Fernwood Family Newsletter #7, 10/8/24

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Table of Contents 

Schedule of Events

PTO Halloween Event for K3-3rd

Snacks for Conferences Sign Up

Cub Scout Wreaths for Sale at Conferences and Beyond!

Winter Sports Enrollment Now Open

Archery Club Enrollment

GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) for Students

Child Mental Health Support for Parents

After-School Clubs

Meet Your Teachers

Paper Towel Rolls Needed

MPS Student Well-Being Survey

Conference Sign Ups

Fall Lower Elementary Kids Choir Returns!

Picture Retake Day Information-Oct 16th

District Parent/Guardian School Engagement Survey

Our School is Cool!

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Schedule of Events 

~Thursday, October 10, 2024, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, virtual https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk

~Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, 6:30pm, Fernwood Fund Meeting, Fernwood library and virtual, email brett.mytys@gmail.com for link

~Thursday, October 10th and Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, Fall Conferences, sign up links below 

~Friday, October 16th, 2024, Picture Retake Day, Fernwood Auditorium

~Friday, October 25th, 2024, 5:30-7:00pm, PTO Halloween Dance and Parade, details below

~Thursday, October 31st, 2024, 5:30pm, School Engagement Council (SEC), virtual https://meet.google.com/tir-huzv-ikc

~Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, 6:00pm, PTO Meeting,  Fernwood Library and virtual https://meet.google.com/xyc-wwnz-czu

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PTO Halloween Event for K3-3rd

Attention Fernwood Ghostbusters: If you collect spores, molds, and fungus like Egon Spangler, then the PTO has an event for you!  Students and families in grades K3 through 3rd are invited to the PTO Halloween Parade Event.  The parade will go around the block and starts at 5:30 at the Falling Heath Doors.  A short dance party in the gym will follow!  The event concludes at 7:00pm.  

The Fernwood Cross Country team will be selling slices of pizza as a fundraiser for their group.  Please bring cash if you want to buy pizza!

See the flyer below for more details.

PTO Halloween Parade 2024.png

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Snacks for Conferences Sign Up

They tumble out of bed and they stumble to the kitchen, they pour themselves a cup of ambition….working 7 to 7, what a way to make a living!  Conference days are long for our teachers (about 7am to about 7pm).  Let’s feed them, Fernwood!  It’s what Dolly would do!  

Please consider signing up and bringing in some snacks for our teachers.  This little act of caring is very appreciated by our teachers and helps their brains and bodies work on two very long work days!

Donations should be dropped off by the morning of 10/10 so they can be ready for teachers in the afternoon.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51967905-conference

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Scout Wreaths for Sale at Conferences and Beyond!

It’s almost the holiday season! Order your holiday wreath, centerpiece, swag, roping or tree from Scout Troop 79 and you will be decked out for the season! Sales of these beautiful products will help fund amazing opportunities like camping and youth workshops for your local scouts. Orders will be delivered/picked up by a local scout by Thanksgiving! Thank you in advance for supporting Troop 79! 

To submit an order – please look for our table at parent teacher conferences in person (table will be located by the Falling Heath doors) or click this link to complete this form! https://forms.gle/xzN5LiJQWPJQD6KD9

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Winter Sports Enrollment Now Open

Fernwood Winter Sports Offerings

Basketball

1st-3rd grade Co-Ed Pee-Wee

4-5th grade Co-Ed

6-8th grade Co-Ed

Volleyball

4/5th grade Co-Ed

6-8th grade Co-Ed

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Registration Opens Tuesday 10/3/2024 and ends 10/11/2024 (AM). 

There will be no exceptions or late entries for registrations in an effort to keep team sizes reasonable for all. 

If additional players are needed we will communicate that in the next newsletter.

Please submit the Activity Form to register your child (google form linked below). Payment should be brought to the main office.

*****Teams fill up fast, sometimes before the registration deadline*****

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg1MiLFazj46GweTJs6VMqjMPs5DsFBhh4MM1SOD3516SBtw/viewform

Interested in coaching or assistant coaching? Contact the Sports Coordinator, Chanda Miller, at chandamiller@hotmail.com for more information.

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Archery Club Enrollment 

Archery Club is an after-school club for 5th – 8th grade students!  It is lots of fun and it is harder than it looks!  Registration for the club is now open!  You CAN sign up for Archery if you are in other clubs or sports (if you are one of the Nine Walkers you are also eligible).  

Archery Club will be held on:

Wednesdays from 2:30 – 4:00

November 20 – February 12

For safety and consideration, space is limited.  Positions in this club fill really quickly.  

Registration will close when spaces are full.

Registration is complete when:

• This Google Form is completed
• You have received a confirmation email from Kari Wellhausen
• A check for $25.00 is made out to Fernwood Montessori School with Archery in the notes.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLoomheY8SThrf0OvRb43rxqZs9HvXiExvDmlbDA0KV9CLeQ/viewform?usp=sharing

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GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) for Students

As Fernwood is dedicated to making our school a safe and inclusive space for all students, we have a new club returning for the second year!  The Acceptance Club, previously known as the GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance), offers a safe and supportive environment for students who identify as: LGBTQ+, allies of the LGBTQ+ community, neurodivergent, or any other student looking for a space where they can be themselves without fear or judgment.  Activities of the club will be driven by student interest but may include: social activities, field trips, resources and education, awareness and activism, etc.  The club is open to 5-8th grade students and meets bimonthly during lunch & recess; our first meeting will be held towards the end of October.  Students will need signed parent consent to participate.  If your student is interested, please email Christina Chahal, School Social Worker at chahalcr@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

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Child Mental Health Support for Parents 

Please see below for information on an event to support parents with child mental health and wellness.  

C27 Book event draft flyer.png

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After-School Clubs

Club signups are now closed.  All children who were accepted into a club have been notified.  There are still spots in ABAR, Girls Who Code, Yoga, Chess, and Book Club.  If you are interested in any of those clubs please note the club leader in the document below and email them directly to express interest. If you were admitted to a club already, you can now ALSO join one of these other clubs.  

After School Clubs Fernwood 24-25

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Meet Your Teachers

Each year the Fernwood PTO gathers some information on the Fernwood staff to introduce them to our families!  Please take a look at this document for information on your favorite Montessori teachers, paras, and support staff members!  This crew is a varied bunch and there is always something new to learn!  For instance, one staff member loves “The Golden Girls” (it’s Ms. Bianca and I think she’s a Sophia or a Dorothy), Ms. Andi’s favorite movie is “Jaws”, and Ms. Buzz is a cat person!  

Fernwood Meet the Staff 2024-25

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Paper Towel Rolls Needed

If you happen to have any paper towel rolls at your house, please consider donating them to school.  Mr. Saller is going to do a rain stick project with some of our young music students.  He needs the longer paper towel cardboard rolls, not the ones from toilet paper.  Please bring donations to the Main Office.  Thank you!

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MPS Student Well-Being Survey

Student well-being is an important part of social-emotional health. Student education improves when we pay attention to well-being. Milwaukee Public Schools wants to improve student well-being. MPS listens to student feedback to enhance our students’ learning experience.  

The Student Well-Being Survey is new this year. Students in third through twelfth grade will give feedback using this survey. The survey asks students to rate their feelings and experiences at school.  

This survey will be taken three times per year: October 7–18, 2024; January 6–17, 2025; and May 5–16, 2025. The survey will take about 15 minutes. The results will not identify your child. Your child’s individual responses will not be viewed by school staff. Student responses will be grouped to help staff choose schoolwide supports and services. 

If you do not want your child to share their feedback, please call your child’s school to inform them of your request.

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Conference Sign Ups 

Conference sign ups are now closed.  If you need to change or sign up, please contact your child’s teacher directly. *****Free childcare for school-aged children will be available in the LIBRARY during conferences.*****

Conference days are Thursday, October 10th and Tuesday, October 15th from 3-6:45pm. ***Please note that there are a few teachers and specialists that have limited or alternative schedules.***  

Please sign up for ONE conference time slot for your K3-6th grade student with your student’s teacher using the links below. Conferences will be in person in the classroom. 

If you have more than one child at Fernwood, please consider allowing some “travel time” between your conferences. 

This sign up genius will be available until October 1st. If you need to schedule or reschedule a conference after this point, please contact your child’s teacher.

If your child receives special education support, please also schedule a conference with your child’s special education teacher. 

Conferences are also available with our gym, music and art teachers.  Additionally, conferences are available with our support staff.  Please click on the links to pick a time to meet with these staff members.  

Free childcare for school-aged children will be available in the LIBRARY during conferences.  

Primary (K3-K5): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51569830-fernwood

Lower Elementary (1st-3rd):   

Ms. Natasha has her own schedule.  Please sign up below and take note of the special instructions on the Sign Up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51652253-fernwood

All other Lower El teachers including Ms. Jamie.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51570627-fernwood

Upper Elementary (4th-6th): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51572503-fernwood

Special Education Teachers: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51575934-fernwood

Support Staff: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51571555-fernwood

Art, Gym, Music: 

Mr. Zhang will be available in the auditorium on 10/10 only.  He will be there from 3-6:45 and is taking walk-ins only.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51570958-fernwood

Secondary (7th-8th): 

Secondary (7th/8th grade) conferences will be on a walk-in basis. Families will wait in line to see the teachers with whom they would like to meet. You will be able to meet with any of the five teachers your student works with for up to 5 minutes. The teachers and the content they teach are as follows: Mr. Jerabek, Science; Ms.Davis, Social Studies; Ms. Zimmers, STEM and Health; Mx. Botsford, Language Arts; Ms. Bussewitz, Math.  

In an effort to control the lines that occur in the gym, we are asking families to sign up for a 30 min time slot.  This is NOT an appointment with a teacher and it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have to wait.  We are hoping that if everyone has an assigned time, it will space out arrivals and control wait times.   Please note: Ms. Bussewitz and Mr. Jerabek will not be at conferences on 10/10 because they are attending a required Montessori teacher training.  Please email them directly if you would like a progress report for your child.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-51575375-fernwood

All secondary conferences on October 10 and 15 will be held in the gym.

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Fall Lower Elementary Kids Choir Returns!

WHEN: Tuesdays (2:25-3:10pm) October 29th – December 17th

WHERE: Fernwood Auditorium (students will be dismissed from class to the auditorium)

WHO: Intended for 1st-3rd grade Lower Elementary Students

PRICE: $40 per student (7 meeting sessions total)

Looking for committed children who enjoy singing and would value the benefits of being part of a choir. Each child will take home and sign an attendance and behavior contract.

Deadline for signup is Friday, October 11th, 2024.

To Register:  Complete this link and pay $40 (Venmo @molly-pufall, or check or cash brought to the main office with attn: Ms. Molly). 

Two parent helpers are needed for dismissal and bathroom breaks, etc. Please contact me if you are available at mpufall@gmail.com. 

Director: Molly Pufall-Brown, a Fernwood parent, holds two degrees in music, specializing in voice. She is insured and thrilled to be offering Kids Choir at Fernwood for the 6th year. Please contact Molly to sign up or ask questions: mpufall@gmail.com.

***If a parent or guardian is in need of financial assistance to allow their child to participate, please email mpufall@gmail.com***

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Picture Retake Day Information-Oct 16th 

Picture packages will be sent home in the next few weeks.  However, digital pictures are available online.  If you would like to have your students picture retaken please do the following:

If you purchased a photo package and would like the picture retaken, the package with the pictures needs to be returned to school on retake day.  (Oct 16) 

If you did not order a photo package you may still have a retake. 

If you would like your student’s picture retaken, please email your teacher and Meredith Genrich Mertes (genricm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us) so we are aware.  

Students who were absent will also have their picture taken on retake day.  

Parents can still order photos online at mylifetouch.com using the code EVTG8R8WP but will pay for shipping.

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District Parent/Guardian School Engagement Survey

Please take a few moments to provide some feedback to the district and our school!  The District Parent/Guardian School Engagement Survey is your opportunity to provide the school with information on how you might like to get involved and barriers to involvement.  The school is provided with the data and it helps us to plan for our year.  The survey takes just a few minutes and is available in many languages.  Survey and flyer are linked below.

mpsmke.com/spcssurvey

School Engagement Survey FLYER 24-25.pdf

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Our School is Cool!

There’s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!  On October 2nd, Fernwood K5s and Lower El students had a very COOL experience.  Author Loren Long visited for a book talk and signing about his most recent book, The Yellow Bus.  He also made an original piece of art especially for our school.  School Librarian, Mr. Grant, organized this visit and students read Mr. Long’s most recent book in class.  Mr Long was thrilled to be here and when the kids were coming into the auditorium he said, “Whoa, big crowd!”  It’s not a Fernwood crowd if it’s not big!    

Please see below for some photos of the event and the artwork!

Loren Long Visit