Upcoming Events / Meetings

LOU MALNATI’S FUNDRAISER NIGHT – Brookfield and Fox Point

TONIGHT Thursday, November 13th

4:00pm – 10:00pm

Carry Out Only – FLYER 

OPERA FOR THE YOUNG “THE ELIXIR OF LOVE”

TOMORROW, Friday, November 14th

1:30-2:30 PM

KRISPY KREME DIGITAL DOZENS

Now – December 31st

SEC MEETING / PTO MEETING

Wednesday, November 19th

5:00pm / 5:30pm

Room 103

WASHINGTON DC TRIP- PARENT INFO MEETING

Invite Only

Wednesday, November 19th

5:30 – 7:00 pm

ETHNIC POTLUCK

Thursday, November 20th

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Join us for an evening of food and community

FLYER

NO STUDENT ATTENDANCE

November 24th – 28th: Classes resume Monday 12/1

PHOTO RETAKE DAY

Tuesday, December 9th

EARLY RELEASE DAY

Wednesday, December 10th

SAZ’S STATE HOUSE – PTO FUNDRAISER

Thursday, December 11th

11:00 am – 8:00 pm

WINTER CONCERT – 7-12TH GRADE 

Thursday, December 11th

6:00 – 7:30 pm

WINTER CONCERT – ELEMENTARY

Thursday, December 18th

6:00 –  7:30 pm

NEXT WEEK! JOIN US! 

A longstanding event from MacDowell’s past is once again back! The fun and fulfilling Ethnic Potluck returns next Thursday November 20th from 5:30-7:00 pm. Please join us for an evening of shared food and conversation. Bring a dish to share (feeds 10 people) from your heritage, or family favorite dish. Join us in the cafeteria for social camaraderie and good eats. RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/2chke95y 

We could use volunteers to keep an eye on the food line. Contact Gail Jaeger if you are interested – mossergj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Need help with gifts for the holidays? Has your family been affected by the lapse in distributing SNAP benefits?  in need of 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. MacDowell’s families are willing to support any food needs here in our community first. 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

Members of MacDowell’s Senior class, in conjunction with the PEOPLE Program, are running a PEOPLE Cares drive:

ATTENDANCE LINE 

Families- please note that ALL absences need to be called into the office attendance line: 414-935-1460. Notifying / emailing the child’s teacher is an option in addition to calling the office. The office must be notified first and foremost.

If you are picking a student up early, call the main office ahead of time, to give sufficient time for staff to notify the classroom, 414-935-1400. Thank You !

DIGITAL SCHOOL PICTURES ARE READY!  Visit mylifetouch.com to log in or create an account, find your student and order using your student’s student ID number (S number). All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the Smilesafe program here.  Thank you!

PICTURE RETAKE DAY

Students who were absent on Picture Day this week will have an opportunity to have their picture taken on our Retake Day which will be Tuesday, December 9th.

General Reminders

MORNING DROP OFF SAFETY 

Elementary Families – Please use the car drop off line on 64th St. 

Reminder: traffic moves North to South for all drop offs. For the safety of our students and drivers we ask that children are not dropped off across the street and then cross through the active car line. We all want the children to enter school safe and on time. To keep the flow going we make the car line a priority. If you desire to walk your child to the door please approach from the north and park down the street past the fence line. The door opens at 7:55am. Children are not to be left unattended prior to that time. We thank you for your cooperation.

DECEMBER EARLY RELEASE DAY

Reminder – December 10th is the second early release day for all students. Teachers will continue professional development in the literacy curriculum. 

Dismissal will occur at different times depending on grade level:

• K3 and K4 students will be dismissed at 10:00 AM
• Extended day K4 & K5 through 6th grade students will be dismissed at 1:00 PM
• 7 through 12 grade students will be dismissed at 1:25 PM

All regular school transportation will be provided and will operate on this adjusted early schedule.

!! Please make the necessary arrangements to receive your student at their earlier dismissal time !!

Camp MacDowell will begin at these early dismissal times for families already enrolled with Camp. Please notify Camp Director Ms. Jones if your child will be staying at camp that day. Thank you!

WEATHER CLOSING INFORMATION 

Winter weather will be here before we know it! As winter conditions arrive, please be alert for school closings. 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.

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!

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

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

October PTO minutes : HERE 

KRISPY KREME DIGITAL DOZENS – $15

Doughnuts for a great cause!! MacDowell PTO is giving you the best reason to indulge in a dozen (or two) Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Purchase vouchers until December 31, 2025.

 50% of your order will be donated back to MacDowell PTO when you purchase via our fundraising sales page! Simply buy online, visit your local store & redeem using your code. Treat yourself or even gift them to friends and family here:

grouprai.se/krispykreme66300ma

Milwaukee area location :

2900 S. 108th St, West Allis, WI 53227

SAVE THE DATE:

Upcoming Restaurant Fundraisers

Krispy Kreme online voucher purchase NOW – December 31

Lou Malnati’s (Brookfield and Fox Point locations) – 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

LINKS:

Meta-Similar guidelines to PG13 movies? MPA asked Meta to stop, APA Recommendations, score lower

ELEMENTARY MUSIC DEPARTMENT

“THE ELIXIR OF LOVE” Presented by our MacDowell elementary choir and cast members – along with the professional Opera Artists from Opera For the Young. This is a free concert.

Tomorrow, November 14th, 1:30 – 2:30pm . More information on Opera for the Young: https://www.operafortheyoung.org/

~~MacDowell Middle School Choir and Upper Elementary Choir will perform at the Holiday Folk Fair – Education Day on November 21  10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Middle and High School Families 

STAY TUNED: WASHINGTON DC TRIP – Eligible Freshman 

Be on the watch for an invite to a parent meeting on November 19th to explain eligibility and dates for this free trip funded by Herb Kohl Philanthropies. The trip will be February 9 – 13, 2026.

Sports and Activities Update

High School Winter Sports Deadlines

Winter sports registration is open until November 24. There will be tryouts and cuts for several teams, so it is important that athletes are fully registered AND cleared prior to day 1 of practice. 

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

Winter Sports:

Basketball 1st-3rd & 4th-5th registration packets went home in folders, Please return before thanksgiving break (by November 21st)

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. 

Elementary Chess Clubs Remind Links

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

In Case You Missed It

MPS OPT OUT MEDIA RELEASE – change from previous school years

MPS regularly takes photos and videos of students involved in district activities. These images are sometimes shared in district publications, on the MPS websites, in social media, or with news media. The district assumes consent for this usage for all enrolled students.

** Parents/guardians who DO NOT want photos or videos of their child released should make their wishes known by filling out the form linked below and checking all boxes that apply before signing and turning into the main office. 

MPS Family OPT OUT Form

MacDowell has previously utilized the Media Release Form but the district has transitioned to this opt out form for this school year and beyond.

IF YOU DO NOT WHAT US TO USE YOUR CHILD’S PHOTO – Please fill out this form and return ASAP. We take a lot of pictures of happenings on MacDowell’s campus and often in our spotlight shared with all families and sometimes on social media. 

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. September and October items have been bagged and will be donated December 1st. 

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.

~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

QUICK LINKS:

MPS School Calendar

School Website

Lunch Menu – K-8th November

Lunch Menu – High School November

October IB Newsletter

MacDowell Spotlight

CROSS COUNTRY

MacDowell and Juneau finished fall Cross Country last month. The middle school team had over 50 athletes from grades 5-8. Kyla Dimin (6th) and Sam Sobczak (7th) placed weekly and medaled multiple races. Other top 20 racers include Jaslynn Roberts (8th), Gianna Higgins-Crawford (6th), and Oliver Eide (7th). The Juneau high school team was small but dedicated. 

SCROLLATHON

MacDowell was chosen to represent Wisconsin in a collaborative art piece to be installed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The National Scrollathon exhibit is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Students from 4-12th grade were chosen to participate with artists Stephen and William Ladd. The two brothers led students (and some staff) on an insightful, storytelling, fabric scroll art piece creation. The final product will run from May 26 – September 7, 2026 at the Kennedy Center. MacDowell / Wisconsin’s piece and color palette will be combined with four other states. All 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories will all be represented in the project. 

More info here:  

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/exhibits/2025-2026/national-scrollathon/

Spectrum News Story LInk

Community Resources and Opportunities  

URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER – School’s Out Adventure Days

Outdoor exploration, nature play, hiking, climbing, creating, and skill building for ages 7 to 12 years while school’s out during the year! Kindergarten : kids will have an active day outdoors hiking, climbing trees, bird watching, bug catching and playing in the park. They’ll explore and question through outdoor play, games, imaginary play and more.

The seats are limited and given on a first-come first-serve basis.Follow the below link and choose date and grade level for registration links. 

https://www.urbanecologycenter.org/programs-and-events/adventure-days

Remaining 2025-2026 Dates:

• Winter Break- Dec 22, 23, 26, 29, & 30 @ Riverside Park UEC
• Winter- January 26, 2026 @ Washington Park UEC
• Spring Break- March 30 – April 3, 2026 @ Riverside Park UEC OR Washington Park UEC
• Spring – May 1, 2026  @ Menomonee Valley

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.