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Dear Wauwatosa School District Friends & Families -
It is an exciting time for the Wauwatosa School District and community as we begin the design process for the new Lincoln and Underwood Elementary Schools - two of the four elementary schools that will be rebuilt as part of the approved facilities referendum. Additionally, we're planning the District-wide upgrades that will address:
- Building Maintenance & HVAC Systems Improvements
- Safety & Security Upgrades
- ADA Accessibility Upgrades
- Classroom Updates & Technical Education Labs Upgrades
You can read more about what the referendum will cover
here.
We are incredibly grateful for the community's support and understanding of the significant needs of the District's aging buildings as we plan for the next several decades of education in Wauwatosa.
We are now in full design mode as we work toward breaking ground on the first new school next summer (2019). You can read more about that below, as well as upcoming meetings and how to participate in an online conversation regarding the exterior design elements for Lincoln and Underwood Elementary schools.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season and upcoming Winter Break.
Phil Ertl
Superintendent
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WAUWATOSA SCHOOL DISTRICT EVENTS
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DECEMBER
12/1 - East Fall Theatre Show Opening Night, 7:00 p.m.
12/10 -
School Board Meeting
, 7:00 p.m., Fisher Administration Bldg. 12121 W. North Ave. Rm C
12/24-1/1- NO CLASSES, WINTER BREAK;
School & District Offices Closed
1/2 -- Classes Resume
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District Hosts Neighborhood Meetings to Gather Input for Design Vision of New Schools
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Neighbors, parents, and community members gathered on November 20th for the first of three meetings at Lincoln and Underwood Elementary Schools as part of the District's efforts to gather community input in the design vision for each of the new schools.
Lincoln and Underwood were selected as the first two schools to be built, taking into account a number of logistical factors.
Those in attendance participated in an Artifact Scavenger Hunt, looking for elements of design they appreciate in the current building. The exercise will help the architect identify what may influence the design of the new schools.
At Lincoln, participants referenced woodwork, exposed brick, large windows, wide hallways, and natural light as some interior elements they valued. They also discussed a desire to tie in the history of the old school to the new building and the importance of functional space.
At Underwood, meeting participants noted the brick exterior, exterior overhang of the entrance, tall ceilings, wide hallways, and natural light as design elements they appreciated. Participants of both meetings noted the desire for outdoor learning space and improved traffic-flow for drop-off and pick-up, which will be expounded on during the second meeting's Site Design discussion.
A similar process will follow in the spring for the design of McKinley Elementary and Wilson Elementary/Wauwatosa STEM.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Neighborhood Meeting #2 – Site Design Charrette
Attendees will participate in interactive group exercises regarding the site plans for each school, per the parameters of each site and certain requirements that must be met.
· Lincoln Elementary School
Monday, December 17; 6:00-7:30 p.m.
· Underwood Elementary School
Tuesday, December 18; 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Neighborhood Meeting #3 – Design Presentation & Neighborhood Feedback
At this third and final meeting, the architect will present a design to the neighborhood. Neighbors will break into groups to provide feedback via a moderated exercise.
· Lincoln Elementary School
Tuesday, January 15; 6:00-7:30 p.m.
· Underwood Elementary School
Wednesday, January 16; 6:00-7:30 p.m.
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Community Invited to Participate in Online Thoughtexchange Regarding Design Inspiration
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In addition to the neighborhood meetings, the District is currently hosting an online opportunity for community members to provide input in the exterior design of Lincoln and Underwood Elementary Schools.
Responses to the question posed via a tool called Thoughtexchange will help the architects identify which elements of design the community values for the exterior of the buildings.
You can join the conversation now through December 10.
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Referendum Projects Timeline
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- Following completion of the neighborhood meetings regarding design, the architect will move into the second phase of design.
- In spring 2019, all trades for the construction process will be competitively bid.
- Construction on Lincoln and Underwood is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019.
- Design for McKinley and Wilson/WSTEM will begin in spring 2019, with construction anticipated to begin in the summer of 2020.
- Summer 2019 - Roosevelt Elementary, East High School, West High School projects
- Summer School at Lincoln moves to Longfellow and summer programming at Roosevelt moves to Washington.
- Summer 2020 - Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Whitman projects
- Summer 2021 - Eisenhower, Montessori, Longfellow
*Information about arrangements for summer school or programming during the summer of 2020 and 2021 will be communicated as we move along.
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District's "Overall Score"on State Report Card
Increases for Third Consecutive Year
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Wauwatosa School District earned four out of five stars on State Report Cards from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for the 2017-2018 school year and increased its overall accountability score for the third consecutive year to 80.1 out of 100.
Based on the star rating, Wauwatosa School District exceeds expectations related to the state’s accountability standards in educating students. Report cards are issued based on four priority areas: Student Achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, Student Growth in ELA and Mathematics, Closing Gaps between student populations, and measures of readiness for graduation and postsecondary success.
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New Courses Approved for 2019-2020 School Year
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Students will have four new elective courses to choose from next year. The Wauwatosa School Board approved the following courses during its meeting on Monday, November 26.
- ENGLISH: Black Literature -- In this class, students will discover major voices of Black literature, and they will understand how Black literature influences various aspects of society, such as science, history, music and fashion. Students will read a variety of texts that explore themes and issues related to Black experiences. Students will write about, discuss and research these themes and issues, aiming to see how they relate to their own lives.
- BUSINESS ED: Advanced Marketing -- Students will collaborate with each other and local businesses, developing skills and understandings related to entrepreneurship. They will engage in hands-on, project-based learning in such areas as marketing research, professional development, customer service and hospitality and tourism. This course will prepare students to ultimately work in and understand the world of marketing, honing their skills as leaders and managers.
- FAMILY and CONSUMER SCIENCE: International Cuisine -- The students will be introduced to cooking from around the world. This course emphasizes the cooking methods, eating habits, and cultural characteristics of people in diverse cultures and geographical areas. Students will plan, prepare, and present foods that represent various societies.
- TECH ED: Future Makers Capstone -- For students who are interested in solving real-world problems using science, technology, engineering, and math fundamentals, with the emphasis on advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurship and innovation. All students will have hands-on, active-learning opportunities, featuring real-world projects focused on meeting the needs of one or more of the districts business partners and/or the community at large.
- AVID -- Students will learn college entry skills, participate in tutor-led study groups, motivational activities and academic survival skills. In AVID, students participate in activities that incorporate strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading to support their growth academically.
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Staff, Administrators Participate in Implicit Bias Training
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As part of the
District's Equity Plan
and efforts to create environments where all students feel comfortable and succeed, staff and administrators are participating in several trainings including Implicit Bias training. Implicit Bias is the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. They are activated involuntarily, without awareness or intentional control. They can be either positive or negative and everyone is susceptible to them.
The training is designed to help staff and administrators understand their bias, identify when the bias are occurring, and how to interrupt the bias so that we can better understand and help our students.
District administrators are also participating in additional training related to diversity.
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New State Social Studies Standards
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Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction adopted and released new social studies standards for school districts to use in their work with social studies programs. The standards provide a foundation to help identify outcomes for student learning in social studies classes.
The new
Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies
were developed to strengthen college, career and community readiness by deepening students’ knowledge, skills, and civic engagement. The standards support inquiry as a means for learning and discovery, helping learners see themselves as problem solvers and active contributors to their communities and beyond.
Educators in the Wauwatosa School District have started to analyze the new standards and engage in conversations regarding instructional practices and shifts needed to meet the outcomes of these standards. A goal of our district is to ensure the teaching and learning of social studies occurs in a culturally responsive, culturally supported, learner centered context, and that our practices account for and adapt to the broad diversity of race, language and culture in the Wauwatosa School District.
Key features of
culturally responsive practice
in the area of social studies include:
- ensuring students have opportunities to hear multiple perspectives from historical accounts
- learning from primary sources
- seeing individuals and cultures through an asset-based lens
- providing depth of learning within a context rather than surface-level understanding
- strengthening individual identity
- creating experiences to trigger empathy not through reenactments or simulations, but rather through questioning, critical thinking opportunities, and the use of authentic texts including images, songs, and stories
As a school district, we have started to look closely at our instruction and make changes to social studies learning to reflect these ideas. As a component of Pillar 3
in our
District’s Equity Plan
we will continue to make these shifts to support meaningful learning and connections that expand students’ knowledge, skills, perspectives, and viewpoints.
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REMINDER: West High School Band Students Collecting Used Instruments for Puerto Rico
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The Wauwatosa West High School Band hopes to bring the sound of music back to schools in Puerto Rico and they need your help!
The band is collecting used instruments to donate to music students in Puerto Rico who are in desperate need of uniforms, instruments, supplies, and printed music. The nation is still reeling from devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in September of 2017.
Instruments for donation can be dropped off Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Wauwatosa West High School Attendance Office, 11400 W. Center Street.
Community members unable to drop off their donation can call (414) 773-3163 (please leave a message) or email [email protected] to arrange for pick up. A local music store has generously volunteered to repair for free any instrument that is donated to the cause.
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DID YOU KNOW? WSD Students Are in the Driver's Seat With Career Cruising
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When we talk about making sure students of Wauwatosa School District are "college and career ready", it's not just a catchy phrase. We mean it. And we have a plan for how we're working to accomplish that readiness.
Last month we told you
about our new Innovation Specialist that is working to build relationships with local businesses to create career-based learning opportunities as part of our
Academic and Career Planning
process
.
One of the tools we're using to help students in grades 6-12 discover their interests and create their Academic and Career Plan is called
Career Cruising
. This is a self-exploration and college/career planning software program that helps students explore various career fields and plan for school, career, and life.
YOU can be part of the conversation. Ask your child about their Career Cruising account and what they are learning with with some of these helpful questions:
- What have you learned about yourself? What are your talents? What areas do you need to grow?
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- What courses are you interested in taking in middle school and high school? Why? How does this connect to your goals, or a career you may be interested in?
- What careers have you explored? Which careers are interesting to you? Why?
- What career-based learning opportunities have been or are available to you? What work-based learning experiences are you interested in? Why?
Feel free to drop Innovation Specialist Tina Koch an
email here
i
f you have questions. You can also find additional information on the
DPI website
and in the
ACP Guide
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College Search and Career Resources on the Website
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In addition to Career Cruising, we have a comprehensive College Search page on each high school website. If you have a high school junior or senior, the information on this page could be very helpful. Resources include:
- What to consider when looking for colleges/universities
- Scholarship Opportunities, including new Diversity Scholarships!
- Links to College Application Sites
- Links to Federal Student Aid Information
Where to find the information:
- Go to the "Family Resources" Tab in the Main Menu at the top of the East or West High School Webpage
- Click on "School Counselors/Social Work"
- Click on "Career and College Resources" in the left-hand navigation
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Consider Education Foundation of Wauwatosa for Year-end Charitable Giving!
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The Education Foundation of Wauwatosa, or EFW, is a group of Wauwatosa citizens organized in 1990 to raise funds to support outstanding learning ideas and improve the educational quality of the Wauwatosa schools. The teachers in the Wauwatosa Public Schools have fantastic ideas for enriching the education of the students in their charge. Unfortunately, they do not always have the financial resources in their school budgets to make those ideas a reality. Providing funding for teacher initiatives which enrich the learning experience is what EFW is all about. The idea is simple: We raise the funds, teachers apply for grants to fund their ideas, and the students benefit. Since 1990 EFW has awarded 377 grants, totaling more than $770,000. Every student in the district has benefitted from an EFW grant.
As you consider where to make your charitable donations as year-end approaches, I invite you to visit our
website
to learn more, and to contribute to EFW . We are extremely appreciative of the support shown to EFW and our schools by the Wauwatosa community, and your donation will make a world of difference for the students of Wauwatosa. Thank you! All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Anne Fee
President, Education Foundation of Wauwatosa
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Tosa East Players Present Peter Pan for Fall Show
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Audiences of all ages will enjoy the journey to Neverland with all the favorite characters.
Wendy, Peter, Tinker Bell, Tiger Lilly, Captain Hook, Smee, and the inhabitants of Neverland come alive in this classic, award-winning musical and get this - there will be flying!
The Players have worked with Flying by Foy - the original flight company for Peter Pan on Broadway - to create stunning visual flying effects. Also unique to the Players' production is the inclusion of sign language.
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Providing a space for students of all kinds to feel welcomed and loved just as they are is one of our program’s tenets. Therefore, as part of our enduring efforts to be inclusive of all people, I have decided to include sign language as a part of Peter’s interactions with Tinker Bell," said Theatre Director Kate Sarner. Two of the shows - Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 - will also be interpreted in ASL. #tosaproud.
See below for show dates, times, and ticket information.
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2018-2019 Winter-Spring Recreation Registration Open
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Registration is now open for the 2018-2019 Winter-Spring activities available through the Wauwatosa Recreation Department! Hard copies of the Activity Guide were mailed this week.
Available activities include:
- Swim classes
- Cooking, technology courses, and fitness classes for adults
- Sports leagues (Wheelchair basketball, Adult open play basketball & volleyball, Tosa Volleyball League)
- No School Day Trips; Winter & Spring Break Out Camps
- Gymnastics programs
- Lego Tosa Block classes
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Tosa Students and Staff Raise $5,000 to Send Veterans on Honor Flight Trip
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Over the course of just two weeks, students and staff at East and West High Schools raised a combined total of $5,044.78 for the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight – enough money to send 10 veterans on an Honor Flight trip.
Click below to read about the personal story that inspired one of our teachers to organize the effort for the past two years.
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Service Learning Day Yields BIG Results for the Community and Students
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Students, staff, parents, grandparents, and other volunteers at Jefferson Elementary, Wilson Elementary and Wauwatosa STEM spent the morning of November 20th serving the community as part of an all-school Service Learning Day. In addition to their work, students listened to presentations about the mission of the organization they served.
Here's what they accomplished in one morning at Jefferson Elementary:
- 200 placemats decorated for The Gathering’s holiday meal
- 167 bagged lunches made and assembled for The Gathering
- 150 scarves made for The Milwaukee Rescue Mission
- 21 blankets made for Kathy’s House
- 27,642 pounds of food sorted and boxed at Feeding America
- 226 cans of soup collected for Feeding America
- 75 pairs of gloves collected for The Gathering
- 278 pairs of pants + 131 pajamas collected for The Milwaukee Rescue Mission totaling 145 pounds
- Songs sung, snacks eaten, gratitude tree created with seniors at Hart Park
And at Wilson Elementary and WSTEM:
- 432 sandwiches made for the Guest House of Milwaukee (work of two grades).
- 15 fleece blankets made for guests of the Ronald McDonald House
- 38 bikes cleaned and donated to DreamBikes Milwaukee
- 53 care packages for children of deployed soldiers and 100 care packages for soldiers deploying next month.
- 200 books donated to NextDoor Milwaukee
- Songs sung and bingo played with seniors at St. Camillus and Harwood Place.
- Cooke for the veteran residents of Fisher House.
- Crafted a gratitude flag with students at St. Coletta Day School of MKE.
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Wauwatosa School District
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12121 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Ph:
(414) 773-1000
| www.wauwatosaschools.org
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