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FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #30, 4/8/25

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Fernwood Montessori Temporary Closure Handbook for Families

2025-2026 MPS District Calendar

Congratulations to Ms. Kellie!

Important Measles Update from Nurse Gretchen

Fernwood Spring Concert Date Change to 5/22

Movie Night At Douglas this Friday, 4/11

Request for Parking Cooperation

Teacher Grant Opportunity-Nominations Wanted!

Special Friends Day 2025-CANCELLED

ArtsFest for 2025-CANCELLED

Order Your 2024-25 Yearbook! Deadline is 4/14

Middle School Twilight Center Events at Douglas Middle School

Information on MPS Lead Testing Clinic for MPS Families

Fernwood Flights 2025 – It Takes a Village!

OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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

~Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, 6:30pm, Fernwood Fund Meeting, virtual, email brett.mytys@gmail.com for link

~Friday, April 18th, 2025, NO SCHOOL 

~Thursday, April 24th, 2025, 5:30pm, SEC Meeting, virtual https://meet.google.com/tir-huzv-ikc

~Friday, April 25th, 2025, 8:45-10:00am, Special Friends Day, Fernwood Montessori Classrooms-CANCELLED

~Monday-Friday, May 5-9th, 2025, Teacher Appreciation Week, Fernwood Montessori

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

~Thursday, May 8th, 2025, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, Virtual https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk

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PLEASE READ!

Fernwood Montessori Temporary Closure Handbook for Families 

Fernwood Montessori Temporary Closure Handbook- Families

The handbook linked above is updated weekly and includes information on forms for pick up and virtual work, updates on Wraparound and After School camp, and other important information.  Families should use this handbook as a reference before they reach out to the office, teachers, or administration.  Lately, there is much communication that is atypical, we appreciate families doing their best to stay informed.  

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MPS Virtual Lead Town Hall-April 10th, 6pm

MPS families attending schools undergoing lead remediation are invited to a virtual town hall meeting to ask questions and hear updates on the ongoing work to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.  The town hall is at 6pm on April 10.  Families must use the link below to register for the virtual meeting.  

MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Milwaukee Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis, Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Health Tyler Weber and Dr. Heather Paradis of Children’s Wisconsin will be on the call to hear from families and help answer questions. 

https://milwaukeemps.zoom.us/meeting/register/DtkooldpRvGomRqDiCi6uA#/registration

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2025-2026 MPS District Calendar

The 2025-2026 District Calendar is now available online (about halfway down).   Fernwood siblings should note that Winter Break is 16 days next year, so they should start pre-planning their topics for bickering now so that they don’t run out.  

https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Families/Resources/School-Calendars.htm

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Safety First

In order to ensure the safety of our students and staff, we practice safety drills wherever we are.  Ms. Kristy and Ms. Meredith met with the MPS Emergency Operations team this past week to finalize our safety plans at the Douglas building.  We will be holding a number of drills this week:

Tuesday pm- Code yellow lockdown drill

Thursday 1:45- State-wide tornado drill

Friday am- Fire Drill

Teachers are preparing students in developmentally appropriate ways for the drills.  Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.  Since we are in a different location, we are letting all of our students know ahead of time about the dates and times.

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Congratulations to Ms. Kellie!  

Ms. Kellie won!  It is not an award for kooky spectacles (which she would totally win!)!  And it is not an award for most complicated last name to spell (which she would also totally win!). It is the 2025 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellow Award!  This prestigious award includes a grant for Ms. Kellie AND a $6000 grant for Fernwood Montessori.  Fernwood is proud to work beside Ms. Kellie and to call her our own!   Way to go, Krawczyk, you and your glasses deserve it!  

https://kohleducation.org/teacherfellowship/

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Important Measles Update from Nurse Gretchen

Please see the attached letter from Nurse Gretchen with essential information about the measles vaccine and an anticipated measles outbreak.

measles letter.docx

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Fernwood Spring Concert Date Change to 5/22

Please note that the Fernwood Spring Concert is being changed to 5/22 at 5:30pm at the Bayview High School Auditorium.  Performers will include the Upper El choir, the Adolescent Choir, the Harp group, and Mr. Zhang’s orchestra and ensembles.  

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Movie Night At Douglas this Friday, 4/11

Our hosts at Douglas have again invited us to movie night.  See below for details.

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Request for Parking Cooperation

Our bus situation is now more complicated and also stretches across two locations. We’re a franchise!  

Please do not park in the bus lanes on Falling Heath Ave at Fernwood South OR on Nash Ave at Douglas (Fernwood North).  These are the streets where the buses need to be and if there are cars there then this makes our drop off and pick up of students SO much more complicated.  Your cooperation in this matter helps staff, students, and families and is appreciated!  

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Teacher Grant Opportunity-Nominations Wanted!

Our friends at the Cream City Real Estate Company would like to give a $500 grant to one of our Fernwood teachers. This money would be used in their classrooms (not for spa services).  This fun opportunity is in honor of Teacher appreciation week which is the first week in May.  Please take this opportunity to brag on your favorite Montessori Directress or Director!  All Fernwood families are invited to participate and you don’t have to nominate your current teacher. However, only one grant will be awarded to a teacher at our school.  

Directions are as follows:

1. In a few sentences, tell us why your teacher deserves a high-five and this awesome prize. They must be a teacher, currently teaching at your school.
2. Email your nomination to info@crmcty.com by 4/30. (Subject: Teacher Name/School) Personal contact information will not be shared or used for future business purposes.
3. Share this contest with friends and family to help your favorite teacher get as many votes as possible. Teachers with the greatest number of nominations will move to the final round.

Our team will read every heartfelt nomination and announce this year’s Amazing Teachers on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – National Teacher Appreciation Day!

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Special Friends Day 2025-CANCELLED

Due to our prolonged building relocation, Fernwood administration (with input from staff and parent groups) has decided to cancel Special Friends Day for 2025 to preserve our energy and mental resources for student learning.  We are hopeful that before our relocation, many of our special friends have been into our building at Open Houses, concerts, and events AND that they will have these opportunities again in future years.  Thank you for your understanding as we announce this difficult decision.

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ArtsFest for 2025-CANCELLED

Due to our prolonged building relocation, Fernwood administration (with input from the ArtsFest committee and the PTO) has decided to cancel the ArtsFest for 2025.  We considered what was best for the many vendors that contribute to this event and use their earnings to support their small businesses as well as the financial situations of the school organizations that fundraise at this event.  Classrooms that already created art or crafts to sell will be providing an opportunity to purchase these goodies via other methods!  Stay tuned for details on those sales from our budding entrepreneurs!  Thank you for your understanding as we announce this difficult decision.

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Order Your 2024-25 Yearbook! Deadline is 4/14

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.  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.    

Our yearbook cover!

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Middle School Twilight Center Events at Douglas Middle School

Andrew S Douglas Middle School is also a Twilight Center for 6th, 7th, 8th Graders!  Twilight Centers offer a place for kids to go for free fun after hours!  Our hosts at Douglas wanted to invite our students to these activities.  The Twilight Center at Douglas is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6-9pm for ages 10-14 (students need their S number to be let in).  Activities include ping pong, air hockey, XBOX, Playstation, free food, and more. See below for details.  

https://milwaukeerecreation.net/en/Programs/Twilight-Centers.htm

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Information on MPS Lead Testing Clinic for MPS Families

https://city.milwaukee.gov/Health/Services-and-Programs/HomeEnvironmentalHealth/Ongoing-Lead-Hazard-Investigations-With-MPS

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Fernwood Flights 2025 – It Takes a Village!

Did you know that the Fernwood Fund plays a vital role in providing amazing educational programs, exciting field trips, and enhancements to our learning environment?…or even sometimes funding student and staff morale-boosting treats and activities when we get blindsided by something like an unexpected school relocation!!!

As we gear up for Fernwood Flights, our end-of-year celebration and fundraiser on June 8th, we need your help to make this event a huge success! Do you own a business or have access to unique experiences? Perhaps a vacation spot or timeshare you’d be willing to donate? Or maybe you have tickets to a sporting event, or something totally unexpected that could make a great auction item? We’re looking for everything from local goods and services to one-of-a-kind experiences!

Not only will your donation—eligible for a tax deduction—help support our school, but it’s also a fantastic way to showcase your business to our Bay View community. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference and ensures that we can continue to offer and expand the programs that benefit our students. Check out fernwoodfund.org

THE FERNWOOD FUND Fernwood Montessori School Fund fernwoodfund.org

for a look at past successes!

Whether you donate or volunteer your time, your contribution strengthens the bond of our Fernwood family. Reach out today to find out how you can help make Fernwood Flights truly unforgettable: fernwoodfundinfo@gmail.com.

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OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

There’s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!  Welfare check on Fernwood North: Life is life-ing!  We are getting very comfortable and it feels like we are pretty settled (most of us have the floor plan memorized now, ha!).  This last week we did 80% of our Forward testing thanks to the tireless work and spreadsheet virtuosity of Ms. Ceballos.  It feels great to have that big task mostly done!  Our school continues to enjoy the ample outdoor space.  The amazing level of teamwork between staff members continues (metal shelving was donated from the adolescent classrooms on the north side of the building and moved all the way to the south side of the building to the primary classrooms, it felt like dorm move in day!).  Updates are COOL!  

Seed work in Ms. Katie Walters room!

Sound work in Ms. Jamie’s room!  U-U-Unicorn!  Magical!  

Ms. Makula got a hold of a stapler (this was the work that was posted at Bayview Library!)!  

More COOL murals in the Douglas gym!

Those of us who are driving over the bridge each morning on the way to Fernwood North get to see some awesome sunrises!  (crooked photo by a Fernwood 3rd grader!).

Staff continues to fight stress in the main office by doing yoga.  Ms. Andi calls this pose 7/10 Split!  🎳🎳🎳 Fun Fact:  Ms. Kristy is a certified yoga teacher!

One of the art projects for this week was doing mosaics in the style of Alma Thomas.  Keep rolling, Art Cart!  

Are we filming part of the new Marvel movie here at Fernwood North?  No (thank god, no one has time for a film crew)!  Students in Ms. Milligan’s, Mr. Jeremy’s, Ms. Kari’s, Ms. Caitlyn’s, and Ms. Sangita’s room are using borrowed materials from the Technology Department to learn how to create green screen videos.  These videos are part of the United Nations World Fair field trip and project that these classrooms are doing.  Take a look below for some of the COOL results!

Scary Food.mp4

Green Screen 1.mp4

My video (7).mp4

Students in Ms. Natasha’s class did some amazing clay work!  These are teeny tiny models of restaurants….I’m hungry now!