Dear Marquette Families,
As many of you know, MMSD plans to stay all virtual for the second quarter this school year. I know this is a decision that brings different emotions and challenges for families and kids. As teachers, the Marquette staff are feeling many of those mixed emotions also. We want to be with our kids in person, laughing, learning, and sharing. We also know the health and safety of our kids and community is a priority.
There will be some scheduling adjustments that will take place starting Monday, November 9th. All MMSD elementary students will have lunch and recess from 11:30-12:30 each day. Individual classes or grade levels may also have some slight adjustments that will be communicated by your child’s teacher.
Marquette also received the results from our first quarter family survey. Staff members and I have been analyzing your feedback and using your input to make adjustments. Some adjustments we have already started are to create more opportunities to do schoolwide theme days, celebrations, and acknowledgements. Information about these activities is shared by teachers and through morning announcements. Please make sure your child is reading or watching our announcements each day, so they can be a part of these activities. It is not the same as gathering together, but we still want to bring these fun opportunities in a virtual setting. We will also be starting our Community Read in November which is a schoolwide opportunity to come together and enjoy reading.
I cannot thank you enough for all the support you are providing your students during virtual learning. I know it is not easy. We are all learning, growing, and adjusting together. We
appreciate your support, determination, patience, and understanding.
Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Take care,
Mrs. Parks, Principal
|
|
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, November 2: Beginning of 2nd Quarter
Tuesday, November 3: Fall General Election
Friday, November 6: Elementary Early Release 11:30AM: Parent/Teacher Conference Planning
Tuesday, November 10: 6:30 p.m. ‐ PTG Meeting Virtual
Monday, November 9 to Sunday, November 22:
Virtual BOOK FAIR (see article for more info)
Thursday, November 12: NO SCHOOL - Parent /Teacher Conferences (scheduled w/ your teacher)
Wednesday, November 25: No School ‐ Teacher Compensation Day
Thursday/Friday, November 26‐27:
No School ‐ Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 21 ‐ Friday, January 1:
No School ‐ Winter Break
Monday, January 4:
School Resumes
|
The links below are electronic versions of the MMSD Elementary School Policies
|
Call the safe arrival line at 204-3233 for a Student Absences |
Daily Virtual Learning Schedule:
Students 8:30 - 3:30
|
Marquette Elementary
1501 Jenifer Street
Madison, WI 53703
marquette@madison.k12.wi.us
Phone: 608-204-3220
Safe Arrival: 608-204-3223
Fax: 608-204-0467
Sally Parks, Principal
Ann Brown, Secretary
608-204-3225
|
|
Elementary Wednesday Attendance Shift
The District has made an important adjustment to attendance expectations on Wednesdays beginning on November 4th. Wednesdays are shifting to be a more flexible day for students to engage with a variety of choice tasks, to catch up on missed work, or to get additional support from staff. Due to the flexibility in this new approach, teachers will presumptively submit all students as present when taking attendance on Wednesdays.
If your student will not be attending virtual school on a Wednesday, we continue to ask that you communicate with us by calling the Safe Arrival attendance line, 204-3233, or use the attendance app to provide an excusable reason.
It is our hope that this change will help reduce stress on Wednesdays for all involved, and allow time and space for more of a focus on student relationship and engagement.
|
Welcome to the Marquette Family Virtual Learning Support Site!
Here, you will find everything you need as we learn together in this new online format. We also welcome suggestions if you would like us to include more resources. Please visit the Marquette Family Virtual Learning Website if you haven't yet done so , to see what is available to support families & students.
|
Report an Absence
The procedure for excusing students from virtual learning includes using the MMSD online form, or phone call to the school attendance line 608-204-3233.
|
Contact Information
During virtual learning it is very important that we can contact you. Please keep phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses for all parents/guardians updated in Infinite Campus. You can call the office 608-204-3225 at anytime to update this information.
|
Chrome Updates and Zoom
Many students who are having issues of connection and lagging in Zoom may benefit from checking their Chromebooks for Chrome OS updates. If the update does not fix the problem, please reach out to Ms.Heindel at mheindel@madison.k12.wi.us so we can troubleshoot further. Use these resources to help you check for updates:
(doc with screenshots)
|
Thank you so much to the Department of Administration for holding a supply drive and donating an abundance of supplies for our student's use. Thank you for being so generous and for helping to get supplies in the hands of our Marquette students.
|
|
Get ready for a Virtual Book Fair! |
|
What? Mystery! Fantasy! Information! Humor! Find these books and more at the Fall Book Fair!
Why? All profits go to purchase additional resources for the Marquette Library and virtual learning.
When? Monday, November 9-Sunday, November 22
How? Shop online at a link that will be sent to you when the fair opens. Watch your email!
|
|
Digital Citizenship Lessons
All classes are receiving weekly Digital Citizenship lessons in the teachers’ Seesaw classes. If you want to continue the conversation about online safety and responsibility, check out these resources on finding balance when using media:
|
|
Marquette Digital Library
|
|
Community Read 2020
We are pleased to announce this year’s Community Read titles!
|
|
 |
Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
|
|
|
|
Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling
|
|
|
|
You can look forward to:
- Online read alouds of both the picture book and chapter book
- Learning about historical and current connections to the books
- Opportunities for students families to participate in book discussions
- Community building activities like a Digital Breakout Room and Family Dance
Watch for more details via email as the Community Read gets rolling!
|
|
Music with your precious children is a bright spot in these challenging times. We have been focusing on creative ways to make music, including the use of seemingly random objects to make sound. Your children are innovative, curious, and inspiring. They rock!
A few of the songs we've studied this fall:
1. Give Light - creating their own lyrics (inspired by the folk song Give Light)
2. Rise Up - how can we rise up right now? How can we be change makers? Justice demanders? (Thanks to Andra Day for the inspiration).
3. Kids Black History Cypher - what is a cypher? who else has a story that needs to be shared? Are there BIPOC in your life to teach us about and uplift? (with respect and gratitude to The Real Young Prodigies for their powerful song)
Looking ahead, all students will be given RECORDERS to play (and keep) as we work on playing music with a wind instrument (using our breath to make sound). Fourth graders have already begun, and they're doing great. All third and fifth grade students will receive their instruments in November, and we'll use class zooms to learn and play together.
Sending loads of positive energy and strength your way. These are challenging times to be caregivers. Please reach out anytime with questions or concerns. I'm here.
Love,
Mrs. Kazda
|
|
Lapham-Marquette - Parent Teacher Group (PTG) |
|
Lapham-Marquette - Parent Teacher Group (PTG)
Next meeting for the 2020-2021 school year:
Tuesday, November 10, 6:30-7:30pm
Our next virtual PTG meeting will be held Tuesday November 10th at 6:30pm. A representative of MMSD Food & Nutrition will be joining us to talk about how the decisions are made regarding the content of the food served by MMSD, how families can help support school food programs, and how parents could make their voices heard if they wanted to advocate for changes to the food program. Zoom invites will be sent out via email prior to the meeting.
Make sure you subscribe to the mailing list, for ongoing communications from the PTG. Unable to join the meetings? You can also stay connected by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or by visiting our website.
|
|
Additional Links for Helpful Information |
|
The MMSD School Year Calendar has been updated for quarter 2 to reflect our all virtual schedule. You can view the updated calendar in English, Spanish and Hmong at mmsd.org/calendar.
Make sure to continue to check mmsd.org/COVID-19 for the latest updates on virtual learning, food and device distribution and more.
The schedule for our 40 school food distribution sites that are offering free curbside meal service for all children 18 years old or younger, along with a pre-order form and additional information is on our website here, along with the November Menu.
How to contact your school: While we're virtual, we want to make sure you're still able to contact your school. There are currently three ways you can get in touch with your school. Find them here. You can also call Anna Brown, Marquette's administrator's assistant in the office at 608-204-3225 or email marquette@madison.k12.wi.us.
Charter Discounted Internet Rate for Households that Qualify
Spectrum offers a discounted internet service for households that qualify. It is roughly $20 a month ($14.99 and $5.00 for wireless which is needed for the Chromebooks to connect).
Free/Discounted Internet in Madison
|
|
We are facing a unique opportunity to invest in Madison’s future, which lies in the hands of our public school system’s 27,000 growing minds.
The needs of our schools and students existed before COVID-19, opportunity and resource gaps were magnified by school closures and quarantine, and as we begin to recover together as a city, the chance to lift Madison up as a thriving, equitable, and inclusive community for generations to come is more important than ever. The school board is asking voters to consider 2020 Referenda on the November 3rd ballot.
|
|
Marquette Elementary - 1501 Jenifer St Madison, WI 53703
marquette@madisoon.k12.wi.us
Office: 204-3220 | Safe Arrival: 204-3233 | Fax: 204-0467
Sally Parks, Principal - saparks@madison.k12wi.us
Anna Brown, Secretary - 608-204-3225, abbrown@madison.k12.wi.us
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
