April 25, 2024

Upcoming Events / Meetings

MIDDLE / HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY DAY

TOMORROW, April 26th

9:30 – 1:30

Eligible students have signed up for activities. 

50th MPS BIENNIAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

May 1st and May 2nd

UWM Panther Arena

6:30 – 8:00 pm 

SPRING OPEN HOUSE / END OF YEAR PICNIC

Friday, May 3rd 

Classroom Visits 4:30 – 6:00 pm

Potluck and Frozen Treat Social 5:30 – 7:00 pm

ELEMENTARY SPRING CONCERT

Thursday, May 16th

6:00 – 7:00 pm

HIGH SCHOOL ALL SPORTS BANQUET

Friday, May 17th

5:00 – 9:00 pm

MacDowell Gymnasium

8th GRADE COMPLETION CEREMONY

Tuesday, May 21st

5:00 – 6:00 pm 

MacDowell Auditorium

STUDENT LAST DAY

Tuesday, May 21st

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

Wednesday, May 22nd

6:00 – 7:00 pm

MATC Cooley Auditorium

The OPEN HOUSE is an opportunity for families to get a glimpse into the classrooms and for children to guide their family through a few special lessons. Students will be encouraged to present work(s) to their family. It could be something that they recently completed and are proud of, or it could be their favorite material. Our 7th-12th grade students will be showcasing their MYP Design projects, IB Design projects, Theory of Knowledge projects and cross curricular projects. Classrooms will be available for families transitioning into 7th grade and 9th grade.

Please RSVP HERE: https://tinyurl.com/2vt9374c

END OF YEAR PICNIC – After visiting the classrooms join our community in the cafeteria for a potluck and treat. MacDowell’s PTO will supply a main dish and frozen dessert. Please bring a dish to pass.

Please RSVP and Sign up to help here: https://tinyurl.com/2vt9374c

MPS RUN/WALK BACK TO SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

(You don’t have to Run to join our team!)

Celebrate the start of the 2024-25 school year with MPS and Milwaukee Recreation at the 17th annual MPS Run Back to School! This is an annual tradition for MacDowell families and a wonderful way to get together and enjoy a beautiful walk/run through the Washington Park neighborhood.

DETAILS:

• 5K run/1.5-mile walk through Washington Park
• Date: Saturday, Aug. 24
• Start Time: 9 a.m. (please arrive no later than 8:40 a.m.)
• Start & Finish Line: MPS Central Services Building, 5225 W. Vliet St.
• Cost: $5 for youth / $15 for adults (adult fee increases to $20 after July 31)
• Fee includes an event t-shirt and race bag

In addition, we will be eligible for a $500 grant to go towards a recreation and/or wellness need at MacDowell! If we have the most registered participants, we are eligible for a $1,000 grant towards recreation/wellness programs. Let’s do this, MacDowell!

TO REGISTER FOR THE RUN/WALK BACK TO SCHOOL

• Register online by visiting mkerec.net/RBTS 

When asked the question, “If participating with a school group, please list the school”, enter our school’s name. 

INFO: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

QUESTIONS? Contact our RBTS School Captain Angela Pryor angelamariepryor@gmail.com

OUR 2023-2024 Elementary YEARBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!

All Elementary pre-orders were delivered to classroom teachers. 

Extra copies are available in the main office on a first come first serve basis.

CORRECTION from last week: 7-12th grade yearbooks need a reprint and will be ready in another 2-3 weeks.

Elementary Yearbooks – $15, 

Middle / High School Yearbooks – $25

Library News from Ms. Raasch:

LOOKING AHEAD: SUMMER READING!

Milwaukee Public Schools offers Passport to Summer Reading to keep students engaged over the summer break and to stem “summer slide” when children’s progress can slip. 

In the summer, Passport to Summer Reading holds events around the Milwaukee area to highlight the summer’s selected children’s books. At the events, one free book per family (for the first twenty-five families) will be given away. https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Programs/Literacy/MPS-Passport-to-Summer-Reading.htm

Let’s stay engaged and share the books or stories children and families read over the summer with a “shelfie”. Post to the MacDowell PTO Facebook page. If you are not already a member – join us and share fun happenings within our MacDowell community, stay up to date on meetings and family engagement. MacDowell PTO Facebook.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

ATTENTION JUNIORS: Class of 2025

Applying to a two-year or four-year college can seem complicated. But MPS, UWM and MATC have partnered to make the application and admission process simple and stress-free.

The Milwaukee Direct Admit program lets all MPS high school juniors apply – for free – to MATC and UWM with just one five-minute form. Students who apply and graduate from high school are guaranteed admission to either college.

The only information needed is the student’s name, their student ID and where they want to apply. After completing the form, students will hear from MATC and/or UWM in about a month regarding next steps and hear of acceptance in September 2024.

A parent/guardian will need to also assist with completing this form and the link to apply is here: https://mpsresearch.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eD4n3Dx7QGyKzAy 

See Flyer HERE

Frequently asked Questions HERE

COMMUNITY DAY for Middle and High School students – TOMORROW, April 26th

What is Community Day? It is a special day for every 7th-12th student to engage in projects that provide service to our community – projects which are in alignment with our Service and Action goals of our Middle Years Program and our Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) goals of our Diploma Program. During this year’s Community Day students will be taking part in a number of different activities such as blanket making for the Humane Society, cleanup at local parks and on our school grounds, making sandwiches, and sorting items for homeless shelters. 

CASTING CALL FOR MILWAUKEE FILM TAKE 2 PROGRAMS: Short films

Senior Anna Heffernan is a participant in the MKE Film course Take 2: Teen Filmmaking Lab (second year).

For more information on Take 1: Teen Filmmaking Lab visit their website here: HERE 

The Take 2: Teen Filmmaking Lab, sponsored by Milwaukee Film, is in production for a short documentary film centered around the growing pains and joys of parenthood. TO THOSE WHO PARENT, is a film that seeks to explore the beauty of coming-of-age through the perspective of parenthood. Through a generational lens, the film wants to chart the milestones that define our lives. 

**They are looking for individuals who are parents and/or who have parented someone in their lives, from a variety of different backgrounds and perspectives. They welcome all identities, backgrounds, and familial styles. Interest Form HERE

Time frame of documentary: Interviews will take place in May

Level of Commitment: Minimal. Be available for at least one day for principal interview and an additional day for the possibility of pick-up shoot days. 

Sports and Activities Update

SPRING ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS:

~Questions about your students’ sports teams? Join the Remind group where all practice and game information is updated regularly, or email Ms Wanta at wantalm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

~The most up to date schedules are also available at milwaukeerecreation.net from your mobile device. Press the 3 lines on the top right corner, Sports, Youth Sports, League Information, Spring League, then the corresponding sport, age group, & location. Our team name is MacDowell-Juneau.

Spring Sports Remind Links

⚽1-3 Soccer: https://www.remind.com/join/fkhbfdf Sijan Field AM

⚽4-5 Soccer: https://www.remind.com/join/7cfg78 Sijan Field AM

⚽6-8 Soccer: https://www.remind.com/join/4k9kk9 Early Start, Jimmy Banks AM

🏃5-8 Track: https://www.remind.com/join/ed8eg7 

JUNEAU ATHLETICS:

Save the Date: High School All Sports Banquet : May 17, 2024

MPS NEWS

MPS SUMMER SCHOOL

2024 Online Registration: Download the 2024 Summer Academy Enrollment Guide.

K5–grade 8 – MacDowell is the Montessori location for Summer School 

• 5-Week Session: June 24–July 26, 2024, 8:00 a.m.–noon
  • Registration for 5-Week Session closes on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

High school

• Session I: June 13– July 2, 2024, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
  • Registration for Session I closes on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
• Session II: June 24–July 25, 2024, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
  • Registration for Session II closes on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m

Specialty programs

• For specialty programming with Session dates (July 8–25, 2024)
  • Registration closes on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

**Check out the music courses offered this summer at Bradley Tech in the July 8-July 25 Session. Popular and Classical Piano is a new summer course being offered to all students 6-12 who want to explore playing piano. This course includes students with no previous to extensive experience on piano.  

More information HERE – 2024 Summer Academy

QUICK LINKS:

Lunch Menu – April

Lunch Menu – May

MPS Early Start School Calendar

MPS 2024-2025 School Calendar

School Website

IB March Newsletter

Juneau Athletics Feb/Mar Newsletter

MACDOWELL SPOTLIGHT

MANGA FEST

Our high school Manga Club took a trip to Manga Fest at North Division last week. We had such a great day! MacDowell stood out as the high school with the most students who came in costume and submitted their artwork! The students received amazing swag bags packed with drawing journals, colored pencils, how-to-draw-guides, free comic/manga books, fancy lanyards, etc. We enjoyed a fantastic and inspiring keynote from comic author, Tony Weaver Jr. After lunch we broke out into various rooms to learn different aspects of writing and drawing comics as well as an exploration of careers. Local comic artist and entrepreneur, Darick Spears, hosted an awesome session on storyboarding! I spoke with him directly and plan to invite him to MacDowell next year for an author visit for our students!! ~Ms. Raasch

GAGA PIT

Over Spring Break a gaga ball pit was installed on MacDowell’s playground. The gaga ball pit was funded through the MPS Physical Education & Health Department and built by the nonprofit Reflo. https://refloh2o.com

 What’s a gaga pit? Check them out here: https://www.gagaballpits.com/

Summer Opportunities

ARTS @ LARGE VIEWFINDERS SUMMER CAMP 2024: ENTERING GRADE 3 – 8 (FREE)

Arts @ Large Summer Camp is back again this summer!

At the A@L Viewfinders Summer Camp young artists will explore multiple arts mediums, perspectives, and careers in the arts to inspire them to use their personal viewfinder. These young artists will stretch the boundaries of the learning process and become immersed in creative flows of various art forms and the meaning of their works.

This year, they are accepting 50 campers total. Each camper will participate in all 4 classes offered over the 5-week session. With limited capacity we ask that your camper be available for no less than 17 of the 19 sessions. Consideration and acceptance for camp is on a first come – first serve basis of application submission.

Camp begins on Monday June 24th, 2024 at 8:00 am and will conclude on Thursday July 25th, 2024 (note: There will be no camp on Thursday July 4th, 2024) 

– Activities are held 8:00AM – 1:15 PM on Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Full details and registration HERE

WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC: ENTERING GRADE 3 – 12 (FEE BASED)

The music doesn’t stop when the sun comes out. WCM has exciting summer camp opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels. Make new friends, prepare for school year auditions, learn new skills, and perform for your family and friends at one (or more!) of their awesome camps this summer.

Class descriptions and registration HERE. 2024 Summer Flyer HERE

DISCOVERY WORLD: ENTERING GRADE 1 – 8 (FEE BASED, SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE)

Explore everything, acquire abilities, find a passionate pursuit, design, and make at Discovery World! Camps for kids entering 1st-8th grades run June 10th through August 23rd. Camp registration closes at 5:00pm on the Thursday prior to the start of each camp week.

For details and registration HERE

Resources & Events

MPS TEXTBOOK REVIEW:

MPS Community/Parent Advisory Group: Math K-12, and English as a Second Language (ESL) 9-12 Textbooks/Instructional Materials Evaluation 

Milwaukee Public Schools is in the process of adopting new textbooks for Math K-12, and English as a Second Language (ESL) 9-12.  We would like to have community/parent insight and perspective in this important process.  Therefore, we would like community/parent members to participate in an advisory capacity. The community/parent advisory group shall serve to review the materials and make recommendations. The advisory will not be a final decision-making body but will offer suggestions as to which textbooks they believe would best support student learning. The community/parent advisory group will have access to  review materials virtually or in-person.

If you would like to view the materials in-person please contact Ja’Quita Murphy murphyj1@milwaukee.k12.wi.us,  414-212-0130 to schedule an appointment.  

If you are interested in participating, please complete the form for additional information. 

MPS Textbook Adoption Interest Form