Mendota Elementary: In November, 2nd and 2nd/3rd grade classes had a visit from Dolly Ledin, an Outreach Specialist from UW Madison's Center for Biology Education. Ms. Ledin shared information about cranes to prepare the Mendota Elementary students for an art exchange activity with Cuba. Mendota students will be creating pictures of cranes and their habitats through a cross-curricular art and science project with art teacher Katharine McCoy. Artwork will be displayed at the 2006 International Crane Festival in Cuba and shared with students in Cuba.

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Pictured at bottom left is Title I teacher Carol Troyer-Shank, running a game, enjoyed by students and family members.

Allis Elementary: Allis and Nuestro Mundo held their 3rd Annual Family Game Night in October. Over 250 people attended the event planned and organized by Title I and Literacy Action teams. Allis staff volunteered by running games, taking registrations and serving as timekeepers. Fabulous prizes were raffled by Principal Chris Hodge, Allis, and Principal Gary Zerbach, Nuestro Mundo. The prizes were courtesy of the Allis Title I Parent Involvement Fund and Nuestro Mundo. The next Family Literacy Night is planned for February.

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Lancer Social Dance Class Perform

Social Dance instructor Terry Fargen and twelve La Follette High School social dance students participated in the Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance state teachers convention at Janesville Craig High School on October 27th in a "Secondary Social Dance Program". In addition to performing their merengue, rumba and swing routines, the students assisted in "teaching the teachers" various steps and patterns for use in their dance curriculum. Most notably was the commitment demonstrated by the La Follette students to "give up" a day from school and travel to Janesville at 6:30 in the morning to participate in the two-hour convention program.

On November 4th, the La Follette social dance class performed their "final exam" program for middle school students at St. Dennis Elementary/Middle School on Madison's eastside. The Lancers demonstrated the various dances (merengue, rumba, swing, cha cha cha, tango and east coast swing) they learned over the course of the term, while also teaching each of the observing grade levels (5th-8th) various line dances.

Two convention participants (left foreground) practice newly acquired steps while La Follette seniors Sara Rugg and Oscar Aguilar (right background) enjoy a social dance together.

Dance presenter Terry Fargen leads a convention participant in a right under arm turn during the swing dance portion of the program.

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Lindbergh Elementary Celebrates Children's Book Week

Students and their families enjoyed a variety of activities during Children's Book Week, November 14 - 18. On Tuesday, Title 1 teacher Sharon Sweeny and staff organized a Family Reading Night where families heard stories read by U.W. student athletes and cheerleaders with a special appearance by Bucky Badger. Story teller Claire Norelle told a bilingual story. Other events were planned by librarian Shirley Raymakers. They included a "Celebrate Reading" ice cream sundae treat on Wednesday and a play based on the Amelia Bedelia books on Friday. Lindbergh's principal Pam Wilson played Amelia Bedelia. Other Lindbergh staff members included Dawn Drexler-Hilber, Celine Fox, Erika Ring, and Cathryn Hatle.

Pictured left is Lindbergh Principal Pamela Wilson portraying Amelia and Dawn Drexler-Hilber as Mrs. Rogers from the Amelia Bedelia book series.

Bucky Badger makes a special appearance during Lindbergh's Family Reading Night.

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Hawthorne Receives Payless Shoes Grant

On November 15th Dan Paonessa, District Manager of Payless Shoes, presented a check for $1,000 to Hawthorne Principal Cathy McMillian and Physical Education Teacher Jim Radwill, along with two kindergarten students. The money will be used to purchase gym shoes and snow boots for kids in need. Jim Radwill secured the business to school grant with the help of Dan Paonessa.

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Spirit Club Launched at Black Hawk
Submitted by Jennifer Peters, Black Hawk Middle

Black Hawk Spirit Club members prepare food boxes during the November food drive for the Vera Court Food Pantry.

Black Hawk Spirit Club is comprised of members that focus on the spirit of volunteering. Composed of 35+ students, along with facilitators Jennifer Peters & Bryan Bell, the club discusses the needs of Black Hawk, the neighborhood and the community. It meets on a weekly basis to discuss/provide assistance to each.

In November the Spirit Club facilitated a successful Food Drive for the Vera Court Food Pantry collecting over 800 food items. There are many more projects and services that will be offered upon the suggestions of the community.

Other projects on the drawing board for the year include:

• food drive for local food pantry
• numerous fundraisers to provide help to the Rape Crisis Center, Humane Society, AIDS Support Network, etc.
• rake leaves, shovel snow for neighbors of Black Hawk School
• provide assistance to senior citizens
• holiday caroling at City View Nursing Home
• neighborhood trash pick ups
• visit elderly at Veteran's Hospital
• valentine cards to different organizations
• provide tutoring to Gompers Elementary School students

This club has been very successful in providing many needed services to the local community and they invite your ideas and contributions! For more information contact: Jennifer Peters at 204-4411 or Bryan Bell at 204-4412.

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"Wheels for Winners"
submitted by Laura Witzling, Wheels for Winners Program
Coordinator

"Wheels for Winners" is an ongoing collaboration of community groups that provides bicycles, helmets and locks to Madison kids who can "earn" them by doing volunteer work in the community or by completing reading goals. The Wheels for Winners staff rebuilds donated bicycles and gives them to children by working in partnership with schools and community centers. Teachers are invited to use the Wheels for Winners program as a resource for encouraging reading and/or connecting to community service opportunities. The reading option involves reading five books and writing a book report that is age/grade appropriate. Wheels has an abundance of bikes waiting to be earned! For more information please call (608) 249-2418 or visit http://danenet.wicip.org/bcp/wfw/.

Pictured is Jessica Clark from Thoreau Elementary, who received a bike through the Big Sister program. Jessica earned her bike by helping her teacher at school. She is pictured with Laura Witzling, Project Coordinator.

Shown is Walt Brinkan (foreground) and Fred Appleton (background), volunteers in the Wheels program, adjusting bikes and helmets for students.

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Sennett Welcomes Visiting Japanese Educators
Submitted by Lori Hillyer, Learning Coordinator

In November, 19 Japanese teachers visited Sennett Middle, along with other MMSD schools. These educators were part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and, though most of them didn't speak English, communication was interpreted and laughter was shared. The visitors broke into small teacher-led groups for a tour of the school, which allowed students to engage with them and share their projects as well.

Following the tour, the ensemble met with Sennett Principal Colleen Lodholz, who shared the structure, demographics, curricular expectations, etc. of our "typical" American school. The visitors were very intrigued and their inquisitions allowed us all the opportunity to make comparisons with our own educational system. Before they ended their visit, they were presented with Sennett memorabilia (e.g. keychains). They, in turn, presented Sennett staff with Japanese remembrances (e.g. flag, fan and other items).

As they exited our school, the visitors informed us that, in Japan, the students cleaned the school before they exited for the day. We were quick to share that with our students over the morning announcements the next day!

Sennett Principal Colleen Lodholz gives Japanese visitors small mementos of their visit to the school.

Principal Colleen Lodholz, on behalf of Sennett's staff, received remembrances presented by the Japanese delegation.

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FLEX Says, "Danke, Nitty Gritty Und Frau Aguirre!"

Sennett Middle: On November 29, Sarah Huibregtse's and Myrna Kay Young's House 5/6 FLEX (Foreign Language Exploration) Class ended their German unit by celebrating Oktoberfest in November. Students enjoyed authentic German foods such as sauerkraut, bratwurst, pretzels, and root beer (pictured), while Amy Aguillere shared slides and experiences from her stay in Austria.

To add to the authenticity of the celebration, Herr Marsh Shapiro of Madison's Nitty Griity generously donated 24 birthday mugs to Sennett.

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East High student crafts "Mr. Smith's briefcase"

After a disappointing catalogue-ordered wooden "briefcase" arrived, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (WDC) staffers agreed they could not give it to U.S. Senator Feingold, who would be honored with the "Smitty Award" (capturing the sentiment of Jimmy Stewart's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"). East HS parent and WDC Outreach Director Debby Anderson Meyer suggested East's woodworking club, and the rest is history. Feingold was stunned by the finished product crafted by East student Jon Selchert.

In a letter of thanks to the WDC, Feingold said,"As you know, in my years as an elected official, I have received a number of awards, but none as imaginative and thoughtful as a wooden briefcase! It is a work of art and I so appreciate it." In a thank you letter to Dave Thompson, East HS applied technology teacher, Feingold wrote, "I truly appreciate the ingenuity and craftsmanship that you and Jon Selchert put into the beautiful briefcase."

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Cherokee Middle: The Cherokee Middle School 7th Grade Concert was held on December 7. Performances of the 7th grade Band, Orchestra, and Chorus were presented at the school. Groups are under the direction of Fredrick Schrank - Orchestra (pictured here), Laurie Fellenz - Band, and Amy Malueg - Chorus.

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Mendota Elementary: Students from Mendota Elementary were invited by the Governor to take part in the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda on December 2.

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Duy Nguyen, a kindergarten teacher at Lapham Elementary, offers State Superintendent Libby Burmaster a gift from his home village in Viet Nam. Nguyen and his family came to Wisconsin when he was five, leaving behind their possessions and lives.

Last summer Nguyen was a Fullbright-Hays study abroad seminar participant , visiting Viet Nam, Laos and Thailand. Nguyen was able to visit his former village. The gift to Burmaster was a hand-made silk embroidery depicting the village's water and landscape.

The state superintendent is promoting the importance of international education and talked about the initiative to the media. Burmaster also read a book to Mr. Nguyen's class.