Unexpected Path, Fulfilling Destination

From navigating through the uncertainties of post-grad life to finding her calling at Summit Credit Union, Hannah Altwegg's journey came full circle to empower others and shape futures.

Dr. Gothard’s selection is the culmination of a search process, supported by Alma Advisory Group, that began in May 2023 and was hallmarked by community involvement, most recently evidenced by two days of intensive stakeholder-led interviews of the three shortlisted candidates.

It also marks a homecoming for Dr. Gothard, a native Madisonian who attended MMSD schools throughout his elementary, middle, and high school years, before going on to serve as a staff member at Lincoln Elementary School and Principal at both Akira R. Toki Middle School and Robert M. La Follette High School, as well as the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools.

Free Event

Do you believe in the power of public schools? 
Then don’t miss the 2nd Annual Schools Make Madison Summit.

Join us at Thermo Fisher Scientific on April 25th from 7:30 – 11:00 am to:

• Gain a better understanding of the current public education landscape
• Be inspired by what’s happening in our schools
• Learn how you can make a difference – there’s a role for everyone!

This event is free to attend and includes continental breakfast.

Together, we shape Madison’s future.

Greetings, Madison West Class of 1999 Graduates!

Can you believe it's been a quarter of a century since we walked across that stage? Time truly flies!

We're thrilled to announce that there will be a long-awaited class reunion in Madison on the evening of June 29th, 2024. While we're still in the process of finalizing all the details, we couldn't wait to share the exciting news with you. Please mark your calendars and spread the word far and wide, as we're hoping for a fantastic turnout to reconnect and reminisce about old times.

For those of you on Facebook, be sure to join our Madison West Class of 1999 page for updates and to reconnect with classmates. If Facebook isn't your thing, don't worry – we'll be sending out more information via email as well.

We can't wait to see familiar faces this summer!

Cheers,

Erin Quinn Pickering
Reunion Organizer

Madison West Class of 2004 Graduates: It’s been 20 years! Let’s celebrate! 🎉

We're excited to gather for our class reunion in Madison on Saturday, July 6th, 2024. While we're still in the process of finalizing all the details, we couldn't wait to share the exciting news with you. 

Look for a formal RSVP invite and full agenda coming soon. But for now, view our Madison West Class of 2004 Facebook page for updates. You can also follow our newest profile on Instagram. This is the best way to reach out to the reunion organizers! 

And so you can plan your stay in Madison, we wanted to let you know that there will be family friendly activities the afternoon before our evening event on Saturday, July 6th. The evening together is for you and your +1, and other informal gatherings will be held the day before, Friday, July 5th. 

More details coming soon…

We hope you’ll enjoy Madison’s bustling Summer activities along with this event! Please mark your calendars and spread the word far and wide! We're hoping for a fantastic turnout to reconnect and reminisce about old times.  

We can't wait to see you this summer!

Cheers, 

20 Year Reunion Organizers

Ways the Madison Public Schools Friends & Alumni Network can support your class reunion planning:

We were introduced by mutual friends who were colleagues of Jake's. Our journey began on February 2nd, 1997, just in time for us to attend Twerp together. Five years later, on November 2nd, 2002, we exchanged vows and embarked on building our first and only home the following year. With three boys, our life is rich and fulfilling.

Friendship has been the cornerstone of our relationship, providing the stability and support we needed through various challenges. From financial struggles to navigating pandemic-induced remote learning for our children, we've faced it all together. Balancing opposite work shifts to prioritize our family hasn't been easy, but it's strengthened our bond.

Now, after 27 years together and celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary in November, we remain deeply committed to each other and our children, making them our utmost priority.

Melissa Hughes (Stainbrook) and Jake Hughes (La Follette '99)
Posted by Kari Mueller · February 08, 2024 2:20 PM · 1 reaction

Beth Johnson Verdin and Al Verdin (Memorial)
Posted by Kari Mueller · February 08, 2024 2:16 PM · 1 reaction

Harriett Ann McDonough & Raymond F Gesteland (West '56)
Posted by Kari Mueller · February 01, 2024 2:00 PM · 1 reaction

Ray moved into our neighborhood from the Nakoma School area. In 9th Grade (1952), we had our first date with his brother Ed chaperoning to a Stan Kenton concert at the U of Wisconsin Field House. We dated through high school and college at U of WI and married in April of 1960 in Madison WI. We have lived in Cambridge, Geneva Switzerland, Cold Spring Harbor NY, and finally in Salt Lake City. We had several friends who met in High School, married, and managed to stay married as of now. Ray and I have been married 64 years in April, have 4 wonderful children and 9 super grandchildren. Ray has been a successful scientist, college administrator, and mentor to numerous students. I worked as a Nurse Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and taught young children as well as Graduate students at U of Utah College of Nursing. Our time at West High provided numerous opportunities to participate in activities to encourage our academic futures. It was a great preparatory education for college. We both participated in extracurricular activities which enriched our experience enormously.

Meet Marty Richard Meek (center), Carol Richard (left), and Laura Richard Thomson (right), three sisters who share not only a bond of sisterhood but also a deep connection to Madison public schools. All three began their educational journey at Glendale Elementary (renamed Dr. Virginia Henderson Elementary in 2020), eventually graduating from La Follette High School in 1970, 1972, and 1977, respectively. They are three of six siblings in their tightly-knit family.

Madison West High class of 2016 alum Alonso Del Rio is a software developer on the MyChart team at Epic, a career that allows him to embrace his passion for technology. His venture into the world of computer science (CS) took root during fifth grade as a participant in the inaugural Scratch Club at Shorewood Elementary School. Scratch, a free programming language designed to make coding enjoyable and accessible for children, captivated Alonso. Reflecting on those early days, he fondly recalls “I just had so much fun with Scratch—I loved having the ability to make my own games and goofy animations and learning about cool tricks to use in my projects. I didn’t fully realize that these tricks were tied to the foundations of programming until years later!” 

In mid-October of 2023, MMSD announced that Jay Affeldt, former district administrator and high school principal, has been named Associate Superintendent of High Schools. In this role, he will provide instructional leadership and coaching to the district’s six high school principals to ensure strong school cultures as well as provide oversight to the district’s secondary athletics programs.

On November 3, 2020, Madison voters approved a historic investment in MMSD with a pair of referenda that totaled $350 million. Voters approved both questions on the ballot: $317 million in bonds for capital projects and $33 million in operating funds that will phase in over four years. The "Vote Yes 2 Invest Campaign," was led by Schools Make Madison Advocates, Inc., an affiliate of the Madison Public Schools Foundation.

Three years later, students were welcomed into two new MMSD school buildings at the start of the 2023-24 school year, and construction continues at the four main high schools with full occupancy planned for the start of the next school year. 

The MMSD Board of Education appointed former MMSD administrator, Lisa Kvistad, to serve as interim superintendent during the 2023-2024 school year while a search is underway for the district's next permanent leader. 

NBA Star/Memorial Alum teams with MPSF to help students get active.

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Milwaukee Bucks star Wesley Matthews has come back to Madison to help give back.

He has teamed up with the Madison Public Schools Foundation to help launch a new initiative aimed at making it easier for students to get active. Called ‘Play Every Day,’ this initiative will help provide funds to support the Madison Metropolitan School District, allowing faculty to replace old physical education and recess equipment, as well as help students cover participation fees.

Take action. Get involved. 

The students at your alma mater need your support! And the Madison Public Schools Foundation (MPSF) makes it easy to get involved. From volunteering your time to our popular Adopt-a-School program, our goal is to help you find new ways to support Madison’s public schools and students. Here are eight opportunities to take advantage of right away:

Written by Lisa Gaumnitz

Ten-year-old Donnel Thompson raced to get ready early for school so he could play touch football at the Randall Elementary playground before the bell rang. Teacher Fred Tiemann– Mr. T to the kids – quarterbacked for both teams and the diverse group of kids competed hard, had fun, and were back at it again every recess.   

“It was what we wanted to do,” recalls the West High alum, a walk-on for the University of Wisconsin football team who grew into a leading tackler, played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and now leads as vice president of national accounts for Direct Supply, Inc. in Milwaukee.   

It’s been the subject of countless TV sitcoms: an upcoming class reunion and all of the negatives that come with it. Characters are either scrambling to embarrass an old rival, doing their best to woo an old crush or looking for reasons to skip the reunion entirely. 

We laugh at the episode’s antics and situations—and scoff at the ending when it all turns out okay. But are class reunions really so bad? 

In reality, reunions are great opportunities to reconnect with people from your past. You’ll get to see old friends and catch up on what everyone has been doing over the past few years. All told, there are far more reasons to attend your class reunion than there are to skip it, and with the summer reunion season just about to begin, we thought we’d focus on why you should make it out to yours if you’re able!