|
Dear MMSD Families,
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We recognize many of us are stretched, and feeling the social-emotional effects of living in “pandemic life” for almost two full years. In the midst of this unprecedented time, we are grateful for your commitment to our schools and our resilient scholars.
This week, teachers and school staff welcomed students back to our classrooms as we returned to in-person learning. We really appreciate how enthusiastic our staff was to reconnect with our students and families. Our unique and organic scholars offer daily reminders of what makes our schools so special.
Our students and schools need our community now more than ever. The MMSD volunteer portal is now open, and the onboarding process has been streamlined to improve efficiencies. By volunteering, you can share your time and talents, make a difference in our scholars’ lives, and help schools remain open for in-person learning.
I’d also like to highlight the several examples of excellence and equity in our schools featured in this newsletter, along with academic opportunities and health and safety reminders. Thank you for your continued collaboration and co-creation as we lean forward together.
#MMSDCommunityStrong
Sincerely,
Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.
Superintendent
| |
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there 'is' such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
| |
|
Immediate Volunteer Opportunities
- Classroom Support
- Clerical Support
- Custodial Support
- Food Service Support
- Supervision Support - help with arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess, hallways tutoring
If you (or someone you know) are interested in helping keep Madison schools open by serving in one of these important roles, we encourage you to visit the MMSD Community Strong website. There, you will be able to submit required information in a streamlined process, and learn additional details. It is important to note, volunteers and applicants must provide evidence of COVID vaccination and, depending on position, may be subject to a background check.
Thank you for helping to support our community.
| |
Keeping Students Safe in Cold Winter Weather
Staying safe and warm at home and in the community
Cold winter months can bring unexpected dangers, including accidental fires started by malfunctioning or improperly used space heaters, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even injuries due to bulky winter coats worn under car seat harnesses that are too loose to protect children in an accident.
Please take a moment to read over some winter safety reminders from safekids.org to help keep our students safe everywhere, from the sledding hill to the ski and snowboarding slopes to that slippery stretch of sidewalk in the neighborhood.
Staying warm on the playground
You may wonder how schools make decisions about indoor recess in cold winter weather. Students have outdoor recess whenever possible because it makes a positive difference in their learning. While there is no specific district-wide policy about cold weather and recess, we generally become concerned when the windchill is below zero. The practice is to keep students inside if the windchill is colder than -10 degrees Fahrenheit (or if there are inclement weather conditions). However, a school administrator can make the decision to have indoor recess, even if the temperature doesn't dip to -10.
As always, during these cold months, please make sure your student comes to school with a winter coat, hats, and mittens. If you are in need of warm winter gear for your child, please let your school social worker know.
Making decisions about cold-weather school closures
When weather is severe, we want you to know how we will make decisions about closing any in-person programming in MMSD buildings. Read about our decision-making process here.
| |
|
Mask Up MMSD - Improve How Your Mask Protects You
Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.
| |
|
Memorial High School Teacher Completes Two-Year NASA Research Program
Congratulations to Ben Senson, an aerospace engineering and astronomy teacher at Memorial High School, who completed a two-year research program with the NASA and IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP).
Senson and selected high school STEM educators from across the country worked alongside NASA and Caltech researchers to search for young stars in a region called the Spider Nebula. Using infrared excess measurements, the team likely discovered 710 new, young stars.
The educators will go on to conduct at least 12 hours of professional development for their colleagues in their schools and communities, at the local, regional, and national levels.
| |
|
Sandburg Student With Disability Learns Virtually Using Robot Technology
Leani Tell, a six-year-old student at Sandburg Elementary, roams her first grade classroom, playing freeze dance with classmates, practicing addition and subtraction, and learning all about spelling and punctuation.
While Leani’s peers are in the classroom, she accomplishes all these activities virtually from home, using assistive robot technology. Leani has spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disorder that breaks down motor neurons and muscles, and requires a tracheostomy ventilator to breathe.
Using her specialized remote controlled two-wheeled videoconferencing robot, and a Tobii Dynavox Eye Gaze Device, which allows her to communicate verbally, Leani is able to participate in school alongside her classmates.
“Everything may look different, but it’s adapted to what she knows,” Leani’s mother, Nichole Fritts said. “I was worried she was going to be behind still, but she’s totally on track!”
Leani’s robot at Sandburg, which she steers with a remote from her home, is equipped with a tablet, allowing her and her classmates to see and hear each other. Leani’s eye gaze device features a digital keyboard of letters, numbers, pictures, colors, and more, and tracks her eye movements. When she stares at a key to select it, the computer automatically reads the word or letter outloud.
Anna Cliff, an MMSD assistive technology specialist and occupational therapist, works with Leani’s parents, Nichole and Dwight, nurse, and teacher to streamline the process. Currently, four MMSD students utilize the assistive technology. Looking ahead, pre-training student team members on the specialized tech and teaching “robot etiquette” will help the program grow smoothly, Cliff said.
“It’s so incredible to have families like Nichole, Dwight, and Leani a part of this project, because they’re leading and paving the way for a lot of other students in our District,” Cliff said.
| |
Accessing Wellness and Mental Health Resources
Young people across the country have faced increased stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many continue to struggle with unmet social and emotional needs. We know the best strategy to meet those needs is to work in partnership with a student's family, school, and local community.
Please reach out if your child is experiencing depression, anxiety, self-harm, or other mental health or social emotional challenges
School mental health resources
We want to make sure you know, and your children know, that schools are here to support them. All schools have Student Services staff, with social workers, counselors, psychologists and others who are here to support your student. If you are unsure how to request support, please get in touch with your school's principal or main office.
Community resources
There are also community resources available to you and your children, regardless of financial status, identity, legal status, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact these organizations, or your school, if your child needs help.
-
Care Solace (www.caresolace.com/madisonmetro) is available to MMSD students and families along with MMSD staff and their families. Care Solace provides mental health care coordination for school systems by linking students, students' family members, or MMSD staff and families to mental health services that match their needs 24/7. Care Solace is committed to connecting our MMSD community to mental health therapists and will match culturally appropriate and gender appropriate resources and providers to our students and families. They provide translation in over 250 languages.
For additional resources, please visit the MMSD website.
| |
|
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 - the priority deadline for enrollment is January 14, 2022.
| |
|
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.
Visit Our Website for More Information or to Apply - the online application window is now open until January 28, 2022.
| |
|
Eighth Grade Students Encouraged to Apply for College Readiness PEOPLE Program
MMSD 8th 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 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 geared toward students with strong academic potential, who could be first generation college students, or who are low-income households.
Applications for eligible eighth graders are available online Jan. 10 through Feb. 18, and includes a brief essay question and autobiography prompt.
| |
|
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!
| |
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.
- 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.
| |
|
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.
| |
Madison Metropolitan School District | mmsd.org | |
| | | |
