Dear MMSD Families,

Thank you for your continued partnership throughout the past year. As a school community, we have demonstrated creativity and innovation, while displaying kindness and human decency.

As we put this year behind us, we are ready for a new year, prepared for the challenges which lay ahead, and are united in Leaning Forward Together. We are thankful for your support and grace, and are all truly motivated by the strength of our students, and the determination of our families to navigate these unprecedented times with resolve. 

This winter break, we hope you enjoy every moment with your families, and take time to reflect on the past year while preparing for the future. Throughout this year, we have truly learned to be safer, healthier, and empathetic to our fellow neighbors. 

On behalf of all of us at MMSD, we want you to know we are so very proud of our students, and have tremendous gratitude for our families. 

Have a safe and happy winter break. 

Sincerely,

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Madison Metropolitan School District

2022-2023 School Year Calendar

The calendar for the 2022-2023 school year is now available. Each year, a committee made up of district staff and Madison Teachers Inc. representatives meet over a series of months to finalize the upcoming calendar.

LINK to 2022-2023 Calendar

Two East Students Receive Full Scholarships Through QuestBridge National College Match Program

East School Counselors, fellow Student Services staff, and district leaders surprised two outstanding seniors with balloons, cake, and school swag last week. The occasion? East STEM Academy's Brandon Anderson and East's Gordon Allen were matched with Carleton College and Stanford University, respectively, and will receive full four-year scholarships through the QuestBridge National College Match program.

QuestBridge Match recipients demonstrate a level of academic achievement that meets or exceeds the admissions standards of top colleges, including excellent grades in challenging courses (such as Honors and AP), rank high in their graduating class, and demonstrate intellectual spark and determination. Please join us in congratulating these two future MMSD and Purgolder alumni!

West High School “Girl Up” Club Raises Funds for Refugee Girls’ Education

A student-run clothing drive at Madison West High School is supporting refugee girls’ education all the way across the world in Uganda and Ethiopia. Hosted by the Girl Up club, a chapter of the worldwide movement created by the United Nations in 2010, inspires girls to be a force for gender equality and social change.

Stacks of slacks, sweaters, shirts, and more were donated by students for the clothing drive, which was held Dec. 14-16 during lunchtime. Each item is only $2, and goes toward the club’s fundraising goal of $500 to provide a year's worth of education to 20 refugee girls currently living in Uganda and Ethiopia. 

Read the Full Story Here

East High Graduate and UW-Madison Student Selected for Prestigious Marshall Scholarship

@WisconsinStateJournal

UW-Madison student Lydia Nyachieo applied to study abroad in the spring 2021 semester. COVID-19, of course, canceled those plans. The Madison native will, however, be headed overseas in 2022. She was named a winner of the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which is awarded to just a couple of dozen American students each year to attend graduate school in the United Kingdom.

Nyachieo, a senior studying international studies and philosophy with certificates in African studies and French, grew up on the city’s East Side and joined the university’s PEOPLE pre-college pipeline program when she was in middle school. She graduated from East High and enrolled at UW-Madison.

Read the Full Story Here

Memorial High School Art Gallery Showcases Student Talent During the Pandemic

While the COVID-19 pandemic closed art room doors last year, Memorial High School art students’ creative minds were wide open. Art teachers collaborated to create virtual curriculum for their students, replacing classroom supplies with Zoom, scanners, and cellphone cameras. Now, the Memorial community gets to witness the incredible ceramics, photography, drawings, and digital art students created from their own homes in the school’s art gallery. 

Read the Full Story Here

Eighth Grade Applications for PEOPLE Program Opens Jan. 10

MMSD eighth grade students are invited to apply to the Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE), which supports students' college readiness at UW-System institutions, with an emphasis on UW-Madison.

PEOPLE Precollege helps students prepare, apply, and be admitted to college by building academic knowledge, cognitive skills and strategies, self-management skills, and knowledge about college through experiential learning. On average, 99% of PEOPLE students graduate from high school, and 94% of students who complete the precollege program enroll in college. Students who enroll at UW-Madison may be eligible for a four-year tuition scholarship.

Students apply to PEOPLE during the second semester of their eighth grade year, and plan to attend East, La Follette, Memorial, or West High School. Students must have a 2.75 cumulative GPA from sixth through eighth grade. The program is garnered toward students with strong academic potential, who could be first generation college students, or who are low-income.

Applications for eligible eighth graders are available online Jan. 10 through Feb. 18, and includes a brief essay question and autobiography prompt.

Accessing Wellness and Mental Health Resources Over Winter Break 

We hope you and your family have a peaceful, fun, and safe winter break, and that you have a chance to rest, recharge, connect with loved ones, and really take good care of yourselves and each other. 

The holidays can bring up a variety of emotions as well, and this may never be more true than it is now. Winter break presents a good opportunity to check in with your children, find out how they are feeling, and assure them that what they are feeling may be normal. At the same, we encourage you to be attentive to signs that may need attention. 

If you have any concerns about your child's wellness or mental health, we encourage you to reach out for support right away, whether that comes through existing systems of support within your family or community or from additional resources available in the Madison area.

Read More and Access Resources

Stephens Elementary Students Explore Hands-On Learning in CAMP Class 

Each week, students at Stephens Elementary get to join in exciting, hands-on lessons during Curiosity, Arts, Mindfulness, and Project based learning (CAMP) time. The class, led by REACH teacher Marci Speich, grants student choice and voice. 

One recent project encouraged students to research and design the most efficient paper airplane for a class-wide competition, the culmination of a growth mindset lesson that spanned a few classes.

“I love teaching this class because there is so much space, creativity, and joy,” Speich said. “The kids have a chance to do open-ended projects where they don't feel rushed or pressured to do it a certain way. I can see and feel them building a growth mindset as we learn together.” 

CAMP utilizes Stephens Elementary's many creative learning spaces, including the Peaceful Pines outdoor classroom and Maker Space.

MMSD Students Gain Employment at UW and VA Hospital Through the Project SEARCH Program

Project SEARCH is a one-year transition program that allows MMSD students to participate in hands on vocational training in a hospital setting. Students participate in three to four internships with the goal to achieve employment in an integrated community setting. Project SEARCH is beginning to look for new interns for the 2022-23 school year. For more information, please contact Jason Penticoff at jppenticoff@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-575-2712

Tips for Safe Holiday Celebrations

• Get vaccinated. Children and adults ages five and up should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Some groups of people are eligible for a booster shot. Visit your health department website for more info, or speak with your healthcare provider.
• Wear a mask. Wear a cloth or surgical face mask over your mouth and nose when grocery shopping or in other public indoor settings, or when serving food.
• Wash your hands before eating or serving food.
• Communicate in advance with guests about your COVID-19 ground rules and the precautions you're taking. Cancel plans if you are sick, and stay away from others.
• Safe travels. If possible, delay travel unless you are fully vaccinated. If you are traveling with unvaccinated family members, such as children who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, take additional precautions. Avoid crowds, wear a mask, and get tested before and after your trip.

Current or Future High School Students - Design your Educational Experience with Personalized Pathways

In high school, you can attend classes traditionally or apply to a Personalized Pathway. In a Personalized Pathway, you’ll learn in a close-knit community, set academic goals, explore college and career options, and tackle challenging classes, all around a broad theme that’s connected to the world around you.



Visit Our Website for More Information or to Apply

Early College STEM Academy Application Now Open, 10th Graders Encouraged to Apply!

The Early College STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Academy is a partnership between MMSD and Madison College. As part of this dual enrollment program, students have access to college courses in STEM fields; coursework includes options for transfer to a four-year college or university. The Academy is designed to expand access to college STEM courses, and to increase opportunities for students to earn college credit in high school at no cost to them or their families.

• Current 10th grade students are encouraged to apply, with a special emphasis on those who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM and STEM-related fields, including students who identify as female and students of color. The online application window is now open until January 28, 2022.

Visit Our Website for More Information or to Apply

News From Around the District 

In case you missed it, there were some great things happening in Madison Schools this week, with many being shared by local news partners. For a good read, click on these links and check them out!

• Bilingual volunteers connect Spanish speakers with food assistance
• Former state superintendent joins MMSD administration
• Rape Crisis Center look to expand student services
• Lancer Secret Santa' provides gifts for 150 students, families
• Van Hise Elementary food drive collects more than 3,000 items
• SSM Health, MMSD will offer COVID-19 vaccines to those ages 5-11

Help Protect Your Child, Your Family, and Others

The CDC recommends everyone ages five and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine can help protect children ages five years and older from getting COVID-19. Public Health Madison & Dane County is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19, or get a booster if they’re eligible.

• Vaccinated MSMD students do not need to quarantine if they are considered a close contact and show no symptoms.
• Vaccinating children can help protect family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected.
• Vaccination can also help keep children from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19.
• Vaccinating children ages five years and older can help keep them in school and help them safely participate in sports, playdates, and other group activities.

Help protect your family and slow the spread of COVID-19 in your community by getting yourself and your children (ages five years and older) vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID Clinic Testing Sites During Winter Break

Memorial and Sennett COVID Clinic sites will be open from 7:30 - 5:00

• Monday, December 20th & 27th
• Tuesday, December 21st & 28th
• Wednesday, December 22nd & 29th

Share the Amazing Stories Happening in MMSD!

Is there a teacher or staff member engaging students with innovative lessons? Do you know of a student who is making a difference or was recently recognized? Are athletics teams, co-curriculars or arts programs demonstrating excellence? Let us know — share your story here.

Student Musicians, Central Office Staff Perform Together at East

It's difficult to describe what live jazz first thing in the morning can co for your soul.

It's what you don't see in this video – the audience toe tapping, air drumming, snapping, smiling, cheering + connecting as they arrive at school – that best illustrates how these young musicians set the stage for a positive day.

Thank you, East Jazz Band, and to Band Director Mark Saltzman, for showing up early to play for East students and staff every other week. Last Thursday morning they had two guest musicians join them – trombonist Dr. Marvin Pryor (aka MMSD's Chief Academic Officer) and on trumpet, Mr. Nelson Render (by day, MMSD's Chief of High Schools).