MacDowell Montessori Newsletter Vol. 2

2023-2024 School Year

August 24, 2023

 

GENERAL REMINDERS

Primary-aged children (K3-K5) should wear clothing that is easy for them to manage on their own when using the bathroom.  Pants with elastic waistbands are easier to manipulate than buttons, zippers, snaps, and belt buckles. Rompers and overalls are also difficult to take off and on for most students.

Parents are strongly encouraged to label their child’s belongings, including water bottles, lunch boxes, and backpacks. With young children, backpacks and other personal items may be misplaced. A label will ensure that we can return items to their owners. Our lost and found has already started to grow. Ask your child to check across from the office if they are missing lunch boxes, sweatshirts and more. 

DROP OFF AND PICK UP SAFETY – Traffic moves North to South. Be sure to pull over to the curb to allow students to exit a vehicle. Encourage the child to exit car doors on the curbside. For the safety of all and allow for our Hug and Go space to continue to flow for all families, DO NOT stop in the middle of the road to drop off or pick up children. The road also needs to be clear for the Milwaukee Fire Department at the south end of 64th St. Midday families be sure to stay in your vehicle if you are in the pick up line.  If you would like to greet the child we ask that you park further down 64th St. and wait along the fence line (name card in hand). 

Parents should not drop off students prior to the entrance doors opening at 7:52am.  There are no staff available to supervise students prior to that time. 

 

PICKUP SIGNS FOR K3-3rd Grade have been put in student backpacks. Please check your child’s backpack for this sign. If you still need a sign, please contact Ms. Jaeger – Parent Coordinator at mossergj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

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**As we begin this school year please take time to review our MacDowell School Handbook and review important information with your child. Link to the handbook is HERE. 

**The 2023-24 Parent/Student Handbook on Rights, Responsibilities, and Discipline is available to download. The Parent/Student Handbook on Rights, Responsibilities, and Discipline can be found here: Parent/Student Handbook on Rights, Responsibilities, and Discipline

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A Note for Middle and High School Families 

Food delivery is not allowed per MPS district guidelines in the Family Manual. This includes…

• No family members are allowed to drop off or deliver food from fast food or other restaurants during the school day.
• No services such as GrubHub, DoorDash, etc.

All deliveries will be turned away by school staff.

 

*Please review the DRESS CODE policy for MacDowell 

• Clothing that exposes private areas will not be allowed at school. 
• Tube tops, bra style tops, undershirts (beaters) are prohibited.
• Swimsuits are not permitted for wear outside of the pool area.
• Sheer or see-through clothing is not permitted.

continued…. 

• All clothing with inappropriate language or imagery is prohibited.  For example, clothing with references to alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons, gang paraphernalia, nudity, or foul language are prohibited. 
• Ski masks and gaiters are prohibited.
• Shoes with rollers or wheels are prohibited.
• Wearing heavy wallet chains is prohibited.
• Heavy coats, heavy jackets, blankets, and raincoats are not approved items and are not to be worn during the school day

MacDowell Montessori Middle and High School Tardiness Policy

Parents, we are working to establish a strong culture for learning here at MacDowell Montessori. That starts with students being to class on time and being ready to learn when the bell rings. Please review our new procedure for tardiness with your 7th-12th grade students as we are also discussing it with them in grade level meetings.

1. If a student arrives late to class they will get marked tardy in the computer.
2. 5 or more tardies = “No Pass’ list for the following week”

1. List is generated by the principal and sent to teachers weekly.
2. Consequences 

 

Number of Tardies	Consequence
5+ tardies in 1 week	Autodialer to parents ‘No Pass’ list
10-14 tardies in a month	Parent call Referral to support services
15+ tardies in a month	Parent conference with administration Loss of eligibility for extra-curriculars (including athletics) Referral to support services

 

Chromebook Distribution for Grades 7-12 is underway

A parent or guardian must complete the online Chromebook Agreement via Permission Click before a student can check out their Chromebook. There is a $30 fee to obtain a case and charger, which can be paid for in the main office. Returning MacDowell students can bring their case and charger from last year to avoid the fee. Please review the Chromebook Procedures and Student Responsibilities document with your child. 

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Parent Coordinator Corner

To help provide programing and information fitting to family needs please take a moment to fill out this BRIEF Parent Information Session Interest Form. https://tinyurl.com/3pf329am 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 

Seeking Library Volunteers!

School Librarian, Ms. Raasch, is recruiting volunteers to support and boost library opportunities for all ages. Volunteers can supervise book check-in and checkouts for students, support general library upkeep including reshelving and inventory of books, textbooks, and other resources, and or help design and create engaging displays for various months of celebration. Days and times are flexible. 

New this year! Ms. Raasch has plans to develop maker space opportunities, like Lego tables and other hands-on STEM activities. She loves collaborating with inspired volunteers who are motivated to enrich the Macdowell Library experience for all students. Volunteers are encouraged to connect with Ms. Raasch via email for more details: raaschTL@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

If you are interested in volunteering for our school or serving on a family leadership committee – let’s talk! We are always happy to have families serve in whatever capacity they are able and we are extremely thankful for those who can offer their time, talent, and energy. Volunteer opportunities include literacy and math tutors, general assistants (photocopying, laminating materials), coaches, field trip chaperones, and event volunteers. We also have specific needs for the high school such as assisting upperclassmen with writing, field trips, and concessions at home games. 

If you are able to help our community in any way, please fill out the information on my Google Form here: https://tinyurl.com/MacDVolunteerInterest

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION BASICS:

• I send school newsletters via email every week, on Thursday evening. You will receive this via email and also text message if you have opted into text messaging. School newsletters often include timely resources, school information, events, meetings, photos of our students, and so much more. If you want to receive this link via text message you must opt into the system. To opt in, families should send a text message to the number 67587 with “Y” in the message.
• Other school messaging is pushed out to families as needed, so please continue to check your emails.
• In addition, for K3-6th grade families, red folders are sent home weekly, on Thursday. These Thursday folders may include schoolwork, field trip permission forms, extracurricular permission slips, teacher letters, homework, and other school communication. Please help your student remember to be responsible for sharing this information and bringing the folder back to school promptly.

All school newsletters will be sent via email and text on Thursday and will not be sent as a paper copy unless requested. If families would also like to receive a paper newsletter for red folders, please fill out this form HERE:    https://forms.gle/qtgUbEcjqSx3sae47

• Please also follow and like us on Facebook HERE
• Please join our MacDowell PTO Facebook group, which you may request to join HERE. Let us know your name and your child’s name when you request to join. The first PTO meeting of the year is September 13th at 5:30pm.

 

About Our Family Leadership Groups:

SEC (School Engagement Council)

The SEC is a place that brings together families, staff, students, and the community to work to support and inform shared leadership, equity, and cultural relevance resulting in increased student achievement. Common topics discussed include test scores, staffing, student attendance, and the budget. Our meetings are open to all even if you are not an official board member. Our School Engagement Council meets once a month, generally on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 5 PM. Dates and times are posted in our school newsletter and on our website. The first SEC meeting of the year is September 13th at 5:00pm.

PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)

Our PTO is a volunteer organization made up of parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and staff. We work to improve the educational experience for the MacDowell students by organizing and supporting community events and fundraising for items that are not otherwise in our school budget. PTO meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 5:30 and anyone is welcome to attend. Dates and times are posted in our school newsletter and on our website. Additionally, our PTO has a Facebook group which you may request to join HERE  The first PTO meeting of the year is September 13th at 5:30pm.

 

DAC (District Advisory Council)

The DAC is a leadership committee at the district level. The DAC works to ensure that parents of all students have an opportunity to share their ideas about the needs of children, assist in the planning and operation of Title I programs for children and participate in evaluating the success of Title I efforts. We have two wonderful DAC representatives for our school, who attend monthly meetings and report back to the PTO, but anyone can attend a meeting if they wish. DAC meetings occur on the first Thursday of the month, October through June from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  Meetings are currently being held virtually until further notice. More info here: https://tinyurl.com/2uyv2zma

How To Reach Me
If you need to reach me, my phone number is 414-935-1339 and my email is: mossergj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

~ Ms. Jaeger ______________________________________________________________

MPS Run/Walk Back to School – This Weekend!
Saturday, August 26 @ 9 AM
Wick Playfield (4929 W. Vliet Street)   

                  

It’s not too late to sign up for the 5K fun run or 1.5 mile walk that begins at 9:00 a.m. A registration fee of $20 for adults and $5 for youth includes an event t-shirt, race bag of goodies, snacks after the run/walk, DJ entertainment, carnival games and a great opportunity to walk/run with other MacDowell families! This is a great opportunity to run/walk with other MacDowell students and families and there is still time to register!  Schools with the most registrants win a $1,000 grant! MacDowell is currently in First Place. Please consider joining our team!

Day of event registration available 7:30-8:30 am. More info here: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

FALL SPORTS UPDATE:

5th – 8th Grade Coed Cross Country

Participation packets will be distributed to interested athletes this week. Return completed packet with fee to main office by August 30th.

 

1st – 3rd Grade Coed Soccer Team

• Interest forms will go home Friday in Folders of 1st through 3rd grade students.
• Sign-up will be a lottery. Interested students should return the form (NO FEES) directly to the main office no later than 9AM Wednesday, August 30th. Ms. Wanta will notify families if their student has a spot on the team.

4-5th Grade Coed Volleyball Team

• Interest forms will go home Friday in Folders of 4th and 5th grade students.
• Sign-up will be a lottery. Interested students should return the form (NO FEES) directly to the main office no later than 9AM Wednesday, August 30th. Ms. Wanta will notify families if their student has a spot on the team.

Any questions contact Ms. Wanta: wantalm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

 

UPCOMING NO SCHOOL DAYS

 FRIDAY 9/1 NO SCHOOL September Break

MONDAY 9/4 •  NO SCHOOL Labor Day

FRIDAY 9/29 • NO SCHOOL Professional Development Day

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SAVE THE DATE:

 

Back to School Picnic at Hawthorn Glen

 

SEPTEMBER 16th 1:00 – 4:00pm

~More info to come~

Volunteers needed for setup and tear down

 

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QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

School Website

Lunch Menu