MPS hosts Kindergarten Enrollment Fair on February 4, 2023

Join us to learn about Head Start and kindergarten options in Milwaukee Public Schools! MPS will host a Kindergarten Enrollment Fair on Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at North Division High School. The fair will help families explore schools, make choices, and enroll students for Fall 2023.

More than 100 schools— all MPS schools that offer Head Start and kindergarten—will have staff available to chat about programs, answer questions, and help identify the best options for children. Interpreters will be available. Children are welcome so they can hear about school programs and be ready to attend in fall.

Families can learn about the many programs and offerings in MPS schools including arts, bilingual pro- grams, language immersion, Montessori, International Baccalaureate (IB), and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

The district provides free breakfast and lunch for all students. Many schools have before- and after-school care to accommodate parents. Bus transportation is available; each school can provide information. Uniforms are worn by students in some MPS schools. Wisconsin law requires children to complete five-year-old kindergarten before entering first grade.

The first 100 families who fill out an enrollment application will receive a free child’s T-shirt and backpack with school supplies. Families who wish to apply on site should bring the following information:

• Child’s name, address, date of birth

• Parent/guardian name, address, phone number, and email address; help is available for families who need an email address

To enroll your child in Milwaukee Public Schools, visit our enrollment web page at https://mps.milwaukee.k12. wi.us/en/Schools/How-toApply.htm.

Head Start

Free preschool is available through the federal Head Start program for families who meet income limits. Head Start prepares children for school and teaches important early skills. Transportation is available.

Kindergarten

• 3-year-old Kindergarten: Limited programs are available at some schools. Children must turn 3 by September 1, 2023 to be eligible.

• 4-year-old Kindergarten: Programs are available at most schools across the district. Children must turn 4 by September 1, 2023 to be eligible.

• 5-year-old Kindergarten: Programs are available at most schools across the district. Children must turn 5 by September 1, 2023 to be eligible.

For questions about enrollment or the Enrollment Fair, call 414-475-8159.

Getting to know the organizations and individuals helping to make our community better Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's is a family affair

Denotra Griffin-Wallace always enjoyed being the matriarch of her extended family. According to her oldest daughter, Sarita Griffin, her mother was the “glue” that held the family together. So, when Denotra was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease about seven years ago, the entire family suffered.

“It’s not the same now. We were always gathering at her place,” Sarita said, adding that everyone spoke with Denotra so that if you wanted to know what was going on in the family, all you had to do was contact her.

Sarita said the family had to move her mother out of her duplex house. After the diagnosis, she moved into an apartment building with her youngest daughter. Sarita said she works full time during the week, but that she is available to help care for her mother several weekends a month.

“My mother was a very en thusiastic churchgoer before she became sick,” Sarita said. “When she comes to visit, I take her to church and we play Gospel music on the radio while we’re at home. Those are usually good times for her.”

Sarita said her mother is usually cheerful and cooper ative, but once in a while she can become unreasonable. Other times, she may absent mindedly pick up things and stash them away in her pock et or a strange place. Sarita said once while staying at her place, her mother put the re mote control to the television in her pocketbook and it was a week before anyone found it again.

At first these changes in her mother were hard for Sari ta, but she said she gained a lot of new insight into what she and her family were ex periencing after attending a workshop titled “Caring for the Caregiver: A Day for Me” that was sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter on November 19, 2022. less likely to become bored and try to wander when she is busy, so she tries to keep Denotra focused on cheerful activities when she visits.

“Despite the heartache, I have grown closer to my mom while caring for her,” she said.

The Alzheimer’s Association a free caregiver event on Feb. 23, 2023 from 11:00 a.m.12:30 p.m. The event, “Creating Connections, Partners in Hope,” will share resources available for families and host keynote speaker and author, Patricia McClure-Chessier, who will share her caregiver journey. This is a free event at St. Mark A.M.E. Church (1616 W. Atkinson Ave.) and a complimentary soul food lunch will be served. You can register

For families impacted by dementia

JOIN US - FREE EVENT

Patricia McClure-Chessier MBA MPA is the Award Winning Author of Losing a Hero to Alzheimer's The Story of Pearl" and "A Caregiver's Guide For Alzheimer's and Dementia Nine Key Principles Patricia will share her journey how she was estranged from her family when she became the caregiver for her mother who had Alzheimer's She will inform participants on the principles of caregiving based on her book to help the caregiver be effective, prevent burn-out and support their loved one in living their best quality of life after the diagnosis Attendees will:

Keynote Speaker: Patricia McClure-Chessier Author and Speaker

Event Details: