WAUWATOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Hello Montessori families!

We have been enjoying a winter wonderland in December! The joy of snow at recess is unparalleled. Thank you for sending your child with sufficient snow gear. They are having a blast!!

In this last week before break, we have a Holiday Spirit Week and two concerts! We will be busy! Please see details for both below!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Elizabeth

We are excited to showcase our wonderful musicians this week!

Monday at 2pm our Band, Orchestra and Choir students will perform in the gym.

Thursday at 2pm all of our students will perform in the General Music concert.

Upon completion of the concerts, you are able to take your child home. If you would like to take them home, please go to their classroom and let the teacher know before leaving.

Feel free to join us in an optional spirit week the last school week of December. This is an all-school optional spirit week.

Eat at Papa John’s: Thurs. Dec. 18, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 🍕

We’ve teamed up with Papa John’s (11504 W North Ave.) for our December restaurant fundraiser to correspond with the winter general music concert! Order dinner before the concert starts, and swing by to pick it up on your way home. Use code PJFUND15 to ensure your order counts towards our fundraiser. 15% of profits will be donated back as long as you mention the fundraiser. Code not valid on third-party ordering apps.

Updated Parent Directory 📑

Looking to get in contact with another parent? We now have an updated directory! Please use this link to access a view-only version. Information was matched up with Infinite Campus. If there are any additions or removals, please email tosamontessori.ptsa@gmail.com. Please remember the PTSA is a volunteer-run organization, please allow us time to make any updates around our busy holiday schedules.

We're Having a Book Fair!

Scholastic Book Fair

Coming to Montessori School January 27th - January 30th

Scholastic Book Fair Link

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

December Nurse Notes:

Illness Guideline Reminders

With it being the middle of cold and flu season, we want to take this opportunity to remind Montessori School families of our illness guidelines to help keep everyone in our school healthy. This time of year, illnesses such as colds, flu, and other contagious conditions tend to spread more easily, making it especially important to know when to keep your student home. By working together, we can reduce the spread of illness and ensure a safe learning environment for everyone.

Children can go to school if they:

Have a mild cold, which may include a runny nose and/or cough.
Have eye drainage without fever, eye pain or eyelid redness.
Have a mild stomach ache.

Keep your child home from school if:

Fever: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher. Your child may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and feeling better.
Vomiting/Diarrhea: Two or more episodes in the past 24 hours. Your child may return after being symptom-free for 24 hours without medication.
Severe Cold Symptoms: Persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or symptoms that disrupt normal school activities.

Full illness guidelines can be found here. If your child will be absent from school due to illness please be specific with their symptoms. To let the school know your child will be absent you can use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or call the attendance line at 414-773-3300. Remember: if you take your child to a medical provider for treatment of their illness, be sure to ask for a note excusing your child from school. Medical notes can be turned in to the office.

Head Lice: What You Need to Know and How to Manage it

As part of our ongoing effort to keep families informed about health-related topics, we are including important information about head lice in this month’s newsletter.

Head lice are small insects that live on the scalp and are spread mainly through head-to-head contact. While lice can be an inconvenience and cause itching, they do not spread disease and are not a sign of poor hygiene. They are more commonly passed at home during close contact, rather than at school. In fact, it’s rare for lice to spread at school, as they cannot jump or fly.

If your child has head lice, they can stay in school until the end of the day, then be treated at home. Once treatment is started, kids can return to school. They should avoid head-to-head contact with other children until they’re lice-free. It is important to follow treatment of lice through to completion. Often, more than one treatment is necessary. More information about lice can be found here.

Remember, head lice are common and anyone can get them, regardless of cleanliness. If you have concerns or need help with treatment, please contact your school nurse.

[Skate Club Update]

Skate Club will not meet next week (Dec 18 and 19). The gym will be set up for the Music Concert. Skate Club will resume on Jan 8 and continue through February (No Skate Club on January 29–30 because of the Book Fair setup). Skate Club meets on Thursdays after school until 4:00 pm. Fridays before school from 7:30–8:00 a.m. No pre-registration required. Just bring your own stakes in like-new condition and a helmet.

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Skate Club is Back!

Back by popular demand, Skate Club will be returning this year! Join us in December, January, and February for some fun on wheels:

Thursdays after school until 4:00 p.m.
Fridays before school from 7:30–8:00 a.m.

We’ll be skating in the gym, and to help protect our beautiful new gym floor, skates must be in new condition and used only indoors. A helmet is required for all skaters.

No Skate Club Dates:

December 18–19 (Music Concert setup)
January 29–30 (Book Fair setup)

Skate Club kicks off on Thursday, December 4.

For questions, please email Jenice Carolan at carolaje@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us.

IMPORTANT DATES!

December 15th - Band, Orchestra and Choir concert at 2pm
December 18th - General Music Concert at 2pm
December 20th - January 4th - No School - Winter Break
January 5th - Classes resume
January 7th - Academic and Career Planning at West High School (for 8th graders going to West)

Fresh Hot Popcorn every Tuesday

We will once again have the opportunity to order popcorn on Tuesdays. The price is $.75 per bag. Students order it on Tuesday morning and the Next Steps crew make the popcorn and deliver it same day. So yummy!

Popcorn Order Form

Winter Fun

A visit from the holiday pancake elf

LE2 class hard at work

Mr. Jaben showing the students how it's done

AP students working on their Future City Models

Lower Elementary Snow Fun

December Choice Board

On Wednesday, I presented to the school board on our School Growth Plan. A portion of my presentation was around Montessori math and how we are working to ensure students can translate Montessori math language to standardized tests. For an overview of Montessori Math, see this article or watch this 4 minute video.

Attendance Request in Infinite Campus

Please take a moment to review this document explaining how to enter attendance into Infinite Campus. This is used for appts, sick, vac, etc. You can still call the attendance line but the new procedure is what the district would like you to use.

Infinite Campus Fee Payment

Use these directions to pay fees online in Infinite Campus. This is for ALL fees, not just lunch.
Mainly used for field trip payments.

DROPOFF / PICKUP MAP

Please review the map for a safe morning drop off and afternoon pickup. When pulling up to the school, please go forward to the next available spot; as to not keep cars waiting behind you. Thanks so much.