Fernwood Family Newsletter #8, 10/15/24

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Table of Contents 

Schedule of Events

Popcorn Update (Pupdate? Popdate?)

Announcing the Tropical Trolley!

Interim Report Cards

Music Program Update and Winter Concert Announcement

Camp Closing Dates

MPS Superintendent Search Needs Parent Input

Request from School Librarian, Mr. Grant

PTO Halloween Event for K3-3rd

Scout Wreaths for Sale at Conferences and Beyond!

Archery Club Enrollment is Closed

The Acceptance Club (GSA) for Students

After-School Clubs

MPS Student Well-Being Survey

Conference Sign Ups

District Parent/Guardian School Engagement Survey

Our School is Cool!

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Schedule of Events

~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 

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

~Friday, October 18 and Monday, October 21, 2024, NO SCHOOL and NO CAMP

~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, NO SCHOOL and NO CAMP-Voting Day 

~Thursday, November 7th, 2024, 6:00pm, PTO Meeting,  Fernwood Library and virtual https://meet.google.com/xyc-wwnz-czu

~Thursday, November 14th, 2024, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, virtual https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk

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Popcorn Update (Pupdate? Popdate?)

The Adolescents will be selling popcorn after school on the following dates!  Please note there are some revisions to the schedule as shared previously (no popcorn on 10/25).  

Dates for the rest of the year are:

THURSDAY Oct 17th

Friday Nov 1st

Friday Nov 15th

Friday Dec 6th

Friday Dec 20th

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Announcing the Tropical Trolley!  

If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain, we can’t help you!  We can help you if you are interested in a tropical culinary experience that you eat under an umbrella!*   Students from Room 250 are announcing their new business venture, The Tropical Trolley (kids should name everything)!  Students are offering handmade (by Upper El students) granola with dried fruit for breakfast or an after school snack!   Room 250 will use proceeds to go on field trips.  Write to them and escape!

Sales will happen on Mondays and Wednesdays before school and after school by the Falling Heath doors.  Granola treats are only $1.  Flyer and yacht rock below!  

Tropical Trolley.docx

Escape (The Pina Colada Song)

*You have to bring your own umbrella.

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Interim Report Cards

Interim Report Cards for Grades K5-8th are now available on the Parent Portal. Enjoy!

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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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Music Program Update and Winter Concert Announcement 

As shared in previous newsletters, Fernwood’s full time music teacher resigned right before school started.  We still have a full-time music teacher vacancy, and would appreciate if our families spread the word; we cannot hire any music teacher in MPS unless it is during hiring cycles (the next one will be in late March for the following school year).

As of right now, Mr. John Saller is subbing most days in the music room, though he does occasionally get pulled to cover classrooms due to a substitute shortage.  Ms. Amanda Marconi, Fernwood parent and former music teacher, has been volunteering her time to come and support some days in the music room.

Ms. Molly Brown, Fernwood parent and choral director and Dr. Sharon Morrow, Fernwood grandparent and former music teacher, have been supported by the Fernwood Fund to come in and teach Upper El Choir twice a week.  

Mr. Zhang, our part-time orchestra, string, and piano teacher is working hard with our 4th-8th grade students.  Our spring concert will feature these students.

Ms. Mary Keppeler continues to work with some students grades 4-8 on their harp skills.  Her traveling music time is paid for by the school budget.

We will continue to keep our community updated with new information as it becomes available.

Winter Concert

This year, our Winter Concert will feature our Lower Elementary after-school choir students and Upper Elementary during-the-day choir students.  The concert will be held on 12/12 at 5:30pm at Fernwood.  Please stay tuned for future newsletters where we will be looking for volunteers to ensure the concert is a success.  Special thanks to the Music Parents for taking on the coordination of this event.

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Camp Closing Dates

Camp will be closed on: 

Friday, October 18th

Monday, October 21st

Tuesday, November 5th

This includes Wrap Around and After School Programs.

Thanks!  Ms. Michelle

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MPS Superintendent Search Needs Parent Input

Milwaukee Public Schools is engaging in a search for its next superintendent! This individual will lead the district to deliver a high-quality education for students, support families, inspire staff, and enhance the community. By developing students as the leaders and workforce of the future, Milwaukee can thrive and offer an exceptional quality of life. 

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors has selected Hazard Young Attea Associates (HYA), a national consulting firm, to gather input from Milwaukee residents at all levels, recruit candidates, and guide the search. 

Please check the website below for updates as the search moves forward. You will have the chance to participate in public meetings, fill out a survey, learn about candidates and their qualifications, and follow along as we get closer to meeting our next superintendent. 

MPS Superintendent Search 

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Request from School Librarian, Mr. Grant

November will be Magazine Month in the library. If you have any old magazines you can donate to the library, we would love to have them.  I will have them for students to look at and check out for the month.  When we are done I will put them on the “Free to take” shelf.  These do not need to be magazines for children, I find they love digging into all magazines.

Donations can be brought to the main office.  

Thanks,

Mr. Grant

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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 on October 25th.  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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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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Archery Club Enrollment is Closed

Archery Club is an after-school club for 5th – 8th grade students!  Registration is now closed.  Participants will be getting an email from Ms. Kari with the next update.  

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The Acceptance Club (GSA) 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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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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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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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!  Earlier this year, our school participated in a program that offers a unique way to learn math.  This program offers math instruction that uses the rich cultural tradition of Native American storytelling.  A native educator came in to teach both our students and our teachers.  This is such a COOL way to teach math and our students were able to explore a culture and tradition that may be different from their own at the same time.  

We had 2 primary, 3 lower el, and 4 upper el classes participating in the lessons.  In addition, all of our staff received training and guidance on these methods!  See the flyer below for details on the program.  

Thanks to the First Nations Studies department at MPS, Ms. Kristy, and the teachers for bringing this COOL thing to Fernwood’s math minds!

RunningHorse Brochure.pdf