Wauwatosa Montessori School
October 2, 2020
Dear Families:
Picture Days are this upcoming week on October 6th and 8th. For our phase into learning students, their picture will be taken on their cohort day. For our virtual students, please check the sign up genius to see when you signed up to come have your child(ren)'s picture taken. ALL ordering has to be done online and there will be no forms sent home or available on picture day. School Picture Ordering. VIP is not using stools for pictures, but rather students will stand for their photo. Children will take their mask off for the photo and then put it back on once the photo has been taken.
Our designated parent/teacher conference time is quickly approaching. In an effort to achieve 100% participation in conferences we wanted to provide the following updates.
This fall we will engage in conferences with families across a window of time instead of on two particular evenings. For JK - 8th grade students the conference window will be October 22 - October 27 with Friday, October 23rd being a non-student day offering conference times during the day. Our conferences this year will take place virtually through the use of the zoom platform. We are asking that you watch for a sign-up genius to come to your inbox on Friday, October 9th in our weekly newsletter. Select a time that works best for you using the sign-up genius. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss your child’s current progress with you.
Canvas is the District’s learning management system that we will be utilizing throughout the school year to support student learning in both the Phase Into Learning and Tosa Connected models. If you haven't already, please read below in the newsletter on how to access the parent portal to support your child. Your child's classroom teacher has and/or will be communicating this information as well.
This week our focus in morning meeting was on Responsible Decision Making- Learners will have the ability to make positive choices and take responsibility for positive and negative outcomes. Our focus was on how we make lots of decisions each day and one part of responsible decision making is being able to problem solve and react to our problems in with an appropriate size emotion. You can see complete plans on the website. This is a great skill to extend on at home when your child reacts to something - practice reflect on problem size and if the emotion matches the size of the problem!
Sincerely,
Ms.Imperiale
Principal
PTSA
After our first PTSA meeting of the year this week, we are ready to move forward with some of our regular programming! We are looking for Room Parents and are planning a Halloween Costume Drive-Thru event! Please complete this survey to help guide our planning! We want as many families to be able to attend as possible! Hope to see you at our next Zoom meeting in November!
- PTSA Survey
- Meeting Minutes - September 29th, 2020
- 2020-2021 Approved Budget
- Next Meeting: November 17 @ 7pm via Zoom
Canvas Learning Management System
How do families access Canvas?
Canvas provides families with the option of creating a Canvas Observer account. The Canvas Observer account helps families stay up to date with their student's courses. Through the Canvas Observer account, families have an “observer” role in their student’s course(s). As an observer, families are linked to their student’s account so they can see assignment due dates, announcements, and set up notifications. Observers can view the course content but cannot participate in the course. Information such as student grades and missing assignments can be accessed by using Infinite Campus.
To set up a Canvas Observer account, please access the Canvas Training Course here. This course will explain how to link to your student’s account as well as help you navigate Canvas.
Where do I go for additional help for Canvas?
Please click here to learn how to access Canvas Help.
Where do I go if my child is experiencing technical difficulties with a school-issued Chromebook?
If you need technical support for your student's Chromebook, please complete a Helpdesk ticket.
Wauwatosa School Board
On Monday, September 28, 2020 the Wauwatosa School Board approved maintaining a hybrid model of instruction for Phase Into Learning students through at least Tuesday, November 24, 2020, as supported by our Medical/Public Health Advisory Panel. This was approved based on the District’s recommendation of:
- Escalating COVID-19 cases in the State of Wisconsin and within our community.
- Guidance from our Medical/Public Health Advisory Panel.
- Organizational capacity to successfully move to 5 days a week in-person while mitigating the risk of further spread of COVID-19 in the schools.
Updates from our District Nurses
Student Illness Checker
As we move through the school year, will continue to proactively provide families with resources that help answer critical questions. For that reason, we have developed this Student Illness Checker to help you determine if/when your student should report to school based on their symptoms, interactions with others, etc. If you have questions after using the checker, please contact your school nurse.
Lunch
The Wauwatosa School District will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in Phase Into Learning, Tosa Connected and Wauwatosa Virtual Academy through December 31, 2020.
Phase Into Learning
When students are learning within our buildings, they will receive lunch as they normally would. Elementary students will provide their lunch selection to their classroom teacher each morning and will receive their meal at lunchtime.
To receive meals for the days students are not learning within our buildings, families must complete the Hybrid Learners Lunch Request Form each week. Orders for Cohort A must be placed each Monday by 12:00 noon. Orders for Cohort B must be placed each Thursday by 12:00 noon. Students will pick up their meals at their schools prior to leaving on Tuesday (Cohort A) or Friday (Cohort B). Please note that families must submit one form per week to order meals. Only one form is required per household.
Tosa Connected + Wauwatosa Virtual Academy
Students enrolled in Tosa Connected or Wauwatosa Virtual Academy must complete the Virtual Learners Lunch Request Form by 12:00 noon each Monday. Meals can be picked up at either Longfellow Middle School or Whitman Middle School on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Please note that families must submit one form per week to order meals. Only one form is required per household.
If you have any questions regarding the meal service, please feel free to contact the food service office at (414) 773-2635.
National Walk to School Day
National Walk to School Day is next week Wednesday, October 7th. This year we will be celebrating it differently than in the past. We are going to celebrate it for the week and encourage families to get out and exercise throughout the week. Attached is an educational flyer about Walking and Biking with your family while social distancing and also a coloring sheet for students to color and share on social media with the hashtag #TosaProud.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
WMS Service Society
Our first volunteer opportunity of the school year will take place on 10/10.
Cub Scouts
Although Wauwatosa Montessori does not have a Cub Scout program, there are options nearby if you would have interest in your child joining. Eisenhower and McKinley both have packs which have students from WMS in them. Attached is information on Eisenhower's Pack. If interested in Cub Scouting, you can contact Adam Berghammer (Charlotte, Elleanor and Edward's Dad) at ammer1029@yahoo.com
Parent/Family Resources
Food Pantries
Pop up food pantries can be accessed at any time and are monitored regularly for continued needs. Please share what you can and take only what you need.
Pop up food pantries are available at the following locations:
- Jefferson Elementary School - 6927 Maple Terrace
- Roosevelt Elementary School - 2535 N. 73rd Street
- McKinley Elementary School- 2435 N. 89th Street
- Montessori School - 12121 W. North Avenue
Thank you to our parent volunteers, Mrs. Courseault and Mrs. Pelot, for their leadership of our Montessori School food pantry. Their efforts to not only start, but maintain and grow the pantry as very deservingly showcased recently on CBS 58's Natalie's Everyday Heroes. You can see the segment here.
Wauwatosa Montessori School
Email: imperias@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/Wauwatosa_Montessori_School
Location: 12121 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI, United States
Phone: (414) 773-3300
Twitter: @TosaMontessori