Dear MMSD Families,

The MMSD community continues to demonstrate fierce determination as we lean forward together! These amazing efforts - some of which are highlighted in this newsletter - show a resilient spirit and commitment to excellence despite the challenges associated with multiple pandemics.

On a daily basis, our students display leadership and go above and beyond to achieve their greatest dreams. Our awesome scholars, such as Hamilton 8th grader Momo Fredrickson and the Madison West Boys Swim Team, exemplify the pillar of excellence. Both of these examples illustrate the ability of our scholars to reach great heights in co-curricular activities.

Earlier this week we shared plans to expand our 4K programming at the MMSD Board of Education’s Instruction Work Group. We also announced plans to offer free ACT prep to juniors. These intentional strategies show our commitment to accelerate learning through an equity lens. 

As we celebrate these models of success and resilience, thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration.

Sincerely,

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.

Superintendent

Hamilton Middle School Musician Wins Midwest Competition En Route to Soloist Career

PAMELA COTANT For the State Journal



It’s not every day that middle school orchestra students get to learn from a peer like eighth-grader Momo Fredrickson.

Momo, a student at Hamilton Middle School, placed first in the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory junior orchestra division of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. She competed in late December and won with her performance of Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1. She has been invited to play as a soloist with MYAC’s Concert Orchestra in its winter concert Feb. 19 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Niiki Hakala is a first-year orchestra teacher at Hamilton after teaching band for 19 years at four other schools. She said Momo is the most talented student she has taught, and while Hakala can work with students on the basics, Momo can teach them the more technical aspects of playing instruments in an orchestra. Momo plays viola at her school because her parents thought it was a good idea to broaden her musicality.

“Obviously, she has more experience in orchestra than I do,” Hakala said. “If she needs to explain more, like curve your finger a little more, she could explain that better than I ever could.”

Read the Full Article at Madison.com

Listen to School Board President Ali Mudrow Read "When Aida Became a Brother," by Kyle Lukoff.

MMSD 'Read Your Heart Out' 2022

We’re so excited to for this year’s Read Your Heart Out celebration! In honor of National African American Parent Involvement Day, our district continues to celebrate Black history, culture, and experiences. By collaborating with Black families and community members, our young scholars are engaged through storytelling during the month of February.

Visit mmsd.org/ryho for more info. #RYHOMadison

Seniors in La Follette's Grad Academy Supported and Celebrated for their Resilience and Brilliance

It's a quiet Friday morning at La Follette High School. Room G10 slowly fills with students for the start of the second period. 

"Grab a cookie," teacher Jeff Carlson tells each student as they enter and situate themselves at tables throughout the room. 

Mr. Carlson's co-teacher, Andrew Graham, checks in with a student. "Did you run this morning?" Then with another: "I'm trying to get your bus pass lined up." 

When the bell sounds, about a dozen have taken a seat, some checking out the word of the day – autonomy – on the TV screen in the front of the room. Mr. Carlson gets their attention. "Folks, get settled in. Send those emails, send those texts. Tell mom and dad you love them." 

It's a fairly typical scene for the start of any class here at La Follette. What's different about this classroom is that students spend most of the day here, in the same room, with the same teachers and peers. It's Grad Academy, a "school within a school," in its inaugural school year. It's designed for seniors in need of a more individualized educational experience that provides structures and supports that honor their resilience, promise, and opportunity for self-expression. 

Read the Full Story Here

2022 Summer Semester Announcement 

MMSD is committed to ensuring every student in our school community feels engaged, connected, and supported! One way we ensure this happens is by making sure students have the knowledge and skills for academic achievement at the next grade level. Summer Semester is learning support for students who meet criteria, and will use summer learning to stay on track for graduation to become college, career, and community ready. Click here for additional information

ESSER III Virtual Community Feedback Sessions Planned for February 21 and 23



We need to hear from you! MMSD is expected to receive $42.4 million dollars in one-time ESSER III funding to support learning, mental health, and other COVID-19 related areas. As part of our feedback process, you are invited to attend a virtual input session to share your thoughts and ideas.

Register here for a public input session.

Session information

To best listen to the needs of our community, we’ve organized sessions based on school feeder pattern. Please attend the session which corresponds to your school’s attendance pathway. If you are unsure which session to attend, please find information on our website.

• Monday, February 21 • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. MEMORIAL feeder pattern
• Monday, February 21 • 7 - 8 p.m. EAST feeder pattern
• Wednesday, February 23 • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. WEST feeder pattern
• Wednesday, February 23 • 7-8 p.m. LA FOLLETTE feeder pattern

During each session, we will discuss what more MMSD can do to support student's academic growth as well as social, emotional, and mental health needs. We will also look for your feedback on how this funding can be used to enhance meaningful family engagement opportunities.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank You MMSD School Counselors!

This week highlights the unique contribution of school counselors and the tremendous impact they have in supporting the academic, social-emotional, and postsecondary planning needs of our MMSD students! #NSCW22

Website Enhancements

MMSD is committed to ensuring equitable access to content for all members of our community. We recently added features to our website to enhance your experience. Below are some of the icons you might have encountered when visiting the MMSD district website or school websites. Here is what they do:

Have a question, want to provide feedback, share good news from your school or even give a compliment? It is as easy as clicking the red tab at the bottom right corner of the website.

Do you want to view the website in another language? Pick from English, Spanish, or Hmong in this easy drop-down menu located in the bottom right of the website.

Extra assistance to access website content is available by clicking this icon on the bottom right corner of the website. Resolve accessibility issues and enhance your experience through the visual toolkit.

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!

• Donations power Huegel playground, Thoreau climbing wall
• MMSD will add 11 full-day 4K classrooms next year
• As Wisconsin awaits federal approval on plan for last school relief funds, districts start spending

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.