falling Heath Place. These spaces are reserved for buses only.  

*Please have your student cross the street at the intersections with a crossing guard.

*To ensure the safety of all students please avoid double parking, which causes heavy traffic congestion. It is unsafe for your child to run between vehicles. 

*Please also avoid stopping or parking in front of fire hydrants, near stop signs or any other no parking zone.  

* We need to respect the rights of our neighbors. Do not park or drop off students in front of their driveways.

*The school parking lot is restricted and not open to the public. The parking lot is for staff members only.  Please do not have students walk through the parking lot or use the parking lot as a space to pick up students.  

*At dismissal time, families of students who do not ride the bus need to pick up their student on the East playground, not near the Falling Heath entrance.  

In summary, please follow all traffic and parking rules near Fernwood school.  We are moving over 750 children in and out of a building and we all want to do our best to keep them safe. 

PTO Thank You

Thank you very much for the ability to upgrade Fernwood’s Physical Education Program. I have used half of the money to purchase a new ball rack that was greatly needed. I also purchased several mini scoreboards for the kids to use in class. They were so successful that I will end up getting a few more. I also was able to get a backup charger for the drill that lowers the hoops. My original one died and when the young kids needed all 6 hoops lowered it would take forever to do and now it can be done within minutes. Each year your generosity amazes me. I still have some funds left and will keep you posted on what we get next.  Thanks!!!!  Mr. Comp, Physical Education Teacher

 Interim Report Cards Available

Interim report cards are available on the parent portal as of January 24th.  Interim report cards are published halfway through each trimester and indicate whether students are meeting expectations.  There are no interim report cards for K3/K4 students.  

Guardians need a personalized access code to create a parent portal account.  Please contact our secretary, Cynthia Arias at 414-294-1310 to receive your access code. 

Share your voice! Please complete the MPS Strategic Plan Survey

Milwaukee Public Schools wants your input! Take our Family and Community Survey here! 

As part of strategic planning for the school years 2023–2028, the district invites students, families, staff, and community members to voice their opinions by taking a district survey.  The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. 

Responses are confidential. The survey will remain open until February 10, 2023. 

Thank you in advance for taking part! 

Forward Testing Information

Please see the attached letter from MPS regarding testing. At Fernwood, we create a balanced schedule with the child in mind to prevent testing anxiety and testing fatigue. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or contact Principal Lowell at lowellkm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.                Spring testing letter 2023

Family Nights: Theater Opportunities

Please allow me to introduce you to a wonderful program hosted by the Marcus Performing Arts Center. Family Nights is a program designed to encourage families to attend theater on a regular basis. For those who participate, it is a dynamic, interactive experience that changes the way families look at each show and each other. The goal of the program is not only to introduce families to the magic of the performing arts, but also to create lasting memories through special family activities to give a deeper perspective on what they will be seeing. This program is free to all families who register.

 Attached is this year’s list of Family Nights performances. 

• Review the first page of the flier, which lists the shows and performances. There is a description and video to complement each performance.
• Click on the teal bar at the bottom of the page to register.
• Please enter your email address to move to the next page.
• Use the drop-down menu under “Organization or Affiliation” to select the appropriate organization.
• Continue down the page to complete the rest of the form.
• Please select the shows (select as many as you’re interested in attending).
• Once you hit “Submit” you will receive an RSVP.

We will track the registrants and their affiliations. Your tickets will be held under your name/affiliation in Will Call. It’s extremely important to attend the performances you and your families sign up for.                          Family Nights Flyer

MPS Reads

Each month, MPS provides a list of recommended books for preschool through grade 12 that allows students to see themselves, explore other cultures, and discover more about the world in which they live.

 Help ignite a passion for reading! Access the January book list on the MPS Reads page.       

Fernwood Fund at Mitten Fest

The Fernwood Fund will be running a hot cocoa booth at this year’s Mitten Fest, at Burnhearts on Saturday, February 4th.  Mitten Fest is an annual outdoor block party and Hunger Task Force charity event at Burnhearts (2599 S Logan) described as a wintery mix of live music, food, beverages and charity.  The event runs from noon to 8pm, and our booth will be selling cocoa from noon to 4pm with cocoa proceeds going to The Fernwood Fund.  Bundle up and come enjoy the festivities, and please don’t forget that Burnhearts will be collecting non-perishable food and cash donations for Hunger Task Force, so bring something along to contribute if you can!  More info about Burnhearts Mitten Fest at  www.facebook.com/events/1338307330341861/

Late Arrival to Fernwood

If your student arrives at Fernwood after the tardy bell rings (7:40am), please make sure they stop in the office to get a tardy pass.  Tardy students should enter through the glass doors at Falling Heath Place.