WAUWATOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Hello Wauwatosa Montessori School Community,

I hope to see everyone at Game Night next Thursday, January 30th from 6-7:30 p.m.! Bring a game and play games other families and students bring! There will be snacks provided, but feel free to bring a snack. This is a great opportunity to connect in a fun atmosphere! Thanks to our PTSA for sponsoring this event.

STAR reports (accompanied by this letter) have begun being sent home today (5th graders), and will continue being sent home through next week Friday, January 31st. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

Thanks to everyone who came out to Lights on Tosa! A special thanks goes out to our teachers and students who took time out of their evenings to provide parent education about the benefits of a Montessori education and the unique experience students have at our school!

All School Read!

Congrats to Ms. Brown's class for answering the most trivia questions in the first round! We'll do another counting next week!

We encourage families to continue keeping up with the reading calendars sent home! The students have been enjoying Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabstein so far! All students are encouraged to turn in trivia questions! This year our drawings will focus on the number of trivia questions turned in per class and later on in the reading schedule, we'll shift to drawing individual names (the final week!)! Literacy Night is coming up on February 21st from 5:30-7 p.m.! Our Literacy Committee (Jenice Carolan, Jen Jacobs, Jason Lawent, Smith Wooldridge and myself) has finalized our activities for Literacy Night. Please consider joining the volunteer effort on the night itself, as we are looking for volunteers for Literacy Night. Stay tuned for a sign up genius!

Staffing Update

I am excited to share that on February 3rd, Brecken Ashenbrenner, will be joining our team as our Special Education Teacher! Brecken earned her Master's Degree in Special Education in 2004, and also has a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science. Brecken comes to us with both a Early Childhood Special Education licence and a Cross Categorical Special Education license. Over the course of her career, she has served as a Special Education teacher, a Title 1 interventionist, an Education Specialist for Children's Wisconsin, and as a Peaceworks Trainer for Marquette University. Brecken believes that our students are the future and that teaching is one of the most rewarding professions; and she shared that she does not take it for granted how fortunate she is to have this career. She also shared that she encourages her students to work hard and pursue their passions. Next week Mr. Nen, is subbing for Special Education Teacher with us.

We are continuing our search for a Physical Education Teacher. In the interim, Isa Herman is subbing in gym class. Further there has been a change in the District regarding how substitutes are assigned. Instead of having a building substitute automatically report to each of the schools, our new procedure is for absences to be picked up by substitutes throughout the District. Staff have been encouraged to request preferred substitutes including Ms. Isa.

Check out the latest edition of the American Montessori Society Family Connection: January edition here!

January Virtue: Service

Staff Members of the Month: Ms. Nora Hart , Ms. Nicole Hinz, Ms. Gilly Brennan, and Ms. Yifan Zheng!

Enjoy your weekend!

Melissa Pallin

Principal

• January 27th No School. Professional Learning Day
• Thursday, January 30, 6-7:30 p.m. Game night!

• Hot cocoa fundraiser under the awning, Tuesday, January 28th

• Feb. 21st Literacy Night! 5:30-7 p.m. AP Inc. will be selling at the event
• February 27th and 28th Parent-Teacher Conferences (sign ups will come out in February)

PTSA Corner

Game Night!

Family game night will be held at school on Thursday, January 30, 2025 (6:00-7:30 p.m. in Room 30/AP Room). Bring your own game, cards or puzzle for this family event and then mix it up and play with other students and families!

PTSA meeting RESCHEDULED: February 11th, 7-8:30 PM, Room 30 (or Zoom)

Due to the snow day, we rescheduled the meeting for next month. Thankfully, our guest speakers will still be able to come and talk to us about the Guardian Guide! Dr. Marble, Chief Academic Advisor, and Mr. Pinion, Chief of Pupil and Family Supports, will present information found in the Guardian Guide, a comprehensive guide to help families navigate supports and resources available to students. They will be available to answer questions from parents as well. Principal Palin will provide an update on staffing and report on student behavior data.

WMS Family Directory

Access the 2024-2025 WMS family directory HERE. This list was compiled by the PTSA using opt-in data from Infinite Campus to help connect students and families outside of school. Please email tosamontessori.PTSA@gmail.com for additions or corrections.

Community book study opportunity
The Division of Pupil and Family Supports will be hosting a two-part book study on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The planning team for this book study is seeking a general idea of how many individuals would be interested in participating in order to properly plan. As these plans unfold, additional information will be shared with the community. Virtual options will be available as well as a request for accommodations and child care for those who may need it January 15th 6PM (Book Parts 1, 2, and 3), Location: McKinley Elementary School, 2435 N 89th St.

• February 12th 6PM (Book Part 4), Location: Lincoln Elementary School, 1741 N Wauwatosa Ave.

Please complete this form if you are interested in attending any/all book study sessions.

Stay tuned because the WMS PTSA is looking into hosting a break-out session after this book study to further discuss this book and actionable next steps in our own school community

Club Opportunities!

Engineering Club (started by Harrison Fischer)

Open to Adolescent Program and Upper Elementary

Wednesdays from 11:30-12 (during UE and AP recess)

Please email Ms. Pallin if you would like your student to participate pallinme@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us

Science Club

11:30-12 UE, 12-12:30 LE Tuesdays and Thursdays in January

Please email Ms. Pallin if you would like your child to participate.

SORA

Students can check out ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. anytime, anywhere. Click on the link below for more info.

Sora Directions

If you are able to help with classroom "wishes", please do so. Maybe ask employers to donate as well?

CH1 & 2

Monarch decodable readers levels 1-5 $130

https://www.monarchreaders.com/shop-now/p/monarch-readers-levels-1-5-set-27-decodable-books

Book organizer for the hallway books.

https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/classroom-furniture/storage-units/classic-birch-mobile-book-organizer/p/JJ676/

LE Amazon Wish List

LE Waseca Wish List

https://wasecabiomes.org/apps/giftregistry/wishlist/884407

UE2 Wish List

TPT class fund: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/ClassFund/Emily-Brenner-83235?ownCampaign=&utm_campaign=ClassFundDashboard

Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FW79EVFAVO5Y?ref_=wl_share

Mrs. Myers - AP Math - Amazon Wish List

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/SB0K7TNED902?ref_=wl_share

Ms. D - AP

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MD068F0WYKWO?ref_=wl_share

Hot Buttered Popcorn Order Form:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R5VPzuINlkmSb0stoNhUmmsg6ZIXyxrI/edit

Email: Pallinme@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
Website: wauwatosa.k12.wi.us/Montessori
Location: 12121 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
Phone: (414) 773-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/813611528756561
Twitter: @TosaMontessori