Upcoming Events / Meetings

VALENTINE COFFEE SALE – FUNDRAISER (tea and cocoa too)

NOW – February 11th

Order forms sent home in red folders, extras in main office

MILWAUKEE JUNEAU BASKETBALL ALUMNI NIGHT

Friday, February 6th

JV 5:30pm / Varsity 7:00pm

MORNING OF MONTESSORI – DISTRICT EVENT

Saturday, February 7th

9:00am – 12:00pm

MacDowell Montessori

February PTO Restaurant Fundraiser – PAPA JOHNS

Wednesday, February 11th

10:00am – 10:00 pm

115th & North Ave FLYER

PARENT EDUCATION SESSION – MATH

Wednesday, February 11th

7:45-9:45am, presentation begins at 8:15am

AND

Thursday, February 12th

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

FLYER

WASHINGTON DC TRIP – HIGH SCHOOL

February 9th – 13th

Remember to drop off snacks you signed up to provide

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 CELEBRATION

Thursday, February 26th

6:00 – 7:30 pm

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

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

More info: https://www.milwaukeepublicschools.org/academics/montessori/open-house

Find out more about Montessori schools in MPS!

SAVE THE DATE   

 

~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

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. Please also remind them of our A Morning of Montessori Open House on February 7th at MacDowell! 

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

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.

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

FORMS/INFORMATION:

Cover Letter

General Information – please read

NCI Registration – online

MPS Registration / Field Trip Form 

Packing Information

Middle and High School Families 

   HIGH SCHOOL TAB WARS ONE MORE WEEK! 

December 8th – February 13th

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

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

School librarian Ms. Raasch is collecting books on immigration, refugees, and constitutional rights to share with teachers and children in the library and classrooms. Parents are encouraged to consider their child’s age when discussing and viewing violent current events like the ones we’re currently experiencing. Parents of children with smartphones should be aware that the recent shootings have likely been playing on repeat on social media & Youtube feeds. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Raasch via email with any questions: raaschtl@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

View the graphic  below as well as these additional resources to support families in having conversations about the ongoing ICE operations across the country.

• Children’s MN: LA TACO (In Spanish & English): https://lataco.com/kids-ice-talking-points
• PBS Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-with-tragic-events-in-the-news
• Amazeworks (MN): https://amazeworks.org/how-to-talk-to-children-about-immigration-and-ice/
• LA TACO (In Spanish & English): https://lataco.com/kids-ice-talking-points

Resources to help discuss constitutional rights with children:

• Kids Britannica: https://kids.britannica.com/kids/assembly/view/269294
• Bills of Rights Video (9 min.): https://youtu.be/skWNC3a8NkM?si=WlqrE3u0tPlY0xW9
• Bill of Rights Video (2 min): https://youtu.be/QSSjCdQdpgs?si=crrbs4-REh-7PT7I

Sports and Activities Update

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 

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)

STOCK THE FRIDGE- STAFF APPRECIATION

We love our great staff at MacDowell! To show our love, we’d love your help to Stock the Fridge. Use the link below to bring some treats for staff. Please bring items February 9th    SIGN UP HERE

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

January PTO minutes : HERE 

Coffee and Tea Sale Going on Now! 

Forms went home in red folders and offered to Middle Schoolers. 

More forms are in the main office.

   

SAVE THE DATE: Upcoming Restaurant Fundraisers

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

Saz’s State House – March 11

In Case You Missed It

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 January

Lunch Menu – High School January

November IB Newsletter

Staff Preferences 25-26

MacDowell  Spotlight

MYP IB PERSONAL PROJECT SHOWCASE 

On Tuesday January 13th close to 30 MacDowell 10th graders presented their Middle Years Program IB Personal Project during our Showcase in the gymnasium. Students have worked on their Personal Project all of semester one, and they were finally ready to share their project with the community and officially submit it to the International Baccalaureate Organization. We are so pleased these students have completed this important IB milestone.  Projects ranged from small film production, fiber arts, drawing, cooking, raising animals, learning to play piano, community outreach, and so much more. 

PRIMARY at URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER

Primary classes have been enjoying a winter session at the Washington Park Urban Ecology Center. When the weather has been acceptable they looked for – and found some – animal tracks and scat in the snow. Inside the building they looked at what different animal tracks look like in snow and talked about what animals eat in winter and where their homes are. They also had the opportunity to touch a coyote and bunny pelt and some turkey feathers and antlers. Enjoy some photos of Ms. Rebecca and Ms. Alvarez’s class enjoying some sledding at the end of their field trip.

SENIOR IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME CANDIDATES

Over the next three weeks we will showcase our Seniors completing the full IB Diploma. International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP), is a comprehensive two-year international college-preparatory curriculum. Students have the option of being Full Diploma candidates, or they may take selected IB courses as Certificate candidates. Successful completion of an IB course may lead to college credit and/or advanced placement. At MacDowell Montessori School, the DP spans a student’s junior and senior years of high school.