December 7, 2023

Upcoming Events / Meetings

HIGH SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH DROP IN SESSIONS – Every Friday until Jan 12th

12:00-12:30 pm – during High School lunch

Room 20

DAC MEETING 

Thursday, December 7th

6:00 pm

Virtual – DAC Zoom Link 23-24

MPS BATTLE OF THE DRUMLINES

MPS drumlines will roll out their best performances when the 21st Annual MPS Battle of the Drumlines crowns a new City Champion. Eight high school and two middle school groups will compete. Seven MacDowell students will be competing with Mr. Ash.

• Saturday, December 9, 2023
• Rufus King International High School

1801 W. Olive St., Milwaukee, WI

• Tickets are $3 at the door
• Doors open at 11:30 am and competition begins at 12:00 pm

PRIMARY / ELEMENTARY WINTER CONCERT

Wednesday, December 13th

6:00 pm 

MacDowell Auditorium

LOU MALNATI’S PIZZA – PTO FUNDRAISER

Thursday, December 14th

4:00-10:00 pm

Greenfield and Brookfield locations – dine-in does not qualify

HIGH SCHOOL FINAL EXAMS

*Please note these are early release days

December 18th, 19th, 20th

CALENDAR CHANGE:

** December 21, 2023— Student Attendance Day for MacDowell K-6th Grade

This date was previously a non-attendance day for students. MacDowell students in Kindergarten through 6th grade on the early start calendar will now attend school on Thursday, December 21, 2023.  

*This is a non-attendance day for MacDowell Middle and High School students (7-12th graders).

WINTER BREAK – NO SCHOOL

December 22 – January 1 

Classes resume January 2, 2024

JUNEAU BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAY AT WISCONSIN HERD ARENA

January 6, 2024

1:00 pm JV / 2:30pm Varsity

Watch MacDowell JV and Varsity boy’s team play at the Wisconsin Herd Arena 

AND stay later for the Wisconsin Herd vs Greensboro Swarm 7:00pm

To order tickets click HERE

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Student Absences Due to Illness

To All Parents and Guardians:
When a school has been notified by a parent that their child is not able to attend due to illness, the student attendance will be marked as Absent Excused. But, absences due to illness do not have to negatively affect your student’s attendance. If your student completes the assignment(s) or work missed on the date of absence and you notify the teacher, the attendance can be updated from Absence Excused to Unable to Attend Due to Illness (UADI). Remember, the student may only have their excused absences updated after they have submitted instructional work. 

*Students that have the UADI code will not have those days calculated into their absence percentage. 

Please make sure you discuss with your child the importance of submitting assignments after an excused absence due to illness so that the attendance can be updated accordingly.

If your child will be out of school for any reason make sure to call our attendance secretary at 414- 935-1460. 

If you have further questions please speak with the attendance secretary.

 Thank you,

Principal Corona

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NEXT WEEK:

Donation Request:

Hello Parents and Friends!

Senior IB students Selah Whaleysmith and Anna Heffernan are fundraising for their Community-Action-Service Project. See the IB Newsletter for more information on CAS Projects. 

We need your help with baked goods donations!

Items requested: 

• Cookies
• Cupcakes
• Brownies
• Muffins
• Rice Krispie treats
• Be creative! 

Please Sign up HERE

All baked goods can be homemade or store bought. Items may be individually wrapped or in a package to be wrapped by the students. 

Bake Sale will take place Wednesday, December 13 from 5:30 – 6:30pm, on the night of the Elementary Winter Concert. 

Please drop off items to the main office on the 11th-12th of December. 

All profits will be donated to Anna and Selah’s projects, which are curated to benefit the MacDowell Montessori School! A basement Mural installation and a Little Free Library in the new Outdoor Classroom. 

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K5-6th PRIMARY / ELEMENTARY Winter Concert 

December 13, 2023,  6:00pm, Auditorium

• K5-6th music students
• Folk Fair Education day participants
• Friday Music Engagement students

Ms. Benthien is looking for Parents Volunteers. Any parent or guardian willing to assist at the afternoon rehearsals prior to the night of the concert and Wednesday night should contact Ms. B: benthiam@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

*Be sure to stop by the Middle Years Garden Club plant sale and DIY Occupations table during the winter concerts. 

• Succulent plants
• Candles
• Bracelets

*Senior IB Student Bake Sale

 

Cash only

Prices under $10

 

 

 

*Donate Pop Tabs for The Ronald McDonald House – drop in any bottle

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HIGH SCHOOL TAB WARS IS ON

November 20th – January 25th

9-12th graders compete to win a pizza party and drinks while helping support the Ronald McDonald House. Anyone can participate – place tabs in the grade’s bottle you’d like to support.

~ 11th Grade is holding a STRONG lead. ~

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PTO KRISPY KREME FUNDRAISER – ongoing until December 23

Order online and receive a voucher to redeem at any participating Krispy Kreme location. 

Milwaukee area location : 2900 S. 108th St, West Allis, WI 53227 

https://www.groupraise.com/oc/16201/5T6XBK

PTO FUNDRAISER – LOU MALNATI’S NIGHT

December 14th

4:00 – 10:00 pm 

20% of your meal’s price will be donated to MacDowell PTO

*Not eligible for dine in

Flyer HERE

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High School Final Proficiency Schedule

Fall – Semester 1 2023

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FAFSA Is Moving to December!!

Attention seniors and families–if you had planned on filling out the FAFSA on opening day, breathe easy! Access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is moving to December. The FAFSA is your gateway to find out what grants and loans are available to help you pay for college. 

FAFSA has not yet announced an official opening date. You can check for updates in late December at fafsa.gov. Be sure to watch for the 2024–25 FAFSA application.

Changes to the FAFSA will provide an easier application process, expanded eligibility for federal financial aid, reduced barriers, and a better user experience. When it opens, access the application online at fafsa.gov.

Help is available! Your school counselor, Ms. Bruce-Konuah, and College and Career Center staff, Julie Schneider, can help you complete your forms and upload documents.

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Sports and Activities Update

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM MEMBERS : 

CHESS CLUB

The Winter Chess Club for 2nd-6th grade interest forms went home. Please check those backpacks. Interest forms are DUE Friday December 15th by 9AM. Participants will be picked by lottery, and notified after winter break.

How the lottery works

With such a large number of students interested in participating in after school activities our school runs a lottery to determine who participates. Most sports & clubs for 1st-6th graders have a lottery run. Students that return an interest form for sports & clubs get entered into the lottery. We use the website wheelofnames.com. All names are entered into the wheel and two staff members run the lottery together. Chosen participants are notified of their spot on the team or in the club.

PLEASE JOIN REMIND

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

All schedules for the winter sports season are posted on Remind.

• 🏀1-3 Basketball Team 1-Coach Glenn https://www.remind.com/join/ead63a 
• 🏀1-3 Basketball Team 2-Coach Shawn https://www.remind.com/join/b2d448 
• 🏀6-8 Boys Basketball https://www.remind.com/join/34cgf3 
• 🏐6-8 Volleyball Team 1-Coach LJ https://www.remind.com/join/ggahg8h 
• 🏐6-8 Volleyball Team 2-Coach Maiter https://www.remind.com/join/dhc274 
• 📣6-8 Cheerleading https://www.remind.com/join/ecfb6h6 
• 🏀4-5 Basketball https://www.remind.com/join/g898dbg 

!! High School Basketball Season Has BEGUN !!

 Note: tickets must be purchased by 12:00pm day of the game.   

2023-2024 Schedule

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Volunteers Needed !!!!!

🏀CONCESSIONS AT BASKETBALL GAMES: 🏀 Help still needed!

High School Athletic Director Ms. Schenk is looking for volunteers to work the concession stand at High School basketball games this winter season. The season is currently going. If she can not secure workers there may not be concessions available.             

See the sign up here : https://tinyurl.com/MacD23-24Concession

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MACDOWELL STUDENT ARTWORK IN THE JOURNAL SENTINEL

This fall The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked Wisconsin teachers to share their students’ artwork. “The Journal Sentinel received more than 400 pieces from teachers in public and private schools, plus parents of homeschooled students. The submissions were created this school year by students in kindergarten through eighth grade, ages 5 to 14.” 

Mr Schwarten (K5-8th grade art instructor) submitted a collection of pieces. Read the article HERE. 

MacDowell had student representation in 4 of 7 galleries.

• Khadijah Abdullahi (7th grade) had her 3 views drawing in the Animal gallery (Butterfly)
• Poppy Johnson, Alaya Browning-Wright, & Michaela Ferguson (8th grade) had work in the Inside / Outside Worlds gallery
• Alyvia Beans and Sadie Hart (7th grade) had work in the Self-portrait gallery
• Alba Murphy, Penny Gahl, (2nd grade) Bianca Rybar (6th grade), Bibi Vukovic and Markell Polzer (3rd grade) had sculptures in the 3D gallery
• Additional galleries: Abstract gallery, Still Life gallery, Fall Pumpkins and Thanksgiving gallery

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MacDowell Spotlight

EXPERIENCED CHESS – Elementary

Our group of experienced chess players have been working for many weeks gaining practice and strategy. Students can then use those skills in their classes, and some studies show students who play in after-school or in-school chess clubs tend to get better grades in math.

There are many benefits to playing chess:

• Improves Cognitive Function
• Boosts Creativity
• Patience and Perseverance
• Develop Social Skills
• A Healthy Form of Entertainment.

Watch for flyers offering chess in 2024.

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PRIMARY

Ms. Anna and a few of her students made coffee for Ms. Corona this past week. In the Montessori primary classroom, children prepare food and beverages for others as a way to strengthen their confidence, coordination, and independence. In this work, students measured out the coffee beans, ground the beans using a manual coffee grinder, and delivered the coffee to Ms. Corona.

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IB LEARNER PROFILE OF THE MONTH

There are 10 learner profile traits which describe a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success.

This month we are spotlighting: COMMUNICATOR: Students that are communicators express themselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. They collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

Zor-El Fojut, 11th grade, was voted this month by MacDowell Staff as a student that has shown what it takes to be a communicator. He exhibits courtesy, creativity, and attentiveness whether he is with peers or adults. School staff have noticed him becoming more confident in his abilities, of which he has many. His mentors at Facilities and Maintenance have noticed a big improvement in his Communication skills, collaboration, and advocacy since he began working there this semester. In fact, they are so impressed with him that they chose him as one of the only 4 MPS students to represent the STW program in a very rare opportunity: the inauguration of a new site partnership. Next semester Zor-El will communicate a crucial first impression with our new affiliate in Milwaukee Water Works! 

Congrats Zor-El!!

Find this and more in November’s IB Newsletter HERE. A link to the current IB newsletter can always be found in our Quick Links below. November topics include: The Middle Years Project-Based-Learning, 9th grade Creativity Novel Project, 10th grade MYP Geometry class and Circle Day, an 11th and 12th grade DP description of the Creativity, Action and Service program.

IB CODING

Students in Ms. Schertz’s IB Design course have been learning Computer Science and Coding using the Code.org curriculum. Their latest project was to design a website based on their personal interests using HTML and CSS coding language. This work demonstrates the IB learner profile of communicator and inquiry. 

Screenshots and links to a few student’s work are shown below. 

Jounte Harrison: https://codeprojects.org/projects/weblab/zweEUqcWV6yX8BiP610Lp3pEJQdGlbxBUPsVMckiheQ

Andrew Bechaud https://codeprojects.org/projects/weblab/gCpWl-eonZq-XaFiAL6I1pa3sjfiXAbrZD3zToOPTZ8

Diamond Howell https://codeprojects.org/projects/weblab/lMj65dvcv_zIn87iMq9DCfTej8trfjwXJLpgRWmkt_E

Jordan Lee https://codeprojects.org/projects/weblab/u4TJcuehCOAV4vBQDqYovvcsRq2Rsy9Wrou5O4ONNV8

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📷Do you wish you could see pictures of your child highlighted in MacDowell’s Newsletter?  Be sure they have a current media release on file for the 2023-2024 school year. Feel free to print and return filled out forms to school. There are so many great things happening in our school we love to share with the community. Any questions, or if you need assistance, contact Parent Coordinator Gail Jaeger. Media Release Form SY23-24

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Reminder:

PRE ORDER YEARBOOKS

We are taking preorders for our school yearbooks! All students who had their photo taken will be in their classroom / grade level layout in this yearbook. We create two separate yearbooks, one for K3-6th grade students & one for 7-12th grade students. Yearbooks are delivered at the end of the school year. There are separate yearbook order links for each yearbook, please see order information below:

• K3-6th grade yearbooks will cost $15 – order online at ybpay.com code is 15140624
• 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 – order online ybpay.com code is 14324524

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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

!! OPT-IN TO TEXT MESSAGING ! To receive a newsletter link via text message be sure to OPT-IN to text messaging from MPS. Text “Y” to 67587 to receive school notifications, transportation updates, newsletters and important messaging.

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 

QUICK LINKS:

Lunch Menu – December

MPS School Calendar

School Website

MacDowell School Handbook

IB November Newsletter

HS Athletics Newsletter – October / November

Unit 3 Letter to Parents

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Resources & Events

WINTER WONDER WOODS

Celebrate winter in style with Milwaukee Recreation’s Winter Wonder Woods! Join us to experience seasonal serenity in the city while creating lasting memories and new traditions.

See Hawthorn Glen in a new light as you stroll through our trails that are twinkling with holiday cheer. Tens of thousands of lights will illuminate the beauty of the Glen, winding you through the woods and past displays. Winter Wonder Woods will feature a selfie station, hiking Santa, educational facts along the trail, and more!

• Where: Hawthorn Glen
• Dates: Dec. 8, 9, 15, & 16
• Cost: $4 per person (free for children that are 2 years old or younger)
• Register Here

Note: Please arrive at your scheduled time. Parking is extremely limited in both the Hawthorn Glen parking lot and on the street on the adjacent Martin Dr.

Street parking is not permitted on 60th St. Carpooling and ride-sharing is greatly appreciated!

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Milwaukee Parent Institute Campus Tour

Join us for a campus tour and presentation at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM). Parents will have the opportunity to visit two great institutions of higher education — right here in our city!

Discover the programs and resources available at MATC and UWM for a variety of career paths and college options.  

Saturday, December 16, 2023

9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Register by December 4 at bit.ly/mpitourfall23

Download a flyer in English and Spanish!