Welcome to the Wauwatosa School District's electronic newsletter.  By subscribing, you will receive the latest district news delivered right to your email.  Comments about this newsletter should be directed to the district's Communication Office, 12121 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa WI 53226 or at (414) 773-1020.

McKinley Teacher Awarded Forever Friends Grant

McKinley Elementary teacher Shana Callahan has been awarded a $1,000 grant from Forever Friends, an organization that helps promote and support the relationship school-age children have with the elderly.

Third grade classes at McKinley Elementary visit with friends at Harwood Place in Wauwatosa three times a year. The student also write letters throughout the year to their friends at Harwood Place. The grant funds awarded Callahan will be used on craft projects the students will do with the friends at Harwood Place, reading amterials on the aging process and reusable items for the Grandparent/Older Friend Breakfast hosted by the students.

This is the second time Shana has been awarded a grant from Forever Friends. Four years ago, she used the grant money to purchase reading materials about the aging process. Congratulations, Shana!

Underwood Project Awarded Grant

Underwood Elementary social worker Emilie O'Connor has been working with the school's fifth grade girls on an exciting project. Girls In Action (G.I.A.) is a primarily student-led project designed to address relational aggression, often referred to as "female bullying." 

G.I.A. is designed as a prevention project that incorporates social and experiential learning theories to increase social cohesion and assertiveness skills. To support this project, fifth grader Michaela Quin gathered feedback from her peers and wrote a Department of Public Instruction Student Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Mini-Grant focusing on the prevention and intervention aspects of G.I.A. As a result, the project was awarded a $500 grant to financially support the project throughout the year. Congratulations!

District Receives Grant Funds for Charter School

The district recently was awarded a $175,000 implementation grant for the Tosa School of the Trades. The grant funds are part of a federal grant Wisconsin received totaling over $85 million over five years to support quality charter schools in teh state. State Superintendent Tony Evers made the grant annoucement last month.

The implementation grant gives the Tosa School of the Trades funds for first-year operations as a new charter school.

Supporting the Gifted Child in School and at Home

Being the parent or teacher of a gifted child can be an exciting, challenging and sometimes overwhelming experience. Gifted children, fueled by curiosity and intensity often require parenting and teaching techniques that celebrate the child's strengths and also provide the additional structure and support that these unique children need.

CESA 1 P.A.G.E. (Parent Advocates for Gifted Education) will present a workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 6:30-8 p.m. at New Berlin West High School, 18695 W. Cleveland Ave. The guest speaker will be Jackie Drummer, the Gifted and Talented Coordinator and Differentiation Specialist for the School District of South Milwaukee. This workshop is designed to equip parents and teachers with strategies that will foster collaboration and promote optimum growth for gifted learners.

To reserve your place, RSVP with your name and school district via email to CESAonePAGE@gmail.com by Nov. 7.

CESA 1 P.A.G.E. is a consortium of parents, teachers and educators working together to improve gifted education.

District Fundraisers

Did you know the East Beautification Committee is holding a poinsettia sale? Or how about that the West High School theater arts department is collecting aluminum cans to raise money for cordless microphones? Throughout the school year, there are always a number of fundraisers planned to benefit student groups, organizations and teams. To help promote these fundraisers, the district has created a page on the district website devoted to providing information about these worthy causes. You can find the page here.

Tosa East Hosts Respite Care Day

East High School will be the site of Children's Social Services Respite Care Day on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Respite Care Day is co-sponsored by the Wauwatosa East Key Club. Key Club enlists the help of all clubs and honor societies at East to participate in this day-long event. More than 65 East students are needed for the Respite Care Day plus an additional 50-60 members of the community also volunteer.

Last year, 75 children with disabilities and their siblings attended the event. Many of the children have multiple disabilities. Again this year, nursing staff will be available for personal care and medical needs of the children. Volunteers will be kept busy playing games, reading stories and helping with craft projects. Fourteen times a year Children's Social Services sponsors these care days at various locations in the Milwaukee area. These events provide parents with a much needed day off. This is the fifth year the East Key Club has co-sponsored the Respite Care Day.

For more information, contact Mary Jane Montguire in the Career Center at East at (414) 773-2000.

News from Around the District

The school year there has been a lot to celebrate throughout Wauwatosa's schools. Here are some of the highlights from the past month:

• Milwaukee Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy was a special guest at Eisenhower Elementary Oct. 27. J.J. was a guest of the school through a promotion with Pepsi. Fifth grade student Abby Barbeau won the opportunity to bring J.J. to school for the morning after he dad was named the winner of the contest sponsored by Pepsi.
• Two children-friendly benches have been installed in the playground areas at Roosevelt Elementary in memory of Jakob Aldrich. The school will be holding a memorial celebration for Jakob on Nov. 12. Jakob died earlier this year after battling cancer.
• Three students from East High School have captured honors in the Wauwatosa Veterans of Foreign Wars' annual Voice of Democracy speech contest. Dylan Kissinger, senior, was the first place winner and Nate Deisinger, senior was the second place winner. Junior Erik Oslo was the third place winner. Dylan will advance to the regional level of the competition.
• Through the support of the Longfellow PTO, authors Dan Greenburg and J.C. Greenburg visited the school as part of an artist in residence program last month. During their visit, the two authors took part in two large group presentations and class writing workshops.

You can read more about these and other great stories from around the district by visiting the district's Press Room.

Fall Productions Hit the Stages at East, West & Longfellow

The Tosa Trojan Players will present the musical, Oliver, on Nov. 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at West High School, 11400 W. Center St. In conjunction with the performances, the Trojan Players will be sponsoring two community service events. Non-perishable food items will be collected at the regular performance dates. On Saturday, Nov. 14 from noon-4 p.m., bring empty aluminum cans in a bag for collection. The theater department is collecting the cans to raise money to purchase cordless microphones.

To purchase tickets to any of the performances of Oliver, call (414) 773-3219. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students.

The Tosa East Players will present The Foreigner on Nov. 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at East High School, 7500 Milwaukee Ave. To purchase tickets, call (414) 773-2004. Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $8 for students with an ID and $5 for children 12 and under.

Longfellow Middle School will present The Adventures of Tom Sawyer on November 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and November 14 at 4 p.m. at Longfellow Middle School, 7600 W. North Ave. Tickets go on sale Nov. 9. To purchase tickets, call (414) 773-2445. Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students in grades 6-12 and $2 for children in grades 5 and under.

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