Hello Wauwatosa Montessori School Community,
This week we revealed that our All School Read will be Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabstein! The books, reading calendars, and trivia questions are coming home today! All students are encouraged to turn in trivia questions; we will be drawing names for weekly prizes! Literacy Night is coming up on February 21st from 5:30-7 p.m.! Our Literacy Committee (Jenice Carolan, Jen Jacobs, Jason Lawent and myself) is meeting to finalize our activities for Literacy Night today (1/10) at 3:30-4:30 in the library. Please consider joining the effort. We will also be looking for volunteers for Literacy Night. Stay tuned for a sign up genius!
STAR testing
Next week 2nd through 8th grade students will be engaging in STAR testing. Results will be sent home in the next couple of weeks. Please help your child by making sure your child gets a good night’s sleep, eats a healthy breakfast, and has a healthy snack.
Staffing Update
Nora Hart began training this week for her new position as Administrative Assistant. She will be training on Monday, January 13th and next week will be first full week with us! I invite you to click here to learn more about her. Welcome, Nora! If families need to communicate a message to the office, you can reach Nora at hartno@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us and by phone at 414-773-3305.
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.
Update from Our District Nurse Regarding Hand Foot and Mouth, Classroom Allergies, and Head Lice
Social/ Emotional Learning, Culturally Responsive Learning Environments, and the WSD Disciplinary Framework
Also, I'd like to share some protocols we have regarding Social Emotional Learning and the Disciplinary Framework. At Wauwatosa Montessori School, we have the schoolwide expectations of respect learning, respect everyone, and respect the environment. Throughout the school behavior matrices that outline the expected behaviors are posted and referenced throughout the day.
Additionally, we have several teams that I work alongside to support schoolwide social and emotional learning. These include our Grace and Courtesy Team, which meets monthly, and includes Ms. Libby Quinn, Ms. Susan Starkman, Mr. Jacoby, and Mrs. Laura Dolkiewicz. Teachers also teach grace and courtesy Montessori lessons and the Second Step curriculum in their classrooms on a weekly basis. Further, each week students have a weekly virtue visit with Ms. Libby or myself on the virtue of the month and social emotional learning needs that may have arisen.
Further, we have problem solving team meetings that teachers sign up for with our student services team (Ms. Emma Milek, our school psychologist; Ms. Libby Quinn, our school social worker; and Ms. Kiera Ausler-Shaw, our school SEL Specialist). We also have a weekly Student Support Team meeting in which our school psychologist, SEL Specialist, Academic Specialist and school social worker and I participate in depending on the content (academic or behavior/SEL).
When a behavior occurs that is a minor, the behavior is handled in the classroom and includes a reteaching and parent contact. We have Montessori reflection sheets in each classroom for students to process through their behavior decision and then they practice the expected behavior with their teacher. Additional follow up may occur with me or our school social worker as needed. Teams problem solve to find root causes and layer on supports for students who may need additional SEL/behavioral supports. Further, the disciplinary actions and communications of major behaviors are addressed by me. We have engaged in professional learning regarding Culturally Responsive Learning Environments: A Continuum of Response to Misbehavior, the Classroom Managed and Office Managed T-Chart, and Best Classroom Practices for problem solving through minor behaviors.
Our team works diligently to foster a positive, welcoming, caring, and inclusive learning environment for every student. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's teachers or me at any time.
Standards-Based Grading
Our District uses Standards-Based (a.k.a. Proficiency-Based) Grading. Our District's Grading and Reporting Committee developed a purpose statement for K-8 grading and reporting last year. This statement emphasizes that grading is meant to, “Accurately communicate student progress towards learning outcomes aligned to the end-of-year standards." The indicators of 1-4 to score benchmarks remain the same as they have in the past. Math content standards continue to use meeting and not yet. The only update for elementary was to provide more coherence to the labels and descriptors for each indicator. This update does not change previous grading practices.
1
Beginning
The student shows an initial connection and application of the learning outcomes in familiar contexts.
2
Approaching
The student shows partial understanding and application of the learning outcomes in familiar contexts.
3
Proficient
The student shows a consistent understanding and application of the learning outcomes in familiar contexts.
4
Extending
The student shows a consistent understanding and application of the learning outcomes in new or extended contexts.
Should you have any questions about proficiency-based grading or your child's individual grades, the first recommended point of contact is to talk with your child's teacher(s). Another recommended point of contact is our school's Innovation Team Technology Leads, Yifan Zheng and Emily Brenner. Additionally, I am happy to answer any questions you might have.
Check out the latest edition of the American Montessori Society Family Connection: here!
January Virtue: Service
Hope to see you at the hot cocoa fundraiser on Monday the January 13th in the entry way/under the awning!💓
Melissa Pallin
Principal
IMPORTANT DATES!
You are invited to jump start the 2025-26 school year at a Junior + Senior Kindergarten Enrollment Party, featuring music, activities and a classroom tour! Attend one of the events listed below or click here to learn more! Ms. Pallin will be at both events with information about Wauwatosa Montessori School and the lottery process. January 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Underwood Elementary School 11132 W. Potter Rd.
Hot cocoa fundraiser under the awning Monday, January 13th 3:15-3:40 p.m.
Lights On Tosa:
Please mark your calendar for Lights on Tosa. This will be an event for all leads to join to provide parent education and an opportunity for prospective families to tour and learn about our school. We encourage families of current students to attend for the parent education opportunities that will be available at the event. January 23rd 5-6 PM AP Inc will be selling at the eventDine Out Night at Maggio’s Wood Fired Pizza, January 15, 4-8 PM.
7212 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa
Jan 17th LE Trip to Discovery World and UE rescheduled field trip to Schlitz Nature Center (needed to reschedule due to bussing issues)
PTSA Meeting, January 21st 7-8:30 PM, Room 30
Parent University session on January 21st, TikTok, Snapchat, and AI, Oh My: Helping Young People Navigate Technology in the Modern Age.
Game night! Thursday, January 30
- Feb. 21st Literacy Night! 5:30-7 p.m. AP Inc. will be selling at the event
Fresh Hot Popcorn
Hot Buttered Popcorn Order Form:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R5VPzuINlkmSb0stoNhUmmsg6ZIXyxrI/edit
Wauwatosa Montessori School
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