Upcoming Events / Meetings

PARENT EDUCATION SESSION – FOCUS ON LITERACY

TONIGHT, Thursday, March 6th

5:30-7:30 pm 

DAC – District Advisory Council MEETING

Tonight, Thursday, March 6th

6:00-7:30 pm

Virtual

Zoom Link

UPPER ELEMENTARY – NATURE’S CLASSROOM

Returns tomorrow March 7th

ACT TESTING – 11TH GRADERS

Wednesday, March 12th

No student attendance for grades 9, 10 & 12

PTO FUNDRAISER – SAZ’S STATE HOUSE

Wednesday, March 12th

11:00am – 8:00pm

Mention MacDowell – Reservations encouraged

FLYER

SPRING CONFERENCES

March 17th and 19th

3:45 – 7:30pm

BOOKFAIR

Monday, March 17th 3:30-7:30pm

Wednesday, March 19th 3:30-7:30 pm

3rd Floor Library

SEC MEETING

Wednesday, March 19th

5:00 pm

Location: TBD

PTO MEETING

Wednesday, March 19th

5:30pm

NO SCHOOL 

March 21st – 28th

Conference Day and Spring Break

SPRING PICTURE DAY

Tuesday, April 1st

MACDOWELL’S SPRING MUSICAL – 

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND JUNIOR 

PERFORMANCE DATES HAVE CHANGED.

Showtimes are now April 9th and 11th 

Check the MacDowell webpage calendar for future events.https://mps.school/macdowell/calendar/

Spring Conference sign ups are OPEN: https://tinyurl.com/5fhpsmuy

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

TACOS FOR TEACHERS: 

On Wednesday, March 19th we will again host dinner for our teachers and staff immediately after school – before Conferences. If you are able to make or buy an item to contribute to this meal, or help with set up or clean up, please sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/2d3autf2 

 ~Families have been tremendous supporters in the past – your generosity is immensely appreciated, Thank You!

BOOKFAIR

We continue to partner with an outstanding local business, Rainbow Booksellers, to bring a book fair to MacDowell for our students and families. We will host our spring Book Fair on both nights of conferences. All families are welcome to visit the fair during any of the posted hours. Rainbow Booksellers brings a wonderful selection of books for our fair and graciously donates 25% of the sales to support our library!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Check slots for specific times – there are daytime and after-school hours available!

Volunteers are essential in making our book fair a great success! We need helpers to set up the fair, to supervise the Book Fair inventory during open circulation time, and also to work as sales assistants and cashiers during the Book Fair. Please take a look at the shifts available and sign up if you can do so. Your time and assistance are greatly appreciated! 

The daytime supervision slots were added with the hope that the library can remain open for circulation while the Book Fair is set up. These daytime volunteers would monitor the book fair setup to ensure our inventory count is accurate at the end of the sale.

Thank you!!

Sign up link: https://tinyurl.com/volunteerbookfair25

Where’s the Bus? App

Student safety is a top priority in MPS. District families now have access to an exciting app to help track their child’s bus—WheresThe Bus! This app allows families to track their child’s bus in real time. 

The app is free! Families can access WheresThe Bus from any internet-enabled device—smartphone, tablet, PC, or iPad. Apple iOS and Android apps are available. 

To access WheresThe Bus, families must have a Campus Parent (parent portal) account with a login and password. These can be set up two ways: 

• At each child’s school during regular school hours; an ID is required; OR
• At MPS Central Services, 5225 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; an ID is required

Learn more and read how to access the app on the MPS website at WheresTheBus.

SPRING PHOTO DAY: 

Spring Photos are different from traditional school photos – they are meant to be more fun and informal and are not required to be taken. On April 1st – Only students who have ordered Spring Photos online in advance, or brought the order form back to school, will be sent to the library for photography. If you would like to order online, please use our mylifetouch.com Picture Day ID: EVTD77T3Z

Still craving some Girl Scout Cookies?  

Check out MacDowell Troop 11128 at local Cookie Booths in March!

SUNDAY March 9 at PICK N SAVE (84 & Bluemound) 1-4pm

Troop 13024 will be selling cookies at conferences March 19th. Please support your local building troops. 

Cookies will be $6 per box with the following cookie options: Adventurefuls, Trefoils (AKA Shortbreads), Caramel deLites, Toast-yays, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades, and Thin Mints.  

Spring Testing

MPS students in grades 3-11 will take part in state testing this spring. The district is required to use standardized exams to measure student achievement in English language arts, math, science, and social studies. The type of test and testing dates vary by grade level.

For a complete schedule and more information, download a family letter.

Spring Testing Letter – English and Spanish

Growing Readers

DONATION REQUEST-

Middle School teacher, Mr. Gioia has started implementing Solo Time in his advisory on Wednesdays to help encourage students to read, who aren’t naturally drawn to read for leisure. He is looking to build a small collection of magazines and newspapers to encourage students who might feel intimidated by long books to engage with reading something shorter and maybe align more with their interests. 

Please consider donating any old magazines your household no longer needs. Below is a list of some popular magazines parents might have that could be appropriate. Mr. Gioia’s students can bring to his class; other families: feel free to bring to Ms. Jaeger or Ms. Raasch in the library and we will distribute them to teachers. 

Thanks so much for your help!

• TIME for Kids
• The Week Junior
• Smithsonian Magazine
• National Geographic Kids
• National Geographic
• Scholastic News
• Junior Scholastic
• Popular Science
• Scientific American
• Discover Magazine
• Astronomy Magazine
• Cobblestone (American History)
• Smithsonian Air & Space
• BBC History
• Muse (History, Science, & Culture)
• Sports Illustrated for Kids
• ESPN Magazine
• Runner’s World
• SLAM (Basketball)
• Game Informer (Video Games)
• Art, Design & Creativity:
• The New York Times Upfront (Teen-Focused News & Issues)
• The Week (General News)
• Junior Scholastic (Current Events for Middle Schoolers)
• New York Times Learning Network (Select Articles & Student Editions)

School Engagement Council

Please schedule your conferences so you can join Principal Corona and Ms. Jaeger at the School Engagement Council (SEC) meeting on Wednesday March 19th at 5:00pm. These monthly meetings are presented by Principal Corona, where she shares and discusses school climate. Topics include attendance, discipline trends, test scores, staffing and budget. Stay informed about MacDowell Montessori and join us, ALL are welcome. Allow your voice to be heard. 

Notes From Your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Next Meeting – March 19th 5:30pm 

(after the SEC meeting led by Principal Corona)

February PTO meeting minutes : HERE

Restaurant Fundraisers

Saz’s State House – NEXT WEEK : March 12th FLYER

Artisan Ramen – April 8th

Elementary Enrichment

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: LOWER ELEMENTARY FOODRIGHT GROWING CHEFS – SPRING SESSIONS

MacDowell’s 1st-3rd classrooms have begun their spring sessions of Food Right. 

We could still use volunteers:

• March 12th – 3rd graders maple tapping
• May 6th – transplant seedlings
• May 29th – garden planting

Check your email for specific dates and communication recruiting volunteers or contact Ms. Jaeger if you are interested mossergj@miwaukee.k12.wi.us

Summer Academy

Enrollment for MPS Summer Academy has begun. Register by May 26th. MacDowell will be the site for K5-8th grade Montessori Academy. More information and registration can be found at mpsmke.com/summeracademy 

Middle and High School Updates

ACT INFORMATION

2025 ACT District Testing Day March 12

MPS high schools will administer the state-required ACT to grade 11 students on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. On this date, only juniors will be in attendance. Freshmen, sophomores, and seniors will not report to school on this date. Multi-grade schools (e.g., K-12, 3-12, 6-12) will have regular attendance for students not in grades 9, 10, or 12. Students should arrive at school at their regular start time to allow testing to be completed in a timely manner.

2025 PreACT District Testing Day April 8

District PreACT day will be an all-school attendance day. Students should arrive at school at their regular start time to allow testing to be completed in a timely manner.

Sports and Activities Update

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS

Uniform Return Time **For 1st-5th Basketball the end of the season is here. Please return uniforms ASAP.

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

Winter Sports Remind Links

• 📣6-8 Cheerleading: https://www.remind.com/join/29f846 
• 🏀6-7 BOYS Basketball: https://www.remind.com/join/74af88a 
• 🏀6-8 BOYS Basketball: https://www.remind.com/join/ce2kk4

 Club Remind Links 

• ♟️Tuesday Chess Club: https://www.remind.com/join/c68gd4 
• ♟️Thursday Chess Club: https://www.remind.com/join/g7b2kf2 
• ♟️MS/HS Chess Club: https://www.remind.com/join/chessmsh 
• 🎲Tabletop Adventure Gaming: https://www.remind.com/join/8e39k3f 

HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS – 

https://mpsathletics-ar.rschooltoday.com/home

Registration is open NOW 

See flyer HERE

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Athletic Schedules:  https://www.mccathletics.org/public/genie/1190/school/64/

Purchase Online Tickets:   https://gofan.co/app/school/WI19445 

In Case You Missed It

Kindergarten Enrollment for the 2025-2026 School Year: February 1 to March 17, 2025

HOW TO APPLY: To apply for Kindergarten enrollment, please complete these steps:

1. Visit the MPS Online Registration webpage.
2. Choose a language (English or Spanish).
3. Select “Start New Application”.
4. Complete the initial registration form at the end of the webpage. For “Registration Type”, select “25-26 Kindergarten”. (NOT FALL 25-26)

MPS Kindergarten Enrollment Page; MPS: Kindergarten Enrollment – Schools

DON’T FORGET: 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     14324525
• 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 –  order online at ybpay.com code is 15393925

❄️WEATHER CLOSING INFORMATION ❄️

Please become familiar with the district page linked here: mpsmke.com/weather. The decision to close school will be posted on the MPS website, MPS X and Facebook pages, and on all major television and news stations.

!! 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.

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

2025-2026 MPS School Calendar

School Website

Staff Emails

IB Newsletter – December/January

Lunch Menu

MacDowell Spotlight

Ms. Kiki’s Upper Elementary Student Black History Month Mural – displayed on the west end of the entry hallway.

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS  

Would You Rather?

New in the library last month… An interactive voting opportunity to promote verbal conversation skills and debate amongst students! Our first question generated nearly 200 votes in two weeks. The winner was “live in the clouds” ☁️(115 votes) over “live underwater”🌊 (83 votes).