VOL 1 | Issue 2

Back To School Edition

News and Updates from MESA

From the Principal's Desk

It is hard to believe that we are already in week #5 while most schools are just getting started for the 2018-2019 school year, the joy of being a year-round school.  To head this newsletter and with today being the 17th anniversary of 9/11 I want to first pause to pay respect to all of those who work or previously worked as public servants in the armed forces as well as firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders across our great country.  Thank you for making our world a safer place. Thank you.

Parents, did you know that MESA scholars will learn 6 habits of scholarship this school year. The 6 habits of scholarship that scholars will learn in CREW are social justice, integrity, respect, collaboration, perseverance, and accountability.  Each morning school starts with breakfast at 8:30am. After breakfast classes begin with Morning Crew Circles. Morning Crew includes a daily greeting, reading, initiative, and a debrief. The morning crew is designed to set the tone for the day and allows the teacher to reset school expectations, normalized behaviors, and share the agenda, goals, and other school and classroom announcements.  MESA scholars who are in school daily and on time are better set up for success. Scholars who are habitually tardy struggle more with behavior and academics. There is research and data that supports this but the quick and straight to the point message is “make sure your scholar(s) are at school daily and on time. They are going to perform better academically and socially.” Schoolwide dismissal has created some frustrations amongst parents because of the time that it takes to pick up scholars.  I assure all guardians of MESA scholars that while our dismissal takes a little longer it is much safer. We have made changes at our school to ensure that we can account for all persons entering our building and therefore making it a safer school environment. One change is that we no longer allow parents or visitors inside of the building between 3:00 pm. and 4:00pm. This is because our scholars under the guidance of their teachers are still in academic instruction while also preparing for the end of the day including dismissal.  I am pleading with parents to refrain from coming to pick scholars up early to avoid waiting in the dismissal line. We’ve timed the parent pick up line in and in the past three weeks the longest a parent has waited has been 17 minutes. It is well worth the 17-minute wait (usually does not take this long) at the end of the day. Scholars picked up before 3:00pm. are marked tardy (state law requirement) and also miss 30 minutes of school each day. Although some of that time is choice time (not free time) it is earned by the scholars and very much needed social interaction time with peers.  30 minutes of missed instruction in is equivalent to 88.5 hours of school or 10 ½ total days of school missed. We want to partner with parents by increasing rigor, relationships, and academic and social outcomes for scholars through our EL educational approach. Starting on time at 8:30am. and staying throughout the day 3:30pm. and attending school 95% of the time (missing less than 7 days of school during the year) gives your scholar the greatest chance at being successful. Please help us by making sure your scholar is here.

We are offering a week long academic and enrichment program for the fall intersession (October 15th-19th).  This is during the week that scholars will be out of school. Parents, if you are interested in learning more please contact mnewman@mke-es.org or kcobb@mke-es.org Seating is limited and filling fast.  The program will run Monday-Friday from 8:00am.-4:00pm.  Before/ After care services are offered. This is a fee based program that accepts Wisconsin Share credits.  We also have some funding for partial scholarships. Don’t wait to inquire and register.

Lastly, the newsletter contains important information about your school.  Please read and govern accordingly. If you would like to see new topics added, please contact kcobb@mke-es.org with your suggestions.      

Michael Morgan

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dean's Campus News
Elementary Dean

Office of the Elementary Dean

Habit Of Scholarship - HOS Focus Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something. Spend time discussing collaboration with your scholar and ask your scholar often how collaboration is happening here at MESA.

This video link below breaks down why collaboration is so important to scholars at MESA and how the practice of collaboration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po40I4c94R0

ClassDojo

The first ClassDojo point incentive went well. Many scholars from K4-5th grade earned the expected point total for demonstrating habits of scholarship (75 ClassDojo Points). I want to give a special shout out to MALACHI DIGGS, first grade scholar,  for earning 100 points which was the highest point total for scholars K4-5th grades. I would also like to congratulate Ms. Shearer’s crew for having the highest amount of points earned! 1684 points. Below is the list of scholars by grade level that earned the incentive. Give your scholar an extra special hug for making the list.

K4

Amadee Smith
Damir Davis
Miranda McPhan
Saren Jordan
Haily Fluker
Imani Johnson
Jahzarie Kittler
Kaine Wright
Miracle McPhan
Sha’Lise Buchanan
Zamir Wise
Zoe Malone

K5

Dream Williams
Jonniyah Brown
Keyon Williams
Raynangel Allen
Si’naya Gordon
Tristian Hicks
Ze’Nira Sandridge-Ingram
Ajawntae Burks
Aniyah Norrington
Janaya Howard
Kendall Tuner
Royalty Rose
Skyelah Keys
Tamia Miller

1st
Caleah Clements
Chawntae Dorsey
K’Drianna Brown
Laila Jordan
Malachi Diggs
Marco Taylor
Michelle Siddiqu
Alex Brown
Gabrielle Gatson
Jasaan Steward
Navieon Riser
Zamyra Williams

3rd

Kemarieona
Aariana Smith
K’Lianna Gatson
Laymon Price
Nyla RIser
Qulayia Harris

4th

Alexa Xayyaphiou
Katrell Mattox
Keyonte Rice
Nehemiah Cooper-Williams
Nia Prescott
Oriel Mckinney
Yahzarrah Blackshire
Anaya Starling
Aniyah Collins
Davion Cannon
Donovan Fountain
Eshmael Raymond
Hannah Laster
Jalen Williamson
Janey Johnson
Kollin Chang
Leslie Moore
Maiya Prasad
Mikayla Siddiqu
Serinity Neal
Tyler Johnson

5th

Austin Chang
Devon Bean
Hezekiah Coleman
James Ross
Lanita Hall
Luis Casas
Maegan Ford
Malaya Pinder
Marquavis Moore
Mariana Navarrete
Nathan Gutierrez
Jamal Schultz
Rashiya Lowe
Malijia Walker
Shakeriona Holloway
Shamar Boyd
Taijah Moore
Christopher Brown

Points have been reset and the next incentive is in October. Remind your scholar daily to demonstrate the habits of scholarship at school, at home, and in the community.

Elementary Dean K4-5th

Marcus Knox

Monthly Academic Incentives

Last week Friday every classroom/homeroom teacher nominated one scholar who had demonstrated consistent effort and another who had shown high achievement in academics at the end of each month. Congratulations to each of the following scholars who were acknowledged at our Whole School Crew meeting and earned an ice cream party with Mrs. Calloway, the Academic Dean on Monday, September 10th:

Eagle Effort Award Winners:

• Ms. Von Rueden: Kaine W.

• Ms. Jacobson: Miranda M.

• Ms. Koepke: Tristian H.

• Ms. Boxley: Marcus J.

• Ms. Shearer: Jonathan R.

• Ms. Price: K’Drianna B.

• Ms. S. Davis: Javon M.

• Mrs. Malone: Quincy V.

• Ms. Cheske/Mr. Hatchett: Yah’myra J.

• Ms. Heard: Xavier W.

• Ms. Nacker: Armaya H.

• Mrs. Taplin: Anaya S.

• Ms. Kerrens: Jessie P.

• Ms. Anderson: Luis C.

• Ms. Jackson: Charliyah E-W.

• Ms. A. Davis:  Isabel N.

• Mr. Austin: Anthony M.

• Ms. Miller: Jeremiah X.

• Ms. Hennings: Nasier G.

• Ms. Martin: Siriah S.

High Flying Achievement Award Winners:

• Ms. Von Rueden: Zamir W.

• Ms. Jacobson: Amadee S.

• Ms. Koepke: Dream W.

• Ms. Boxley: Ajawantae B.

• Ms. Shearer: Alex B.

• Ms. Price: Malachi D.

• Ms. S. Davis: Iamon M.

• Mrs. Malone: Makyiah S.

• Ms. Cheske/Mr. Hatchett: Nyla R.

• Ms. Heard: Zamir C.

• Ms. Nacker: Katrell M.

• Mrs. Taplin: Maiya P.

• Ms. Kerrens: Mariana N.

• Mrs. Anderson: Austin C.

• Ms. Jackson: Martin R.

• Ms. A. Davis: Felicia B.

• Mr. Austin: Azaria K.

• Ms. Miller: Taylor R. M.

• Ms. Hennings: Taylor R. M.

• Ms. Martin: Lavontae L.
   

STAR Testing

PALS  Testing

PALS stands for Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening. It is a tool teachers use to:

• Identify students who are struggling to learn to read

• Find out what each student is ready to learn next

• Check each student’s reading progress during the school year.

Scholars in K4-2nd grade will be taking the PALS assessment beginning September 10th. Specifically, 1st and 2nd graders will test September 10-21st while K4 and K4 scholars take their tests September 17-28th.

Teachers give students the PALS screener three times per year: the beginning, the middle (optional), and the end of the school year. Please visit Family Guide to Scholar Success  which outlines what your child will be learning and how to support him/her in their learning.

Parent News Release!

Parent News Release!

Welcome Parents!

Smart Smiles began today will be in our building over the next 7 days! Scholars who turned in their paperwork will be getting their teeth cleaned by our partners at St. Mary’s Hospital and confirmation of treatment will be sent home as they are seen...On September 20th MESA will be hosting our 2nd annual High School Fair in the gym from 4:30-6:00. Several schools within the Milwaukee area will be on site to answer enrollment questions and give scholars information about their respective organizations. Also, there will be a mandatory High School parent meeting for ALL parents of 8th grade scholars on September 25th from 4:15-5:15 pm to receive pertinent information about MPS early enrollment, admission tests dates and get your child’s MPS parent portal info. Lastly, our first school-wide parent meeting will happen on September 27th and we will talk about what’s in store this year for our families!

Can’t wait to see you all!

Fly High!! 


Dean Cobb