From the Desk of Mr. DiCarlo – June 2023

Thank you to everyone for a wonderful school year of learning and growing!  Students demonstrated excitement and perseverance in their daily work, staff displayed dedication in supporting each and every student, and families showed great commitment to the school community.   With everyone working together, even during these challenging times, the students continue to show outstanding growth and achievement.  Thanks to everyone for continuing to make the Maryland Avenue Montessori School such a peaceful and joyful learning community!

The school budget for the upcoming 2023-24 school year allows us to maintain all current staff positions while adding a few extra positions.  In addition to an additional paraprofessional position, Maryland will also have (for the first time) an Assistant Principal!  The hiring process for the AP position is in the final stages.  As soon as the candidate is officially confirmed by the schoolboard, I will inform the entire school community.   We are excited to have the support of another administrator in the fall at Maryland Avenue Montessori School.  While the proposed school budget has allowed Maryland Montessori to increase staff positions, we will need to meet our projected enrollment number in September to maintain this expected operating status.  If your plans have changed and your child will not be returning to Maryland Avenue Montessori in the fall, please contact me directly at 906-4805.  Thank you.

Report cards will be available online for all families and also sent home on the last day of school along with supply wish lists and other information.  There will be classroom placement letters included in the progress report envelopes for those students transitioning to a new level (into grades 1, 4 and 7). 

There are a few construction projects related to the federal ESSER (COVID) funds that will be taking place at Maryland Avenue Montessori over the next year.  There are currently three areas fenced off on the property where construction is expected to be completed by the end of this summer.  An outdoor classroom space (slope shelter with tables and surrounding new garden plantings), is happening on the Maryland Avenue side of the building.  There is also a kidney shaped ‘berm’ being installed on the Prospect Street grass area to provide a variety of play spaces for students.   An exercise station is also being installed in between the gaga ball pit and the buddy bench on the north end of the playground.  There is also a permanent shed that will be installed near the Maryland Avenue entrance door within the next year.  We are also waiting on a timeline for the majority of the inside of the building to be painted.  The final project is the installation of a greenhouse, which is tentatively planned to be located at the north end of the school building on the small grass area adjacent to the Farwell Avenue (near the green playground structure).  We will continue to provide updates on these projects as things progress.

Due to many construction projects inside other MPS school buildings, Maryland will be home to CLC Boys & Girls Club summer programs for three other schools this summer.  These camps will run at Maryland Avenue Montessori School from June 20^th through July 28^th.  While these programs provide day camp opportunities for students from the 3 other MPS schools, there is limited space for Maryland students to attend the day camps.  There are registration forms in the main office for any families in need for summer programming.  Meals will also be available for the community at Maryland during this period of time.

If you have an address change over the summer, you will need to call Parent Student Services at 475-8448 so bussing will be set up from and to your home address.  If you wish to have your child transported to or from a sitter or day-care at an address which is different than your home address, you will need to call the school office at 906-4800 starting August 1st.  The earlier any changes are made the better, since the beginning of the school year is very busy for MPS Transportation and the Maryland Avenue Montessori School office staff.

On Saturday, August 26th, 2023 from 10:00am – 2:00pm we will host our annual Forms and Photos Day.  This “Back to School Expo” is a great opportunity to meet new friends and catch up with people after the summer break, while also dropping off classroom school supplies and filling out all necessary paperwork.  Students can also take their school pictures!   We look forward to seeing you there.

Maryland Avenue Montessori School starts at 7:25am and ends at 2:25pm.  K3 and K4 students will attend from 7:25am to 10:30am.  Students will continue to enter the building independently at 7:25am.  Parents will say good bye to their children outside at their assigned entrance doors.

I would like to again thank all of the families for your dedication to your child’s education and overall development by working collaboratively with the staff at Maryland Avenue Montessori School.  Your involvement and engagement in the school community is necessary and greatly beneficial to support your child as they grow and learn.  I am truly honored to be part of our school community as we help our children grow into brilliant and peaceful individuals.

Please remember to enjoy daily life with your children over the summer.   This time of their lives is precious and is for us all to cherish.  Have a safe and enjoyable summer filled with wonder and family fun…and remember to read!

School resumes Tuesday, September 5th, 2023 at 7:25am.

Peace,

Joe DiCarlo, Principal

Maryland Avenue Montessori School is located in the heart of Milwaukee’s vibrant, historic and culturally diverse East Side. We are a Montessori School for students in K3-Grade 8, providing a well rounded, high quality education which prepares students for life. Maryland Avenue is part of the group of MPS Montessori Schools that offer all children of Milwaukee the benefit of a quality Montessori education from K3 through grade 12. We offer a rigorous curriculum, which enables all students to achieve academically to become critical thinkers and life long learners. Staff, parents and community partners work together to create a learning environment where character development, creativity and high academic achievement are valued.