September 5, 2024

We are excited to begin a new school year and ready to provide a positive, safe and rigorous learning environment for our students!

We have a few new staff members and a few staff position changes for this upcoming school year. Mr. Brian Fink (Grades 11-12) , Mr. Roosevelt Stewart (Grades 7-10), and Dr. Renita Roberson (Grades K-6) will return to MacDowell as Assistant Principals this fall. MacDowell is currently in the hiring process for a 4th Assistant Principal position; that administrator will work to support Grades 4-8 students. We are confident that the experience and expertise of the administrative team will continue to benefit and enhance MacDowell’s school community.

In the lower school, we are excited to introduce some new staff members to our team. We are pleased to welcome Ms. Emily Bowlin to the MacDowell Lower Elementary Teacher team. Ms. Emily previously served as a para, but has taken over the lower elementary classroom in room 336. At the Upper Elementary level, we are welcoming back Mr. Donald Nelson, who has taken over Upper Elementary room 300 for the first few weeks of the school year.  Ms. Mary will be back soon, and we are so thankful that the classroom community is in Mr. Nelson’s capable hands. We are welcoming many new paraprofessional staff members to our team, including Ms. Kristen, Ms. Dana, Ms. Katie, Ms. Brandy, and Ms. Leah. 

We are welcoming some new support staff members as well. We welcome Mr. Johnathan Marks, elementary counselor and Ms. Carlie Hubbard, high school Psychologist! We are also happy to have Ms. Lovie Garrison join our office staff as attendance secretary. 

At the middle and high school level, we welcome Mr. Eduardo Cabrera to our team as the 7th-9th grade Spanish Teacher.  Mr. Cabrera has taught Spanish for many years in Milwaukee Public Schools, most recently at Pulaski HS. In addition, Mr. Timothy Gioia has joined our middle school team as the Social Studies and PBL teacher for our 7th and 8th grade cohorts. Lastly, we are welcoming Mr. Bashir Ladan to our high school staff as a Business teacher, who will be providing us with Business Elective courses in partnership with the MPS Department of Career and Technical Education. Mr. Ladan is excited to begin Business Education here at MacDowell.

As we continue to build a strong academic program here at MacDowell, we are thankful for the support of our parents and families. Let’s work together to have a fantastic school year!

Andrea Corona

Principal, MacDowell Montessori School

WELCOME BACK!!

~~Thank you to all that attended our Forms Day and Open House! We hope it was a productive and helpful experience. We definitely enjoyed seeing so many of our students and families’ faces return to the building once again.~~ 

Please take the time to fill out the MPS School Engagement Survey– takes 5 minutes.

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. Let your Parent Coordinator know what your family needs. https://mpsresearch.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8vthsN2BBv09xpY

From the Parent Coordinator’s Desk

Hello MacDowell families! I am again your Parent Coordinator Ms. Gail Jaeger, this will be my fourth year working at MacDowell. My second year as your Parent Coordinator. I have been a parent at MacDowell for over nine years. I have a daughter in 7th grade and a daughter in 3rd grade. I love being a part of our community and really love Montessori education. When I am not at school I can be found outside, enjoying nature, spending time with my kids, gardening, crocheting and cheering for Wisconsin sports teams.  

My job is to keep families involved, engaged, and informed. I organize and plan school events, support family leadership opportunities, manage our volunteers, and write and send out our school newsletters and communication. 

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, 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 child’s name and teacher when you request to join.

 The first PTO meeting of the year is September 11th at 5:30pm. 

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

Welcome Back – I look forward to a fun and exciting year!

~ Ms. Jaeger 

**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. 

Upcoming Events / Meetings

SEC MEETING (School Engagement Council)

Wednesday, September 11th

5:00pm  

prior to the PTO meeting – ALL INVITED

Useful information from Principal Corona on our school, building and students

~Curious about what happens at the SEC meetings? Come join us for the first meeting of the school year! This is an extremely informative meeting. The SEC is a group of families, staff, and community members who 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, however, we are actively recruiting SEC Board Members!

PTO MEETING (Parent Teacher Organization)

Wednesday, September 11th

5:30pm

Room 103

Come with your ideas for our Back to School Picnic

THIRD FRIDAY COUNT DAY

Friday, September 20th 

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 20! It is vitally important for our school funding. 

BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC

Saturday, September 21st

1:00-4:00 pm

Hawthorne Glen

-more info to come-

COUSINS FUNDRAISER

Wednesday, September 25th

4-8pm

1150 Miller Parkway

FLYER

NO SCHOOL

Friday, September 27th – Staff Professional Development

Friday, October 18th & Monday October 20th

MacDowell Gear Swap: 

Do you have used and too small or not worn MacDowell Gear?? Bring them to the picnic and offer it to other families. Maybe your family will find some gear to start the year.  

~Watch later this fall for our MacDowell gear sale through Dunn’s Sporting Goods.~

General Reminders

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 may exit your vehicle and join the pick up line along the fence line (name card in hand). You may greet the child as teacher’s dismiss them to staff waiting at the sidewalk.  

Parents should not drop off students prior to the entrance doors opening at 7:55am.  There is no staff available to supervise students prior to that time.

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES – If a student needs a change to end of day transportation please call the main office BEFORE 2:15pm so that communication can get to the teacher in a timely manner. In addition please be sure to communicate to the child’s teacher any ongoing pick up instructions. Teachers are not to rely on the child’s communication alone. In relation to early pick up for appointments etc, call the main office ahead of arriving for the student to be ready in the office when their ride has arrived.  

MacDowell Main Office : 414-935-1400

LOST AND FOUND – **Parents are strongly encouraged to label their child’s belongings, including water bottles, lunch boxes, sweatshirts, jackets, and backpacks. Young and older children have a tendency for backpacks and other personal items to be misplaced. Let’s keep the LOST AND FOUND EMPTY!

NEW PASSWORDS – AS OF SPRING 2024 – All students have started to use a newly formatted password. Many students became familiar with their new passwords in May. Staff that have access to a student’s password are only your child’s specific teachers and administrators. Parents / guardians can find the child’s password in the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus: under the menu option ‘MORE’ – select the ‘Password’ tab. 

You may access the Parent Portal by downloading the app or from the MPS homepage Parent Portal shortcut, or FAMILY tab. To gain access as a first time user guardians must acquire a GUID number from the main office. Be prepared to show ID to the office staff to obtain the child’s specific code. Don’t remember a password or other technical issues with a parent portal account? > Contact MPS Parent Portal tech support at (414) 475-8159.

NEW BREAKFAST PROCEDURES K-6 – New this school year breakfast will not be served in the classroom. When students arrive they should report to their classroom. Upon entering the room they will be asked if they have eaten breakfast and given the option to take the pass to a designated breakfast room on their floor. Breakfast rooms are open 8:00-8:30 am. Be sure to arrive at the 8:00 am start of the day to allow children ample time to eat breakfast, if they require, and get back to class for their studies.

A Note for Middle and High School Families 

The school day starts at 8:00am. New this school year – any 7th-12th grade student arriving after 8:10am will need a tardy slip.

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

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. 
• 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.

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. 

IB UPDATE:

May 2024 Newsletter: See how our IB scholars ended the previous school year.

IB Learner Profile of the Month (May)

There are 10 learner profile traits which describe a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. In May we are spotlighted: Reflective: Students that are reflective thoughtfully consider the world and their own ideas and experience. They work to understand their strengths and weaknesses in order to support their learning and personal development.

Jounte Harrison, 9th grade, was nominated and then voted in May by MacDowell Staff as a student that has shown what it takes to be Reflective. Jounte is quietly reflective of his own work. He is dedicated and  thoughtful in all that he does and isn’t afraid to think about and answer leading questions. He resubmits work when it’s not up to his expectations, is consistently thoughtful, introspective, and offers ideas and encourages others to express themselves. He is also highly engaged at all this and is the first to complete projects and tasks.

Congrats Jounte!! Keep up the great work.

Sports and Activities Update

High School Fall Sports:

Fall sports are in full swing!  There is still time to register for volleyball and cross country (Juneau), football (Marshall), and boys’ soccer (King).  Registration is fully online and must be fully completed before a student-athlete can start practice. The registration link, schedules, ticketing information, and other items can be found at the following link:  https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Programs/Athletics.htm. 

**The DEADLINE to register and participate in fall sports is TOMORROW-  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13.

Winter sports season (basketball, cheer, and wrestling) will begin in November. Stay tuned for more details in upcoming newsletters.  If you have any questions, reach out to the athletic director, Ms. Schenk at schenkao@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Fall Elementary & Middle School Sports:

**Please return any uniforms from last school year.

Fall sports available this year are: 

• ⚽1-3 Soccer (2 teams)
• ⚽4-5 Soccer
• 👟5-8 Cross Country
• 🏀6-8 Girls Basketball

Interest forms were distributed to athletes this week. Check backpacks for more information. 

⭐All Lottery forms are DUE to the main office September 12 by 9 AM to be entered into the lottery.⭐

👟Cross Country (XC) forms were distributed to interested athletes, forms and money need to be turned in to the main office to participate. The first XC practice is today 9/5 3:30-4:30pm, the first meet is Thursday 9/12.

Assistant Coaches needed! 1-3 Soccer and 6-8 Girls Basketball are in need of volunteer assistant coaches. Please contact Ms Wanta at wantalm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us for more information.

ATTENTION K4, K5 AND 5TH GRADE PARENTS!! 

The Lion’s Club will be hosting a vision screening for our K4, K5 and 5th grade students in October (tentatively October 16th) during the school day. There will be a passive consent form sent home via Thursday folders in the next couple weeks. The form is an opt out only, meaning you only have to return the form if you DO NOT want your child screened. If you have any questions regarding the vision screening, please feel free to reach out to Nurse Sarah. gruettsd@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

OUR 2023-2024 YEARBOOKS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!

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

Elementary Yearbooks – $15, 

Middle / High School Yearbooks – $25

Girls Who Code Club-  registration for fall is OPEN!

A UWM program empowering girls in grades 5-12 to learn about computer science and how to write computer code while making connections with other girls who also think creatively. Led by female computer science faculty and college students in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Classes are free, though donations are welcome for food, supplies, t-shirts and instructors. 

Visit UWMs website for more information and to register HERE

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

School Website

Lunch Menu – K-8th September
Lunch Menu – 9-12th September

Community Resources and Opportunities

Milwaukee Rec Dept Fall Music Lessons Flyer !!! MacDowell is one of the locations for this session. Mr. Colin will be offering percussion lessons at MacDowell for the first time this fall !!!