Upcoming Events / Meetings

LOU MALNATI’S PIZZA – PTO FUNDRAISER

TONIGHT 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

WASHINGTON DC PARENT INFO MEETING

Thursday, January 4, 2024

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Auditorium

Mandatory for Parents/Guardians of 9th Graders and invited UpperClassmen

See Flyer HERE

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

NATURE’S CLASSROOM PARENT INFO MEETING

Monday, January 8, 2024

5:00 pm

Parents / Guardians of 4th – 6th grade students

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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

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                     

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                                  SAVE THE DATE

Elementary FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT- 

January 12th

5:30-7:00 pm

We’re bringing back one of our popular events – an evening of reading excitement, book-centered crafts, story time and more. 

More info to come

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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.

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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.The FAFSA is expected to be available December 31, 2023.

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.

Parents need to create an FSA ID in order for their child to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which is a graduation requirement. Please complete this form to receive the link to the zoom session on 1/23/24. Ms. Schneider will be available during this session from 3:30pm-6:00pm

https://tinyurl.com/FSAIDMAC 

See Flyer HERE

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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 TOMORROW 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 

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MacDowell Spotlight

PRIMARY URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER

In November our Primary Classrooms took a visit to the Urban Ecology Center. Students and staff celebrated Fall by exploring Washington Park while walking the hiking trails. They talked about and felt various seeds and leaves. They found worms and slugs, tested their balance by walking on logs, built and played in forts, and did a sink or float experiment by throwing walnuts, leaves and small stones into the pond. They had an amazing time!

PEACE LEARNING CENTER

Three of our Upper Elementary classrooms experienced the Peace Learning Center last week after a few years away. At the Peace Learning Center students and staff learn a variety of strategies to communicate with each other peacefully, how to work out conflict without violence, and build teamwork skills based on communication, cooperation, and compromise. Sitting in a circle allows everyone to see and hear and be seen and heard by their peers. Everyone is at the “head” of the table! In one activity the students had to find ways to “cross a line” using an original movement (no repeats from other groups) and with each successful trip the group size increased. The huddle is the community discussing how to get everyone across! The remaining two Upper Elementary classrooms will attend in January. 

STAFF / STUDENT VOLLEYBALL GAME – middle and high school

The student vs. staff volleyball game kicked off the Thanksgiving weekend.  Staff dominated per usual, but the students put up a good fight. MacDowell high school students have the opportunity to participate in 3-4 student vs. staff events per year: kickball, volleyball, basketball, and dodgeball.  These games bring out the competitive spirit among the students and staff and have been and will continue to be a tradition for years to come.

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!

Be sure to look for our school tree! MacDowell Art Club students have created ornaments with Mr. Schwarten.

• 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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QUICK LINKS:

Lunch Menu – December

MPS School Calendar

School Website

MacDowell School Handbook

IB November Newsletter

HS Athletics Newsletter – October / November

Student Absences Due to Illness Information

Highschool Juneau Boys Basketball Schedule

Unit 3 Letter to Parents

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Resources & Events

NOTE: 🔥 Any Milwaukee residents who are in need of a smoke alarm can call the city’s smoke alarm hotline, at 414-286-8980, to arrange a free installation.

 

Looking for a doctor or dentist? Have questions about Medicaid coverage? Need guidance on a specific diagnosis? Wisconsin Wayfinder and the Children’s Resource Centers are here to help!  

Introducing Wisconsin Wayfinder and the Children’s Resource Network

https://familyvoiceswi.org/resource-library/newsletter-2023-issue-4-introducing-wisconsin-wayfinder-and-the-childrens-resource-network/

 

A Guide to Essential Children’s Resources for Parents and Professionals