Next Week

• Tuesday May 14th - 6:30-7:30 PTA Meeting
  
• Wednesday May 15th - Career Day for 8th Grade
  
• Wednesday May 15th- 7 – 8pm Whitman Spring Band Concert (West HS)
  
• Thursday, May 16⋅(Mental Health Action Day) WEAR GREEN!
• Thursday, May 16th⋅1:00 – 2:30pm Author Visit - Katherine Applegate 6th-grade students
  
• Thursday, May 16th⋅10:30 – 10:00 PTA MOD PIZZA Fundraiser MODGIVES25
  
• Thursday May 16th - 7 – 9pm Whitman Spring Orchestra Concert (West HS)
  

• Friday May 24th - No School Day.
  

Upcoming in MAY

• Monday May 27th - Memorial Day - No classes for students/District Holiday
  
• Tuesday May 28th 7 – 8pm Spring Choral Concert (Whitman Library)
  
• Friday, May 31st⋅9:30am – 2:00pm Field Trip Student Council Fey
  
• Friday, May 31th⋅8:00am – 2:00pm Field Trip Go Girl Conference - Ms. Tatum-Crider

Upcoming in JUNE

• Tuesday, June 4th⋅1:00 – 3:15pm 8th Grade Field Trip 1st and Bowl - Exact Time to determined
  
• Wednesday June 5th 8th Grade Outdoor Promotion (rain date 6/6/2024, if needed) - 9:00 am - 10:00 am 8th Graders will be released after the Promotion Ceremony
  
• Wednesday June 5th - Board of Education Listening Engagement Sessions 6:00-7:30
  
• Thursday June 6th - 6th/7th Grade Last Day of Classes (early dismissal 11:30am)
  
• Wednesday, June 12th, 2024 - Report Cards are active on the Parent Portal in IC
  

8th Graders Only Wednesday June 5th

• 8th Grade Outdoor Promotion - 9:00am - 10:00am
• 8th Grade Students leave at 10am.
• (rain date 6/6/2024, if needed)
  

6th and 7th Graders Thursday June 6th

• 6th and 7th Grade Last Day of Classes (early dismissal 11:30am)

Summer School Registration will open on Monday, April 1 at 8 a.m. for in-District students and families for our enrichment programs offered for K4 to 7th Grade. Course registration will happen through the Infinite Campus portal, and instructions on this process can be found here. Please be aware that registration will be on a first come basis and there are limitations on class sizes and available sections. Classes are capped, and once a class is full, you will not be able to register for the course. Please direct any questions to Stephen Oliver at oliverst@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us or Colleen McDonald at mcdonaco@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us.

Membership Link:

https://tosawhitmanpta.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Memberships

The last 30 minutes of the school day is very busy in the office, if your student is leaving early please try to call earlier in the day and leave a message on the attendance line or directly call 414-773-2602.

Check Out Our Newsletter: Whitman's Student Services Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/m2n6h

You can learn more about how Counselors and other members of the Student Services Team are working to support your students. We also offer tips and resources for parents. Moving forward this newsletter will be offered bi-weekly.

Students who require outside therapy appointments for virtual appointment need to adhere to Policy 8395. Please click here Policy 8395 to learn more about what must be in place in order to allow outside therapy providers into the school.

The Multi-Ethnic Parent Association (MEPA) has three upcoming events in their Speaker Series:

• Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in our Schools - April 25: 6-7 p.m.

• Voices from our Students - May 23: 6-7 p.m.

MEPA Empowerment Social - June 27 - 6-7 p.m.

HYGGE t-shirts now available!

Did you know that “HYGGE means comfortable, HYGGE means cozy”?

These shirts are the coolest!

Orders are due May 19th and will be distributed the week of June 3rd.

Click Here to Order:

Hygge T-s

Camp Hero Week-long camp exploring careers as a first responder (Girl Scouts)

Camp Hope Free weekend camp for grieving children, teens and families

Milwaukee Junior Fire Institute

PGA Junior League

Mia Tatum-Crider

Professional School Counselor Secondary Mental Health Specialist

Ph.D. Student | Counselor Education and Supervision

phone (414) 773-2726 address 11100 W. Center St, Wauwatosa, WI 53222

Rainbow Connection Plans for Pride 2024

Friday, May 10th @ 7:00 pm

The Next Rainbow Connection meeting coming up this Friday the 10th at 7 pm will be focused on planning two events for Pride 2024. We’ll also have some snacks and good conversation!

1) Pride Parade on Sunday, June 9th at 2 pm

2) Volunteering at Pride ticketing booth on Friday, June 7th from 6-9:30 pm.

If you’re interested in organizing, please attend. If you’re interested in participating on one of those days, please email Marjorie May.

Rainbow Connection aims to create a safe space for everyone to belong. Held on Friday or Saturday nights, it provides a place with good energy, full of love and acceptance.

https://uucw.org/event/rainbow-connection-12/

Wauwatosa Health Department Youth Mental Health Social Workers, Pa Chee Lee and Zoe Reinhardt, are offering two free 6-week summer groups. These groups will be once a week held every Wednesday from 7/10 - 8/14 at the Wauwatosa Library. These groups will be for pre-teens ages 11 to 13 (1:30- 2:30pm) and teens ages 14 to 15 (3-4pm). Children in the group will learn to explore their identities, cope with social stressors, and boost their self esteem through arts and crafts.

Please sign up online at wauwatosa.net/youth .

If there are any questions about these groups, feel free to contact the Health Department Social Workers via email at socialwork@wauwatosa.net

How can we better serve the Whitman community? Please give your feedback on this form.

We want to be sure to hold up our commitment to the WSD Equity Framework Standard #8 "Ensuring that all schools and classrooms are welcoming environments that foster understanding and care for every student, family member and visitor. In short, the diversity that these stakeholders bring to our school community shall be honored and respected."

Thank you!

Families are your students Fees up to date? If not check the link below on how to pay fees in Infinite campus:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSFW7HkjKWNLKtaxxbHNLH1QUJm52drpGjrZan9oF1EE0N-wPZJC-67TFTmjvZBAZzqv22TEZMO_R7I/pub

Lunch money can be collected two ways. One, is to pay online through My Payments Plus. They will be charged a fee for paying online. Two, the student can give Sodexo employees in the check-out line their payments during lunch time.

Resources:

The WSD Canvas Observer Training Course is available to all Middle School Families. This course is a great resource that explains Canvas vs. IC, contains directions on how to create a Canvas observer account, and provides an explanation of how to use Canvas as an observer. Once parents are connected to their student as an observer, they will not have to connect again.

Whitman School Supply List

Whitman Website

Whitman Website Calendar

Whitman Parent Teacher Association - PTA - Registration

Infinate Campus Partent Portal

Whitman Family Handbook

NEW: Friday, May 24

Please note that Friday, May 24 will be a No School Day.

NEW: Tosa 2075 Task Force Final Meeting

The Tosa 2075 Task Force held its final meeting on Tuesday, May 7. District administrators want to thank members of the Task Force for their time, commitment and perseverance over the past several months. The dedication of the Task Force members is impressive and they should be commended for their work. As always, information about the Tosa 2075 Task Force can be found on our website here. A summary of the final meeting will be published shortly.

NEW: Important Upcoming Dates

Please see below for a list of important upcoming dates.

Date

Time

Location

Purpose

Thursday, May 9

6:30 p.m.

Fisher Administration Building

Special Board Meeting

Board of Education reviewed community-wide survey results and discussed the format of listening and engagement sessions. A recording of that meeting can be found on our YouTube page here.

Monday, May 13

6pm

Fisher Administration Building

Regular Board Meeting

Monday, May 20

6pm

Longfellow Middle School Cafeteria

Please enter through main entrance doors

Board of Education Listening + Engagement Session

Tuesday, May 28

6pm

Madison Elementary Cafeteria

Please enter through main entrance doors

Board of Education Listening + Engagement Session

Wednesday, May 29

6pm

Longfellow Middle School

Budget Meeting

Monday, June 3

6pm

Fisher Administration Building

Regular Board Meeting

Tosa 2075 Task Force Final Report presented to Board of Education.

Wednesday, June 5

6 pm

Whitman Middle School Cafeteria

Please enter through main entrance doors

Board of Education Listening + Engagement Session

Monday, June 10

6 pm

Fisher Administration Building

Regular Board Meeting

District Administrators to present recommendations to the Board of Education.

Monday, June 17

6 pm

Fisher Administration Building

Special Board Meeting

Board of Education to review listening and engagement session report; Board of Education to determine if a referendum question or questions will be placed on the November 2024 ballot.

Monday, June 24

6pm

Fisher Administration Building

Regular Board Meeting

NEW: Chief of Operations + Finance

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, the Wauwatosa School District Board of Education approved Superintendent Dr. Demond Means’ recommendation to appoint Mr. Scot Ecker as the Chief Finance + Operations Officer. Ecker is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations and brings more than 20 years of robust financial experience to this role, having served in several districts in southeastern Wisconsin including the Muskego-Norway School District. He has deep expertise in finance, budget, operations, project management, and data and analytics. Throughout his career, Ecker has earned a reputation as a strong communicator who is passionate about making school finance easier for stakeholders to understand.

NEW: Superintendent Podcast

Superintendent Dr. Demond Means has launched a podcast called Talking Tosa! Search “Talking Tosa” on your favorite streaming platform to listen to the first episode, which is all about school finance. Follow the show and tune in monthly for new episodes!

NEW: MCTS Transportation Information

Getting around Milwaukee County is easy when you use MCTS! Check out this great “How to Ride MCTS” resource: https://www.ridemcts.com/how-to-ride

NEW: Recreation Department

The Wauwatosa Recreation Department is looking for an adult (age 21+) supervisor for its youth t-ball/softball program, which runs Monday-Thursday evenings. This is a great opportunity to get more experience working with youth in a sports setting. Please click here for more information.

The Rec Department is looking for teachers for Camp Invention: Illuminate which is for students K4 - 6th Grade and will be held August 12-16 at Wilson Elementary from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Students in the program will team up and take on fun, hands-on STEM challenges. Click here for more information and compensation details.

The Rec Department is also looking for student volunteers to serve as Leadership Interns. This is an opportunity to build your resume/college application while honing your mentoring skills, obtaining valuable leadership traits, and gaining intellectual property knowledge. Volunteer Leadership Interns empower participants while supporting the local Director and Instructors. Their role is to act as a mentor to program participants by helping them brainstorm and problem-solve throughout the week. Leadership Interns also receive formalized, online leadership training, earn up to 40 volunteer hours, AND receive a letter of recognition from the United States Patent and Trademark Office! Space is limited so reach out to secure your spot today!

Those interested in any of these opportunities can contact Program Coordinator Jennie Cottam at cottamje@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us.

NEW: Boswell Books Events

Join Boswell Books for two fun events this month!

Baptiste Paul - Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 p.m.

Boswell hosts Wisconsin author Baptiste Paul for an event featuring his latest, Dear You, Dream Big!, a picture book that offers a rally cry of Black possibility and conveys a message of resilience and strength. It’s a book that’s perfect for fans of picture books like All Because You Matter and I Am Enough.

Please click here to visit baptistepaulmke.eventbrite.com and register for this event.

Kevin Henkes and Laura Dornzek - Sunday, May 19, 4 p.m.

Boswell welcomes Wisconsin’s beloved, bestselling, and award-winning husband-and-wife team Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek for an afternoon event featuring their latest picture book, Finding Things. In this child-centered, cozy, and conceptually rich picture book, they explore storytelling, connections, luck, nature, and responsibility.

Please click here to visit henkesdronzekmke.eventbrite.com and register for this event.

Summer School Information

Summer School high school schedules are now available in Infinite Campus. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your high school counselor. Summer School starts on Monday, June 17 and runs through Friday, July 26. Please check your schedule for times and locations of classes.

To start students’ Summer School experience in the right direction, it is important they are present the first week of school. Attendance is mandatory the first week of summer school. Students that do not meet this expectation will be dropped from their courses. If a student is reconsidering their commitment to Summer School, please contact their high school counselor. Please note the last date to drop a Summer School class without the course appearing on the student’s academic transcript is Friday, June 28 at 1 p.m.

No new K-7 course selections will be allowed from May 4-19. On Monday, May 20, K-7 course selection will re-open. If you need assistance, please email mcdonaco@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us or call (414) 773-3200 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

FINAL REMINDER: Encore Performances of Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical

The Wauwatosa West production of Disney's Frozen: The Broadway Musical has been selected to perform on the Main Stage at the International Thespian Festival (ITF) - the Super Bowl of High School Theatre!

More info about Tosa West and ITF can be found here.

Educational Theatre Association & Frozen

To help raise funds for ITF, ENCORE performances of Frozen will be held at Wauwatosa West on June 19, 20, and 21 at 7 p.m. and June 22 at 2 p.m. That's right - you get to see the entire production again! Tickets are NOW available online for $25 each. Get your tickets here! Want to donate to help get the group to Indiana? Every donation, no matter the amount, helps them reach their goal. Donate today!

NEW: Wauwatosa Health Department Summer Mental Health Groups

Wauwatosa Health Department Youth Mental Health Social Workers, Pa Chee Lee and Zoe Reinhardt, are offering two free 6-week summer groups. These groups will be once a week held every Wednesday from 7/10 - 8/14 at the Wauwatosa Library. These groups will be for pre-teens ages 11 to 13 (1:30- 2:30 p.m.) and teens ages 14 to 15 (3-4 p.m.) Children in the group will learn to explore their identities, cope with social stressors, and boost their self esteem through arts and crafts. Please sign up online at wauwatosa.net/youth. If there are any questions about these groups, feel free to contact the Health Department Social Workers via email at socialwork@wauwatosa.net.

Call for Nominations - Distinguished Service Awards

We are now accepting nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Service Awards! Each year, the Wauwatosa School Board recognizes staff members for exemplary service and dedication, and District administration invites employees, students, families and community members to nominate individuals for this honor. If you’d like to nominate a District employee who has gone above and beyond, please do so before 5 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2023. To submit a nomination, please use this form.

FINAL REMINDER: Planetarium Shows

The Wauwatosa West Planetarium will be holding the last public shows of the school year on Wednesday, May 15 and Friday, May 17. Join two children on an adventure that begins with them sleeping outside on their cardboard rocket, and becomes a magical journey through the solar system. Aided by a talking astronomy book and a vivid imagination, learn about each of the planets. During this show, audiences will visit all of the planets, land on Venus and Mars, fly into Jupiter's Great Red Spot, through the rings of Saturn, discovering secrets of the solar system along the way.

Register for the Wednesday, May 15 show

Register for the Friday, May 17 show

Summer Reading

Looking for ways to keep your child engaged and reading all summer long to prevent the summer slide? Check out these helpful resources from your WSD Elementary Libraries filled with book ideas, summer reading programs, digital access and more. Happy Reading!

FINAL REMINDER: Wauwatosa Recreation Department is holding their 10th Annual Clothing & Textile Drive

On Saturday, May 11, come visit the Recreation Department’s "Drive Thru" donation event at the Fisher Administration Building East Parking Lot (12121 West North Avenue). You don't even need to leave the comfort of your own vehicle as we will unload items for you! Check out the flyer to see a list of acceptable items. Get your spring cleaning and organization done NOW and let us help you get rid of some things!

What happens to donated clothing?

• 45% (items in wearable condition) are exported and sold as an affordable clothing option in developing countries.

• 30% are cut into industrial wiping cloths and sold to manufacturing facilities nationwide.

• 20% are ground into fiber for use in carpet padding, insulation, stuffing and a variety of other products.

• 5% is unusable.

FINAL REMINDER: EFW’s Black & White Gala

Education Foundation of Wauwatosa: Black and White Gala Tickets to EFW’s biggest fundraising event of the year are now available! Save your seat and help EFW fund next year’s grants for educational initiatives to enhance and enrich experiences for all students. Plus, spend time with friends, dress up, and enjoy a fun night celebrating our schools!

Black & White Gala: Enjoy a seated dinner, a cash bar, and dancing. Raise funds that fund grants by participating in the silent auction, live auction, wine pull, and more!
Where: Renaissance Milwaukee West Hotel, Wauwatosa
When: Saturday, May 11 from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Dress code: Wear your favorite black, white (or school colors!) cocktail attire

Tickets: $110 per person or $1,000 per table

When ordering tickets, select your meal option (beef, chicken, or vegetarian), add a bottle of bubbles or wine, and check out all of the limited add-ons (Golden Ticket, raffle tickets, and wine pull).

Click here to purchase your tickets!

Multi-Ethnic Parent Association (MEPA) Speaker Series

The Multi-Ethnic Parent Association (MEPA) has three upcoming events in their Speaker Series:

• Voices from our Students - May 23: 6-7 p.m.

• MEPA Empowerment Social - June 27 - 6-7 p.m.

Click here to register!

• Secondary school families have the opportunity to participate in an optional, but strongly recommended, insurance program for Chromebooks. The cost of Chromebook insurance is $25 and covers an unlimited number of accidental damage repairs with no deductible fee.
• Families can invest in this insurance when paying their school fees during online registration.

• By investing in the district's optional insurance program, families can ensure that in the unexpected event of accidental damage occurring to their student's Chromebook, they will not need to bear the brunt of the full repair cost.

• The average cost of a single repair from accidental damage to a Chromebook is $90.

• Full details on the program can be found here. The document contained within this link also details some important information to know about a change in how the district now manages Chromebooks for graduating seniors.

No backpacks in classrooms - to ensure safety and structure, students will have time in the morning and at lunch to get their materials for the day and are not to bring backpacks into classrooms. The rooms have little space to accommodate up to 30 backpacks.

Cell Phones / Electronic Devices

(Board Policy #5518)

Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute 118.258, the possession of a cell phone by a student is a privilege that may be forfeited if the policy is not followed. Student cell phone use at the middle school level is allowed before school, during passing times, lunch, free periods, and after school. Cell phone usage in the physical education/athletic locker rooms and bathrooms is prohibited.

Possession or use of an ECD may not, in any way:

• Disrupt the educational process in the School District

• Endanger the health or safety of the student or anyone else

• Invade the rights of others at school

• Involve illegal or prohibited conduct of any kind

• Possession of a cellular telephone or other ECD by a student is a privilege, which may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by the terms of this policy, or otherwise engages in misuse of this privilege

• Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action against the student, up to and including expulsion

• Any student possessing an ECD shall be responsible for its care. At no time shall the District be responsible for preventing theft, loss or damage to any ECD

The Superintendent shall prepare procedures consistent with this policy. 118.258 Wis. Stats.

District Policy for Secondary Schools:

In the classroom setting, ECD use is prohibited at all levels and will be enforced at the secondary level via classroom cell phone compartments (“lockers”). The following will serve as guidance for secondary schools in adhering to Board Policy 5518 - Phones and Electronic Communication Devices and Board Policy 5136 - Wireless Communication Devices. Additionally, disciplinary consequences for cell phone misuse will be in alignment with the Wauwatosa School District Disciplinary Framework. These expectations will be reviewed with all students at the start of the school year and periodically thereafter.

Hall Expectations and Hall Passes

Students should maximize “passing” time to go to their locker, utilize bathroom facilities, retrieve an early release pass, etc. During hallway transition, students are prohibited from utilizing any playground equipment (included but not limited to footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, baseballs, etc). During class, students can request a hall pass at the teacher’s discretion through the Smart Pass digital hall pass system. Hall passes will not be issued within the first ten and the last ten minutes of class.

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Attendance: 414-773-2602

Main Office: 414-773-2600

Website: https://www.wauwatosa.k12.wi.us/Whitman
Location: 11100 West Center Street, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
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