Montessori Memo
August 26, 2022
WAMCS Vision: Guiding children to become lifelong learners and global citizens of moral character.
WAMCS Mission: Through the use of Montessori principles, including experiential learning and individualized instruction, we help students to achieve academic success, advance their awareness of self, encourage their responsibility to and for each other, and guide them to work together towards improving their community and the larger world.
Head of School - Highlights
Dear WAMCS Family,
We are so excited to get this school year started and look forward to seeing you at Open House next week! Have a wonderful weekend!
Warmly,
Mrs. Channel
Open House on Tuesday, August 30th @ 4:00pm-6:00pm
School Hours for 2022-2023
8:00am-3:00pm: School Day
3:00pm-3:15pm: Dismissal and Pick Up
Office Hours: 7:45am - 3:45pm
*Your child must be here by 7:45am if you would like for them to have school breakfast.*
Monday, September 5th: Labor Day Holiday (no school)
Thursday, September 8th: Picture Day!
Wednesday, September 28th: Fall Colors Walk
Annual Update
For Montessori to have the most accurate information, we need parents to log into Infinite Campus, and complete the Annual Update. Here are the directions:
1. On the left hand side of the screen, you will click on "more."
2. Click "online registration"
3. Click the "start" button for the '22-23 school year existing student registration.
4. Select you child's name and click the "begin registration" button. Please follow the prompts until see the red "submit" button. Click that to finish.
5. You will need to follow the same procedure for each of your children.
These are the steps to create your personal Parent Portal (if you don't already have one):
Go to the District’s website: www.wausauschools.org
Choose Families at the top of the page, then choose Parent Portal-Infinite Campus Portal
Select Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Select New User (Bottom of the white panel titled Wausau School District)
Enter the Activation Code complete the registration process (If you need this code, please contact Ms. Kris)
Create your own username and password.
Once you have a parent portal, you will be able to:
View Student Grades
View/Print Report Cards and Progress Reports
Pay School Fees (Ipad Insurance)
View Payment History
Update Email Addresses and Phone Numbers
Set up Personal Notifications
Check Busing Information
If you have an account, but cannot remember your password of if you experience difficulties, we will assist you via phone or via email. Please contact kbusch@wausauschools.org or portal@wausauschools.org
Montessori School Supply Pack!
Children's House - Cost: $25
- 4 large glue sticks
- 2 packs of crayons (for first and second semester)
- 1 bottle of school glue
- 1 pair of child-sized safety scissors
- 2 primary journals for K-2 (blue)
- 3 poly folders with prongs (white, blue, and black)
- 1 clear plastic, non-bending ruler (inches and centimeters)
Elementary 1 - Cost: $30
- 4 large glue sticks
- 2 packs of crayons (for first and second semester)
- 2 packs of colored pencils (for first and second semester)
- 1 bottle of school glue
- 1 pair of child-sized scissors
- 3 primary composition notebooks (red, yellow, blue)
- 5 poly folders with prongs (white, red, yellow, blue, and black)
- 1 clear plastic, non-bending ruler (inches and centimeters)
Elementary 2 - Cost: $35
- 4 large glue sticks
- 2 packs of markers (for first and second semester)
- 2 packs of colored pencils (for first and second semester)
- 1 bottle of school glue
- 1 pair of child-sized scissors
- 6 wide-ruled composition notebooks (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, black)
- 7 poly folders with prongs (white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and black)
- 1 plastic, non-bending ruler (inches and centimeters)
Checks need to be made out to Horace Mann Middle School or bring cash to Open House!
*You will notice that we do not have pencils on the list, as we have many from previous years that we want to use first!*
Note - You will still need to purchase your child's own backpack, water bottle, 2 boxes of tissues, and wired headphones.
Montessori Model United Nations
Calling all rising 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students!
We are so excited to share that our Elementary 2 and Adolescent students will have the opportunity to engage in the MMUN Year-Long Program for 2022-2023!
This has been an annual cultural experience that allows students to learn about the Sustainable Development Goals established by UNESCO to help us focus on basic human rights that span our globe.
According to Dr. Montessori, children between the ages of 9-12 are in a sensitive period of reason, justice, and morality. This MMUN learning experience provides our students with:
- time to learn about cultures of people and nations throughout our world
- continue to build research, writing, and oral communication skills
- develop critical thinking and problem solving skills
- discuss and debate global issues and world problems
- extend leadership skills through the use of peaceful conflict resolution
Mrs. Cruz-Uribe and Mr. Trueblood will work with all students in the E2 and AD classrooms to participate in the year-long program; however the conference is only open to 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students. This allows the 4th grade students the chance to learn about the conference and prepare for the following year(s) of participation.
The preliminary and approximate cost for this trip is $1,500 per person for students/parents. All families will be set up on a payment plan to ensure that fees are paid before we travel. This amount does not include meals, additional activities, and souvenirs. Parents are permitted and encouraged to attend this trip as chaperones, however your participation is not required for your child to attend.
*We will have an interest meeting in late August/early September for any interested families who would like more detailed information. Complete the Interest Form below (blue button) to ensure that you receive all updates and communications about this learning experience!*
Be Informed, Get Involved!
Niche in our Nest!
#owlnestniche
You are encouraged to:
- share innovative ideas aligned with our philosophy
- attend a Governance Council meeting
- join Parent Connect
- help with preparing materials for the shelves
- sign up to help with Snack Prep
- lead an after school activity/club
- volunteer to set up/clean up at our special events.
We need all of you to make this a successful school year and I am looking forward to celebrating our parent volunteers at the end of the year!
WAMCS Governance Council Members - Needed!
As a public charter school with the Wausau School District, the Wausau Area Montessori Charter School is afforded opportunities to be unique. However, we are still bound by all Wisconsin Department of Instruction standards and assessment expectations. WAMCS's charter agreement with the district allows us to modify items such as curriculum, daily schedules, the length of our school day, and other items.
In addition, WAMCS is required to have a Governance Council to help oversee and guide the school's operation. The Governance Council functions similar to a regular school board; the council ensures financial, operational, and educational accountability of WAMCS.
There are currently TWO open positions on our council that need to be filled for our team to be complete. Please consider this opportunity to serve our students, staff, and families!
*Click on the blue button below to complete the application form!*
WAMCS Governance Council
President: Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee
Vice President: Chris Dietsche
Secretary: Kate Schuster
Members: Casey Jensen, Tyler Berg, Dana Moore
Upcoming Meetings @ 5:30pm-7:00pm:
- Tuesday, September 20th
- Tuesday, October 18th
- Tuesday, November 15th
- Tuesday, December 20th
Location: Montessori Library (Room 141) - Come into the building through Door 3
WAMCS Parent Connect
President: Dawn Dietsche
Vice-President: Melissa Schreiber
Secretary: Elayna Clark
Members: Melissa Polebitski, Dana Moore, Christine Geimer
Upcoming VIRTUAL Meetings at 6:00pm-7:30pm:
- Monday, September 12th
- Monday, October 3rd
- Monday, November 7th
- Monday, December 5th
Meeting ID
2022-2023 Meal Prices
You are welcome to deposit money into your child's PayPams account.
Here is the pricing, set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for this upcoming 2022-2023 school year:
Breakfast
Elementary Students: $1.50
Middle School Students: $1.75
High School Students: $1.90
Staff/Visitors: $2.50
Milk Carton: $0.45
Lunch
Elementary Students: $2.85
Middle School Students: $2.95
High School Students: $3.10
Staff/Visitors: $4.75
Please know that free and reduced meals are available for qualifying students. If you would like to see if your students are eligible, click here to access the application.
WAMCS Staff List for 2022-2023
Molle Bartletti, Guide
Lauretta Wagner, Paraprofessional
Elementary 1
Katelyn Hills, Guide
Nancy Xiong, Paraprofessional
Elementary 1
Alisia Jones, Guide
To Be Determined, Paraprofessional
Elementary 2
Kim Cruz-Uribe, Guide
Bruce Trueblood, Guide
Special Education
Lisa Riehle, Teacher
Christina Vega, Paraprofessional
Carolyn Meronek, Speech Pathologist
Encore
Jackie Wenzelow, Art
Karla Tennant, Music
Josh Zielinski, PhyEd
Chris Malluege, Library
Pupil Services
Denelle Helgeson, School Counselor
Cristin Czerwonka, School Social Worker
Sara Gardner, School Psychologist
Health Aide
Chris Maahs
Nutrition Services
Cathy Higar
Custodians
Mike Erickson
Kevin Davisson
Administrative Assistant
Kris Busch
Head of School
Elizabeth Channel
Wausau School District - Announcements
The Wausau School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex (including transgender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability (“Protected Classes”).