Upcoming Events / Meetings

PARENT EDUCATION SESSION – MATH

Thursday, February 12th

5:30-7:30pm, presentation begins at 6:00pm

FLYER

WASHINGTON DC TRIP – HIGH SCHOOL

February 9th – 13th

NO SCHOOL

February 16th – 17th

SEC MEETING- School Engagement Council – TOPIC: NEW ENTRANCE SCANNING PROCEDURE

Wednesday, February 18th

5:00 – 5:30 pm

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE SEC MEETINGS – every month, this is your opportunity to contribute to the school and have a voice.

PTO MEETING

Wednesday, February 18th

5:30- 6:30pm

MPS KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT FAIR – District Event

Saturday, February 21st

9:00 – 12:00pm

North Division High School

BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM – Motown !

Thursday, February 26th

6:00 – 7:30 pm

VALENTINE COFFEE FUNDRAISER PICKUP

Tuesday March 3rd

3:00 – 4:30 pm

EARLY RELEASE DAY

Wednesday, March 4th

ACT TESTING – 11TH GRADERS

Wednesday, March 11th

No student attendance for grades 9, 10 & 12

PTO FUNDRAISER – SAZ’S STATE HOUSE

Wednesday, March 11th

11:00am – 8:30pm

Mention MacDowell – Reservations encouraged

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

TONIGHT

     

~SPRING CONFERENCES~

March 16th and 18th

3:45 – 7:30pm

Watch for communication and signups later this month. 

Note: this year we will be utilizing Google calendar appointments and not Signup Genius

General Reminders

MORNING HUG AND GO FLOW REMINDERS 

• Traffic should flow North to South. 
• Refrain from parking on the east side of 64th st (children and parents crossing presents a hazard and slows up vehicles trying to exit the drop off line)
• Drop off is a HUG and GO zone. Students should be ready to exit when the vehicle reaches the doors. 
• Encourage students to exit vehicles (if they are able) even if a staff member is not opening the car door. Our goal is to get the line cleared BEFORE door closure at 8:20am.

There is no parking/standing on the west side of 64th st. Parents that want to walk their students need to park further down the street past the fenceline.  Parking just past the drop off zone stops the flow of cars leaving. We all want our students in class safe and on time. 

Kindergarten Enrollment for the 2026-2027 School Year: January 31 to March 2, 2026

• If you have a younger child that you wish to enroll in K3 or K4 at MacDowell, you must enroll during this enrollment window to receive sibling preference. The current student’s name should be included in the application. Sibling preference is not granted after this enrollment window.
• There is no advantage to completing the enrollment application on the first day of the process.  
• Current MacDowell students do not need to reapply.  They are automatically re-enrolled. 
• The application will be available online through the MPS website.
• Please encourage your friends, family and neighbors to choose MacDowell Montessori for their child’s education! Interested families should call the school office to schedule a tour. 

Wondering if you can enroll your child?

• Students enrolling at K3 need to be 3 years old by September 1st and must reside in Milwaukee.
• Students enrolling in K4 need to be 4 years old by September 1st.

MPS Kindergarten Enrollment Page; MPS: Kindergarten Enrollment – Schools

UPPER ELEMENTARY NATURE’S CLASSROOM TRIP – eligible 4th – 6th graders

The dates of this trip are Monday, March 23 – Friday, March 27, 2026.

If your child will attend Nature’s Classroom, please complete both the NCI online registration and the MPS Field Trip Form as soon as possible. Please return the MPS Field Trip Form to your child’s teacher.

PLEASE NOTE: We require a copy of medical insurance cards – you can send a photo of the front and back via email to your child’s teacher, or attach a copy with the paperwork.

NATURE’S CLASSROOM DEADLINES:

• Both registrations (NCI online and MPS Field Trip forms) should be completed ASAP but no later than Friday, February 27th. Late registrations will not be accepted. 
• Copy of Insurance card must be included with registration.
• We will accept payment (cash or check made out to MacDowell Montessori, to the main office) no later than Friday, March 6th

Middle and High School Updates

TAB WARS – LAST DAYS!!  7-12th graders compete to win a pizza party and drinks while helping support the Ronald McDonald House. 8th grade is in the lead !!

Extended one more Week!

Anyone can participate – place tabs in the grade’s bottle you’d like to support.

IB UPDATE – January/December Learner Profile of the Month

There are 10 learner profile traits which describe a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. 

In December, we are spotlighting: Communicator: Students that are communicators express themselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. They collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups. Amira Harmon, 10th grade, was nominated and voted for the month of December by staff as a student that shows what it takes to be a communicator. On Amira’s Personal Project, she communicated extremely effectively and bravely about her chosen topic. Her presentation was also creative, involving a brochure that she made. She collaborated with other students through a survey she administered to gather data. She worked hard to present information to all who need it about mental health and how it impacts school performance. She has used her personal experience to leverage action with her fellow students. 

Nice job Amira!!! 

A shout out to the other nominees for this month’s Learner Profile are Ava Ajayi, Gabby Wanjiku, and Nicholas Rausch!!         

In January, we are spotlighting: Principled: Students that are principled act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. They take responsibility for their actions and their consequences. Maple Mosser, 8th grade, was nominated and voted for the month of January by staff as a student that shows what it takes to be principled. Maple acts with integrity, honesty, and fairness in her daily interactions. She takes responsibility for her actions, follows classroom expectations, and makes thoughtful choices. She shows respect for others and strives to do what is right; both academically and socially. 

Way to go Maple! 

A shout out to the other nominee for this month’s Learner Profile, Sidney Whaleysmith!! 

Find this spotlight and more in the current IB Newsletter found HERE.

ACT INFORMATION

2026 ACT District Testing Day March 11

MPS high schools will administer the state-required ACT to grade 11 students on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. 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.

2026 PreACT District Testing Day April 9

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

Calling builders and painters! The Shakespeare cast is looking for help to create a set for the MacDowell theater club. 

Proposed work dates:

• Tuesday February 17 from 3:00-6:30pm  (No student attendance during school day)
• Saturday February 21 from 8:00am-12:00pm
• Friday February 27 from 5:00-8:00pm
• Saturday March 7 from 1:00-5:00pm

Please click the link to fill out the interest form and Ms. Emily will be in touch! https://forms.gle/hJFk3FqLihUv7VBG8

Save the dates!!!

6th-8th Boys basketball: March of Champions March 13-15

6th-8th Volleyball: Middle school City-Wide Volleyball Tournament March 5, 6, & 8 

Winter Sports: Join Remind!

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 

Youth Sports Remind Links

• 🏀1-3 Basketball Team 1: https://www.remind.com/join/ha9843a 
• 🏀1-3 Basketball Team 2: https://www.remind.com/join/36f428 
• 🏀4-5 Basketball: https://www.remind.com/join/82h96g 
• 🏀6-8 Boys Basketball: https://www.remind.com/join/ce2kk4 
• 🏐6-8 Girls Volleyball: https://www.remind.com/join/cghdh6 
• 🏐6-8 Coed Volleyball: https://www.remind.com/join/7fdfcgg 
• 📣6-8 Cheerleading: https://www.remind.com/join/29f846 

Elementary Chess Clubs Remind Links

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

Tabletop Adventure Gaming Announcement: Last day is March 2, 2026

Lego Club– 1st-3rd & 4th-6th Interest Form

Whether you’re a beginner or a master builder, LEGO Club is a great place to learn new skills, make friends, and bring your ideas to life—one brick at a time!

• Participation will be determined by lottery. ALL Students interested in participating should have this form filled out by 10 AM Wednesday Feb 18, 2026 
• There will be a $25 fee for participation.
• Students selected in the lottery will be given a form to complete and returned with the fee. 
• 1st-3rd Grade on THURSDAYS 3:00-4:30. 
  • Dates: 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26
• 4th-6th Grade on MONDAYS
  • Dates: 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23
• Parents are responsible for transportation of students after the club ends. 
• Pick up at the Main Entrance at 4:30. Being late for pickup twice (after 4:45) will result in your student being unable to continue to participate.
• Any questions? Please contact Ms Wanta at wantalm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

https://forms.gle/iZs34F9Pcpi9DEMj6 

High School Winter Sports

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

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

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

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

The next PTO meeting of the year is February 18 at 5:30pm. After the 5:00pm SEC Meeting

January PTO minutes : HERE 

SAVE THE DATE: Upcoming Restaurant Fundraisers

Saz’s State House – March 11 FLYER

JUST ADDED: Build a Breakfast, Build a Burger – April 18th

In Case You Missed It

LOST AND FOUND Please check the lost and found when you are in the building. Please label items! 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. Items that were in the Lost and Found have been boxed up and prepared for donation.

Please take the time to fill out the MacDowell School Engagement Survey– takes less than 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 The Learning Team know your family needs. 

After submissions have been received we will share results and allow feedback at a spring School Engagement Council meeting. Please respond by February 25th

https://forms.gle/mCKfdGChgV5q2VDu5

PRE ORDER YEARBOOKS-  DUE April 29th

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 14324526
• 7-12th grade yearbooks will cost $25 –  order online at ybpay.com code is 15502426

WEATHER CLOSING INFORMATION ❄️

Winter weather has arrived! As winter conditions continue, please be alert for school closings. The district has added a new webpage about winter weather and potential school closings, with information and tips for families and staff during weather events. Please become familiar with this page linked: 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.

~Students have outdoor recess unless the temperature is below a feels like temp of 11°~ 

!! 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.

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 

~ Ms. Gail Jaeger 

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

School Website

Lunch Menu – K-8th February

Lunch Menu – High School February

December / January  IB Newsletter

Staff Preferences 25-26

MacDowell Spotlight

MIDDLE SCHOOL MYP ART – Natural Dyes

Mr. Schwarten has been working with the Middle School students utilizing natural dyes. This process exercises the STEAM program and IB Middle Years Program. The students considered the qualities of the natural (kitchen) paint made from plants, the impact of oxidation and chemical interactions on the paint and comparing them to the manufactured paints acquired through commercial means. 

OPERA FOR THE YOUNG

Earlier this winter MacDowell elementary students performed with the organization Opera for the Young in their production of The Elixir of Love. Opera for the Young brings live, professional opera to school audiences. All productions are fully staged, sung in English and created especially for children. Students appear onstage in chorus and cameo roles. Classrooms and families enjoyed a lovely afternoon at the opera in MacDowell’s auditorium. Students studied opera and The Elixir of Love songs in their elementary music classes prior to the show. To learn more about Opera for the Young and see the programs they have to offer visit https://www.operafortheyoung.org/

 

Community Resources and Opportunities  

Production of Lovabye Dragon

This play runs on January 24 – February 15, 2026

Adapted from the Dragon and Girl books by Barbara Joosse

Directed by Marion Frank

Great for primary and lower elementary students. MacDowell 7th grader Penny Whitmore is in the Magic Cast.  Get tickets here: https://www.firststage.org/Production-Details/Lovabye-Dragon

More information here: https://www.firststage.org/Production-Details/Lovabye-Dragon