Parent Coordinator

This role is designed to help parents and guardians find information about our school and MPS. Margareta Yoder is the parent coordinator at Hartford.

Margareta Yoder
[email protected]
(414) 906-4763

Parent Club

Parent Club is a welcoming space for families to connect, collaborate, and stay involved in our school community. Parents and guardians can have coffee (sometimes with the principal!) and share feedback or concerns about the school. This is also a great way to learn about school updates and explore volunteer opportunities that support students and staff.

District Advisory Council (DAC)

Families can stay informed on and share ideas about the district’s Title I programs and priorities during monthly council meetings. Each school sends two delegates to meetings; alternates may attend as well.

School Engagement Council (SEC)

School spirit and student enrichment are on the agenda for Parent Teacher Associations and Organizations districtwide. School policies, procedures, and student well-being are the work of School Engagement Councils, established in Milwaukee Public Schools in 1997.

The Hartford Avenue University School Engagement Council brings together families, staff, students (when appropriate), and community members to support and inform shared leadership that can lead to increased student achievement.

Members of the council:

• Analyze school climate, performance, and budgetary issues.
• Advise school faculty and administration on matters affecting curriculum, student performance, and overall student well-being.

You can participate in our School Engagement Council as a voting member or guest. Email our parent coordinator or principal to suggest agenda topics for an upcoming meeting.

Student Support

Family participation is our most important partnership and is highly encouraged at Hartford.

Family involvement leads to improved test scores; higher self-esteem; and better grades, attendance, and behavior for children.

You can help your child succeed in school!

• Make sure your child arrives at school on time every day (9:15 a.m.).
• Call the Hartford attendance line at (414) 906-4700 when your child will be absent. We must be sure every student has arrived safely and follow up with anyone who is not there. We must also record absences correctly.
• Ensure that your child gets at least nine hours of sleep every night.
• Dress your child appropriately for the weather. Please tell us if your student needs a coat or other outerwear.
• Check your child’s backpack every day for homework or important messages.
• Set aside a quiet space and time for homework. Help your child with assignments.
• Read with your child every day.
• Volunteer in the classroom.
• Ask how you can join our field trips.
• Be an active member of the Parent Club, DAC, or SEC.

Student Progress and Improvement

Reports are sent home to parents, and conferences are scheduled regularly to assess each student’s progress. Please attend these scheduled parent-teacher conferences, and feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns. Staff will honor parental requests for additional conferences, meetings, or reports at any time.

In addition, programs used in the classroom can be utilized by your child at home to help them improve academically. Have your student log in through Clever to find programs they can access at home, including Discovery Education, Flocabulary, iReady, My Path, and Smarty Ants.

Volunteer Opportunities

We understand the connection between family support and student success, and we are committed to involving families in their children’s education. Parents and guardians are encouraged to come to Hartford and assist teachers in their classrooms. This allows children to combine support from home with support at school to get positive results.

We have very active parent volunteers, and we are always looking for more caring, motivated individuals to work with our students. Please contact our parent coordinator to learn more about how you can help in the classroom.

WheresTheBus App

WheresTheBus is an app that lets you know in real time when your child’s bus will arrive! It tracks the bus location through GPS and provides up-to-the-minute arrival times. Learn more about the app, including how to access it.