Greetings Families, 

I simply can’t believe what a great start we’ve had to the 2022-23 school year. Students all seem to be finding their groove, getting into routines, making friends, having fun and digging into their classes. It has been great to watch them settle into their classes and see them get excited about the learning. 

It was wonderful to see so many families at our CommUNITY dinner last Friday. The turn out was fantastic and we saw so many families connecting and having fun together as well as meeting all of our staff. We provided tours of the building which was the first time many of our families have had the chance to see inside our beautiful school. 

On a personal note - my mother was very recently diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We have fortunately caught this early and the prognosis is extremely good, but it means a lot of changes for our family including a start of chemo in early October. I will be out a few days supporting her during each round of chemotherapy, which will run through January. We have an exceptional team of educators here at Badger Rock who will continue to make sure things run smoothly on a daily basis. Brea Adams and Rebecca Gilman both serve as principal designee and can support students and families with whatever they might need while I’m out. 

One thing I have really come to appreciate during my time here at Badger Rock is that we really do function like a family. We take care of each other and look out for one another in a way that I’ve not seen or felt in other places. We genuinely extend this circle of care to your student and your family. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, our student services staff or our teaching team if you have any questions or need support. 

We are all stronger together. 

Principal Domini 

We treasured the opportunity to get to know you and your students, play games, paint rocks, and share a meal. Thank you to Rooted and Chef Kipp for the delicious dinner.

Mark your calendars: Our next commUNITY dinner is Friday, October 21st from 5:30-7:30 pm. 

There are so many ways to stay updated on Badger Rock's latest news, events, invitations, opportunities and more, from Instagram to the MMSD Schools app.

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Bike Federation worked with students in each classroom to get them properly fitted for helmets and bikes. Students had a chance to demonstrate their riding ability and comfort level.

Some students are learning for the first time, and we are so excited for them to experience the joy that biking brings. (If you haven't yet signed the biking permission slip and would like your student to bike, please have your student return it.) 

As most of you have noticed - the construction is coming along quickly for the new Southside Elementary school (home for the new Frank Allis Elementary in the 2023-24 school year). Students have a ringside view into the site and will soon see the concrete foundation being laid where the new gym will be. The construction team is hoping to have the entire outer frame of the school completed before the end of November so that they can work inside during the winter - so things are going to start moving fast. 

Thank you to all of you who have worked to make drop off and pick up run smoothly and safely. We continue to ask you to be extra cautious if you are dropping your students off across the street from school and in the area in general. Our goal is to keep that a safe area for our students to arrive and dismiss from each day. 

Students opting in to after-school Spanish class got started on Tuesday with Señor Daugherty. They learned about cognates (words that sound similar in multiple languages), practiced pronunciations, and discussed their unique reasons for wanting to learn Spanish.

We are so lucky to have some students in the class who already speak Spanish, since they are able to help their peers with encouragement and tips. As a reminder, class meets after school until 3:30 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

MSCR's Afterschool program at Badger Rock starts Monday, September 26. The program runs from 2:30 to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday. Students are offered a snack, have homework time until 3:00 pm, and then participate in activities including arts and crafts, gardening, Badger Bots, and movement/team building.

MSCR is not a drop-in program, so students must be registered to participate in after school activities. 

As a reminder, students are not allowed to have their cell phones out or on during school. Please take a few moments to review this with your student. We recognize that cell phones are a communication tool that families sometimes use to get messages to students during the school day. If you need to reach your student with an urgent message, please call the school office: 608-442-0049 or Principal Domini at 608-514-1974. Students are welcome to use cell phones outside, during recess and before they enter the building. 

• Tuesday, October 4: Picture Day
• Friday, October 21: our second CommUNITY dinner