Tag Archives: MPS

MPS students gear up for Galapagos Islands adventure

January 30, 2017Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 15

mps_galapagos

MilwaukeeNNS.org: At the beginning of the school year, Molly Schuld, a science teacher at Reagan College Preparatory High School, dreamed of taking students on a trip to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. Now it appears that her dream will come true.

“I care about three things: my students, science and traveling,” Schuld said. “I never really thought before about how I could put those three things together. But when this idea came across to me via a flier in my mailbox, I just thought to myself, ‘How could I say no to this?’”

Schuld received approval from Milwaukee Public Schools for the trip, and students have raised more than $22,000, including nearly $3,000 through GoFundMe. In addition, participating students have been making monthly payments toward the trip, using money from work, savings and donations from their families.

“We are all so incredibly appreciative of the support we have received from everyone in the community,” Schuld said. “This trip is going to broaden the cultural knowledge of these students and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the amount of effort they have put into making this happen.”

Milwaukee French Immersion principal honored by France

December 22, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

OnMilwaukee.com: On Tuesday night, Milwaukee French Immersion School Principal Gina Bianchi was honored for her work at this MPS school – which exceeds expectations according to its most recent DPI report card – by the French government.

At a ceremony at the school – located in the former Steuben Junior High at 2360 N. 52nd St. – Bianchi was presented with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques (Knight in the Order of the Academic Palms) Tuesday by the French Consulate Denis Quenelle – on behalf of French national education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem – during the school’s winter concert.

Bianchi has been principal at the school – where she got her start as a teacher – for three years. MFIS was established in 1978 and has been located in a few buildings since. It is the state’s only French immersion school.

According to MPS, The Palmes Academiques is a national order of France for distinguished academic figures in the world of culture and education. The order was established in 1808 by Emperor Napoleon. Bianchi was nominated by Anne Leplae, executive director of Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee, who also is a recipient of the award.

“(Ms. Bianchi’s) passion for French language and culture as well as for teaching is evident as soon as you meet her,” wrote Leplae in her nomination letter.

“I try to feed homeless people:” Students from Milwaukee’s north side spread message of hope

October 14, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS

Fox6Now.com: Thousands of students from the north side of Milwaukee spread a message of hope and success. It’s all part of an event called “Flood The Hood With Dreams.”

The playground at MPS’ Milwaukee College Prep: Lloyd Street Campus is full of inspiration.

“I try to feed homeless people and clean up the community,” said Kyon Myles, 4th grade student.

“I think I influence others to do what I do and get good grades,” said Michael Morgan, 6th grade student.

Each student is looking for ways to change their community for the better. More than 2,000 students from all four Milwaukee College Prep Campuses come together for the “Flood The Hood With Dreams” event.

It’s a day dedicated to highlighting everything positive about their communities.

“They are flooded on a daily basis with so much negativity and it is so important that we flood them with hope, optimism and dreams,” said Jarett Willliams, parent.

MPS Students’ Mobile App Voted National ‘Fan Favorite’

October 11, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

Milwaukee Public Schools: Two Milwaukee Public Schools students studying mobile app development were recognized for their first place finish as a “Fan Favorite” in a national app competition.

North Division High School students Tatiana Loyd and Qiaira Mathews were awarded the MPS Board of Directors Excellence in Education Award for their achievement at the MPS Board meeting Thursday evening. The two North Division students'”Emoji Encouragement” app is one of just two teams voted first place nationwide in the “Fan Favorites” category in the Lenovo Scholars Network competition.

The app is designed to support students battling cancer, sickle cell anemia, depression and other diseases or those with low self-esteem with words of encouragement. The two students stayed after school, worked from home and even came in over spring break to work on the app and accompanying video presentation, according to North Division lead computer science teacher Melissa Menge.

The students earned a tablet and a trip to the National NAF Conference in Orlando from Lenovo and NAF. NAF (formerly the National Academy Foundation) transforms the high school experience by infusing STEM and work-based learning experiences into curriculum to ensure students graduate and are college, career, and future ready. The winning team plans to enter another app in the contest this year and will further develop their mobile app programming skills in the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles class at North Division. This is the first time this class the College Board as offered this class.

MPS’ Cooper School recognized for quality by Schools That Can Milwaukee

September 23, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

Fox6Now.com: A Milwaukee Public School is in the national spotlight. Hundreds of students and staff at James Fenimore Cooper School are being recognized for outstanding achievement with an award that comes with new opportunities.

“Cooper has really set us up for success, to be honest, and we’re excited,” said Kayla Jimenez , eighth-grade student.

The K-8 students, teachers and staff are celebrating national recognition as a high-quality school.

“Our boys and girls feel connected. They feel loved. They feel appreciated by all staff members,” said Principal Jennifer Doucette.

On Thursday, September 22nd Cooper was named a member of “Schools That Can Milwaukee” and its national affiliate, “Schools That Can.”

MPS celebrates start of year round school year

August 5, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

Children enrolled in Milwaukee Public Schools’ year-round schools should be in school all day, every day – starting with “Day One,” the very first day of school. Research shows that students who increase attendance also increase their academic success.

MPS schools on the year-round calendar have a shorter summer break but longer fall, winter and spring breaks. Students spend the same number of days in school.

The Alliance School of Milwaukee (9-12)
Community High School (9-12)
Congress School (K4-8)
Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School (K4-5)
Ralph H. Metcalfe School (K4-8)
River Trail School (K4-8)
Marvin E. Pratt Elementary School, formerly Silver Spring Elementary School (K4-5)
Frances Brock Starms Early Childhood Center (K3-K5)
Frances Brock Starms Discovery Learning Center (1-8)
Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning (K4-12)

MPS students to compete at national technical education championship

June 6, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

Milwaukee Public Schools: This summer, three Milwaukee Public Schools students will compete nationally in a showcase of Career and Technical Education students.

Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education (BOSCTE) students Trevion Brownlee, Adrian Ellis and Maurice Pulley – along with their coach Dave Kontz – are headed to Louisville, Kentucky later this month for the 52nd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC).

They will also compete against nearly 6,000 other students from across the country in the SkillsUSA Championships. At the national championships, students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.

MPS history teacher wins state Teacher of the Year award, nominated for national award

May 4, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

Urban Milwaukee: Margaret Holtgreive, a teacher at Milwaukee Public Schools‘ Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School, is the Wisconsin high school winner of National History Day’s Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award.

The award recognizes teachers for “outstanding creativity, commitment and inspiration in developing student interest in history education.”

Now Holtgreive is in the running for the National Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award.

The national award is given to one grade 6-8 teacher and one grade 9-12 teacher who has shown according to the National History Day organization.

The state honor comes with a $500 prize and national winners earn $10,000 to recognize “their outstanding efforts to encourage and support history education.”

Teachers can be nominated for the awards by their administrators, peers — or they can apply themselves. To qualify, teachers must participate in the National History Day Contest and demonstrate excellence in the classroom. Winners are chosen by a team of teachers, administrators and historians. “Their work must clearly illustrate the development and use of creative teaching methods that interest students in history and help them make exciting discoveries about the past,” the organization notes.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by an organization that’s providing such a strong, project-based educational opportunity for students,” Holtgreive said. “National History Day brings history to life for our students.”

MPS student wins ‘Rising Star’ award from state music industry

May 2, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

Milwaukee Courier: A 9th-grade student at Milwaukee Public Schools’ Milwaukee High School of the Arts won the “Rising Star” award from the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) this month.

Jonah Roth, 15, bested seven other nominees from around the state.

The singer-songwriter, guitar player and harmonica player and his bands have played festivals and venues large and small in Milwaukee, from Summerfest’s Youth Showcase to coffee shops to Chill on the Hill in the Bay View neighborhood.

He also plays with the Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA) Jazz Combo.

“Jonah truly is one of the most promising ‘Rising Stars’ I have worked with in 17 years with the WAMI organization,” said Barbara Wagner, an MPS teacher who is also a member of the WAMI Advisory Board. “He is more than deserving of this recognition.”

35 MPS Students to Compete in National Speech and Debate Tournaments

April 13, 2016Stand Up for Public EdMPS, Region 14

CBS.com: 35 Milwaukee Public Schools students will compete in two of the nation’s top speech and debate tournaments after besting local competitors at regional tournaments, including one this past weekend, according to a release from MPS.

The MPS students include competitors from Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade High School, Rufus King International High School, Golda Meir School, Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School.

Among the 35 winning MPS students, 19 have earned the right to attend the 2016 National Speech & Debate Tournament (NSDA) in Salt Lake City, Utah in June, most after taking top spots at the Southern Wisconsin regional speech tournament April 9 at Reagan. Twenty-eight of the students have qualified to attend the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in Sacramento, CA. Memorial day weekend.

Twelve MPS students have qualified for both tournaments.