Upcoming Events / Meetings

LAST DAYS! MILWAUKEE MAKER SCHOOL FUNDRAISER

NOW – November 2nd : Online

A selection of items created by local Milwaukee artisans.

More info below

PARENT EDUCATION SESSION – Focus on Literacy/Grammar

Friday, October 31st

7:45am-9:45am – presentation begin at 8:15am

FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL EARLY ENROLLMENT

Now until November 3rd

Apply online https://mpsmke.com/hsapp

NO SCHOOL

Friday, November 7th

PICTURE DAY

Tuesday, November 11th

Forms will be sent home next week

LOU MALNATI’S FUNDRAISER NIGHT – Brookfield and Fox Point

Thursday, November 13th

4:00pm – 10:00pm

Carry Out Only – FLYER

SEC MEETING / PTO MEETING

Wednesday, November 19th

5:00pm / 5:30pm

Room 103

ETHNIC POTLUCK

Thursday, November 20th

5:30 – 7:00 pm

FLYER

NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE

November 24th – 28th

KRISPY KREME DIGITAL DOZENS →

November 1 – December 31st

ONE MORE SESSION TOMORROW MORNING – there will be coffee and donuts   

General Reminders

COLDER WEATHER: As the season has turned colder, please remember that younger students should have spare clothing for colder weather in their backpack/bookbag. If you have not already done so, now is the time to replace their clothing with warmer weather attire. Please label items!

Need help with gifts for the holidays? warm weather gear, food, etc. Please reach out to Rachel Jacobson, our School Social Worker, as she may be able to help connect you to resources. A local church in the area (Meadowbrook Church) partners with MacDowell to help provide Christmas gifts. Please reach out asap if this is something you would like to be connected to. She can be reached at 414-935-1432 or jacobsr@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

ONLINE MACDOWELL SPIRIT WEAR SALE IS LIVE NOW!

https://dunns-25-macdowell-montessori-wear.itemorder.com/

Sale Closes November 3 @ 11:59pm

Items include MacDowell t-shirts, hoodies, a ¼ zip sweatshirt & more. We’ve added some navy options so our Middle School sports fans can match team uniforms. Orders will be delivered to the school and then distributed through student backpacks.  

*Disclaimer: There is typically a 4 to 5 week turnaround to get all apparel ordered, printed, and sorted AFTER the store has come offline.

Assessments

ACT 20 REQUIREMENTS K4-3rd Grade

Starting the week of October 20, 2025, MPS Assessment began emailing parents of students in four-year-old kindergarten through third grade their child’s results from the Act 20 assessments completed in aimswebPlus. To view these results, parents will need their child’s MPS ID number (this is the “s” number without the “s”). 

2nd GRADE COGAT ASSESSMENT

This year, all Milwaukee Public Schools second-grade students will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) screener. This ability test will be administered in October. CogAT is designed to provide insight into your child’s cognitive abilities, which will help us identify students as having High Ability/High Potential (HA/HP) or as gifted (GT).

Based on screener results, students who meet MPS criteria will move on to take the CogAT post-screener, which includes the full battery of tests. This version of the test will be administered after Thanksgiving Break. Initial CogAT results will be sent to parents via email through the MPS secure message system.   

What to expect and how to help:

• No special preparation is needed: This is an abilities test, not an achievement test. Students should not study for it, but they should come rested and ready to do their best. 
• Encourage your child to answer every question and to give their full effort. 
• Please make sure your child is at school on time on the testing days.  
• A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast before testing days can help. 

The following chart shows the timeline regarding CogAT

November 2025	December 2025	January 2026
CogAT screener Duration: 45 minutes	Test results will be emailed home. Post-Screener will be administered to students who are eligible.  Duration: 90 minutes	HA/HP and GT Flags will be assigned to students in Infinite Campus. Test results will be emailed to parents.

If you have questions about specific dates for this test, please reach out to your child’s school or Ms. Wetzel, MacDowell’s Testing Coordinator. wetzelcm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

The next PTO meeting of the year is November 19th at 5:30pm. After the 5:00pm SEC Meeting

Join the BUY NOTHING MACDOWELL MONTESSORI Facebook Page

Buy Nothing. Give Freely. Share creatively. This group offers members a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a network of individuals who are current or former members of the MacDowell community. 

We’d love to have you join us! This is what builds community. In this group there is no buying or selling, no trades or bartering, no soliciting for cash.

To join, click “Join Group” and answer the four membership questions. Please read all the group rules. Contact volunteer Kim Michels or Annie Smith with any questions about membership in this Buy Nothing community group.

Facebook Page LINK : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1114732806910153

~Milwaukee Maker Fundraiser ENDS THIS WEEKEND (Oct 14-Nov 3). We encourage you to share this link with family, friends and neighbors who might also be interested in shopping locally while supporting our school – even if they are out of town, orders can be shipped. Pick-up orders will be ready the first week of December at the school or buyers can choose $6 flat rate shipping. 

WEBPAGE IS OPEN: https://www.makerymaven.com/milwaukee-maker-fundraiser-macdowell

SAVE THE DATE:

Upcoming Restaurant Fundraisers

Krispy Kreme online voucher purchase November 1 – December 31 FLYER

Lou Malnati’s (Brookfield and Fox Point locations, carry out only) November 13

Saz’s State House December 11 

Cousin’s Subs (State St) January 13

Papa John’s (115th & North) February 11

Saz’s State House – March 11

In Case You Missed It

MacDowell’s Music Department has set a schedule for the school year. Find the list here: MacDowell 2025-2026 Music Performance Calendar. 

Note some events are Elementary or Adolescent.

Picture packages can be ordered in advance online at www.mylifetouch.com

Use the MacDowell order ID: EVTQK6QG8

*Pictures of all students will be taken, whether or not picture packages are ordered. These photos are used in our school yearbooks. Forms will be sent home next week.  If you chose to order using the paper order form, please send it along with a check on picture day, November 11th.

If you order online, there is no need to return the paper form. 

 

If families do not order a picture package in advance they will receive a picture proof afterward, with instructions to order pictures online if they wish. Proofs arrive approximately one week after photos are taken.

Middle and High School Families 

7th Grade Parents/Guardians : 

MacDowell School Counselor Mr. Jonathan Marks is hosting 7th grade parent chats promoting High School, College & Career Readiness

Click for more info / signup https://calendar.app.google/Td1n3GFUEcb39SE36

APPLY NOW! HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT – LAST DAYS

Open for Fall 2026 NOW through Monday, November 3, 2025.

**Grade 8 students currently enrolled at MacDowell Montessori, must complete an application and put their current school as their first choice if they want to continue at MacDowell going into grade 9. Applicants already enrolled in grade 8 at MacDowell do not compete with other applicants for a spot in grade 9.**

Visit the MPS High School Enrollment website for more information and to apply. https://mps.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/en/Schools/How-to-Apply/High-School-Enrollment.htm

If you have any questions, please reach out to MacDowell’s middle school counselor, Jonathan Marks at 414-391-3068 or marksjt@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Save the Date:

Sports and Activities Update

High School Winter Sports Deadlines

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

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

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

Elementary & Middle School Athletics

Fall season is coming to an end. Please return all uniforms to Ms Wanta ASAP.

Elementary Coach Needed

We’re in need of a parent volunteer to step in as the head coach for a 1st-3rd grade Soccer team this spring. If you are available or interested in more information please contact Ms Wanta at wantalm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. 

Spring Sports Remind Links

• ⚽1-3 Soccer TEAM 1 Coach Josh: https://www.remind.com/join/e74hh6h 
• ⚽1-3 Soccer TEAM 2 Coach Katie:  https://www.remind.com/join/h62e48 
• 🏐4-5 Volleyball: https://www.remind.com/join/346288 
• 👟5-8 Track & Field: https://www.remind.com/join/eehh64 
• 🏀6-8 GIRLS Basketball: https://www.remind.com/join/a2k6e9 

Elementary Chess Clubs Remind Links

• ♟️Tuesday Chess Club: https://www.remind.com/join/c68gd4 
• ♟️Thursday Chess Club: https://www.remind.com/join/g7b2kf2 

https://forms.gle/VnjzbehgWaE8sXru5

BREAKOUT EDU WITH UPPER ELEMENTARY

Upper Elementary classes had their first Breakout experience in the library this week! Breakout EDU is an educational, game-based learning platform that harnesses the excitement of escape rooms and infuses them with academic content for the classroom.

MEDIA LITERACY – October is Cyber Security Month 

Watch this important Privacy and Safety video from Common Sense with ALL ages (1.5 min).

LINKS: online privacy , set strong passwords, privacy settings, personal information

PARENT COORDINATOR CORNER

LOST AND FOUND: Please check the lost and found when you are in the building. Please label items! Light jackets and hoodies are often a large part of our lost and found – labeling these items will help us return lost items to their owner. At the end of the month and each subsequent month we will box up all items to prepare for donation. 

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

STAY CONNECTED – OPT IN

If you want to receive a newsletter 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.

MacDowell  Spotlight

LEARNING JOURNEY at HAVENWOODS

Room 314 and 316 went to Havenwoods State Forest this month. The groups took a nature walk and saw two woolly bear caterpillars along the trail. We talked about trees and bees. Inside we sampled a plant-y treat: carrots (a root) and sugar snap peas (a seed). They all enjoyed putting plant puzzles together as well. 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

School Website

Lunch Menu – K-8th November

Lunch Menu – High School November

September IB Newsletter

Community Resources and Opportunities  

FOODSHARE RESOURCES

Due to the ongoing federal government shut down, refugee families and about 42 million Americans will have their benefits for Foodshare delayed in November. Here is a link from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to check for up to date information.https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/news.htm  

To locate food pantry information and other supports, individuals can search for locations at findhelp.org

Also, the USCIS has announced that it has updated its civics part of the citizenship test for lawful permanent residents who want to become a U.S. citizen. Please refer to the link for additional information that can be shared with families.

CIVIC MUSIC MILWAUKEE 

Inviting children and families to “discover the joy of music,” at its second annual KIDS MUSICFEST Sunday, November 9, 12 – 4 pm at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W. Walnut St. This free-admission event will feature music performances, interactive sessions, and the opportunity to connect with greater Milwaukee’s best organizations with youth music programs.

 Visit CivicMusicMilwaukee.org for more information.

 

📚BREAKOUT 3 digit code: 948