FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #27, 3/11/25

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Please Consider a Donation: Conference Snacks

LOST AND FOUND

Classroom Placements for 24-25 School Year

Proposed Raised Crosswalk Meeting at Fernwood on 3/18

Fernwood Art in the Community

Primary Parent Meetup on 3/19 at 9am

Order Your 2024-25 Yearbook!

SAVE THE DATE: 2025 Fernwood Flights!

Congrats to Pirate Swimmers!

Spring Testing Information

Fernwood Summer Camp Interest Form

8th Grade Half Marathon Tradition – Sign up Now!

Summer Academy Information for MPS

Summer Camp Info from Ms. Bianca and Mr. Grant

Spring Sports Registration

Conference Sign Ups-Now Closed

Call for ArtsFest Vendors!

OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

~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

~Thursday, March 20th, 2025, 5:30pm, SEC Meeting, virtual https://meet.google.com/tir-huzv-ikc

~Friday, March 21st-30th, 2025, NO SCHOOL, Spring Break 

~Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 6:00pm, PTO Meeting, Fernwood Library and virtual https://meet.google.com/xyc-wwnz-czu

~Thursday, April 10th, 2025, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, Virtual https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk

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Please Consider a Donation: Conference Snacks

There are still some slots open!  You can fill ‘em, Fernwood!  Conference days are long days for our teachers and it has been a standing PTO tradition to provide some food for teacher bodies and brains on these days!  If you can help out with a donation of a snack for our hard working teachers, please sign up below!

Snacks can be brought to the main office the morning of 3/13.  The PTO will organize a buffet of donated munchies for our teachers on these two conference days on behalf of our community!  Thanks to all who contribute!  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-54949253-conference

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LOST AND FOUND

If you are in the building on 3/13 and 3/18 for conferences please visit our Lost and Found!  There are lots of items that are looking for their owners and this is a perfect opportunity to dig around and find your lost items!  The lost and found is located in the basement in the north east corner of the building.  There is not a lost and found cleanup happening soon but if you need motivation to find stuff you can pretend that it is all getting donated on the 19th!  

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Classroom Placements for 24-25 School Year

Fernwood Montessori has highly trained, qualified teachers and values equity in following the tenets of Montessori.  We know your children well and appreciate your trust in our staff, school and community.  Therefore, we will not be taking parent requests regarding future classroom placements. Thank you!

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Proposed Raised Crosswalk Meeting at Fernwood on 3/18

On 3/18/25, Fernwood will host a public meeting about proposed raised crosswalks in the Fernwood Auditorium at 3:30pm.  This IS during conferences.  The meeting will be open to the public as well as our school community.  Presenters will be from the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works and they will share proposed plans for some raised crosswalks immediately surrounding our school.  Major props are due to some tenacious Fernwood community members who saw some dangerous intersections and decided to get active!  Fernwood makes it happen!  

***We need a few parent volunteers to help with wayfinding to the auditorium before the meeting.  If you are available to stand in the hallways and help visitors between 3-3:40pm on 3/18, please email Ms. Meredith at genricm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.***

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Fernwood Art in the Community

Come visit the Bay View Public Library to see Fernwood students’ art on display for the month of March. On display in the children’s department are Lower El animal landscape paintings inspired by the art of Deborah Butterfield.

The following students’ art is on display: 

Rm. 22 (Ms. Jen):Lexi L.,Donny R.,Theo V.

Rm. 24 (Ms. Clay):Malcolm C.,Aaliyah R.,Maisie S.

Rm. 34 (Ms. Lisa B-G):Rhyen C.,Nina F.,Winston G.

Rm. 35 (Ms. Jessica):Rowan F.,Elliott L. (“Two T’s”),Stella S.

Rm. 251 (Ms. Kat):Truman E.,Lorenzo M.,Mabel M.

Rm. 252 (Ms. Natasha):Henry B.,Gael P.,Olive W.

Rm. 253 (Ms. Kelsey):Dahlia L.,Isaac N.,Gavin S.

Amazing work, everyone!  Thank you so much for your hard work and creativity! 🙂  

Sincerely, Ms. Makula

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Primary Parent Meetup on 3/19 at 9am

A Fernwood parent has organized a series of parent meet ups!  Please see the attached flyer if you are interested in an informal way to connect with other primary parents over daytime beverages during some mornings this Spring.  First meet up is 3/19 at 9am at the Bayview Colectivo!

Primary Parents Sip and Socialize (1).pdf

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Order Your 2024-25 Yearbook!

2024-2025 Fernwood yearbooks are available for ordering now!  This year our cover features artwork by talented Fernwood 8th grader, Magnolia Hall!  Inside you can see pictures of your Fernwood student learning, doing, making art, making music, and having fun!  Often Fernwood teachers shower, brush their hair, and wear make up on picture day…so much beauty!  Some Fernwood adolescents passed around the same sweatshirt to like four different kids (same body, different head)…..don’t miss these moments of once-a-year personal hygiene and charming preteen shenanigans!  

Please go to ybpay.com to order.  Our yearbook ID code is 14852525.  Yearbooks are $12 and you can order as many as you want (perhaps to sell extras on the Fernwood underground economy, see the next sentence).  Please note that online ordering is your only opportunity to order one.  After April 14th, you cannot order any additional or extra yearbooks. Yearbooks are delivered in May (they will be sent home as soon as possible, please trust the process).    

Our yearbook cover!

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SAVE THE DATE: 2025 Fernwood Flights!

Believe it or not, the end of the school-year is fast approaching and that means so is Fernwood Flights (formerly known as Beers & Cheers). Mark your calendars and arrange for childcare on Sunday, June 8th, from 11am-3pm.

This is an event you won’t want to miss! If you’ve joined us before, you know how much fun it is. We’re celebrating the end of another fantastic year at Fernwood Montessori and raising funds to support exciting enhancements to the student experience and environment. 

Expect delicious food and drink, music, raffles, auctions, and the amazing people who make up the Fernwood Montessori community. The website is live, so be sure to grab your tickets early! If you’d like to make donations for the event or know someone who would like to sponsor, you can do so right on the site.

Have questions or want to get involved? Feel free to email us at FernwoodFundInfo@gmail.com, or stop by one of our monthly Fernwood Fund meetings (dates and times are always listed at the top of the newsletter).

Fernwood Flights link: events.readysetauction.com/milwaukeepublicschoolsfoundation/fernwoodflights2025

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

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Congrats to Pirate Swimmers!

I once heard that historical Pirates didn’t learn to swim because if they went overboard and they knew how to swim it took longer to drown.  Also, if they knew how to swim they would jump ship, swim ashore, and decide to pursue early retirement in Antigua or whatever island they were close to (can you blame them?)….but Fernwood pirates know how to swim!  Congratulations to some Fernwood Pirate swimmers who qualified for the State Swimming competition!  See the document below with data on our swimmers and their events!  We are so proud of your hard work!  

WI State Swim Results Fernwood.docx

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Spring Testing Information

Forward Testing will begin at Fernwood on March 17th. Teachers will communicate exact dates and times that students will be testing.  Parents should reach out to their classroom teacher if they have any questions.  Several DPI-created resources on this testing are available.  Please use the link below to access them.  

For additional information or questions, please contact Jill Waltersdorf, assessment specialist, at walterjm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or 414-773-9846 or Todd Hartwig, assessment specialist (underfill), at hartwits@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or 414-475-8328.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_Tfg_qap392Gxq0PBvwhfNVAFPs8-wDb

https://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/parent-info/resources

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Fernwood Summer Camp Interest Form

Hello Fernwood Families,

Please scan the QR code below or click the link, if you are interested in using 2025 summer camp childcare services. This survey does NOT guarantee a spot for summer camp. Families will be placed on a waitlist, then contacted by Camp staff to receive a summer camp registration packet.

Summer Camp 2025 Fernwood Parent Interest Survey

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd93m9rug-V_saVxoW4UadBFKwRm0ac3CiRdY_5odPbCOlFGA/viewform

Thank you,

Camp Fernwood Staff

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8th Grade Half Marathon Tradition – Sign up Now!

Attention Fernwood Families!

Our annual 8th Grade Half Marathon Tradition is back! This year our students will have the exciting opportunity to participate in the Maritime Half Marathon in Manitowoc. If your 8th grader is interested in joining this incredible experience, please reach out to Coach Heather for more details @ gailevie@gmail.com. 

Don’t miss out on this chance to train, set goals, and have fun with a supportive group of people! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️💙

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Summer Academy Information for MPS

Please see the attached flyers about Summer Academy for MPS.  This summer Fernwood Montessori is NOT a site for Summer Academy but there are lots of other options around town!  The Montessori site for Summer Academy will be MacDowell Montessori and the closest location to Fernwood will be Clement Ave School.

SummerAcademy Flyer K5-Gr8 Eng+Spa.pdf

SummerAcademy Flyer Gr 6-12 Eng+Spa.pdf

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Summer Camp Info from Ms. Bianca and Mr. Grant

Here’s some great information on summertime activities from Ms. Bianca and Mr. Grant.

2025 Summer Camp (2).docx

https://law.marquette.edu/community/summer-youth-institute

MULAW SIY POSTER 8.5×11.pdf

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Spring Sports Registration

**We are still looking for another 1-3rd grade coach for co-ed soccer. If you or someone you know may be interested, please reach out to Chanda at chandamiller@hotmail.com**

Spring sports registration is now open for the following sports:

Co-Ed Soccer grades 6-8th

Girls Soccer grades 6-8th

Co-Ed Track and Field grades 5-8th

*At this time, we are looking into possible slots for 1-3rd and 4-5th grade co-ed Soccer (carry over from Fall season). Reminder, if you already registered in the Fall, you will receive communication from your coach in the next few weeks. More info will be shared at a later date.

League dates 

Tuesdays, April 22-June 3:

Girls outdoor soccer

Saturdays, April 26-June 7:

Coed Outdoor Soccer

Friday, May 2 and Saturdays, May 3 – June 7: 

Coed Track and Field

Registration will close on 3/18/25 at the latest. It may close sooner once we hit a cap of 12-14 players per team (excluding track and field).

Google form link to registration (no paper forms accepted): https://forms.gle/3Gr7b2CFyaQThmR78

$25 registration fee is due to the school office in order to secure a spot (cash or checks made out to Fernwood)

Any questions please reach out to chandamiller@hotmail.com

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Conference Sign Ups-Now Closed 

Conference Sign Ups are now closed. If you need to schedule or reschedule a conference, please contact your child’s teacher directly.

Conference days are Thursday, March 13th and Tuesday, March 18th 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. 

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 Room 7 (south west corner of the basement) during conferences.  

Primary (K3-K5): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55253979-fernwood

Lower Elementary (1st-3rd):   Includes Ms. Jamie/Room 26.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55254462-fernwood

Upper Elementary (4th-6th): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55254646-fernwood

Special Education Teachers: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55255359-fernwood

Support Staff: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55314355-fernwood

Art, Gym, Music: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55255193-fernwood

Mr. Zhang will be available in Room 9 from 3pm-6:45pm on 3/13 ONLY.  He is taking walk-ins.  

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.   

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AAA82AA5FBC34-55254974-fernwood

All secondary conferences on March 13 and 18 will be held in the gym.

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OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

There’s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!  

On March 3rd, decorated Milwaukee historian, author, bike enthusiast, former MPS parent (he was one of us!), and current MPS grandparent John Gurda came to give a presentation to our Upper El students about the history of African Americans in Milwaukee. This presentation was filled with details about real people and their stories!  Our students were so lucky to have this learning happen as part of the celebration of Black History Month in our building.  Take a look at some photogenic Gurdas Gurda-ing!  Gurdas Gurding?  Thanks to Mr. J. Gurda for donating his time and expertise to our students!  Thanks to Mr. N. Gurda for participating in Bring Your Dad to Work Day!  Thanks to both Gurdas for coordinating their outfits and facial hair! COOL!

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On Tuesday, February 25th, author Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic presented her book, Daphne Draws Data to our Lower El students!  Students learned about different ways to present data. She prepared a captivating, informative presentation and the kids (and the teachers) had a great time!  Each classroom purchased her book and have been working on graphing and surveys in their classrooms.   Copies of her book were purchased using funds from the PTO.  Thanks, PTO!  Writing books is COOL!  Reading books is COOL!  Author visits are COOL!  Hot pink dragons are COOL! Graphing data is COOL!

https://www.daphnedrawsdata.com/

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You may have noticed that there are some extremely tall new students lurking around our halls.  These students are NOT genetically accelerated Fernwood 8th graders but are in fact Marquette University High School students!  MUHS has been sending some Hilltoppers to hang with our Pirates for at least the last 6 years as part of the volunteering requirement that is needed for graduation from their high school program.  These 6 high school seniors have been here for approximately a week of classes and helped out in Lower El, Upper El, and Adolescent classrooms.  These students are always so helpful, respectful, and fun!  If you know anything about the hierarchy of childhood, you know that seniors are absolutely the most COOL!  Thanks for being here MUHS Seniors!