MacDowell Montessori Newsletter Vol. 5

2023-2024 School Year

September 14, 2023

 

Upcoming School Events / Meetings

THIRD FRIDAY COUNT DAY is tomorrow Friday, September 15 

On this day the State of Wisconsin will count all students to determine the amount of funding provided to schools this year. Help MacDowell by making sure your child is in attendance on September 15! It is vitally important for our school funding. 

 

BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC at Hawthorn Glen

THIS Saturday, September 16th

1:00-4:00 

Come enjoy an afternoon at the park!

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL NIGHT
Wednesday, September 20th
At MacDowell
5:00–8:00 PM 

More information below

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL GAME

Saturday, September 23rd

6:00pm

Join the Juneau Volleyball team in watching Marquette University in an exciting Big East matchup against Georgetown University. The match takes place at the Al McGuire Center on Marquette’s campus. Tickets are available through this link with a special group discount for $2.00, so it is a fantastic family friendly event to watch some exciting volleyball action at the highest level of competition. Coach Jaeger hopes you choose to join the team.

https://fevo.me/3Rdjv9M

 

HOMECOMING WEEK September 25th-30th

 

BIG MAC COMPETITION
Tuesday, September 26th

4:30 PM

Admission is $1 per person at the door- ALL are welcome to attend

Who will be the BIG MAC?

What is the BIG MAC?  It’s a competition for Seniors. 

There are four categories:  best dressed, school spirit, talent, and interview.

If you are interested in participating, pick up an application from Ms. Schenk

 

WELLNESS DAY*
Thursday, September 28th

*7th-12th grade students

More information below

 

HOMECOMING DANCE – Carnival Theme

Friday, September 29th

Middle school students 5:00-7:00 pm

High School students 7:30-10:00 pm

Tickets are $10, can be purchased in advance or at the door. 

 

FRIDAY 9/29 • NO SCHOOL Professional Development Day

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SAVE THE DATE – FAMILY-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Family-Teacher Conferences will be held on the evening of Wednesday, October 11th and Tuesday, October 17th. 

There will be no school on Friday, 10/20 and Monday 10/23.
Please stay tuned for more information, including Conference sign ups!

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DROP OFF AND PICK UP SAFETY

Midday dismissal begins at 11:15am. 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 south on 64th St. and wait along the fence line (name card in hand). All students should be picked up by 11:30am.

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Sports and Activities Update

 

View the Juneau High School Athletics Newsletter HERE. Find information on upcoming high school sports, our athlete of the month: Anna Heffernan, and helpful links for sign ups, schedules, Juneau gear and tickets.

 

Chess Club Volunteers Needed

We are looking for chess playing parent volunteers to help out during the chess club. Chess club meets after school on Tuesdays for beginning players and on Thursdays for experienced players. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Ms Wanta the Sports and Activities Coordinator at wantalm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. 

 

PLEASE JOIN REMIND

Parents please join Remind to receive updates about your students’ sports and clubs. Here are the current team links.

1st-3rd coed Soccer  https://www.remind.com/join/ea9h7h 

4th-5th coed Volleyball  https://www.remind.com/join/kda9gkd

5th-8th Cross Country  https://www.remind.com/join/58cr

 

Middle School Cross Country schedule, results and this week’s location map

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Middle School Night       

The Juneau Pioneers Volleyball team would like to extend the invitation to any 6-8th grade girls to join the members of the 2023 High School Volleyball teams for some pizza and soda before the Lady Pioneers take on Milwaukee South Division Cardinals on September 20th. Please scan the QR code and fill out the corresponding Google Form to let the coaches know if your child will be able to attend the pizza gathering and watch the volleyball games. Your completion of the form will give your student permission to stay at the school with the coaches until the beginning of the matches. They will then attend the Volleyball matches until they are picked up. JV match begins at 5 pm. Varsity match begins at 6:30, with it generally ending at 8pm.
*Pizza will be served to those who complete the google form.

Wellness Day 

September 28th *7th-12th graders

As part of our Montessori Philosophy, we strive to provide each child with an opportunity to make a deeper connection in our school day. Wellness Day is a day where middle and high school students are allowed to leave the classroom and enter the community to experience a connection that will help their academic, social, mental, and physical wellness. This day provides those students with the opportunity to find the activity they connect with best.  Whether they want to explore something new or find comfort in an activity they know, their choice will guide their day of wellness. We ask that you and your child take the time to look through the options and figure out which option best matches your child. Note costs associated with different activities.

On Wednesday, September 13th, middle and high school students were shown the opportunities and choices for Wellness Day during their Advisory Class.  On Thursday, September 14th, students will sign up for activities on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats in each activity are limited, so it’s important to have more than one option. Students absent Friday can choose an activity as soon as they return. Once selected, they will receive a field trip form. A returned form, as well as any payment are due by September 21st to the teacher running the activity.  HERE are the Wellness Day Choices.

                             

Unit 1 Letter to Parents

Mr Steve’s Middle School Social Studies students have just embarked upon a full year of Cyber Civics “digital citizenship” lessons. In this first level of a three-level program, they will be learning about the safe and responsible use of digital tools. Throughout the year, families will be receiving regular updates, like this one, with suggested activities that can be done together that support what students are learning in the classroom.

Additionally, these will include links to any student videos that accompany the lessons so you can watch and discuss them too.

 

It is important to make time for this because it takes a village to raise ethical, safe, and productive digital citizens. This information applies to all age levels and is available to anyone to view, not just our Middle School families. 

 

IB Program at MacDowell Montessori

The International Baccalaureate Organization is dedicated to providing students with an internationally-minded, holistic, and rigorous academic program. MacDowell’s Diploma Program marks the conclusion of our K3-12 Program. The International Baccalaureate program is a perfect fit to support the development of the adolescent.

View MacDowell’s IB Program Newsletter August Edition

Future newsletters can be found in the Quick Links of our school’s newsletter.

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A Note To 8th Grade Families:

On Friday 9/15/2023 parents/guardians of grade 8 students will receive emails with letters attached that contain their child’s preliminary scores and last year’s cut score ranges for high school admissions. The purpose of this letter is to help parents/guardians work with their child to make an informed decision when selecting their first-choice school. 

Any families without an email address on file will receive a paper copy of the letter via U.S. mail. 

Parents/guardians with questions about the scores, scoring process, or criteria should email highschooladmissions@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. Additionally, district staff will be available for questions at the high school enrollment fair on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at North Division between 9:00 am and noon

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PTO Fundraiser going on now 8/31-9/18 

• Club Choice Order flyers and forms were sent home in Thursday Folders. 
• Sell items online at www.clubschoicefundraising.com/register

Use group code MACD23

• Forms and monies are due by MONDAY September 18th to the school office.
• One check payable to MacDowell PTO
• Pick up will be October 18th. 
• PTO raises funds for events and programs that are not covered by the school budget, such as prom, back to school picnic, field trip transportation and more.

 

If you wish to support the PTO but do not want to fundraise, please consider a donation to the Un Fundraiser, 100% of your donation goes directly to the PTO.

Un fundraiser form HERE

 

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STAY CONNECTED

 

If you want to receive school news, newsletters, and updates 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.

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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. Gail Jaeger 

 

MPS School Engagement Survey 

 

Your responses help identify improvement areas in our school’s engagement efforts and can provide valuable insights into family involvement, satisfaction, and connection with MacDowell.

 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

School Website

MacDowell School Handbook

Lunch Menu

IB August Newsletter

HS Athletics Newsletter

 

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