WAUWATOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Hello Montessori families!

We had a very full week here at WMS! Our Upper Elementary students spent the week at Nature's Classroom Institute exploring nature, Lower Elementary went to the public museum, and Children's House had a presentation from the Dog Collective. Our PTSA is gearing up for our first ever Montessori Marketplace! Stop by school on Saturday between 9am and 3pm to shop! All proceeds come back to our school community! We hope to use the funds for Montessori classroom materials or sensory materials!

We have some adults going above and beyond this week! Huge shout out to the PTSA members who are organizing the Marketplace and collecting all the donations! Also, I want to shout out the adults who are at NCI this week. Ms. Susan, Ms. Emily, Ms. Jenice and Ms. Tracy have given up a whole week at home to provide an exceptional week for our UE kids. Thanks to all our adults giving so much this week!!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Elizabeth

We will begin our Human Growth and Development lessons this coming week in SK-8th grade. If you wish to opt your child out of some or all of the Human Growth and Development lessons taught in your child(ren)’s grade level, please complete the relevant opt out form(s) linked below. Please complete the form by November 14th. If you choose to opt out, your child’s teacher will contact you to discuss alternate assignments for your child during that time. Please note that if you opt your child out of individual topics, they may still be exposed to vocabulary or concepts related to the lesson if their peers choose to discuss the topics outside of class.

Senior Kindergarten

Montessori SK Opt Out Form

First Grade

Montessori 1st Grade Opt Out Form

Second Grade

Montessori 2nd Grade Opt Out Form

Third Grade

Montessori 3rd Grade Opt Out Form

Fourth Grade

Montessori 4th Grade Opt Out Form

Fifth Grade

Montessori 5th Grade Opt Out Form

Sixth Grade

Montessori 6th Grade Opt Out Form

Seventh Grade

Montessori 7th Grade Opt Out Form

Eighth Grade

Montessori 8th Grade Opt Out Form

Montessori Marketplace: THIS SATURDAY! 🛍️

Our first ever community rummage sale is tomorrow from 9am-3pm! This event is free to attend – bring your family and friends! Items will be priced significantly lower than retail value based on condition. AP Inc. will be selling treats and have a craft table to occupy kids should you need it while you shop.

Qdoba Fundraiser - Monday Nov. 17th (see flyer below)

Next PTSA Meeting: Tues. Nov. 18, 7-8:30 p.m. 🗓️

Our next meeting is coming up on Tuesday, November 18, 7-8:30 PM, Room 30. Join us in person (enter through gym doors) or virtually.

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.

Please help support our NCI trip(and our community) by purchasing Village Passports!

The Village Passport is an all-access pass to exclusive discounts! $10 from each passport purchased through the link below goes to Wauwatosa Montessori. This coupon book gives you access to exclusive discounts worth more than $250, valid at 22 of your favorite Village businesses throughout 2026. Order yours today! This link will close on November 16.

https://wauwatosavillage.myshopify.com/products/village-passport-wauwatosa-montessori

As a reminder, The Village Passports sold by your organization are being pre-ordered. We will deliver the Passports purchased by your organization on or around Nov. 20.

As the weather gets colder, students often come in from recess a bit wet from puddles or snow. Bulky winter gear can also make quick bathroom trips tricky, which sometimes leads to accidents. Even older students can find themselves needing a change of clothes after an especially active recess or a spill during lunch. To help your child stay comfortable, please keep an extra set of clothes, including underwear and socks, in their backpack.

*We’re currently accepting donations of new underwear and socks (we cannot give out previously worn or washed items) and elastic-waist pants in sizes 5T through XL. Black leggings and sweatpants work especially well and fit a variety of students.

Thank you for helping keep our kids warm, dry, and comfortable this winter!

The new Destination Imagination season is almost here, with exciting new STEAM-based challenges and many opportunities for creativity, problem solving, collaboration, personal growth, and FUN! Students work in small teams on open-ended challenges from November/December through at least March (longer if they advance to state and international competition), and teams set their own meeting schedules so it’s easy to flex around other activities.

Wauwatosa has a long and proud DI tradition and has even had teams advance to DI’s Global Finals. But more important, DI is a great way for kids to build confidence and lifelong skills. DI is open to students in grades K-12, at any Tosa school. Last year, Wauwatosa had 24 teams—the most of any school district in the state!

The participation fee of $125 for students in grades K-2 and $165 for students in grades 3-12. Full and partial scholarships are available. Financial need should not be a barrier to participation! To learn more, or to sign up your student for the 2025–26 season, visit FriendsOfTosaDI.org or email FriendsOfTosaDI@gmail.com.

IMPORTANT DATES!

November 15th - Montessori Marketplace
November 18th - PTSA Meeting in Room 30 7-8:30pm
November 26th-28th - No School - Thanksgiving Break
December 1st - No School - Professional Learning Day for Staff
December 20th - January 4th - No School - Winter Break
January 5th - Classes resume

Digital Citizenship and Information Literacy

The elementary libraries are engaging students in Digital Citizenship and Information Literacy all year long and we invite families to join the conversation!

Grades K–5 Family Tips

K–5 Family Tips: News & Media Literacy

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

Girls on the Run

Why do we send Upper El to Nature's Classroom?

Nature provides one of the biggest driving forces of curiosity and exploration while offering rich sensorial experiences for children. For this reason, nature has always been an integral part of the Montessori learning process. Montessori education draws a deep connection between nature and childhood development. Children come to appreciate nature and all that it has to offer.

The Montessori Philosophy

Dr. Maria Montessori considered the outdoor environment an extension of the indoor classroom. According to her philosophy, the natural world provided endless possibilities for experiential learning. “Only through freedom and environmental experience is it practically possible for human development to occur,” she wrote in The Absorbent Mind.

The Montessori Method stresses immersion in nature because of its effects on the growth of the whole child. According to the method, nature enriches the life of each child by supporting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.

By increasing a child’s interactions with the natural world, Montessori guides and Montessori parents are promoting the child’s development as a young naturalist. Spending more time in nature will also influence the child to lead an environmentally responsible lifestyle throughout childhood and into adulthood, as well.

In a Cosmic Education

Dr. Montessori stressed the interconnectedness between humanity and nature. “The land is where our roots are,” she wrote. “The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.”

In her explanation of cosmic education, Montessori emphasizes that the child should understand that they are part of a greater universe. By going outside and learning from nature firsthand, this profound understanding can be achieved.

“When the child goes out, it is the world itself that offers itself to him. Let us take the child out to show him real things instead of making objects which represent ideas and closing them up in cupboards.”

How you can apply it at home

As Montessori parents, you can continue this cosmic education outside of the classroom, too. Here are just a couple of ideas:

Take your child on nature walks in or around the woods or beach (depending on where you live).
Visit the nearest botanical garden or zoo together, and encourage them to keep nature journals and take photos of anything they see that catches their interest.

Through these activities, your child will become more connected with nature, and begin to understand their place in the universe.

November Choice Board

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.