FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #25, 2/25/25

_________________________________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
• Open House 2: Let’s Try This Again
• DC TRIP MEETING
• Conference Sign Ups
• Conference Snacks
• Girls on the Run for 3-5th Grade-Registration OPEN NOW!
• Calling all 4th-6th Graders! Last chance to enroll in Spanish class — starts March 4th!
• Call for ArtsFest Vendors!
• Celebrating Abilities Family Forum
• PTO CLASSIC SLICE FUNDRAISER
• Spring Testing Season Information Letters
• New “Where’s the Bus?” App
• Fernwood Spring Lower Elementary Kids Choir Returns!
• Changes to School Hours for the 2025-2026 School Year
• AFTER SCHOOL THEATER CLASSES – SPRING SESSION and SPRING BREAK SESSION
• OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

________________________________________________________________

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

~Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, 5:00-6:30pm, Open House, Fernwood Montessori School

~Tuesday, February 25th, 5-5:30pm, DC Trip Meeting, Fernwood Auditorium and virtual https://meet.google.com/juq-dhmp-fzm

~Thursday, February 27th, 2025, 5:30pm, SEC Meeting, virtual https://meet.google.com/tir-huzv-ikc

~Tuesday, March 3, 2025, 6:00pm, PTO Meeting, Fernwood Library and virtual https://meet.google.com/xyc-wwnz-czu

~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 

________________________________________________________________

Open House 2: Let’s Try This Again 

Please join students, teachers, and everyone you know at the rescheduled Fernwood Montessori Open House for New and Returning Students on Tuesday, February 25th from 5:00pm-6:30pm.  Students will be displaying their work in classrooms and teachers will be available to answer questions.  Please invite any families that are interested in Fernwood Montessori for next year!

7th and 8th Grade families can register for programming options here.  

Adolescent Open House Sign Up

________________________________________________________________

DC TRIP MEETING

There is also a DC trip meeting that is happening from 5-5:30pm in the Fernwood Auditorium during Open House on 2/25.  The DC meeting will have a virtual option as well.

https://meet.google.com/juq-dhmp-fzm

________________________________________________________________

Conference Sign Ups 

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. 

This sign up genius will be available until March 7th. If you need to schedule or reschedule a conference after this point, please contact your child’s teacher.

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.

____________________________________________________________________________

Conference Snacks

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

____________________________________________________________________________

Girls on the Run for 3-5th Grade-Registration OPEN NOW!

Girls on the Run will be offered again this year for girls in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.  Please see the flyer for details.   Registration is open NOW through March 2nd.  Final enrollment is by lottery.  Please email emfolstad@gmail.com with questions.  

GIRLS ON THE RUN FernwoodFlyer2025.png

____________________________________________________________________________

Calling all 4th-6th Graders! Last chance to enroll in Spanish class — starts March 4th! 

Join us for a fun after-school Spanish enrichment program in partnership with Futura Language Professionals. This March, we’re offering a new course: ¡Vamos con los animales! (Let’s Go with the Animals).

Over eight weeks, students will explore topics like pet stores, family farms, the zoo, ocean, and rainforest—all while learning Spanish vocabulary, conversation skills, and cultural topics in an interactive setting! 

Space is limited, so don’t wait! Enroll today: https://futuraadventures.com/wisconsin-region/

______________________________________________________________________

Call for ArtsFest Vendors!

Are you interested in showcasing your crafty side at the Fernwood Arts Fest on Sunday, May 4th? (Maybe your artwork will be Star Wars themed- May the 4th be with you!)  This fun event is a celebration of arts, crafts, music, food, and community!  The funds raised benefit the Fernwood PTO.  Complete this google form if you are interested in being a vendor! https://fernwoodartsfest.weebly.com/ ______________________________________________________________________

Celebrating Abilities Family Forum

Please see the attached flyer for information on the Celebrating Abilities Family Forum for Families of Special Education students.

Celebrating Abilities Detailed Flyer EngSpan.pdf

____________________________________________________________________________

PTO CLASSIC SLICE FUNDRAISER

As an act of service, the Fernwood PTO is giving you a reason to eat delicious pizza!  You’re welcome!  The PTO Classic Slice Pizza Fundraiser returns on March 4th, 5th, and 6th. 20% of all profits from sales on those dates will be given to the PTO.  You win by not making dinner, the kids win by eating pizza instead of that recipe you always make that they hate, and the Fernwood PTO wins by earning money that goes directly back into classrooms.  Good vibes are free with every order!  

The Fernwood PTO suggests the following schedule to help the staff at Classic Slice accommodate our large group, but families should feel free to order on whichever night works for them: March 4 Primary Families, March 5 Lower El Families, March 6 Upper El and Adolescent Families.

____________________________________________________________________________

Spring Testing Season Information Letters 

Please see the attached letters about Spring testing season in our building.

Spring Testing Letter 2025 English.pdf

Spring Testing Letter 2025 Spanish.pdf

____________________________________________________________________________

New “Where’s the Bus?” App

WheresTheBus lets families know precisely when a child’s bus will arrive at the bus stop. The app tracks the location of the bus and provides up-to-the-minute arrival times. 

The app is free and can be accessed from any Internet-enabled device—smartphone, tablet, PC, or iPad. Apple iOS and Android apps are available. 

This app will give families peace of mind by knowing where the bus is. Tracking the bus means students and families can wait in the comfort of home rather than standing outside in bad weather. 

To access WheresTheBus, a parent/guardian must have a Campus Parent (parent portal) account with a login and password. 

Families need to set up a Campus Parent account to access WheresTheBus. Campus Parent accounts can be set up by emailing Ms Cynthia in the Main Office at ariascg@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Families will need to follow these steps to get started. 

• Log in to Campus Parent. 

• Search for WheresTheBus. 

• Click on the WheresTheBus icon. 

• Download the app from the App Store (iOS/Apple) or Google Play (Android). 

• Log in with your Campus Parent ID and password to open the app and see bus information. 

For issues accessing Campus Parent, families should contact the school or parentportal@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. 

For issues accessing WheresTheBus, families should contact busoptions@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

____________________________________________________________________________

Fernwood Spring Lower Elementary Kids Choir Returns!

WHEN: Tuesdays (2:25-3:10pm) March 18th – May 6th (culminating performance TBD – stay tuned)-No session on 3/25

WHERE: Fernwood Auditorium (students will be dismissed from class to the auditorium)

WHO: Intended for 1st-3rd grade Lower Elementary Students

PRICE: $40 per student (7 meeting sessions total)

Looking for committed children who enjoy singing and would value the benefits of being part of a choir. Each child will take home and sign an attendance and behavior contract.

Deadline for signup is Tuesday, March 4th, 2025.

To Register:  Complete this link and pay $40 (Venmo @molly-pufall, or check or cash brought to the main office with attn: Ms. Molly Pufall-Brown). 

One parent helper is needed for dismissal and bathroom breaks, etc. Please contact me if you are available at mpufall@gmail.com. 

Director: Molly Pufall-Brown, a Fernwood parent, holds two degrees in music, specializing in voice and choir and has been teaching for 20 years. She is insured and thrilled to be offering Kids Choir at Fernwood for the 6th year. Please contact Molly to sign up or ask questions: mpufall@gmail.com.

***If a parent or guardian is in need of financial assistance to allow their child to participate, please email mpufall@gmail.com***

____________________________________________________________________________

Changes to School Hours for the 2025-2026 School Year

Last Thursday, the Milwaukee School Board voted to approve an adjustment to the start time and end time for our school for the 2025/2026 school year. 

Starting next year our school hours will be the following:

School hours for K5-8th Grade: 7:15am-2:15pm

School Hours for K3 and K4: 7:15am-10:15am

More information on the decision is included below.

Bell Schedule Re-tiering Presentation.pdf

________________________________________________________________

AFTER SCHOOL THEATER CLASSES – SPRING SESSION and SPRING BREAK SESSION

Leapin’ Lizards! Join us for the spring session of After School Theater Classes at Fernwood, where students will work on a mini-script of the Broadway musical ANNIE! We’ll explore the basics of acting, singing and musical theater dance while learning how to build a character and tell a story onstage. Students will sing and dance to classic songs like “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” and “Tomorrow” while having a lot of fun!

SPRING SESSION DATES:

Grades 1-3: Mondays, 2:30 – 3:30 pm, March 17 – June 2 (10 weeks, no class 3/24, 5/26)

Grades 4-6: Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30 pm, March 19 – June 4 (11 weeks, no class 3/26)

New and returning students are welcome; no experience necessary. Parents are invited to a special performance on the last day of class!  https://www.characterkidsdrama.com/milwaukee-public-schools-registration

SPRING BREAK MUSICAL THEATER CAMP

In our fun-filled musical theater camp, students will learn how to hone their “Triple Threat” skills: acting, singing and dancing. Come play creative drama games, build stage skills and explore popular Broadway shows and movie musicals while having a lot of fun! No experience necessary. Not available for the full week? Drop-In Days are now available!

March 24 – 28, 1 – 4 pm

Southwood Glen Elementary gym & stage (9090 S 35th St in Franklin)

Learn more & Register

________________________________________________________________

OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!

There’s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!  

In this 25th newsletter on the 25th day of the 2nd month of the year 2025, the following tidings are posted: 

The skilled artisans of Special Education Room 26 with assistance from Lady Laura Ma-COOL-a Zimmerman* called forth from the finest paper, paint, and gold stickers A DRAGON!  They christened him “Daddy” and installed him at the helm of the boys’ privy in the feasting chamber of Castle Fernwood in the Good and Magical Land of Milwaukee!  Here he guards a treasure** and keeps watch over the children as they get sustenance at luncheon.  Forsooth, Daddy the Dragon looks fierce, but has a pure heart and gentle spirit!  Huzzah!  Much gratitude to these artists for contributing to the splendor and safety of our shared keep!  

*Lady Laura will henceforth be known as the MOTHER OF DRAGONS!

**A treasure in the boys’ bathroom is in doubt, Sir Jaecks will be dispatched forth to ensure riches are lacking!