FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #35, 5/13/25

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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

Safety at Entry and Dismissal

Congratulations to Fernwood Montessori Teacher Winners!

Student Well Being Survey

Beans and Barley Student Art Show

Volunteers Needed for Field Day on June 5th

Primary Parent Meet Up-Finally Happening on 5/21!

Fernwood Spring Cleanup – Fun Volunteering Opportunity-PLANT SALE ADDED

Greenhouse Plant Sale-May 22nd

MPS Focus Group Participants Wanted

Beyond Stranger Danger: Online Safety for Your Child

Experience Day High School Helpers Wanted

Fernwood Compost Fundraiser

Information on a Summer Opportunity from Ms. Bianca

Audit by MGT of MPS- Parent Survey

CHARACTER KIDS Summer Theater Camps

Fernwood Flights – Tickets On Sale Now for Our End-of-Year Celebration & Fundraiser!

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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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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Safety at Entry and Dismissal

As a reminder, no bikes or scooters should be ridden on school property at morning entry or dismissal.  We have a heavy amount of foot traffic during this time and want to prevent injury.  Thanks for your help with enforcing this with your children.

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Congratulations to Fernwood Montessori Teacher Winners!

Thank you for the many heartfelt nominations received for the Cream City Real Estate grant competition. They decided to select 2 winners for this contest because they had so many nominations!

The winner is Ms. Farmer and she will receive a $500 Visa gift card to be used for her classroom! 

The runner up is Ms. McClure who will receive a $250 Visa card to be used in her classroom!

From the Cream City Real Estate Company: “What an amazing community of families who nominated the teachers and many more!”  That’s us!  

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Student Well Being Survey

Dear MPS Parent,

Student well-being is an important part of social-emotional health. Student education improves when we pay attention to well-being. Milwaukee Public Schools wants to improve student well-being. MPS listens to student feedback to enhance our students’ learning experience.  

The Student Well-Being Survey is new this year. Students in third through twelfth grade will give feedback using this survey. The survey asks students to rate their feelings and experiences at school.  

This survey will be taken three times per year: October 7–18, 2024; January 6–17, 2025; and May 5–16, 2025. The survey will take about 15 minutes. The results will not identify your child. Your child’s individual responses will not be viewed by school staff. Student responses will be grouped to help staff choose schoolwide supports and services. 

If you do not want your child to share their feedback, please contact your child’s teacher to inform them of your request.

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Beans and Barley Student Art Show

 Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Fernwood Montessori and Maryland Ave. Montessori Collaborative Student Art Show is now on display at Beans & Barley Cafe!  Come see the AMAZING student art from now through June 6th. Student artwork from K5-Adolescents students is featured from both schools.  Enjoy the K5 & Exceptional Ed bird sculptures, LE collaborative hearts, UE “face value” portraits, and AD 1-pt. Perspective watercolor forms. 

A HUGE thank you to Fernwood parent, Jim Neumeyer, for giving our students this wonderful opportunity to display their artwork in a beautiful public space, Beans and Barley Restaurant.  We are so grateful and thrilled!

Also, a super huge shout out to my amazing husband, Mark Zimmerman (aka “Mr. Makula”) who tirelessly hung art on Saturday night from a tall ladder for many, many hours and did not know quite what he signed up for when he married an art teacher. You are a saint.

Additionally, a special shout out to Fernwood parent volunteers: Katrina Stiebs and Sarah Fields who prepped and matted artwork for MONTHS! 

Please see attached document for list of student names represented in the show. 

See you there,  🎨😊

Ms. Makula

Beans and Barley Art Show 2025.docx

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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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Primary Parent Meet Up-Finally Happening on 5/21!

Please join your primary parent friends for the first and last primary parent meetup of the year (lead relocation really derailed things) on 5/21 at 9am at Colectivo on KK.  Please email karisuehanson@gmail.com with questions.  Details in the flyer below!

Primary Parents Sip and Socialize (1).pdf

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Fernwood Spring Cleanup – Fun Volunteering Opportunity-PLANT SALE ADDED

Let’s get together and make the school grounds look great with a Spring Cleanup!  Mr. Ray will be helping coordinate a whole host of projects, including spreading wood chips, planting veggies, rehabbing the lower garden area, sprucing up the courtyard, and repairing some planter boxes. The more volunteers, the merrier, and we welcome both adults and useful older students (and I’m sure we could keep any younger students pleasantly occupied with some sidewalk chalk and hula-hoops, so bring ‘em if you’ve got ‘em). We hope to see you there!  Please RSVP here for the event on 5/17: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4AA5AC23ABFC1-56619155-fernwood

JUST ADDED-Plants will also be available for sale at the event!  Cash and check (made to the Fernwood Fund) only!  Flowers, vegetables, and herbs in abundance!  All proceeds benefit Fernwood Montessori and all sales come with a free handshake from Fernwood’s own, Mr. Matt “Retired but Not” Ray. 

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Greenhouse Plant Sale-May 22nd

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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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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Experience Day High School Helpers Wanted

Greetings Fernwood Families,

As we gear up for our annual experience day on May 22nd, we would like to invite some of our former Fernwood students to join us for this wonderful opportunity.  We are looking for 10 former Fernwood students to speak to the 8th grade students on the experience day panel.  

We would like those students to share their experience about transitioning to high school, share their current high school, offer helpful advice to the 8th graders as they transition to high school and share their future goals.

If your student is available, please complete the google survey by May 16th.  We will reach out to you to confirm your RSVP for this event.

Experience Day

May 22, 2025

9:15am-Arrival and check-in at main office

We will meet in the school auditorium

10:45am-End Time

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxIZUii3ooseSsr2Faqdax1jEv6Ijx9OpnH0xwUNYPhBwMNA/viewform?usp=preview

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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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Information on a Summer Opportunity from Ms. Bianca

Please see the attached flyer for information on summer support groups for teens at Rogers Behavioral Health.

Summer Programming Overview_04102025.pdf

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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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CHARACTER KIDS Summer Theater Camps

Come explore the wonderful world of theater in our Character Kids Summer Theater Camps! From the world of Disney to the Land of Oz, there’s something for everyone this summer. Camps are offered for ages 5-11 and take place on the Southwood Glen Elementary stage in Franklin. Early drop off, Lunch Bunch and payment plans are available! Focus is put on developing imagination, social skills and a positive self image through the performing arts. Visit www.characterkidsdrama.com/franklin or scan the QR code to learn more or to register.

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Fernwood Flights – Tickets On Sale Now for Our End-of-Year Celebration & Fundraiser!

Book your sitter and get ready to raise a glass & raise some funds! Join us for Fernwood Flights on Sunday, June 8th from 11am-3pm at The Sugar Maple for a fun afternoon in support of Fernwood Montessori.

This beloved annual event brings together parents, teachers, and community members for an unforgettable celebration featuring:

* Beer Tastings

* Live Music

* Outdoor Patio & Grill

* Silent Auction + Live Auction with exciting items and experiences

* Raffles & more!

More than just a fun social event, Fernwood Flights is a vital fundraiser helping to support our school’s programs, classroom resources, and facility improvements — all to ensure a rich and dynamic learning environment for our students.

Don’t miss this joyful celebration of our school community! Grab your tickets at: https://events.readysetauction.com/milwaukeepublicschoolsfoundation/fernwoodflights2025

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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! 

On May 12th, exactly 100 Fernwood pirates and their 10 chaperones stormed the gates Gate 19 in the C Concourse of General William Mitchell International Airport on their way out of Bayview and on to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C!  The pirates were up early to learn about civics and the birth of our country WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS!  COOL!  

Leading the mission were a straight up A-team of responsible adults.  Ms. Kristy was in charge (as always) with an assist by seasoned travelers Ms. Zimmers and Mx. Botsford.  Ms. Davis was along to provide wayfinding assistance (she’s from the D.C. area-can’t wait for her to run into someone she went to high school with at the Lincoln Memorial!).  Grandma energy was supplied by Mx. Botsford’s mom, Mary.  Ms. O’Brien, Ms. Gervais, and Ms. Bri were along to keep it extra classy.  Former Fernwood Principal and Fernwood Hall of Famer, John Sanchez came out of retirement to chaperone because he misses us sometimes (it’s like when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shows up at a Bucks game 💚🦌💚).  Mr. Sanchez brought his own personal chaperone, his lovely wife, Victoria (Ms. Sanchez is a retired librarian.  Who brings their own librarian to the National Archives?  We do!).  Avengers assemble!

Big thanks to all the chaperones who abandoned their own personal sleep needs to make this experience happen for our kids!  Seriously, without MPS staff being willing to organize and chaperone this type of trip it wouldn’t happen!  If you see any of these pirate captains, give them a high five and a thank you (we want to make sure they do this again in the future)!  Extra thanks to Ms. Zimmers who put in MANY unpaid hours to coordinate travel, medical needs, paperwork, parent meetings, student meetings, and more to make this trip happen.  We love you, Ms. Zimmers!  Adults going the extra mile for kids!  COOL!  

Lastly…..upon the advice of Pulitzer Prize winner and public school graduate (Centennial High School in the Compton Unified School District), Kendrick Lamar, we set up a They Like Us/They Not Like Us situation for the airport.  All travelers wore identical blue shirts for easy visual identification (keeping 100 kids together at the airport is no joke).  Thanks to Fernwood parent, Gemma Ryan, who designed the shirts!  When we come, we come correct!

I know everyone will come back with a greater appreciation for our nation’s history and for the restorative value of REM sleep.  Fernwood makes it happen!  COOL!  

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You didn’t think that the 7th and 8th graders were going to leave the 6th graders in charge, did you?!?!

The 57 adolescent students that stayed in Milwaukee this week have a lot of COOL activities planned!  They will be having a pancake breakfast (pancakes cooked by Chef Jerabek-he’s more than just popcorn!), attending a movie at the Avalon Theater (they rented the whole theater and are watching Inside Out 2), getting extra elective time (everyone’s favorite: cooking class), and doing a mini olympics!  Special thank you to the PTO for supplementing the costs for some of these activities!  COOL!

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Fernwood Montessori is also an art gallery and there is some new art in the Main Office!!

The piece pictured below was created by Fernwood students, Abe and Everett Skizycki.  There were many signs made by many students so that Fernwood North could feel a little bit like home.  Before we left, staff signed the back of this one that was in the Fernwood North Main Office and noted the dates for our Fernwood North adventure (3/17/25-4/17/25).  This time capsule is now hanging as a little reminder of our big field trip!  The best part is that, in the future, Fernwood staff and community members can use this piece as a conversation jumping off point to talk about “the time we relocated our whole school in 72 hours and then used guerrilla tactics to teach Montessori on the fly for five weeks while Fernwood community members came together and made it allllll happen” and then feel like the rough, tough, and capable veterans that they are!  COOL!  

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This last week the Nikol-ites (students in Mr. Nikolai’s class) did a South Shore Beach clean up!  

“Our class spent hours cleaning up the South Shore Beach and collected more than 100* pounds of garbage today. We use it every week and wanted to do our part to keep it beautiful.”  

Community service is COOL (and also very Montessori)! Here are some details about what Dr. Montessori thought about creating a culture of volunteering for those who want to increase their Montessori knowledge!

https://montessoritraining.blogspot.com/2009/01/montessori-students-and-community.html  

Thanks for doing your part to keep our public spaces clean for everyone (humans! animals! bacteria!) to enjoy, Room 33!  

*I trust this AMAZING estimate of 100 pounds because those of you who know Mr. Nikolai know that he is a bit of a trash talker himself.  He wouldn’t throw out this number if he couldn’t back it up!  Way to go, pirate picker uppers!  

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Last minute add!  Some DC pics from yesterday and this morning!

Representin’ the 30th and intimidating all the other states!  

The first of MANY rotundas!

Contemplating democracy!  

Some of Wisconsin’s best!  

Some top notch chaperoning at the Lincoln Memorial!  This was probably a 5pm photo (they woke up at 4:00am CST and the hotel stop was 8:30pm EST) and they needed to get blood to their heads to stay awake!  

A late night, impromptu civil war reenactment!  Hands on learning!  

Ms. Bri and a future president!

Pirates can totally handle a little rain!  

All meals were included on the trip!  Not sure why this child is misrepresenting his treatment!  

Statue cosplay is a popular activity!