Fernwood Family Newsletter #34, 5/2/23

~Sunday, May 7th, 10am-4pm, Fernwood Arts Fest, Fernwood Montessori

~Wednesday, May 10th, 6pm, Nikki Martin Memorial Event, Fernwood Gym

~Wednesday, May 17th, 5:45pm, PTO meeting, Library and https://meet.google.com/kmf-ejav-dpm

~Thursday, May 18, 6:30pm, Spring Concert, Fernwood Auditorium

~Monday, May 22nd, 5:30pm, SEC meeting, https://meet.google.com/srb-wjae-xko?hs=122&authuser=0 

~Tuesday, May 23rd, 5:30-7pm, Parent Education: Montessori Transitions, Virtual

~Friday, May 26 and Monday, May 29th, No School

~Monday, June 5th, No School

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

~Thursday, June 15th, Last Day of School

This Sunday! This event is a great opportunity to support local artists, our classrooms, the Fernwood PTO and Fernwood Music Parents.  There will be beautiful art to purchase, an opportunity to create art, music and delicious food. The event will be held from 10am-4pm on May 7th. Our artist will be able to accept credit cards, but we will be accepting cash only for entrance fees ($3), food and crafts. Please bring small bills.

We are looking for volunteers to make this day a success and are fairly desperate at this point.  Please consider volunteering for an hour.    Click on the link to volunteer. 

Teacher Appreciation Week

Next week is teacher appreciation week, May 8th-12th.  This would be a great week to remind your students to show the building staff a little extra love…maybe a homemade card or a Spring flower from your garden.  Our staff is just incredible in creating a peaceful, loving space of learning and this is an opportunity to show them some appreciation.  

The Fernwood PTO will be providing all of our staff with some delicious treats and flowers on Friday. Thank you for your support of our staff and the PTO.

Outdoor Science Kits

Outdoor science kits were distributed at the open house and by your classroom teachers last week.  These take home family enrichment kits were provided by the MPS Department of Strategic Partnerships and Community Service.  If your family has not received a kit, please reach out to Jenni at navidaj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us and I will send one home with your student.  One kit per family.  

Nikki Martin Memorial

Fernwood Parents Activity Council (PAC) is proud to announce the dedication of the Nikki Martin Memorial.

Nikki Martin, a dedicated mother, long standing PAC member, and volleyball coach at Fernwood Montessori, passed away from breast cancer in January of 2021.  The Fernwood PAC would like to recognize and thank Nikki for her service and dedication to the student athletes at Fernwood Montessori. The PAC is proud to honor her memory with a beautiful art installation, created by Fernwood parent Jennifer Espenschield, and donation of volleyball equipment the students can use during recess.  Please join us on Wednesday, May 10th from 6-6:30 PM for a short program to unveil the memorial, and play a game of volleyball in Nikki’s honor.  

Spring Concert: Updated Time

The concert will be held in the Fernwood auditorium on May 18th. Student performers should arrive at 6pm and the concert will start at 6:30pm. The time was moved back to accommodate students who are participating in the Junior Docent program at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Our 2023 spring concert will include the following groups: lower elementary choir (after-school with Ms. Molly), upper elementary choir, adolescent rock bands, and the 3rd grade recorder group. 

For the concert, we are looking for parent volunteers to help monitor students and usher them onto the stage.Please sign up here.

Brandon Miller, millerbm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Molly Pufall-Brown, mpufall@gmail.com 

Spring Student Count Day: May 5th

Next Friday, May 5th is the statewide Spring student count day.  Student attendance that day has a great impact on funding throughout MPS and at Fernwood.  Please make every effort to make sure your student is in attendance that day. 

Transition Night: Parent Education

Join these virtual sessions on Thursday, May 23rd to learn more about what to expect for your students at the next grade level.  Teachers from each grade level will present information about how to help your student be successful at their new level.  This night is a great time to learn about our Lower Elementary (1st-3rd) at 5:30pm, Upper Elementary (4th-6th) at 6:05pm, and the Secondary Program (7th-8th) at 6:40pm.  Watch for meeting links coming soon!

Summer Camp Enrollment

Camp Fernwood Enrollment Packets will only be accepted starting on May 8th at 7:30AM. Drop off will be in the Main Office. You will receive notification of your enrollment beginning on May 22nd.

When you drop off your Enrollment Packet, there will be an additional form that is an amendment from MKEREC you will need to fill out to complete your application.

Please note the following changes to payments:

Part-time students: Summer Academy students and families who use less than 20 hours a week will automatically pay $100 per week.

Sibling discount: $25 off per child – the 1st child pays full weekly rate based on sliding scale or hours attended.

Enrollment Packets will not be accepted after May 31st. 

There are many packets still available for pick up at the Front Desk or the Main Office. Pick yours up today! If you have questions, please contact Michelle Stehlik at stehlim@milwaukee.wi.k12.us or at 414-294-1313.”

 Summer Academy at Fernwood

Fernwood Montessori will be hosting a Montessori Summer Academy.  Summer Academy is open Monday-Friday, June 26-July 28 from 8am-12pm.  (Closed July 3 and 4) Students will be able to connect with their Montessori learning in new ways while engaging in this fun program. Summer Academy is free.  Students who have completed K5 through 8th grade are eligible to attend. Register by June 5th.  For more information and to register, visit mpsmke.com/summeracademy 

2023-24 School Calendar

Fernwood Montessori follows the traditional MPS school calendar.  The school calendar for the 23-24 school year is available on the MPS website and linked here. 

 23-24 Traditional Calendar

PTO Thank You

I am grateful to the Fernwood community for welcoming me with open arms. Thanks to the hard work, dedication and generosity of the PTO, I was able to add some personal touches and elements to improve the ambiance of this adolescent classroom. We each thrive off of having a little more beauty and comfort in our working environment, so crafting this space has been a joyful and fruitful project. Many thanks for all that you’re doing to support students and teachers! ~Ms. Katrina Davis, Secondary (7/8th) teacher

I am so appreciative for the PTO funding to our classrooms. This year, I was able to buy some beautiful puzzles of the human body, language materials to assist in writing, as well as a couple more works to add to my Practical Life shelves. They will make great additions to my classroom for years to come.  ~Ms. Andi Gets, Primary (K3-K5)

Fernwood Flights

Save the date! June 11th from 11 to 3 at The Sugar Maple.

Fernwood Flights is the primary fundraiser for the Fernwood Fund which provides financial support for programs with the Urban Ecology Center and Schlitz Audubon, the outdoor grounds at Fernwood including the greenhouse and surrounding garden beds, the music program, supporting trips to Camp Edwards and many more. Spend an afternoon with fellow parents and support Fernwood at the same time!

Montessori Advisory Council Meeting

With 8 public Montessori schools, MPS has one of the largest footprints in public Montessori education in the United States.  MPS has a Montessori Advisory Council (MAC) representing all 8 schools to continue to grow and support Montessori education in MPS.  This group meets monthly.  The next meeting will be on May 8th at 5:30pm in MPS Central Office in Room 206.   All are welcome to attend to learn more about and support Montessori education in MPS.  

Run Back to School

Register for the 16th Annual Run Back to School

It’s that time of year again to register for the Run Back to School! Last year, Fernwood won the $1000 grant by having the most registrations of any school in MPS.  We were able to use that money to purchase new playground equipment, including a basketball hoop for the primary students on the east playground. This 5K Fun Run/1.5 Mile Walk on Saturday, August 26 serves to fund MPS youth recreation and wellness programs across the district. See all pertinent details in the flyer attached. Please contact Lisa McLure, Team Captain, if you have any questions at samperld@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.