May is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, and amid a global pandemic, we believe prioritizing mental health is more crucial than ever. This month we want to highlight the resilience of our students and staff experiencing increased stress due to the pandemic. We have put together these online wellness resources and mental health resources for you to continue to promote social-emotional wellness among your families and community.

Our English 1 students also put together these PSAs about mental wellness.

Need help with overdue utility bills? Join the MMSD Family, Youth and Community Engagement (FYCE) Department for a Facebook Live community conversation with Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) staff about energy assistance programs for families on Saturday, May 22nd from 10:00-11:00am. This session will also be available in Spanish on Wednesday, May 19th from 6:00-7:00pm. For more information, email fyce@madison.k12.wi.us.

Visit facebook.com/fycemmsd for upcoming live sessions.

The first come, first serve enrollment process is now open for the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP), a $3.2B broadband subsidy program to help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. Eligible recipients of the EBBP include students participating in the National Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program (FRPL). This subsidy only works if families opt-in to participate. Please visit this website for enrollment information.

Having issues with your district-issued device? Please try one of the following troubleshooting actions.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the Pi Mile is virtually unstoppable,” said Simon Kestin, East High School senior. East High’s 20-year fundraising event is going virtual for the first-time ever. The Pi Mile, a 3.14 mile walk/run, is the club’s main fundraiser, and the money raised is used for scholarships for students to participate in competitions and conferences and to provide rental graphing calculators for students who cannot afford them. Participants in the Pi Mile will have an 11-day window to individually complete their 3.14 mile walk/run. Although in past years everyone left the event with a whole pie, organizers have partnered with Food Fight and this year’s participants will receive a gift card for a slice of pie at Monty’s Blue Plate Diner. “We would love to get more participants this year,” math teacher Karen Paschke said. “If you can join us, we would really appreciate it. We want to ensure that parent income does not determine student success in math, and every participant involved helps us reach that goal.”

If you would like to participate or make a donation please fill out this registration form.

This father-daughter duo participated in the 2018 Pi Mile walk/run at Warner Park on May 26. The event was canceled in 2020 due to COVID, and this 2021 event takes a 20-year tradition virtual. The East High Math Club is looking for community members to participate and/or donate funds to support students. To participate or make a donation, please use the registration form at tinyurl.com/PiMileRegistration.

Our own East High School Senior, Malik Terrab, is the 2021 Summit Credit Union $2,500 Project Teen Money scholarship winner! Malik enjoys swimming, playing trumpet, volunteering at food pantries and chilling with family. He wants to attend University of Southern California and become a filmmaker. When asked what he would do if he had a million dollars he said, "I would give a small portion to my family and donate the rest to various charities." Congratulations Malik!

East Junior, Ana Shriver, will also receive a $500 scholarship. Ana wants to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison and become a lawyer. In her spare time she works at Lao Laan Xang and for the Rape Crisis Center’s youth advisory board and also likes to volunteer at organizations like the YWCA and Second Harvest. She is the East High School captain for Student Senate, a part of principal advisory, Raza United and a chapter of March For Our Lives.

Find out more about Project Teen Money.