District Newsletter
February 2017
Educating our Future
Dear Parents & Guardians -

I want to provide an update to communication we've shared with you throughout this school year about a facilities study we began in the second half of 2016.

As we shared in January via an email, I have recommended the creation of a Facilities Advisory Committee to the School Board. 

The Facilities Advisory Committee is a next step as we look at the needs of the district both short and longterm with the help of the facilities study. The goal of the committee is to engage the voice of all who are have a stake in the district - community members, Wauwatosa School District parents, teachers, business members, administrators.

We've had numerous parents who have expressed interest in participating on this committee and we thank you for it. I am reminded how passionate our parents truly are about the pursuit of excellence in education for our students your children. 

We are in the process of narrowing down the committee candidates and will be sure to provide an update when that process is complete, as well as updates as the committee gets going. We anticipate having the first meeting mid to late February.

Sincerely,

Phil Ertl, Superintendent                                            

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SAVE THE DATE!
EFW's Black & White Catered Affair
Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Crowne Plaza - 10499 Innovation Drive
** Tickets still available through online registration only **

School Board Meeting
Monday, February 12, 2017 at 7 p.m.
District Administration Building, Conference Room C — 12121 W. North Ave.

West High School Choir Cabaret
Tuesday, February 14 & Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 7 p.m.
11400 W. Center St.

Elementary Evening Conferences
Thursday, February 16 & Tuesday, February 21, 2017
4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

NO SCHOOL JK-12  (Elem. Work Day/ Secondary Staff Development)
Monday, February 20, 2017

R.A.C.E. Team Meeting
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 from 6 - 6:30 p.m.
Wauwatosa Public Library (Firefly Room) 

School Board Meeting
Monday, February 27, 2017 at 7 p.m.
District Administration Building, Conference Room C — 12121 W. North Ave.
DISTRICT NEWS
Elementary Math Review
A note from the supervisor of Elementary Education

As  many of you know, in 2014-15, the Wauwatosa School District conducted an independent and comprehensive audit of our K-12 mathematics program.

The audit was conducted by a team of mathematics experts and was designed to assess the effectiveness of our curriculum and instruction.  The auditors recommendations were presented district-wide, and specifically for consideration at the elementary and secondary levels.

As a result, the Department of Teaching and Learning began the district-driven math review at the secondary level last year. Teaching resources were reviewed and College Preparatory Mathematics was Board approved and adopted for implementation beginning in 2016-17.

This year, Teaching and Learning began the elementary math review process and we'd like to provide you with some information about where we're at in the process.  As a part of our review, we have provided all elementary teachers with two professional development days related to the most recent research related to how students learn math and best practices for instruction.

We have created an Elementary Math Review Committee to review elementary resources for potential Board approval and adoption. This committee is comprised of two teachers (primary/intermediate) from each building, a special education teacher, an ESL teacher, our six Instructional Coaches, our Gifted and Advanced Learner Coordinator, and the Supervisor of Elementary Education.

The math team has worked together to learn more about how to teach math in ways that help students learn at deep levels.  We created a rubric to use to evaluate potential series and will provide additional information to parents as it becomes available.
Changes for the 2017-2018 School year
Beginning next school year (2017-18), Longfellow Principal Mark Carter will relocate to the District Administration Office as Director of Secondary Education.

Mr. Carter is likely a familiar face for many of you. He began his tenure with the Wauwatosa School District nearly 18 years ago. During that time, he's served as a guidance counselor at East High School, an assistant principal at Longfellow Middle School, principal at McKinley Elementary and most recently, principal at Longfellow Middle School for the past three years. 

As the director of secondary education, Mr. Carter will help lead the all encompassing Teaching & Learning Department - which includes curriculum, assessment and instruction, student services and special education.
 
He will work alongside Kristin Bowers, who will serve as Director of Elementary Education. Mrs. Bowers currently is the director of Teaching & Learning: Special Education and Student Services.

Legislative Advocacy Committee Update

The Wauwatosa School District Legislative Advocacy Committee has officially been formed. School Board President Mike Meier met this week on Monday with the 13 people who expressed interest in serving on the committee. Members will serve a one-year term.

The committee met with Mr. Meier and legal counsel to learn the legal side of how a committee of the board is to operate.

At its next meeting, the committee will work on the development of its processes, including roles and who will chair the committee.

In case you missed the initial email communication about this committee and the policy the board approved, you can read more by clicking the button below.

School Board Brief: Keeping you in the know

We're bringing back the School Board Brief!

We fully realize that in a world of crazy schedules, juggling multiple evening activities and dinner, or perhaps an evening job, you're not always able to make it to a School Board meeting.

However, we also know that decisions made and discussions had by the board are important to you. 

Moving forward, you can expect a BRIEF recap of the board meetings. It will be published on the district homepage, as well as on our social media pages - Facebook and Twitter - the day after the meeting.  If you want to dig deeper after reading the brief, we'll have a link provided to video of the meeting, as well as the agenda.

Wauwatosa West students head to Washington D.C. to compete for a national title

The American Public Policy Special Emphasis (APPSE) team from West High School is headed to Washington D.C. to compete for a national "We the People" title!

The team punched its ticket to the national "We the People: The Citizen and Constitution" competition after winning the state competition on January 21. This marks West High School's 10th consecutive year competing at the national level!

The team will head to Washington D.C. April 21- 26, with the competition taking place April 22-24. 

Additionally, Wauwatosa East finished 2nd at state! Congrats to both teams on an outstanding performance!

Looking ahead, West students now need to raise nearly $70,000 to go to nationals. To read more about the team, the competition and how you can support the trip, click the button below.
 #TosaSDProud
GET CONNECTED
Why YOU should be following us on social media!
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Do  you like to see positive news about students and staff throughout the Wauwatosa School District? Do you like to feel like you're "in the know"? 

If so, then you should be following us on Twitter and Facebook!

Are you proud to be part of our school district?
Retweet and "like" our posts! Why? Because it helps extend the reach of the positive news with people around you - and that's what proud partners in a shared mission do!

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There's an algorithm for what posts you see on Facebook. So, even though you "like" or follow our page, you may not see all our posts - UNLESS you do this:
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  • Turn notifications ON from the Wauwatosa School District

See the photo below for an example.

Free resource for dealing with child or adolescent depression
Parents United, a consortium of school districts that Wauwatosa School District is a part of, is offering parents a free resource for dealing with child and adolescent depression.

Dr. Greg Foker with Cornerstone Counseling Services will speak about:
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment Options
  • Suicide Prevention
  • What Happens During the Counseling Process
When: February 8, 2017 from  9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center
             Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI

For more info, contact: Therese Kwiatkowski, KwiatkTh@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us 
TOSA SCHOOLS IN THE NEWS