A NOTE FROM PRINCIPAL CORONA
HALLOWEEN AT MACDOWELL: We understand that Halloween is an exciting time for the children and we hope that there will be many ways that they celebrate the holiday with their family at home. At MacDowell we do not have Halloween celebrations in the classroom; this is so that we can keep the school day consistent and free from distraction for all of our students and support the students’ learning and focus while they are at school. Please note: Children are not to come to school with candy or arrive dressed in Halloween costume.
Thank you for your understanding.
Principal Corona
LIFETOUCH PICTURE PACKAGES & PROOFS HAVE BEEN SENT HOME
- School photos were delivered to all students this week.
- If families did not order a photo package prior to picture day, they will receive a proof sheet with customized codes for their child so that they can order photos online.
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- Families will be able to see the image on this proof sheet and will have until the end of this year to order at https://my.lifetouch.com/.
- Picture Retake day will be Thursday, November 17th.
- Retake day is for students who were absent on photo day, and for any student who is retaking their photo. Please make sure your child’s teacher knows that you want a retake photo done. If families ordered a picture package before picture day and did not like it, their student needs to bring the picture package back on retake day and take a new picture. Another picture package will be sent to school.
- Please Note: Picture Retake day is Thursday, Nov. 17th.
1st-3rd GRADE COED BASKETBALL TEAM INTEREST FORMS
- Interest forms went home this week in Thursday Folders of 1st-3rd grade students.
- Sign-up will be a lottery. We have two teams, please make your first and/or second choices on the form. Interested students should return the form (NO FEES) directly to the main office no later than 9AM November 2nd. Ms. Claudine will notify families if their student has a spot on the team. Link to the form is HERE
Interest forms for other Elementary and Middle School athletic teams will be sent home shortly.
SPIRIT WEAR UPDATE
Dunn’s Sporting Goods is working on completing all of our Spirit Wear orders and will deliver them to us by the end of this week/beginning of next week. I will reach out to all families to confirm delivery through student backpacks. Thanks! ~Ms. Claudine
4th-6th GRADE BOOK CLUB INTEREST APPLICATION (Thursdays after school)
MacDowell students who enjoy reading (or who want to learn to enjoy reading!) are invited to join an after-school book club with school librarian, Ms. Raasch, and Upper Elementary teacher Ms. Mary on Thursdays from 3:00-4:15pm. Ms. Raasch and Ms. Mary will share their passion and enthusiasm for books and reading while engaging students in interactive read-aloud, discussions, author studies, genre exploration, mini-lessons, goal-setting, reflection, and creative writing about reading. Students will have choice and voice in selecting available titles to read and will agree to read daily on their own, working to increase their stamina over time. UE Book Club will guide readers to practice habits and techniques that create and grow lifelong readers!
- COMPLETE THIS FORM to enter your child in the lottery for this after-school club. Spaces are limited! The lottery will run on Monday, 10/31 at 11:00am. Parents and students will be notified by the end of the school day on Monday, 10/31. Our first meeting will be next week, Thursday, 11/3!
SEPTEMBER PTO Minutes
Please see the link to our minutes here: PTO Minutes 9/21/22
November 8th PTO Bake Sale
Please consider supporting the PTO bake sale by donating treats or working a shift.
Please review the available slots and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4FACA92CA0F94-november
RESOURCES / EVENTS
Ways to Support your Students at Home
- Read with them every day / Encourage them to read every day. Looking for great book recommendations for your child? Check out the MPS Reads lists here
- Support math at home. Regularly ask them to practice counting coins, telling time, skip counting, basic math facts.
- Create a quiet calm space for homework.
- Ensure they get enough sleep so they are able to work to their fullest potential at school.
- Give your child responsibilities around the house with clear and reasonable expectations. Setting/clearing the table, making their bed, washing/putting away dishes, peeling vegetables, sweeping floors, making lunch, helping with laundry, yard work, feeding animals, etc. Framing these as their responsibility as members of the household, and not requests to “help out”, increases their independence, and cultivates daily mindful and responsible action.
DANCEWORKS DAY OFF WORKSHOPS
Get creative and make a day off of school an imaginative experience with Danceworks School Day Off Workshops! Appropriate for children in 5K-5th grades, workshops run from 9am–4pm at our Water Street location. We’re hitting the road to check out the AMAZING USA! Hop aboard to discover exciting things from the Pacific Northwest to the Deep South, New England to the Sun Belt. Each School Day Off Workshop will take us to a new area of the country. Dance, theater, visual art, and much more will fuel each exciting adventure!
UPCOMING DATES:
Tuesday, November 8: Midwest
Monday, November 16: Deep North
Friday, February 17: Rust Belt
Monday, February 20: New England
Friday, March 17: Deep South
Monday, March 20: Pacific North
For School Day Off Workshop schedules and pricing, and to register for workshops, visit DanceworksMKE.org or call 414.277.8480 x6007.
MILWAUKEE RECREATION’S TWILIGHT & TREAT
Join us this year to kick off Halloween weekend with free, fun, family friendly activities, including trick or treating, carnival games, face painting, and enrichment activities! All ages welcome. This is a free, drop-in event. No registration required. Full INFO HERE
Event Information
Date: Friday, Oct. 28, 2022
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Location: Andrew Douglas Twilight Center (3620 N. 18th St.)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022
Time: 4:30-8 p.m.
Locations: Bay View Twilight Center (2751 S. Lenox St.), Washington Twilight Center (2525 N. Sherman Blvd.), Madison Twilight Center (8135 W. Florist Ave.)
HOW TO HELP KIDS GET ORGANIZED
Being disorganized can cause a great deal of grief for kids with executive functioning issues and ADHD. But with the right tools — and the right support — they can build the skills they need to overcome organizational challenges, get better at managing their time, stop losing things, and start feeling more in control.
This week on childmind.org, we’re rounding up expert advice to help kids get (and stay) organized. We’ve got tips for taming messy rooms and handling homework stresses. Plus we take a closer look at working memory — the executive function that helps us remember what we need to get things done — and how we can help kids who have trouble with it.
REMINDERS
!!!! OPT-IN TO TEXT MESSAGING: This will allow you to receive updates regarding transportation changes, school newsletters, school closings and so much more. Follow these instructions to ensure you are receiving important information:
- Families should send a text message to: 67587 to connect to the new system.
- In the message, send Y or YES to ensure that you continue to receive important texts from your school and district.
QUICK LINKS:
Parent/Student Handbook on Rights, Responsibilities, and Discipline