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FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #24, 2/18/25

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

CONFERENCE SIGN UPS

Gifted and Talented Fair

Celebrating Abilities Family Forum

PTO CLASSIC SLICE FUNDRAISER

Spring Testing Season Information Letters

New “Where’s the Bus?” App

FERNWOOD IS A SAFE SPACE

Fernwood Spring Lower Elementary Kids Choir Returns!

Girls on the Run for 3-5th Grade

Changes to School Hours for the 2025-2026 School Year

Fernwood Spring Athletics

Tax Message for Camp Families

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR INCOMING K3 STUDENTS

AFTER SCHOOL THEATER CLASSES – SPRING SESSION and SPRING BREAK SESSION

Futura Spanish for 4th, 5th, 6th Graders

Bay View Redcats Baseball Registration is Open!

OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

~Monday and Tuesday, February 17th and 18th, 2025, NO SCHOOL

~Thursday, February 27th, 2025, 5:30pm, SEC Meeting, virtual https://meet.google.com/tir-huzv-ikc

~Tuesday, March 3, 2025, 6:00pm, PTO Meeting, Fernwood Library and virtual https://meet.google.com/xyc-wwnz-czu

~Thursday, March 13th, 2025, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, Virtual https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk

~Thursday, March 13th and Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, 3:00pm-6:45pm, Parent Teacher Conferences, Fernwood Classrooms

~Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, 6:30pm, Fernwood Fund Meeting, Fernwood library and virtual, email brett.mytys@gmail.com for link

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CONFERENCE SIGN UPS

Conferences are 3/13 and 3/18 from 3:00pm-6:45pm.  Sign ups will be available in the newsletter on 2/25.

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Gifted and Talented Fair 

Please see the attached flyer for information on an MPS Gifted and Talented Fair.

G and T Parent Flyer English.pdf

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Celebrating Abilities Family Forum

Please see the attached flyer for information on the Celebrating Abilities Family Forum for Families of Special Education students.

Celebrating Abilities Detailed Flyer EngSpan.pdf

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PTO CLASSIC SLICE FUNDRAISER

As an act of service, the Fernwood PTO is giving you a reason to eat delicious pizza!  You’re welcome!  The PTO Classic Slice Pizza Fundraiser returns on March 4th, 5th, and 6th. 20% of all profits from sales on those dates will be given to the PTO.  You win by not making dinner, the kids win by eating pizza instead of that recipe you always make that they hate, and the Fernwood PTO wins by earning money that goes directly back into classrooms.  Good vibes are free with every order!  

The Fernwood PTO suggests the following schedule to help the staff at Classic Slice accommodate our large group but families should feel free to order on whichever night works for them: March 4 Primary Families, March 5 Lower El Families, March 6 Upper El and Adolescent Families.

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Spring Testing Season Information Letters 

Please see the attached letters about Spring testing season in our building.

Spring Testing Letter 2025 English.pdf

Spring Testing Letter 2025 Spanish.pdf

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New “Where’s the Bus?” App

WheresTheBus lets families know precisely when a child’s bus will arrive at the bus stop. The app tracks the location of the bus and provides up-to-the-minute arrival times. 

The app is free and can be accessed from any Internet-enabled device—smartphone, tablet, PC, or iPad. Apple iOS and Android apps are available. 

This app will give families peace of mind by knowing where the bus is. Tracking the bus means students and families can wait in the comfort of home rather than standing outside in bad weather.

To access WheresTheBus, a parent/guardian must have a Campus Parent (parent portal) account with a login and password. 

Families need to set up a Campus Parent account to access WheresTheBus. Campus Parent accounts can be set up by emailing Ms Cynthia in the Main Office at ariascg@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Families will need to follow these steps to get started. 

• Log in to Campus Parent. 

• Search for WheresTheBus. 

• Click on the WheresTheBus icon. 

• Download the app from the App Store (iOS/Apple) or Google Play (Android). 

• Log in with your Campus Parent ID and password to open the app and see bus information. 

For issues accessing Campus Parent, families should contact the school or parentportal@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. 

For issues accessing WheresTheBus, families should contact busoptions@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

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FERNWOOD IS A SAFE SPACE

We want to remind families that Fernwood Montessori, part of Milwaukee Public Schools, is committed to being an inclusive, safe, and welcoming place for all students, families, and staff. We support all people regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion; sexual orientation or gender identity; immigration status or disability. 

We continue to teach and reinforce kindness, respect, inclusivity.  It is very important that our students feel safe and comfortable so that they can best learn and grow.

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Fernwood Spring Lower Elementary Kids Choir Returns!

WHEN: Tuesdays (2:25-3:10pm) March 18th – May 6th (culminating performance TBD – stay tuned)-No session on 3/25

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, March 4th, 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 Pufall-Brown). 

One parent helper is 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 and choir and has been teaching for 20 years. 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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Girls on the Run for 3-5th Grade

Girls on the Run will be offered again this year for girls in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.  Please see the flyer for details.   Registration opens on 2/24 and enrollment is by lottery.  Please email emfolstad@gmail.com with questions.  

GIRLS ON THE RUN FernwoodFlyer2025.png

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Changes to School Hours for the 2025-2026 School Year

Last Thursday, the Milwaukee School Board voted to approve an adjustment to the start time and end time for our school for the 2025/2026 school year. 

Starting next year our school hours will be the following:

School hours for K5-8th Grade: 7:15am-2:15pm

School Hours for K3 and K4: 7:15am-10:15am

More information on the decision is included below.

Bell Schedule Re-tiering Presentation.pdf

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Fernwood Spring Athletics

Spring Athletics are fast approaching. Session dates are not set yet but typically run through April and into the first week of June.

Spring offerings:

Girls Middle School Soccer (6-8th grade) – please look for the electronic registration form in an upcoming newsletter mid-February.

Co-Ed Soccer (4-5th grade) –If your child played in the fall re-registration is NOT required, however, please reach out to your coach and let them know if you will be returning.

Co-Ed Soccer (1-3rd grade) – If your child played in the fall re-registration is NOT required, however, please reach out to your coach and let them know if you will be returning.

   In the fall we had VERY large soccer teams, and had to turn away quite a few kids as well. In order to make teams a more manageable size and to allow other kids a chance to join in the spring we are in need of an additional coach for co-ed soccer 1-3rd grade. Please let me know if you are interested ASAP.  Unless we get another coach, we will not be able to admit additional players.  

If you are interested in coaching Track and Field or a Co-ed 6-8th grade soccer team please let me know ASAP. *We have a number of students interested in being a part of Track and Field team, so if you are at all interested please reach out, the students would greatly appreciate it!! We have other great coaches that would be happy to help anyone new to coaching navigate the process*

Thank you to all the coaches and families for making Fernwood Athletics such a success!

Chanda Miller

Cell: 414-202-5255  chandamiller@hotmail.com

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Tax Message for Camp Families

Hello Camp Families, to request your 2024 Camp Tax information, please contact Interim Camp Supervisor Cynthia Cruz through email at cruzcm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. Please state your child’s full name in the email request. Thank you!

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OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR INCOMING K3 STUDENTS

Attention ALL parents of future K3 students!  If you have a child who will be turning 3 by 9/1/25, then you need to complete the MPS open enrollment process if you want them to attend school in the Fall of 2025.  The enrollment window is February 1st, 2025 to March 17th, 2025.  Siblings of current Fernwood students WILL get a spot at Fernwood, but you still need to submit the enrollment paperwork so we know to give them a spot here in the Fall.   MPS does not have any way to check on younger siblings (through birth records or similar) and hold spots.  Thus, parents must enroll to indicate that they have a student who is ready to start school.  If you have any questions about this process, please call the office.  No pirate left behind!

https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Schools/How-to-Apply/Kindergarten-Enrollment.htm

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AFTER SCHOOL THEATER CLASSES – SPRING SESSION and SPRING BREAK SESSION

Leapin’ Lizards! Join us for the spring session of After School Theater Classes at Fernwood, where students will work on a mini-script of the Broadway musical ANNIE! We’ll explore the basics of acting, singing and musical theater dance while learning how to build a character and tell a story onstage. Students will sing and dance to classic songs like “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” and “Tomorrow” while having a lot of fun!

SPRING SESSION DATES:

Grades 1-3: Mondays, 2:30 – 3:30 pm, March 17 – June 2 (10 weeks, no class 3/24, 5/26)

Grades 4-6: Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30 pm, March 19 – June 4 (11 weeks, no class 3/26)

New and returning students are welcome; no experience necessary. Parents are invited to a special performance on the last day of class!  https://www.characterkidsdrama.com/milwaukee-public-schools-registration

SPRING BREAK MUSICAL THEATER CAMP

In our fun-filled musical theater camp, students will learn how to hone their “Triple Threat” skills: acting, singing and dancing. Come play creative drama games, build stage skills and explore popular Broadway shows and movie musicals while having a lot of fun! No experience necessary. Not available for the full week? Drop-In Days are now available!

March 24 – 28, 1 – 4 pm

Southwood Glen Elementary gym & stage (9090 S 35th St in Franklin)

Learn more & Register

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Futura Spanish for 4th, 5th, 6th Graders

Upper El Spanish is happening!  Please see the attached flyer for an opportunity for 4th, 5th, and 6th students to take Spanish class this Winter and Spring with Futura Spanish.  Cost for the series of classes is $135.  Please see the attached flyer for details on dates, times, and registration.  Bueno!  

Fernwood 4th-6th winter.spring 2025 flier.pdf

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Bay View Redcats Baseball Registration is Open!

Registration is now open for boys and girls of all skill levels, ages 5-13. Join a welcoming community of coaches, players, and parents for an exciting 2025 baseball season!

• Registration Closes: February 20th (or when full)
• Teams Announced: March
• Practices Begin: April
• Games: May to mid-July (younger players finish before July 4th)

Volunteer Coaches and Paid Umpires are needed to help ensure another successful season.  While the league is open to all, most participants are from the Fernwood community and all games are at Lewis Field (near Groppi’s).  

Register players, coaches, or umpires HERE.  Questions? Email us at info@bayview-area-redcats.org.

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OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

There’s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!  

On 2/6, Students in Ms. Milligan and Ms. Kari’s rooms left Bayview (very brave!) to attend a play performance at First Stage Children’s Theater.  A good time was had by all!  The return bus was running late, so students walked around inside City Hall get a Montessori civics lesson (i.e. kill some time).  Students were prompted by Ms. Milligan to remain quiet as the space is an office for city workers like the Mayor.  Students asked, “Can we meet him?”  Ms. Milligan advised, “No, he’s too busy”….Five minutes later, Fernwood students were telling Milwaukee Mayor (he’s like Ms. Kristy but for the entire city), Batman enthusiast, Bayview High School graduate (!!), and MPS Parent (he’s one of us!) Cavalier Johnson about their soccer game at Sijan Field.

Is Mayor Cavalier Johnson stalking the Fernwood Upper Elementary Program?  Are the Fernwood Upper El students stalking him?  Is Milwaukee really just Smallwaukee?  Are we all living in a simulation?  The truth will never be known.  I thought this glimmer of randomness was too COOL not to share!  Stay COOL, Mayor Johnson.  We will probably see you again in 3-5 weeks!