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Fernwood Family Newsletter #36, 5/20/25

May 20, 2025 | News

FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #36, 5/20/25

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Volunteer Gifts in the Main Office

Visitors to our Building

Transition Information for Students Moving to a New Level Next Year

Fernwood Experience Day, May 22nd

Camp Closed on May 26th and June 6th

Sneak Peek: Major Auction Items Now Available to View for Fernwood Flights!

Volunteers Needed for Field Day on June 5th

MPS Focus Group Participants Wanted

Beyond Stranger Danger: Online Safety for Your Child

Fernwood Compost Fundraiser

Audit by MGT of MPS- Parent Survey

Attendance Recapture for Illness

Information on MPS Lead Testing Clinic for MPS Families

OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

~Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, 6:30pm, Fernwood Fund Meeting, Fernwood Library and virtual (email brett.mytys@gmail.com for link)

~Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, Midday Pickup and End of Day Pickup, Plant Sale, Fernwood Greenhouse

~Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, Experience Day, Fernwood Montessori

~Thursday, May 29th, 2025, 5:30pm SEC Meeting, Virtual https://meet.google.com/tir-huzv-ikc

~Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, 6:00pm PTO Meeting, Humboldt Park Beer Garden

~Thursday, June 5th, 2025, Field Day, Fernwood Montessori

~Sunday, June 8th, 2025, 11am-3pm, Fernwood Flights, Sugar Maple Bar

~Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, 6:30pm, Fernwood Fund Meeting, Fernwood Library and virtual (email brett.mytys@gmail.com for link)

~Thursday, June 12th, 2025, 5:30pm, 8th Grade Completion Ceremony, Bayview High School Auditorium

~Thursday, June 12th, 2025, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, Virtual https://meet.google.com/fpf-rvca-uuk

~Friday, June 13th, 2025, Last Day of School, Fernwood Montessori

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Volunteer Gifts in the Main Office

Without volunteers, Fernwood can’t make it happen (what we do best)! We could not Soup Night! We could not field trip! We could not sound book! We could not Halloween Dance! We could not fundraise! We could not soccer! We could not library! We could not Fernwood, Sam I am! If you volunteered this year, in any way, please come by the Main Office starting today through 5/27 and pick up a small volunteer appreciation gift! We appreciate y’all so much and hope you know it….and if you don’t, come by the Main Office for a little reminder!

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Greenhouse Plant Sale-May 22nd-This Thursday!

Mr. Matt “Retired but Not” Ray will be hosting a plant sale on May 22nd at mid day pick up (10am -11am) and at after school pick up (2:30pm-3:30pm). Flowers, herbs, and vegetables will be available in the Greenhouse for purchase. Cash or checks only (made out to Fernwood Montessori). Proceeds go back to Fernwood Montessori and also keep Mr. Ray off the streets for an entire school day! Hope to see you there!

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Visitors to our Building

We welcome visitors to our building. All adults must report immediately to the main office to sign in and get a visitor badge before going to any classroom or other part of the building. We ask that families make appointments with any school personnel ahead of time, so that instructional time or other school functionings are not impacted.

Thanks for your attention to our visitor policy and for helping to keep our kids and staff safe.

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Transition Information for Students Moving to a New Level Next Year

Fernwood put together some helpful videos for families to understand what the transition looks like from the previous to the next level. These videos will be helpful for families of current K5, 3rd, and 6th grade students:

Primary to Lower Elementary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsKy3LFFunw

Lower Elementary to Upper Elementary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUui5YVG6D0

Upper Elementary to Secondary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnpNOxfOKsM (please note that all of our secondary classrooms are combinations of 7th and 8th graders with the exception of math)

Fernwood students in grades K5, 3rd and 6th grade will have the opportunity to participate on May 22 in our experience day. Families can expect to receive supply lists and class placements/homerooms (for 7th and 8th grade) on the last day of school sent home with report cards. At the end of August when teachers return, families should expect to hear from the new teachers about procedures, communication, expectations, etc.

If you have any questions about your child moving to the next level and what this may look like, please contact their current teacher.

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Fernwood Experience Day, May 22nd

On May 22, 2025 Fernwood Montessori will be holding an Experience Day. We kindly ask that all students bring a cold lunch to school this day, since there will be many moving pieces during lunch (we will of course have hot lunches available if students need to order one, as always).

During Experience Day, students in K5, 3rd grade and 6th grade will have the opportunity to visit a classroom for a few hours (in the morning) at the next level to gain understanding about what their next classroom may look like and feel like,and will be welcomed by a student ambassador well established within that classroom community. Please note that we have paired teachers up for Experience Day, and the classrooms that students will visit have no bearing on their classroom placement for the fall. The purpose of this day is to help students feel comfortable and safe in their transition to the next level, while also building leadership skills in students who will be remaining in their classrooms next year. If a student is out sick that day, teachers will do their best to coordinate a make up day.

Students in K4 will be invited by their primary teacher to attend school for a full-day. Teachers will communicate with parents about a schedule.

Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions.

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Camp Closed on May 26th and June 6th

Fernwood Camp will be closed on May 26th and June 6th. Thanks!

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Sneak Peek: Major Auction Items Now Available to View for Fernwood Flights!

We’re excited to share a preview of the major auction items that will be featured at this year’s Fernwood Fundraiser on Sunday, June 8th from 11am–3pm at The Sugar Maple! The document is just a sampling of the incredible experiences, getaways, and goods that will be up for bid. We are incredibly grateful for all of the generous donors—especially our amazing Fernwood families who own businesses and those who’ve reached out to their networks to help make this auction a success. Please feel free to share this preview with grandparents and extended family who may want to take part in the fun and support our school.

While the auction website will go live closer to the event, you can buy your tickets now—and this year, those who go above and beyond by purchasing Key Supporter Tickets will receive a limited-edition glass designed by Fernwood parents Eric Krueger and Jason Gierl of Static Eye Design Co.

All funds raised will directly support enriching experiences for Fernwood students, including field trips to the Urban Ecology Center, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, and UW–Madison for a campus tour, as well as programs like the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s ACE Program and Greenhouse and Sustainability Education. Additional initiatives are also being explored for next school year—including the introduction of Spanish language classes—and your support helps make these exciting opportunities possible.

Thank you for being part of what makes Fernwood such a vibrant, supportive community!

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Volunteers Needed for Field Day on June 5th

Field Day is happening on June 5th. There are two sessions that need volunteers (8-10:45am and 1-2pm). Please sign up below to help out for one (or both) of the sessions. Please email Cari at cariannbell@gmail.com if you have questions about volunteering.

Field Day Volunteer Sign Up

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MPS Focus Group Participants Wanted

Milwaukee Public Schools wants to hear from YOU! Our

district is engaging in an external review of our academic

programs, and your input as parents and caregivers is

essential to this process.

MPS Family Survey Focus Group.pdf

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Beyond Stranger Danger: Online Safety for Your Child

Free class available to parents! Details below.

This bite-sized presentation will teach parents how to be proactive in protecting their youth as they join the virtual world, how to identify and navigate risky behavior around adult and radical political spaces, and how to speak with their children about being safe. Parents will also receive further resources on where to find additional information from trusted organizations.

Length: One hour

When: Wednesday, May 28th at noon and 7:00 (same class offered at different times)

RSVP to Jessica Mirkes (jessica.mirkes@ppwi.org) or Rebekah Salonen (rebekah.salonen@ppwi.org) for the Zoom link.

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Fernwood Compost Fundraiser

Did you know that Fernwood Montessori works with Compost Crusader to compost food from the cafeteria instead of sending it to a landfill? To help offset the cost of this service, we are hosting a fundraiser through Compost Crusader. For every 35 lb bag of compost sold, Fernwood will receive a $4 credit towards its pick up service. Compost orders must be placed by May 27th. Pick up will be on Thursday May 29th between 3 and 5:30pm outside the Falling Heath doors.

Ordering is easy! Place your order at: https://accounts.compostcrusader.com/shop/Fernwood-Montessori-School/. If you have any questions about your order, contact education@compostcrusader.com. If you have questions about compost pick up, contact chelsea.malacara@gmail.com

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Audit by MGT of MPS- Parent Survey

MPS Families: We want your feedback! We are currently engaging in an external Instructional Review of Milwaukee Public Schools, and we need your voice to help shape the future of the district. Parents and caregivers, take a few minutes to share your experiences through our family survey. Your feedback will help MPS improve instructional practices and better serve students. You can access the survey via this link.

Additionally, we have family focus groups, including virtual and in-person options at locations across the city. Access details using the Blue QR code in the survey attached. Thank you!

Familias de Milwaukee: ¡Queremos conocer su opinión! Estamos llevando a cabo una revisión externa de la instrucción en las Escuelas Públicas de Milwaukee, y necesitamos su voz para mejorar los resultados de nuestros estudiantes. Padres y cuidadores: por favor, tómense unos minutos para compartir sus experiencias a través de nuestra encuesta para familias. Sus comentarios ayudarán a MPS a mejorar las prácticas de enseñanza y a servir mejor a los estudiantes.

Puede acceder a la encuesta mediante este enlace.

Además, ofrecemos grupos focales familiares, tanto virtuales como presenciales, en diferentes ubicaciones de la ciudad. Acceda a la información usando el código QR azul de la encuesta adjunta. ¡Gracias!

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Attendance Recapture for Illness

Parents will complete this form to communicate with the Fernwood office evidence of student work completed at home so that attendance may be recaptured (UADI). This is only available if a child is home ill (appointments, funerals or travel do not count). You will get an attendance call as this will be checked later in the day, so please don’t worry. If you fill this out, we will get the attendance recaptured. Work options can be found in the description on the google form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBorB7gkqUIvWiMxYqOohbmzo3SiNHwaWgsmhQi_otjSGp-w/viewform?usp=sharing

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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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OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

There’s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!

After school camp and wrap around are COOL and essential parts of making our school work! I would like to introduce Ms. Ofelia, our Assistant Camp Director! Here are some fun facts about Ms. Ofie:

She likes cartoons. They keep her young! Her favorite is Scooby Doo!

She likes puzzles.

She attended MPS as a young person. She went to Cass Street School, Riverside and South Division HS.

All her kids attended MPS (she’s one of us!) and her granddaughter, Ari, is at Fernwood right now!

She has been at Fernwood since 2017.

When you get a chance, introduce yourself to Ms. Ofie! Camp could not happen without her! COOL!

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We have COOL teachers that partnered up with equally COOL people. Ms. Jessica’s dude, Paul, organized the following event and invited all of Fernwood to participate. See below for details.

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Our adolescent program had a COOL project happen on Monday the 19th. Flying eggs! Adolescent students had to make an egg contraption that would protect their eggs from breaking when dropped from greater and greater heights. If the eggs survived this drop, they moved to the balcony above the Falling Heath doors.

Please take a look at the photo essay below portraying one man’s (Mr. J’s) theatrical journey through this science project (metaphorically his journey through time and space immortal). At first glance, these pictures seem the same. Upon closer inspection, you can see that they each show an unique emotional moment that just needed to be shared. These pictures can also be printed and turned into a flip book! This newsletter is a craft project! COOL!