MMSD Today



News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. I No. 7		June 2, 2006

End of the School Year

Retiring staff members 2005-06

The Staff News great tradition of the "retiree edition" continues! MMSD Today is glad to provide the pictures and the listing of this year's retirees from the Madison School District. Click on "more" to go there. More...

Retirement Reflections

MMSD Today asked a few retirees to reflect on their careers in education. These short reflections are from: Sharon Koenig, Special Education assistant, Cherokee; David Michaelis, math teacher, East; and Jerry Tollefson, principal, Falk. More...

Our Schools - Today

Transitioning to the next level

This month's question: What are you doing (or have you done) that is unique or successful to help your "graduating" students transition to the next level? Responses from Whitehorse Middle, Memorial High and Shabazz High. More...

Students, parents, and MMSD staff collaborate to prepare special education students for a successful move to the next level by using the SMAL process

For students who are going to be moving across levels in the fall, the anticipation of moving to a new school or setting can be very stressful, very often magnified if the student is a special education student. To decrease the stress that students and their parents feel in this situation, the MMSD has developed the SMAL (Students Moving Across Levels) process. More...

News, Kudos and Changes

9 elementary school libraries open this summer

For the first time, some MMSD elementary school libraries will be open to all elementary students in Madison. BEAT the HEAT—READ is the theme for a summer book access program within MMSD. More...

Major awards for 6 school district staff members

Distinguished Mathematics Educator... Excellence in Educational Leadership... Senior Faculty Fellow... two for lifetime achievements... and two Crystal Apples. These are the significant awards bestowed upon five educators and a school business official all from the Madison School District. Check out the "who" and "what"... More...

First Mann scholars are college graduates

As middle school students, Joey Brown and Emuye Taylor (right, 2001 photos) were identified by teachers and school staff as youth with great potential. More than a decade later, the long-term investment in some of Madison's most promising youth is beginning to bear fruit as the first two Mann Scholars graduate from college. More...

Three educators recommended to lead La Follette High School, O'Keeffe Middle School, and Teaching & Learning Department

John Broome has been selected for the principalship at La Follette, Kay Enright has been tabbed to lead O'Keeffe, and Lisa Wachtel is recommended to become Executive Director of the Department of Teaching & Learning. More...

Six elementary principals to lead different schools for 2006-07

Six elementary school principals — three on the East side and three on the West side — will lead different schools next year in a series of transfers within the Madison School District. More...

Madison students top state peers in 'advanced' category

Madison students surpassed their state peers at all grade levels in both reading and math in the "advanced proficiency" category — the highest attainment level — on the 2005-06 Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam. More...

Foundation 'Circle of Friends' Fundraising Luncheon a Rousing Success

Foundation for Madison's Public Schools first "Circle of Friends" fundraising luncheon attended by nearly 400 people, raised $50,000 and celebrated the past, present and future of Madison's schools. More...

In Our Schools

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher appreciation week was May 8-12th. The "MMSD Today" staff in the Public Information office asked schools across the district to share how staff were recognized throughout the week. More...

With GAPP, German and Madison high school students visit each other

The German-American Partnership Program (GAPP) is a school-to-school exchange in which the Madison School District has been active since its inception in 1972. GAPP has developed into the most successful exchange program between the U.S. and Germany. More...

Getting 'SMART' about fitness

Student obesity is increasing at alarming rates. Learn how Madison is taking the "Smart" approach to fitness, using resources from a 3-year grant. More...

Video helps evaluate mathematics teaching

Using video, principals are learning better ways to evaluate mathematics classroom observations. More...

MSCR's CLC at Lowell Celebrates community building through music

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) Lowell Community Learning Center held a CD release party on Friday, April 21, at Lowell Elementary. More...

Around the District

Families and Schools Together (FAST) Program Assists Madison Area Hmong Refugee Families

Successful FAST Program at Lakeview Elementary proudly graduates fifteen Hmong refugee families — a 100% graduation rate of families from the program. More...

REPLAY: A 'hike' different than the others

Okay, maybe I'm a bit biased. I work at REPLAY and love it here. We have some of the most challenging 7th and 8th grade boys in placement and most of them love it here as well. So what's our story? More...

Multi-year grant to combat AOD and violence in schools culminates with major accomplishments districtwide

More...

Child health coalition provides free community-based health exams for children and adolescents

What if you wanted a preventive health exam for your child but could not make it to the clinic because of lack of transportation, a language barrier or financial issues? The Dane County Coalition for Neighborhood Child Health has been making this possible by providing free community-based preventive exams for children and adolescents for the past 14 years. More...

For the Summer

Fit Kids Challenge for the summer

The Madison School District is a partner in this free summer program designed to encourage children to move and to have a healthy lifestyle that will continue for a lifetime. More...