MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 21 - April 29 - Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) testing window
March 21 - April 29 - Forward Exam testing window
April 11 - School Board Meeting (7 pm)
April 15 - No Classes; District office closed
April 18 - No Classes; Staff Professional Development Day
April 19 - 21 - ACT with Writing makeup testing window
April 19 - May 13 - PALS 1-2 Spring testing window
April 21 - Monday class schedule (Elementary only)
April 25 - School Board Meeting (7 pm)

May 2 - 27 - PALS PreK-K Spring testing window
May 4 - Bike to School Day
May 7 - Tosa Transition Craft Fair
May 7 - EFW Black and White Gala
May 9 - School Board Meeting (7 pm)
May 14 - Junior Prom (East and West)
May 23 - School Board Meeting (7 pm)
May 27 - No Classes JK-8
May 27 - Inclement Weather Makeup Day (High school only)
May 30 - No Classes; District office closed
DEPARTMENT DISH
Business Services
The Board of Education approved a contract for the new permanent Chief Financial Officer, Keith Brightman. Keith comes to Wauwatosa with considerable experience in other Wisconsin school districts and a well regarded financial advisory firm. Keith has strong strategic planning skills and a focus on service to the schools. 

We are happy to announce that Charlotte Garder will be joining the Business Services team as the new administrative assistant, replacing Joanne Nordstrom who served the department with excellence for many years. Charlotte is a veteran Wauwatosa administrative assistant, currently working at McKinley Elementary School.

And finally, the Business Office is currently accepting applications for the Director of Finance and a Grant Specialist to fully staff the department.
Human Resources
The HR Department is finalizing staffing for the 2022-23 school year and anticipates taking contracts to the Board of Education at the April 28, 2022 meeting. Contracted teacher salaries will be updated to reflect the newly adopted salary schedule. 

In addition to planning for 2022-23, Human Resources is also working to coordinate the Recognition and Retirement event, which will be held in person for the first time in two years. More information will be sent to staff members to be honored directly in the coming weeks. 

Lastly, any staff members who may retire in the next year or two should mark their calendars for May 5, 2022 at 4:30pm for the Wauwatosa School District Retirement Seminar. Experts will be present to discuss insurance and Social Security as it relates to retirement.
Teaching + Learning
In accordance with board policy 2414 and Wisconsin State Statute, we are currently reviewing our Human Growth and Development curriculum. Governed by this policy and statute, we have formed internal and external committees to support the perspective and production work for the curriculum. We aim to gather further input from multiple stakeholder groups in the coming weeks and continue to communicate where we are in the process. 

The Wauwatosa School District aspires to deliver high-quality instruction and continuously improve instructional practices. We believe in the value of strong educators, and we know that when educators are properly trained, supported and empowered, they will positively impact the lives of all students. As a result, we will welcome the Teachers College of Columbia University from August 8-11, 2022. This learning will support our consistent practices, understandings, and expectations of ELA in grades JK-8. 
Recreation
The Recreation Department is now hiring for part-time summer positions including lifeguards, day camp counselors, t-ball and softball coaches and more! Visit www.tosarec.com to learn more and apply.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
High School Orchestra students took a trip to Los Angeles in March. As part of the trip, they had the opportunity to explore Santa Monica Pier. Keep scrolling for more photos of their trip!
DISTRICT NEWS
District Announces New Members of Leadership Team
The Wauwatosa School District is pleased to announce that the following members of its leadership team have been approved by the Board of Education: 

  • Mr. Tahir Abdelmawla, Underwood Elementary School Principal
  • Mr. Keith Brightman, Chief Financial Officer
  • Mr. Stephen Kern, Jefferson Elementary School Principal
  • Dr. Nicole Marble, Chief Academic Officer
  • Mr. Luke Pinion, Chief of Pupil and Family Supports
  • Mrs. Sarah Zelazoski, Chief of Talent

Education Foundation of Wauwatosa Delivers Nearly $72,000 in Grants for Students, Staff
The Education Foundation of Wauwatosa (EFW) has provided nearly $72,000 in grants to fund programs, services and opportunities for Wauwatosa School District students this year.

Among the grants are $20,000 to East High School for a state-of-the-art music studio, $8,328 to West High School for graphing calculators and much, much more!

The EFW is a nonprofit organization created in 1990 to raise funds to give back to Wauwatosa public schools in the form of grants that prepare students for a successful future. Since its inception, the EFW has awarded more than $1 million to promote excellence, innovation, and opportunities that enhance and enrich education.

Registration Now Open for Wauwatosa Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten Programs
The Wauwatosa School District is accepting registrations for its junior kindergarten (JK) and senior kindergarten (SK) programs for the 2022-23 school year. 

The district’s half-day JK experience is for students who will be four years old on or by September 1, 2022. Young students work and play together, using their own creativity in an environment that meets their needs. The program prepares them to be confident, independent learners. 

Senior kindergarten is the district’s full-day program, open to children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2022. Children who are currently enrolled in the district’s junior kindergarten program do not need to enroll for senior kindergarten, as they are already considered WSD students.

“We are ready to welcome the next generation of students to our junior and senior kindergarten programs for the 2022-23 school year,” said Dr. Demond Means, Superintendent. “We invite families to take this important step and launch their child’s educational journey in the Wauwatosa School District, where all students can learn and excel.”

School Libraries Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, Honor All Abilities
April is Autism Acceptance Month! Our school libraries are celebrating the occasion by providing our students, families, and staff with some outstanding books featuring characters who have autism. 

Check out these fantastic resources (pictured right) as we continue to make the Wauwatosa School District a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all our students!

Also this month, our Wauwatosa School Libraries are recognizing that we all have many abilities.

Did you know that the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) did not become law until 1990? The fight began decades earlier and gained steam in 1977 with the passing of the Rehabilitation Act, which was modeled after other laws around discrimination.

Below are some book suggestions for our families about individuals with varying abilities:

by Annette Bay Pimentel

by Cari Best

by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes

by Paola Peretti

by Ginny Rorby
Act Now: Tickets on Sale for Tosa EFW's Annual Black and White Gala
Tickets are officially on sale for the EFW's Black & White Gala on Saturday, May 7 at the Renaissance Milwaukee West at 6 pm. Two years and one reschedule later, the EFW is so excited to bring the community together again and raise money for the amazing educators in Wauwatosa. So bust out your wallets to bid on some amazing items and dust off your dancing shoes and get ready to get down with Dj Ku Mays! 


Get your tickets here: https://one.bidpal.net/bwg2022/. Then, book your overnight stay using this link for a discounted room rate!
Tosa East Players to Host Youth Clinic
The Tosa East Players are hosting a Youth Clinic for elementary and middle school students on Saturday, April 9, from 9 am to 12 p.m.

The clinic will give students in grades K-8 an opportunity to work on singing, acting, and dancing through the music of “The Addams Family,” Tosa East’s spring production.

The cost of the clinic is $40 and includes a T-shirt, commemorative script, and a complimentary ticket to the performance.

Whitman, Montessori Students to Perform ‘Shrek, Jr.
Whitman Middle School and Wauwatosa Montessori students proudly present, “Shrek, Jr.” Performances are Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13 at 7 pm, and May 14 at 2 pm, at Wauwatosa West High School. Tickets can be purchased at the door using cash or check.

More than 85 students are contributing to this amazing show. Big dance numbers, fantastic songs and entertainment await!
Visit the Tosa Farmers Market and Harness the Power of Produce
The Tosa Farmers Market is open every Saturday from June 4 until October 15 in the heart of the Tosa Village across from the little Red Store. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon with a special sneak peek on Saturday, May 28 from 8 a.m. to noon.
 
Students ages five to 12 can participate in our Power of Produce Club (POP) by checking in each week at the information booth and receiving $2 in tokens to spend on produce or food bearing plants.
 
To learn more about the market, sign up for the Farmer's Market newsletter and events including its monthly Makers Market. To volunteer at the market visit the Farmer's Market website.

Just Announced: Tosa Transitions Craft Fair

Our 18- to 21-year-old transition young adults and staff are holding a craft fair on Saturday, May 7 from 9 am - 2:30 pm in the Wauwatosa East High School gym. Check out and purchase unique items created by the talented individuals in this community-based program!
#TOSAPROUD
Wauwatosa Students Medal at 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Three Wauwatosa high school students were honored as National Medalists at the recent 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Evelyn Schumann of Wauwatosa East High School was awarded a silver medal for her “Charcoal Portfolio,” as was Melina Voravong for “Chasing Redbird.” Evelyn Winter Skyberg Greer, a sophomore at Wauwatosa West High School, received a gold medal for her animation, “The Garden,” which was entered under the name Evelyn Winter.

Additionally, Greer’s animation received the American Visions Award, the highest distinction at the national level. She is the only Wisconsin student to have earned this national-level award. Greer and her family have been invited to attend the awards ceremony, which will be held at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 9.

Hosted by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards celebrates talented students in grades 7-12 by allowing them the opportunity to showcase their work. Student winners have the opportunity for their original works to receive recognition and exposure through exhibitions, scholarships and publications. National medalists are also eligible for scholarships of up to $10,000.

This year marks the 99th annual edition of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Over 100,000 teens from across the United States and Canada submitted more than 260,000 pieces of original work, which jurors evaluated based on originality, technical skill and personal voice or vision. Jurors are eminent figures in the visual and literary arts, and a number of award winners have gone on to serve as jurors after finding success in their fields.

Tosa West Students Excel on National German Exam
Several Wauwatosa West students have been recognized for their exceptional performance on the National German Exam.

Steven Awve, Meghan Grimes, and Eleanor Hannan each performed at the 90th percentile or above and will receive gold certificates this spring. They can also apply for a scholarship that includes a three-week study trip program to Germany.

Students performing between the 70th and 89th percentile were Zoe Flint, Thomas Foersterling, Molly Frost, Carina Pelzek, Julia Thompson, and Kosta Tourloukis.

The National German Exam is administered each year to more than 20,000 high school students. Now in its 61st year, the exam provides individual diagnostic feedback, rewards students through an extensive regional and national prize program, and creates a sense of accomplishment.
Tosa Students Medal at Regional SkillsUSA Competition
Two Wauwatosa high school students took home medals at the Regional SkillsUSA competition on February 18.

Matthew Nutt received a gold medal in CNC Milling, while Jolie Fugarino, took home the bronze medal in the welding sculpture category. 

About 190 students from across the state took part in the event, which was held at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. The nonprofit organization serves middle school, high school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.

Congratulations to Matthew and Jolie on their outstanding work at the competition!
Wauwatosa Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists
Three Wauwatosa students have been named finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Madeline Cicero from Wauwatosa East High School and Matthew Nutt and Ronan Piontek from Wauwatosa West are among just 15,000 students nationwide to reach the finalist stage this year. 

About 1.5 million high school students enter the program annually. To do so, they take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), typically during their junior year. 

Cicero, Nutt and Piontek will each receive a Certificate of Merit for being named finalists and if they are named a National Merit Scholar, each will receive a $25,000 college scholarship.

For more information on the program, visit https://www.nationalmerit.org.
Tosa East Student Accepted to Intensive Summer Choir Program
Wauwatosa East High School Junior Erynn Hertzfeldt will take part in a six-week intensive choir program at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan this summer. 

Hertzfeldt, who has sung in school choirs since she was in sixth grade, will learn more about singing, take part in private voice lessons, sing in master classes, and perform in a choral concert. She also received a $1,500 merit scholarship as part of her acceptance into the program.

The Interlochen Arts Camp welcomes about 2,800 students from around the world. They engage in immersive experiences focused on music, theater, creative writing, the visual arts, dance, and more.  
Wauwatosa Students, Teacher Earn NCWIT AiC Awards
Three students and one teacher from Wauwatosa West High School have been honored with National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing (AiC) awards.

Students Margaret Lehman, Manita Mahapatra and Mahika Mahapatra each earned honorable mention. The awards recognize 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, while encouraging them to pursue their passions. 

Award recipients gain access to the AiC community, made up of peers, professionals, and volunteers across the country. They can also apply for a variety of computer science-focused scholarships. 

Additionally, Tosa West math teacher ​​Amy Fetherston received a 2022 Aspirations in Computing Educator Award from NCWIT. This award recognizes formal and informal educators for their efforts to promote gender equity in computing. Fetherston has played a her vital role in encouraging students to explore their interests in computing and technology.  

Fetherston, Lehman, and Mahapatra will receive their awards at a ceremony at the Milwaukee School of Engineering on May 1, 2022. To learn more about the NCWIT AiC Awards, visit https://www.ncwit-wi.org.
Tosa Students Excel in Battle of the Books Competition
Teams from across the Wauwatosa School District excelled at the recent Wisconsin Battle of the Books competition!

At the elementary level, Wilson Elementary/STEM School finished 3rd in the state out of 183 teams. Roosevelt Elementary came in 5th, Wauwatosa Montessori 8th, and Lincoln Elementary 43rd in the competition.

Longfellow Middle School came in 2nd out of 123 teams in the middle school competition, while Whitman Middle School placed 10th and Wauwatosa Montessori 16th. 

A team made up of just two Wauwatosa East High School freshmen—Lily Ruggini and Claire Fifarek (pictured above)—placed 16th out of 48 teams.

Congratulations!
Tosa Chess Teams Attend, Perform Well at State Competition
The Wauwatosa East and West chess teams had a solid showing at the State Scholastic Chess Championships March 19-20. 

The East team made it all the way to the title match before falling to Waupaca, dropping them to fifth overall. The West team won its final match to finish third overall. Both will next head to the national competition this spring. Congratulations and best of luck to both teams!
Eisenhower Holds All-School Community Time
In March, Eisenhower Elementary held its first All-School Community Time of the school year. 

Fifth-grade students facilitated the period, which took place during the last half-hour of the day. They visited the younger grade levels, bringing books and leaving them in classrooms. Fifth graders then led a learning activity. 

Community Time is a great opportunity to foster a greater sense of belonging and connection, while also providing fifth graders with a valuable leadership experience. It was a great way to bring our entire student body together!
Tosa West Student Selected for Wisconsin Honors Orchestra

Congratulations to Wauwatosa West student Travis Burns, who has been selected for the Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Orchestra! Travis is one of only eight string bass players in the state to be accepted into the bass section of the orchestra.
Tosa Student to Perform with ‘Kids from Wisconsin’
A big congratulations goes out to LaDerrious Jones, who has been accepted into this year’s KIDS FROM WISCONSIN! This group of students serve as music ambassadors across Wisconsin. They will perform at the Wisconsin State Fair and all over the state in the coming months.
Tosa Students Named Winners in All-City Read
Congratulations to Wauwatosa East's Adriana Xiong, who earned first-place honors in the recent Tosa All-City Read Essay Contest for the second year in a row.

Other winners this year include:

  • 1st Tegan Brown (Roosevelt) for “Shared Information"

  • 2nd Sarah Weis (Roosevelt) for “Ending a Friendship"

  • Honorable Mention: Sophia Basile (Roosevelt) for “The Dinner” 

High School Students Take Part in Home & Garden Show

Students enrolled in the LAUNCH program from both Wauwatosa East and Wauwatosa West installed drywall and built other items as part of the recent Home & Garden Show at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The students have been learning construction and building trades through the program, which also includes students from Brookfield Central and Brookfield East.

High School Orchestra Students Visit Los Angeles
Our high school students had a great time on their trip to Los Angeles! They checked out the Grammy Museum, took in views at the Griffith Observatory, hit the Santa Monica Pier, and went on a walking tour of the city. They even ran into Gwen Stefani!

Check out some photos from their trip!
Students gather together as they explore the Grammy Museum
Three time Grammy winning artist Gwen Stefani poses for a photo with students
Piper Carpentier and Ava Grissmeyer
IN THE NEWS
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Wauwatosa School District | 12121 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53226 
Ph: (414) 773-1000 | www.wauwatosaschools.org