May 9, 2024

Upcoming Events / Meetings

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

RSVPs due tomorrow 5/10

HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS:

Friday, May 17th, 8:00 AM – 12:05 PM

Monday, May 20th, 8:00 AM – 12:05 PM

Tuesday, May 21st, 8:00 AM – 10:45 AM

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

Thank you to ALL that joined us Friday for our Open House and End of Year Picnic! We were so happy to have many visitors and a busy/ bustling school.

We’re looking forward to next year’s Back To School Picnic in September.

If you brought a container and would like it back, check with Ms. Jaeger.

 

HIGH SCHOOL FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

CHROMEBOOK RETURN EXPECTATIONS & PROCEDURES

All Middle and High School students are responsible for returning their Chromebooks and all other library books and textbooks before they leave MacDowell for the summer. We expect students and families to clear their Destiny account with MacDowell each spring as items and associated fines follow students to other MPS schools. Invoices will be sent home over the summer for unpaid fees. All fines must be paid to graduate.

Middle and High School students receive an automated email at 11:00 AM every Monday that details their current status with Destiny. An email receipt from Destiny is sent once they have returned their Chromebook. 

• High school students must return their items at one of the two Return Stations available on the 1st floor during all exam days. Students should return their Chromebook after their last exam. Exempt students can return before the exam days in Room 116 to Ms. Rogers. 
• Middle school students will turn their devices in on Monday, 5/20, during their Advisory Block from 1:00-2:00 PM at a Return Station in the Middle School Hallway. 
• NOTE: Students KEEP their chargers and cases to bring back in fall for Chromebook distribution. When a case and/or charger is not present at distribution, students are charged $10 for a charger and $20 for a case.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2024-25

As we look toward the next school year, for our planning purposes it is important for us to know whether your student(s) will continue at MacDowell next year.  Please take a moment to complete our short Enrollment Form at your earliest convenience so that we can plan efficiently.  If you have multiple MacDowell students, please complete the form for all your children. Thank you in advance.  

Complete the form here: https://forms.gle/hcTowuAgnzRhRWHUA

VOTE FOR MR. ASH – MANILOW MUSIC TEACHER AWARD !!

The Manilow Music Teacher Award recognizes an outstanding music teacher who helps to bring music to life for his or her students. The top vote recipient in each city will receive $10,000 — a $5,000 cash prize and a $5,000 Manilow Bucks credit that can be used to purchase instruments for their classroom. Vote DAILY for your favorite outstanding teacher and help spread the word by sharing the link below! Voting ends JUNE 15

VOTE NOW:  https://on.barrymanilow.com/tb_app/500663

MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY PROJECT

Please help these Middle Schoolers in their collection drive for students of MacDowell.

Accepting donations until May 17th!

IB Update

IB 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.

This month we are spotlighting: Balanced: Students that are balanced understand the importance of balancing different aspects of their lives – intellectual, physical, and emotional – to achieve well-being for themselves and others. They recognize their interdependence with other people and with the world in which they live.

Summer Hart, 9th grade, was nominated and then voted this month by MacDowell Staff as a student that has shown what it takes to be Balanced. She balances her health management, along with school (on the honor roll), and athletics (volleyball and tennis). She is also in the orchestra, MYSO Program, and the UW-Madison People Program. She balances everything well and continues to push herself in the things she does! 

Congrats Summer 🙂

April IB Newsletter HERE

• 9th Grade Organized Health Fair
• Community Day Photos
• Social Justice and Trigonometry Posters
• IB Candidates in Testing Mode

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

MacDowell In the News

Take a look at this Journal Sentinel article highlighting 12th Grader Dennis Young and former MacDowell student Marquavion Banks. 🙂

MPS Students Learn Trades From Facilities and Maintenance Department

Sports and Activities Update

FREE Intro to Tennis Event 

BRING YOUR FAMILY TO A FREE NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH EVENT!
USTA staff and tennis pros and the Milwaukee Recreation Department are hosting a FREE
intro to tennis event with fun play and games!

Equipment provided.

Thursday May 16, 2024

4:00- 5:15 pm

MacDowell Tennis Courts

*The MacDowell Varsity tennis team will be participating and helping host this family friendly event with Milwaukee Rec Dept. 

FLYER

Register HERE

JUNEAU ATHLETICS:

April / May Athletics Newsletter HERE

• Student athlete of the month
• Spring Sports
• Sports Banquet
• Looking ahead to Fall Sports
• Uniforms

Save the Date: High School All Sports Banquet : May 17, 2024. Please return RSVPs by May 10th

SPRING ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS:

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 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

 Library News from Ms. Raasch: TOMORROW: All Books are DUE

End of Year Library – Student and Family Responsibilities

All students have been notified about the books and other resources they owe to MacDowell Library by the end of the year. K-6 students have received paper notices and 7-12 students receive a weekly email on Monday at 11 AM that details their current library and resource checkouts. Families are responsible for resolving lost/missing library books with Ms. Raasch by Friday, May 17th. Families have options: 1) pay the listed fine to the main office. 2) donate a gently used hardcover book as a replacement. Please attach a note to the book indicating the student’s name. 3) contact SSW, Ms. Jacobson, to have the fine waived if your family cannot resolve it another way. Watch this 2-min video for more details: What if students lose a library book?

Contact Ms. Raasch via email: raaschTL@milwaukee.k12.wi.us OR join her Remind Group for MacDowell Library to contact her via Remind App: https://www.remind.com/join/hfg68e

AUTHOR VISIT

Author Laura Anne Bird came to visit MacDowell this week! She did a brief introduction, showed the book trailer for Crossing the Pressure Line, read a quick chapter, took Q & A, and promoted her new book due out in September! She also had a small craft activity- making a laminated feather bookmark  she provided for each class. Laura was SO impressed with our students. Laura loved spending time with our UE students yesterday and was very impressed with all the amazing, thoughtful questions they had! What a great day!! 

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

**We’re looking for new families to join and support our efforts! **

The 2024-2025 PTO will restructure our organization away from elected officers and towards an executive committee format. Our vision is to make light work with many hands by sharing tasks amongst the group. We want to make it easy and accessible for many families to be involved in our planning efforts. We’re a pretty fun group!  ptomacdowell@gmail.com Let us know what you can add to the group 🙂.

See April meeting minutes HERE. The first meeting of the new school year will be 9/11/24. 

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

If our school’s team has a minimum of 25 participants by July 31, we will be able to walk/run in our very own team t-shirt color. 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. 

• Register over the phone until August.16 at 4:30 pm by calling (414) 475-8410  (please have credit card information ready, be sure to mention what school you are running/ walking for)

• Register by mail by sending a registration form to: MPS Run Back to School, 5225 W. Vliet Street, Room 163, Milwaukee, WI 53208 (registration form can be found on mkerec.net/RBTS) until August. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

INFO: Milwaukee Recreation: Run Back to School

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

OUR 2023-2024 YEARBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!

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

Elementary Yearbooks – $15, 

Middle / High School Yearbooks – $25

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 

High school

Specialty programs

More information HERE – 2024 Summer Academy

QUICK LINKS:

Lunch Menu – May

MPS Early Start School Calendar

MPS 2024-2025 School Calendar

Juneau Athletics Apr/May Newsletter

 

DECISION DAY 2024

MacDowell’s Class of 2024 were celebrated on May 3rd as they declared their decision for post-secondary success. The class of 2024 is headed off to colleges and university programs like Marquette University, UWM, Alverno College, technical school programs like MATC, and several students are entering Wisconsin Trades Unions. Congratulations Seniors! Our student’s custom decision day posters can be viewed in our ground floor hallway.

UPPER ELEMENTARY TAKES ON ROPES AND CHALLENGES

Ms. Kiki and Ms. Britni’s class have worked with Social Worker Ms. Jacobson over the course of the school year to prepare for the MPS Ropes and Challenges course. The Ropes and Challenges Program uses an experiential learning model, and involves activities designed to help individuals and groups develop/enhance positive social skills such as teamwork, listening, cooperating, effective communication, and problem solving. Thoughtful and guided reflection is a big component of this program, and this allows students to make meaning from their experience and think about how to apply new skills in other settings (home/school/community). 

Because the program’s emphasis is on skills development and emotional and physical safety, only those groups that have completed at least 6–8 prep sessions with a trained MPS ropes facilitator may come to the course. 

 For more information follow this link to the MPS Ropes Course webpage.

Summer Opportunities

MILWAUKEE REC SUMMER REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW!

There are lots of wonderful activities for children and adults including several at our school and in our neighborhood. 

Info: https://milwaukeerecreation.net/

Rec Guide: Summer 2024 Recreation Guide

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

FREE Virtual Learning Session – FINDING AFFORDABLE INSURANCE

When: Thursday, May 9, 11:00 to 12:00 

Attend Online/Virtual: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87664827788  

Meeting ID: 876 6482 7788 

Call In Option: 312.626.6799 

Questions: Contact Shawn Gleesing at gleesisd@milwaukee.k12.wi.us 

 *If requested 1 week in advance, Spanish interpreters will be available*

The May session will focus on Covering Wisconsin (coveringwi.org) and their Health Insurance Navigators who help families find affordable health insurance. 

We will talk about: 

• Where families can get help to see if they qualify for Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus 
• When a plan on HealthCare.gov might be the best option 
• How to set up an appointment (phone or in-person) with a Navigator 

Covering Wisconsin helps people in Wisconsin find and use health insurance. 

Expert Health Insurance Navigators provide free help any time. 

Contact a Navigator by calling 608-261-1455 or schedule online

MPS Student Job Board

Positions listed here include youth apprenticeships, internships, and opportunities for graduating seniors.  This site is updated every week!

https://sites.google.com/milwaukee.k12.wi.us/mpsstudentjobboard/youth-job-board-industry