January 2020

Eagles Nest School Edition

News and Updates from MESA

From the Principal's Desk

Happy New Year from the entire MESA family.  As our newsletter continue to include more information under the department deans as well as from Khiana Cobb, our Dean of Family Engagement I will be condensing my section to avoid repeated information.  A few updates that I want to make sure parents are aware of: We are in the final year of our current two year contract with MPS and on January 16, 2020 the SASI (Student Achievement and School Innovation) requested a 3 year contract to continue partnering with MPS and MESA to the MPS Board of Directors.  The board discussed the request and officially informed us that they were recommending a 2 year contract renewal to the MPS full board of directors. The MPS Board of Directors will meet on January 30, 2020 to make a final decision. I am asking all parents to come out and support MESA at the full board meeting at 6:30p.m.  The meeting will be held at MPS’ Central Office building located at 5225 West Vliet on Thursday, January 30, 2020. This meeting is open to the public but public testimonials will not be heard. MESA staff and members from our parent organization including our board members and Executive Director, Dr. Laci Coppins-Robbins will be there in support.  Hope to see you there as well. To that, the January 30 2020 planned Town Hall Meeting with the principal is being moved to February 27, 2020. I am looking forward to sharing updates regarding our school performance and listening to your feedback. We will be meeting in the Gymatorium at MESA from 5:00-6:00.  

We have entered the 2nd half of the school year and we are currently only met 10% of our fundraising goal.  We all know good things cost money, education is no different. In the past year we have been able to do remarkable things for our scholars including but not limited to replacing 200 chromebooks, update whiteboards in all classrooms, allow scholars to attend several educational outtings at discounted rates, provide monthly scholar incentives for behavior and attendance, and have special incentives such as scholar dollar celebration and awards programs, discount MESA school apparel making cost to parents more affordable and provide many needed classroom instructional supplies and resources to scholars.  These and a lot more is made possible but the generosity and selfless giving our parents and donors. I’ve heard that hard work pays off please help us make that statement true. Visit this link https://dpi.wi.gov/accountability/report-cards to see how impressive our report card is compared to other schools in Milwaukee.  We have not met our goal but this is evidence that we are moving in the right direction.  How can you help? Glad you asked… participate in our many fundraising activities that we offer at MESA.  Today a package will be sent home for scholars to participate in Club Choice fundraising with details. MESA receives a 40% kickback from all items sold.  If every MESA scholars in K5-8th grade sold $43.75 in Club Choice items we would reach our school fundraising goal for the year of $7,000. Donations can also be made to support our school.  Please look for the Club Choice packets and the flyer from our school with more information on how you can get involved today.  

Lastly, Intent to return forms were sent out on January 7, 2020 and were due back on January 16, 2020.  This is HUGE because un-returned forms will result in your scholars seat being opened up for next year. We have extended the deadline until January 24, 2020.

Read further into the newsletter for more updates from MESA!

Educationally,

Michael Morgan

Principal.  

Upcoming Calendar Events

Primary News Updates By Dean Ramos 
(K4-2nd Grade)

Intermediate News Updates from Dean Knox
(3rd-5th Grade)

Office of Intermediate Dean
Mr. Marcus R. Knox
(414) 514-1660
8am-5pm

Attendance

December was a short month for scholar attendance aan only a few scholars had perfect attendance. Perfect attendance is categorized as zero days coming to school late and zero days leaving early. The scholars listed below were at school all December:

These scholars will be participating in an incentive for attendance on January 24. Let’s increase this number in the upcoming months.

Habit Of Scholarship - HOS Focus

This month scholars are focused on integrity and collaboration. Please talk to your scholars about how important it is to have integrity in everything that they do. Staff at MESA are living out this habit of scholarship daily as well as collaborating with parents, other teachers, and the community. If we all continue to live out these habits our campus will be the best place in the city for scholar achievement. 
 

ClassDojo

In the month of November the scholars pictured above, in the primary portion of the newsletter, earned the November incentive. Ask your scholar if they attended and if they had as much fun as Dean Ramos and me.  

Scholars that earned the Dojo incentive for the month of December will be celebrating with Dean Knox on January 24, at 2:00 in the staff PD room. The scholars listed below earned the incentive by showing the habits of scholarship gathering a total of 130 plus points. I’m very proud of these scholars and look forward to having many more in the month of January. 

THE VISION

MESA scholars are propelled to soar academically while demonstrating Habits of Scholarship that build strong character as they navigate towards college and career readiness with the support of professional lifelong learners.

United We Soar

Middle School News from Dean Gandy
(6th-8th Grade)

Trina Gandy, Middle School Dean

LiveSchool

Parents please ensure that you download the LiveSchool app on your cell phone, tablet  or computer as soon as possible. You can check your scholar’s LiveSchool points (Habits of Scholarship Dollars) daily. All points are used to incentivize, daily, weekly and monthly behavior, build character and promote a positive school culture. Please contact me at (414) 791-2636, if you have not received the parent login information that was sent home with scholars last week.

Our LiveSchool categories are aligned with our six habits of scholarships listed below:

• Respect

• Accountability 

• Integrity 

• Social Justice

• Collaboration

• Perseverance

Scholar Daily Academic Planner

A student planner an academic planner was given to every middle school scholar on Monday, September 16th to create organization and better communication. With the planner being a part of the classroom experience, your scholar is more likely to keep track of their assignments, set personal goals, and enhance communication between teacher, scholar and parent. 

Family Information for ALL from Dean Cobb

Family Engagement By Dean Cobb

Extra-Curricular Activities Updates and Information  Athletic Director & Sports Coordinator Mr. Brown

Ms. Von Rueden’s Ballet Class is a blast!! The young ladies are working hard and preparing to partake in the upcoming Winter Program. In preparation for their debut and big performance there has been one additional day added onto their instruction. The remaining class dates are as follows:  December 3rd December 10th December 17th Class time is from 4:00 - 5:00 pm    HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MS. TATE!!! The Eagles Majorette/Hip Hop Dance Team is the largest extra-curricular activity of my 4+ years at the school. She has 25 active participating members,      with an extensive list of ladies who wanted to join after the deadline. I am very excited to see these ladies perform, as they will also be performing in the Winter Program. There is more exciting news about our MESA Basketball Program. Ms. Heard’s 1st-3rd grades basketball team received their MPS league schedule for the 2019-2020 school year. Please come out and support these scholars as they compete with other schools in the district. For the complete schedule hit the link below.   MESA 1st - 3rd Grade Schedule 4th-6th Grade Basketball Camp Participants are continuing their training and development. We will soon be moving on to our draft, where scholar’s will pick their teams and compete against one another. More details will be coming soon. A gentle reminder that their practice will be every Monday from 4 to 5pm. Please pick up your scholar’s promptly at 5pm. Our Middle School Basketball Players are currently in their developmental stages as well. Their practice will continue to be on Wednesday’s from 4 to 5pm.  MESA’s Chess Club has been formed. We are still looking to increase our participants in this amazingly strategic game.    We’ve been providing demonstrations for a small group of hand picked scholar’s and introducing them to the basics and fundamental movement of the chess pieces.    If you are interested in any of the above activities or you would like to assist our coaches and instructors, please contact me by email: MBrown@mke-es.org or call me at (414) 353-3830 ext. 230.