The Madison Metropolitan School District has announced that it will pay for caps, gowns, tassels and sashes for all graduating seniors in the Class of 2021.
MMSD Creates Graduation Fund to Cover Costs of Caps & Gowns
The district has not yet decided whether it will have its high school graduation ceremonies in person or online, but said it wanted to lessen the financial burden on families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an email to parents, Mike Hernandez and Marvin Pryor, co-chiefs of secondary schools for the Madison Metropolitan School District, commented:
"We know that this pandemic has created significant financial hardships for some of our students and their families."
Want to contribute to the fund to help pay for the graduation supplies? Complete this form >>
New DNC Executive Director is a La Follette Grad
(A version of this article was first published by the Wisconsin State Journal)
La Follette High School class of 2005 alumnus Sam Cornale has been named the next executive director of the Democratic National Committee. He will help guide the Democratic Party through the 2022 midterm elections.
Cornale was “a critical part of our success these past four years," the DNC tweeted last week. "We’re proud that he will be working with (DNC Chair Jaime Harrison) to build on the progress made and continue winning seats up and down the ballot."
Cornale previously helped manage the DNC during the 2018 and 2020 elections. He also oversaw Tom Perez's 2017 campaign to chair the DNC and worked for Perez when Perez served as Labor Secretary under President Barack Obama.
Loved Algebra or Geometry? Become a Tutor!
Memorial High School is seeking tutors in Algebra 1 or Geometry. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Achievement Connections Tutor Coordinator, Aya Seidemann, at [email protected].
Resolve to Stay Connected to Your Alma Mater
If you’re like most people, you were probably more than ready to close the door on 2020. It was a tough year for so many people, one that will be forever defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it had on just about every area of our lives.
The great news as we kick off 2021 is that there is now a vaccine, and a light at the end of the tunnel. But throughout most of the year, it will still be important for people to follow pandemic restrictions, meaning all of us will still need to be proactive about staying connected.
At the Madison Public Schools Friends and Alumni Network, we are as committed as we’ve ever been to helping alumni stay connected to their alma mater, even when we can’t physically gather. If you’re looking for an idea for a New Year’s resolution, consider making it a goal to stay actively involved with and connected to your alma mater through our organization this year!
Here are some ways you can accomplish this resolution:
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JOIN - If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to join the Madison Public Schools Friends & Alumni Network - it's free! It is also the easiest way for you to stay updated about everything happening in Madison's public schools and the Foundation.
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ATTEND VIRTUAL EVENTS - Any time the opportunity arises, attend virtual events! These could include virtual alumni networking events, virtual class reunions, virtual fundraisers, etc. It’s still going to be a little while before it’s safe to have in-person events and activities, so this is a great way to stay connected to fellow alumni. Join the network to stay in the know!
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DONATE - School may be virtual, but there are still so many ways for our organization to support everything that’s happening in Madison schools. Your dollars can make a big difference!
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VOLUNTEER - Volunteer opportunities are not as numerous during the pandemic, but they still pop up here and there. Sign-up to be a volunteer and we will reach out as opportunities arise.
- READ - Be sure to regularly check out the Foundation's and the district's websites and social media platforms for information about school events and to stay up to date about the latest news affecting the district. Staying informed is a great way to stay connected, and makes it easier for you to find opportunities to get involved.
We hope 2021 holds great things in store for you and your family. Happy New Year!
How Alumni Can Make an Impact This Season
The holidays are upon us, and in this season of giving we invite you to consider a donation to the school district that helped shape you. Wondering where your money would go? Here are just a few of the ways in which your donation could help make an impact:
Provide opportunities for new students
Donating to your alma mater helps to fund opportunities for students of today and tomorrow. Depending on the way in which you give, the money could help to fund scholarships, new course offerings, educational initiatives, capital projects and extracurricular activities. You might also choose to fund purchases of classroom items and supplies, which many teachers often have to buy with their own money.
Give back in a meaningful way
Think about the experiences you had in high school that were meaningful and impactful for you. You can focus your donations on a specific area as a way of giving back. If you were involved in band, for example, you might give a donation specifically meant for the band program. You might decide to fund a specific scholarship that has meaning to you. Not only will this ensure future students are able to get the same opportunities you had, but it also attaches some extra meaning to the gift that can make it feel even more personal.
Support alumni opportunities
Donating to the Madison Public Schools Friends & Alumni Network will help to fund ongoing opportunities for alumni to stay connected with their schools, creating a stronger relationship between the district and those who have passed through it. These funds could be used for alumni events, newsletters and fundraisers to support certain initiatives at the schools.
Sustain everyday operations
There are a lot of day-to-day expenses in schools that do not get a whole lot of public attention, but need to be covered all the same. Given how many schools tend to have very tight operating budgets, any general donations you make could help provide schools with breathing room to keep things running smoothly.
We hope you will consider making a donation this holiday season to support your alma mater, and current and future generations of students!
Please Support the MMSD Virtual Career Fair!
Every December, MMSD hosts a career fair for students, but given the unique circumstances presented by the current pandemic, this year's event will look a little different. As alumni and supporters of Madison Public Schools, the district is asking for your help as they organize for the next best thing - a virtual career fair.
How You Can Help
- Your name and job title
- Brief description of your job/career
- Required education, skills, certification, ect... for your job/career
- Helpful high school classes/ experiences specific to your career
- Current job outlook within your career (likelihood of finding an opening)
- Any other fun facts or info on career you would like to share!that includes a brief description of your job or career, the required education or skills required to embark on a similar career path, helpful classes and experiences specific to your career, and more.
The videos will be viewed by students, in a lesson format, starting in mid-December. The goal is to have a diverse set of career options for our students to explore in hopes that they will find a career they have never heard of, or learn more about one they are already interested in. When you submit your video there is an opportunity to include your email address if you’re willing to have individual career discussions with students and classrooms.
SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO NOW >>
Thank you - we are so grateful for your help!
Madison Voted YES to Invest in Our Public Schools!
Madison voters have offered a resounding “yes” to two requests from the Madison Metropolitan School District. The requests were separated into two parts – a $33 million operating referendum and a $317 million facilities referendum. The $317 million will be used to renovate the district’s four main high schools and add a new elementary school.
After the results came in, Superintendent Carlton Jenkins said he was thrilled with the outcome, commenting:
This is a very important moment for Madison, for MMSD and for all our children, all of our families, and we can’t thank you enough. We’re really humbled by the fact that you’re showing this level of support and we’re going to do everything in our power to be good stewards as we have been in the past of the dollars given.
We're incredibly grateful to the people of Madison for voting YES to invest in our public schools, students, and staff. Because of you, more sustainable and equitable schools are in sight. The work does not end here. We encourage everyone who cares about the future of our community to get involved with our local schools through the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools and, alongside our new Superintendent Dr. Carlton Jenkins, help us continue to shape a Madison that uplifts all its residents.
5 Tips for Planning and Hosting a Virtual Class Reunion
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to make it next to impossible to gather in large groups. This, unfortunately, has had a devastating effect on plans for class reunions all over the nation.
One of the most popular times of year for class reunions is Thanksgiving weekend, when people are already likely to be spending time back in their hometowns with family and friends. But this year, any class reunions you may wish to plan will not be able to happen in-person, especially as Wisconsin continues to see surging infection rates and hospitalizations with the virus.
But never fear! There are still options for you to host these reunions virtually, giving you time to catch up with friends from your alma mater in an informal environment.
Here are five tips for you to still find success with planning your class reunion in a virtual format.
- Connect with the school and your alumni association: Both your alma mater and your alumni network will still be able to provide you with valuable resources, including contact information for people in your class and other information to help you in your planning. Connecting with these sources should always be your first step when planning a reunion, even a virtual one!
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Reconsider reunion chair positions: Without an in-person component to your event, you don’t need to have someone tasked with arranging a venue or catering or anything like that. Instead, you should find someone with technological prowess who can ensure the event runs smoothly. You can still benefit from having someone tasked with marketing responsibilities, someone organizing invitations and someone managing finances, but even these roles might look different due to the online nature of the event.
- Use a platform people already know: People have become intimately familiar with platforms like Zoom and Google Meet since the pandemic began. These tools are even being used for virtual schooling now. You may as well stick with these platforms, since people already know them and are familiar with them. Plus, with Zoom, you can use advanced features to allow for breakout groups.
- Have plans: Just because it’s a virtual reunion doesn’t mean it shouldn’t have an agenda. You should still have a person moderating or emceeing to guide you through the event, and have an agenda for the activities and talks. Do some research into virtual activities as well, including online games, group discussions, icebreakers, sharing talents or other types of activities that easily translate to an online setting.
- Do your research: We’re seven months and counting into the pandemic, which means there are already plenty of other alumni associations that have held online reunions, fundraisers and events. See what other groups have done, and get some inspiration for what you think could make for a successful event of your own.
While a virtual reunion isn’t the same as being able to gather in person, it can still be a big success. Contact us if you need further tips to get you started with your planning!
MMSD Alum Savion Castro: Why Madison Needs Referenda 2020
(A version of this opinion article by La Follette class of 2013 alumnus Savion Castro was first published on Madison365)
In July, my colleagues and I on the MMSD Board of Education voted to place two referenda questions on your November ballot. In light of COVID-19, the last five months have placed incredible strain on the health of our community and education of our scholars. Your Board of Education has monitored these impacts closely. Indeed, COVID-19 has shone a bright light on the disparities in our community and our education system. Illness, evictions, and job instability have hit people hard, particularly our most vulnerable families and citizens.
Moreover, the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery have laid bare before God and the world, yet again, that another pandemic, certainly endemic in Madison, persists. The facts are that white supremacy and systemic racism are original to the United States and run rampant in our education systems at all levels nationwide. Precipitous protests, civil disobedience and unrest have gripped our community to maybe, hopefully, force ourselves to look in the mirror.
Read moreWe believe these referenda are more important than ever for justice, equity, and excellence in education for all students.
Help Us Deliver 5,000 Supply Kits to Students
Every student deserves a full and equitable education.
As the Madison Metropolitan School District prepares to start the 2020-2021 school year, an urgent need for individual sets of school supplies has emerged. Students need their own sets of supplies at home in order to properly engage in virtual learning. The need will continue once a return to in-person learning in our school buildings becomes possible. In order to adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols, the sharing of classroom supplies will no longer be an option, necessitating a supply kit for each student.
In response to this need, the Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools has partnered with the community to purchase, package, and distribute upwards of 5,000 individual supply kits to MMSD’s most vulnerable students. EZ Office Products will order the supplies at cost, and school principals, other staff and social workers will determine which children most need a supply kit.
Every $50 Makes A Difference
With your support, we will help deliver everything from pencils, notebooks, whiteboards and headphones to those scholars most in need. A $50 donation will cover the cost of a kit for one child and every donation contributes to the collective buying power of the Foundation and our partners. We urge you to share our school supply project with your family, friends, and colleagues and when possible, make a contribution.
The School Supply Fund is a noble and timely cause, given the disruption to school and children’s lives, so please, donate if you can. Visit: fmps.org/supplies.
The Foundation has partnered with Madison Metropolitan School District, United Way of Dane County, the City of Madison, Madison Public Libraries, the Madison Needs Network and retired teachers to support this effort. EZ Office Products, American Family Insurance and Alliant Energy Center will provide bulk buying power, shipping and space for supplies. Summit Credit Union and Costco have also donated supplies.