Fernwood Family Newsletter #33, 4/25/23

~Friday, April 28th, 8:45am-10am, Special Friends’ Day, Fernwood Classroom

~Monday, May 1st, 5pm, Music Parents Meeting, Library & virtual

~Sunday, May 7th, 10am-4pm, Fernwood Arts Fest, Fernwood Montessori

~Wednesday, May 10th, 6pm, Nikki Martin Memorial Event, Fernwood Gym

~Wednesday, May 17th, 5:45pm, PTO meeting, Library and https://meet.google.com/kmf-ejav-dpm

~Thursday, May 18, 6:30pm, Spring Concert, Fernwood Auditorium

~Monday, May 22nd, 5:30pm, SEC meeting, https://meet.google.com/srb-wjae-xko?hs=122&authuser=0 

~Tuesday, May 23rd, 5:30-7pm, Parent Education Montessori Transitions, Virtual

~Friday, May 26 and Monday, May 29th, No School

Special Friends’ Day

April 28th is Special Friends’ Day at Fernwood Montessori.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to invite guests to visit their classrooms during one of two morning sessions, 8:45-9:15am or 9:30-10:00am.  Students will be able to share work that they are proud of and demonstrate some of their lessons. 

We ask that all guests enter through the glass doors on Falling Heath Place.  RSVP forms were due to your student’s teacher by April 24th if your student has a guest that will be attending.  RSVP forms are linked below.

We need some additional volunteers to help make this day a success. We will have lots of guests and will need some help directing them to classrooms. Please click on the link to volunteer.    

Volunteer                                             RSVP form

From the Desk of Mr. Ray

Dear Fernwood Family, 

It is time for me to step aside and allow others to pick up the charge and move the Fernwood Adolescent Program forward. After 35 years in Montessori education, I am retiring from Milwaukee Public Schools. It has been a genuine privilege to work alongside some of the most creative, talented, funny, gracious, young learners anywhere. I am so grateful to all the Fernwood families for allowing me to share in your child’s formation. I will carry with me all the high-fives, fist-bumps, daily handshakes, wazz-ups, and bestie Ray’s from k-3’s to eighth graders.

I leave the Adolescent Program in capable hands: Mrs. Zimmers, Mx. Botsford, and Mrs. Davis. In addition, Fernwood has selected two experienced educators to round out the Adolescent teaching team. Without question, your children will be well-served.

I’m sure you will see me around Bay View and perhaps back at Fernwood in a different capacity. May your days be filled with peace and love, and remember that the world goes around on random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.

Yours Truly,

Mr. Ray

Children may not remember what you have taught them, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Spring Student Count Day: May 5th

Next Friday, May 5th is the statewide Spring student count day.  Student attendance that day has a great impact on funding throughout MPS and at Fernwood.  Please make every effort to make sure your student is in attendance that day. 

Summer Camp Enrollment

Summer Camp Enrollment Packets are now available starting. Packets can be picked up at the front desk or the main office. These will not be sent home in classroom packets. Packets can be turned in starting May 1st.

Summer Camp will be held from June 16th until July 28 from 8am-5pm.  

Things to keep in mind:

-Enrollment Packets will only be accepted if they are completed in full. 

– Packets turned in earlier than May 1st, 2023, or incomplete packets, will be returned. 

– Each individual child will be required to turn in a new packet, including if they are already enrolled in Camp Fernwood. 

– Enrollment will be first come first serve with full time registration needs taken into consideration.

– Enrollment numbers will be based on staff that is hired. Please share the word that we are still hiring for Summer positions. We are looking for full and part time staff.  Pass the word along to anyone who may be interested.  

Please return packets to the Main Office or to the Front Desk. Questions can be directed to Michelle Stehlik at stehlim@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Spring Concert: Updated Time

The concert will be held in the Fernwood auditorium on May 18th. Student performers should arrive at 6pm and the concert will start at 6:30pm. The time was moved back to accommodate students who are participating in the Junior Docent program at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Our 2023 spring concert will include the following groups: lower elementary choir (after-school with Ms. Molly), upper elementary choir, adolescent rock bands, and the 3rd grade recorder group. 

For the concert, we are looking for parent volunteers to help monitor students and usher them onto the stage.Please sign up here.

Brandon Miller, millerbm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Molly Pufall-Brown, mpufall@gmail.com 

Exciting New Books in the Library

There are some new graphic novels on the shelves of Fernwood library.  Fernwood lower elementary students created some amazing graphic novels.  Mr. Grant, our librarian, bound and created barcodes for these cool creations and they are now available for all students to check out.  This initiative was totally led by the students.   Thank you Mr. Grant for honoring our students’ ideas and work.  

Save the date for the return of this fun event.  This event is a great opportunity to support local artists, our classrooms, the Fernwood PTO and Fernwood Music Parents.  See you there!     

We are looking for volunteers to make this day a success.  Please click on the link to volunteer. 

Nikki Martin Memorial

Fernwood Parents Activity Council (PAC) is proud to announce the dedication of the Nikki Martin Memorial.

Nikki Martin, a dedicated mother, long standing PAC member, and volleyball coach at Fernwood Montessori, passed away from breast cancer in January of 2021.  The Fernwood PAC would like to recognize and thank Nikki for her service and dedication to the student athletes at Fernwood Montessori. The PAC is proud to honor her memory with a beautiful art installation, created by Fernwood parent Jennifer Espenschield, and donation of volleyball equipment the students can use during recess.  Please join us on Wednesday, May 10th from 6-6:30 PM for a short program to unveil the memorial, and play a game of volleyball in Nikki’s honor.  

Summer Academy at Fernwood

Fernwood Montessori will be hosting a Montessori Summer Academy.  Summer Academy is open Monday-Friday, June 26-July 28 from 8am-12pm.  (Closed July 3 and 4) Students will be able to connect with their Montessori learning in new ways while engaging in this fun program. Summer Academy is free.  Students who have completed K5 through 8th grade are eligible to attend. Register by June 5th.  For more information and to register, visit mpsmke.com/summeracademy 

MPS invites residents to attend community feedback sessions in April

MPS families, staff, and community members are invited to attend public meetings to learn about the results of the MPS strategic planning survey that was conducted earlier in 2023. The district is using survey information as we draft our strategic plan for the 2023-2028 school years.

Attendees will have an opportunity to weigh in and provide feedback prior to finalization of the plan. We look forward to your participation! 

• Thursday, April 27: Districts 6 and 8 — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Manitoba School, 4040 W. Forest Home Avenue 
• Saturday, April 29: District 4 and Member at Large — 9 to 11 a.m. in the Central Services Auditorium, 5225 W. Vliet Street 

Feedback from the meetings will help inform the new MPS Strategic Plan, which will include annual performance targets after launching in July.    

Survey data will be posted on the Strategic Planning web page as soon as it is available at mpsmke.com/strategicplan.

Fernwood Flights

Save the date! June 11th from 11 to 3 at The Sugar Maple.

Fernwood Flights is the primary fundraiser for the Fernwood Fund which provides financial support for programs with the Urban Ecology Center and Schlitz Audubon, the outdoor grounds at Fernwood including the greenhouse and surrounding garden beds, the music program, supporting trips to Camp Edwards and many more. Spend an afternoon with fellow parents and support Fernwood at the same time!

Montessori Advisory Council Meeting

With 8 public Montessori schools, MPS has one of the largest footprints in public Montessori education in the United States.  MPS has a Montessori Advisory Council (MAC) representing all 8 schools to continue to grow and support Montessori education in MPS.  This group meets monthly.  The next meeting will be on May 8th at 5:30pm in MPS Central Office in Room 206.   All are welcome to attend to learn more about and support Montessori education in MPS.  

Thank You PTO!

Thank you, PTO and parents, for all of your support and your generous gift of $250 for classroom needs!  We still have a few dollars left!  Students have been excited to “Spruce Up” our reading room.  We added  wall art, bean bag chairs,  as well as new chapter books for reading. Thank you for all of your support for our children and school.  KUDOS to you!  Ms. Elaine Clay, Lower Elementary

Student Musicians for Fernwood Arts Fest

Calling all Students that take lessons on an Instrument and/or Voice!  We want YOU to be a part of the Arts Fest Fernwood Recital.  

Fernwood Music Parents want to let as many students studying an instrument and/or voice share their work with the Fernwood Community! 

On Sunday May 7th during Fernwood’s Arts Fest, there will be a Fernwood Student Recital in the courtyard (or Auditorium if weather is inclement) between 1pm-2pm.  Sign up by filling out this quick form here.  Thank you for sharing your talents, no matter what developmental stage they are at currently.  Any questions, email Molly Pufall-Brown at mpufall@gmail.com.

De La Buena at Fernwood

In celebration of jazz history month, Fernwood K5-8th grade students were treated to a performance by Milwaukee musicians De La Buena.  It was such a fun performance!  Thank you to the Fernwood Fund for sponsoring this event and Fernwood Music Parents for scheduling the band.