Leaning Forward Together

Dear MMSD Families,

We are so excited to welcome our students to the new school year! The first few days have been full of energy - and all of us at MMSD are incredibly happy to have our scholars at school! Leaning forward together, staff have been working to create learning spaces and educational environments where students and families can thrive.

Tomorrow, our nation will reflect and remember the events of September 11, 20 years later. Over the past year, our nation has also grappled with two pandemics (COVID-19 and racial injustice) which have tested our resolve. Despite the challenges we face, I remain hopeful about the possibility for meaningful change. We must continue to work to dismantle systemic inequalities and make a true commitment to becoming an anti-racist society.

Our strategic framework and core values compel us to embrace change and develop new practices. We are fortunate to be able to partner with leading scholars and practitioners. Their insights enable us to refine our policies and practices as we work to eliminate disparities and accelerate learning for all students, as well as address their social-emotional and mental health needs.

To all of our MMSD parents and families - thank you for your support, flexibility, and understanding during this back to school season. We’ve had to make some adjustments, and your partnership has been invaluable.

Sincerely,

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Madison Metropolitan School District

Visit our Back-to-School Website

Join us September 22, at 6 p.m. for a Facebook Live Event -

A Community Conversation with Dr. Jenkins, MMSD Superintendent

This Community Conversation will focus on various topics of the new school year, and will feature school board members, central office leaders, health experts, and district staff. Interpretation in both Hmong and Spanish will be provided.

All schools will offer free COVID-19 testing for students and staff starting Monday, September 13

Testing helps reduce community spread and keeps schools operating safely. Testing individuals who are symptomatic or close contacts helps enable rapid detection of cases in the school community and reduce or prevent school outbreaks.

Through a collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, we are partnering with a testing vendor called COVID Clinic to provide free testing to students and staff. If a student or staff member tests positive, COVID Clinic will also provide free testing to any close contacts, including household members.

COVID Clinic has already opened at 12 of our schools, and on Monday, September 13, COVID Clinic will be up and running at all schools. Students (only with written consent of parent/guardian) and staff will be able to get tested at their school site for convenience, but are welcome to be tested at another school. Students will visit COVID Clinic only when accompanied by a family member or staff member.

Temporarily, COVID Clinic will be housed under a tent outside school buildings. In the coming weeks, COVID Clinic will be installing an 8 x 8 foot kiosk outdoors, adjacent to school buildings.

COVID Clinic will offer two test types:

Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test
PCR COVID-19 Test

Watch for specific details to come directly from your school in the near future about this opportunity.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact your school nurse.

Learn more about how the Department of Health Services is partnering with Wisconsin schools to offer testing.

FREE Madison College courses for MMSD Students

MMSD students can start college now!

On Monday, September 20, from 7 - 7:30 p.m., Madison College will host a Virtual Informational Session on how 11th and 12th grade MMSD students can take college courses and earn college credit from Madison College (zoom link/ flier). Through the Start College Now program, students have an opportunity take courses in nursing, early childhood education, firefighting, fitness instruction, social media marketing, and many more!

Applications for the Start College Now Spring Session are due October 1. Join us at 7 p.m. on September 20h for the Virtual Information Session (zoom link/ flier) or learn more from the MMSD webpage.

Contact Cindy Green for more information at 608.663.5216 or email cgreen2@madison.k12.wi.us

Magnificent Flying Machines

This year we celebrate two milestones for one of the most amazing vehicles ever flown in space, the Space Shuttle. The first spaceflight was 40 years ago, and the last was 10 years ago. In this virtual planetarium event, we will explore what made these five flying machines so remarkable, and compare them to vehicles taking astronauts to space today and in the future. We will also explore the current night sky.

When: Wednesday, September 22, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Where: Virtual event on Zoom Cost: free, but registration is required

It’s more than a meal – complete your application for educational benefits (free and reduced meals) today!

For the 2021-2022 school year, breakfast and lunch are free for MMSD students under the federal Seamless Summer Option (SSO). However, we are encouraging all families to complete an application for free and reduced meals (educational benefits).

Families who qualify could receive additional benefits - such as discounted, waived or reduced fees for sports, activities, MSCR programs, and more. Even if you don’t qualify for benefits, completed applications directly impact school district funding.

Applications can be submitted any time throughout the school year, though we are encouraging all families to complete an application by September 15, 2021. This is an important funding deadline for school districts.

Fill out the Application!

In the News

Meet the New Class of Apprentices

A year-long elite education partnership between the City of Madison Fleet Services and MMSD welcomed three student apprentices. This opportunity provides students school credit in addition to the regular paycheck, on-the-job experience, and mentorship.