OK, maybe it’s just because I love visiting schools, but I always tell prospective parents to go to a school that interests them as a potential option for their children. Sure, read Great Schools’ ratings, talk to other parents, Google the school, but if you’re going to do one thing only: go to the school.
Go unannounced. Talk to the principal. Watch some classrooms in action. What’s the school sound like? What does it look like? Is it quietly buzzing along? Are kids and teachers engaged in work or are they staring out the window? Or, are they fighting? Is there art hanging on the wall? Is it a pleasant place?
You can – and should – look at test scores and data about suspensions, etc., but there is absolutely no other way to get a feel for a school. You have to go. And go more than once, if you can. Bring your child.
But, not sure which school or schools to check out? Then, perhaps, the first step is to visit the MPS All-School Enrollment Fair on Saturday, Jan. 31 at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, 2300 W. Highland Blvd.
"The All-School Enrollment Fair is an incredible opportunity for families to meet the people who are leading the charge for improvement throughout our schools, find the school that fits their child and get set for the coming school year," said MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver in a statement.
Leaders from more than 100 elementary, middle and high schools will be on hand to pitch their programs to parents, who can enroll on the spot. (If you’re looking to enroll on the spot, visit some of the schools in advance.)
You’ll hear information about bilingual schools, arts programs, Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate college prep programs, language immersion schools, Montessori schools, Career and Tech Ed programs, Gifted and Talented education, STEM and more at the fair, which takes place from 9 a.m. until noon.
Childcare and Spanish and Hmong translation assistants will be on hand and you can even hop free shuttle buses from North Division, South Division and Vincent High Schools at 9 a.m. if transportation is an issue. Buses head back at noon.
Though three-choice enrollment (you pick three schools in order of preference and nearly all students get in to one of their top three schools) doesn’t begin until Feb. 2, families at the fair can submit three-choice applications early. But filing the application early doesn’t give you an edge. Once the registration period closes on Feb. 20, all applications are considered equally. After Feb. 20, applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
