The live auction was very entertaining thanks to the nationally-recognized comedic talents of Dobie Maxwell, who also generously donated his time. We could not have had a successful auction without the support of our sponsors, and the many organizations who provided donations. We encourage the DMA community to patronize these local businesses who have generously given to support our school. Finally, thanks to all who attended and bid high and often! The students, teachers and staff at Downtown Montessori thank you all.

Do you live within biking distance of your work? Have you ever considered riding your bike to work? All across Wisconsin people are gearing up for National Bike to Work Week which runs from May 14-18. Check out the link below from the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin for events in Milwaukee during National Bike to Work Week. If you have ever thought you wanted to give biking to work a try, now is the perfect time. The Milwaukee Bicycle Federation will be at our Green Festival on May 11^th to answer any questions you might have regarding routes and events.

http://bfw.org/2012/04/04/milwaukee-bike-to-work-week-events/

Additionally, we just learned that May 9^th is the first ever National Bike to School Day. Although it is rather short notice, DMA has registered as a participant in this event. We just couldn’t pass up a day that celebrates and promotes the many benefits of biking. On Wednesday, May 9^th, grab the kids, grab the bikes, and head to school. If you don’t live within walking distance or your children are not quite ready for bikes, you could park at Humboldt Park and walk or bike from there. At 8:20, we will have juice and a nutritious snack available for the children participating in the event. Look for a flyer this week for further details. We are hoping Bike to School Day will become an annual event at DMA. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Sara Vondrachek at svondrachek@downtownmontessori.com

-Sara Vondrachek

Downtown Montessori Academy is seeking to enrich and expand its Adolescent Program (grades 7-8). To help us achieve our goals we will be hosting this initial focus group and a follow up discussion with Virginia Flynn, Head of School, at a later date TBA.

As a parent of a current Downtown Montessori Academy student, we would like to invite you to participate in a Focus Group to:

• Learn what you currently know and perceive about the Adolescent Program.
• Gather your input about what you would want to see in the Adolescent Program.

Jennifer Wilson of New Leaf Consulting will be facilitating the Focus Group discussion.

We would very much like your input. Please join us on Monday, May 7 at 6:00pm at the school. The discussion length will be approximately one hour.

Participation is limited, so please respond to: Liz Becerra 744-6005 by Monday April 30 if you will join us for this important discussion.

Downtown Montessori Academy(DMA) first came to IFF in 2009 for help evaluating their facility options. The school was growing and DMA wanted to make sure that they had a permanent home to house the school into the future. After evaluating their facilities, plans, budget, and the current market, IFF determined that best option was for DMA to purchase the property they had been occupying as a tenant and improve it over time to better meet their needs. After preparing an improvement and financing plan for the project, IFF led negotiations with the local parish that owned the building, helping the school navigate through a challenging process to separate the building from its existing church campus and ensuring that the school ended up with an arrangement that would allow the campus to grow in the future. DMA hired IFF to manage the first phase of improvements to the building, which included installation of new mechanicals and other building systems. Today, IFF and the school are working together to plan for the next phase of improvements, that they hope will incorporate green features to the facility in order to create a healthy, productive learning environment for the students.

For full article please visit https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:37757.11779720574/rid:a2e25f1c240ef4a73bb3d85b0df51149

To become certified as a Green and Healthy School, the school must complete a series of assessments. These assessments were conducted by the students themselves fostering ownership of the initiative.  DMA is one of only 30 certified Green and Healthy Schools throughout the state of Wisconsin. While there are many others on their way to becoming certified, we are proud to say we were one of the first!

One of the goals of the Green School is to raise the student’s environmental awareness in terms of water conservation, wise use of electricity and factors to consider in order to be thoughtful consumers. Informed children are more aware of the detrimental effects of overconsumption and much more likely to carry these positive habits into adulthood. In addition, we use our school gardens to help them make the connection of where food comes from. This is especially important in a world where processed foods and bottled drinks are increasingly accessible. Knowing where food comes from and the energy it takes to produce it encourages children to become informed and responsible consumers. Perhaps most importantly, the Green School aims to empower kids to make a difference, an experience that will certainly stick with them.

We invite you to join us at the next Green Team meeting. If you are unable to make the meeting, there are still countless ways you can become involved including volunteering your time for a part of the upcoming festival on May 11^th. The success of the Green School is truly a community effort. It can be a great way for us to share ideas regarding sustainability not just at school, but at home too. We also see it as a way for DMA families to share resources and knowledge. If you would like to know how you can help the Green School or if you already have an idea of how you can get involved, email Stefan, the Green School Coordinator, at greenschool@downtownmontessori.com

Like last year, we will be doing a uniform swap at the Festival so start setting stuff aside. As the date approaches, we will let you know when you can bring items in.

- Sara Vondrachek
Sara Vondrachek is a Lower Elementary Teacher and active member of our Downtown Montessori Green Team.

The idea for this project came about because I felt it was important for kids to know that they can create many of the things they use every day. I wanted them to get the feeling of excitement and pride that often occurs when making something you only thought you could buy.

This project has been a great success. You can see the kids shine when holding their finished projects. They are incredibly enthusiastic and are already coming up with more ideas of things to sew in the future!  My thanks to all the children I have worked with, Miss Sara, and the staff at DMA; it’s been a blast!

Lisa Minella is a DMA parent and self taught sewer who eventually started a small business selling a product created by sewing.

This year teachers have decided to make various different items; bookshelves, rocking chairs, benches, a desk, a quilt and paintings.  Each class will help to decorate these items and that’s where we need your help!  If you have any old furniture you want donate to the school, see at the Goodwill and would be willing to purchase, see something on the side of the street or are even a wood-worker yourself – we’d like to hear from you!  We need help acquiring these items so we can get started on the fun stuff – decorating!  If you are able to help in anyway – whether it be donating the furniture/materials, volunteering your time or donating a little money, please contact Emma Kennedy at ekennedy360@gmail.com. Thanks so much!

I received my teaching and reading license along with my Masters in Reading-Language Arts from Cardinal Stritch University. I have been teaching for about 22 years and bring to this position a love of working with students and watching them succeed. I have a passion for reading and encourage the students I work with to read at least 20 minutes a day. But I know as parents we have all heard this cry, “WHY CAN’T I SKIP MY 20 MINUTES OF READING TONIGHT?” Reading is the basis for all learning so… Let’s Figure it Out- MATHEMATICALLY!