Vel Phillips Memorial High School

Attend the Vel Phillips Memorial High School Land Acknowledgement Ceremony Monday, Sept. 30

This ceremony honors that our school is on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Ho-Chunk people. Please join us in the school atrium at 4:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30 as we committ to building our relationship with the Ho-Chunk Nation.

📢 Attention Families! 📢
We need your voice to shape the future of our schools! 🏫✨

Our upcoming Facilities Referendum focuses on renovating and constructing critical improvements for 10 school buildings across our community!

Why it matters? Many of our schools are over 60 years old and need upgrades to ensure a safe, inspiring learning environment for the more than 25,000 students in Madison. Your input is vital in making sure these changes meet our community's needs and aspirations.

🗓️ Join us for an input session to learn more and share your thoughts:

📅 Date: Sept. 26th 🕒 Time: 6 p.m. 📍 Location: Toki/Orchard Ridge (Cafeteria)

Building a brighter future 🌟
Learn More: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/2024-referenda

REMINDER:
📅 Date: Sept. 17 🕒 Time: 6 p.m. 📍 Location: Crestwood Elementary School (LMC)

Take Part in Important Discussions and Offer Feedback Around MMSD Facility Priorities

Your feedback is crucial! As valued members of our community, your input and feedback are vital as we work together to address the challenges facing our aging MMSD facilities.

Learn More: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/2024-referenda

🌟Congratulations to our 7 Vel Phillips Memorial High School Seniors Named 2025 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists! 🌟🥳

Join us in celebrating Bridget Bullock, Ethan Hansen, Maxwell Knight, Sarina Martin, Merritt Mauer, Jonathan Saloni and Julian Saloni, who are among the

7 VPM Seniors Named 2025 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists Of the more than 16,000 high school students in the US who qualified to be a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist this year by scoring in the top 1% of the state (at least 214), we’re proud to announce that 7 are from VPM! These students will have the opportunity to submit an application to qua...

⚠️No School for High School ONLY - High School Staff Professional Learning Day ⚠️

📅 Visit our website for calendar information: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/calendar-of-events/2024-2025-school-year-calendar

📢 Attention Families! 📢

We need your voice to shape the future of our schools! 🏫✨
Our upcoming Facilities Referendum focuses on renovating and constructing critical improvements for 10 school buildings across our community!

Why it matters? Many of our schools are over 60 years old and need upgrades to ensure a safe, inspiring learning environment for the more than 25,000 students in Madison. Your input is vital in making sure these changes meet our community's needs and aspirations.

🗓️ Join us for an input session to learn more and share your thoughts:
📅 Date: Sept. 17, 2024 🕒 Time: 6 p.m. 📍 Location: Crestwood Elementary School LMC

Building a brighter future 🌟
Learn More: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/2024-referenda

Join us in welcoming the 2024-25 staff at Vel Phillips Memorial High School!

Madison chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. honors outstanding students with first Frank Humphrey Awards This year, the Madison-area chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Mu Eta Lambda chapter, created awards for students that honor the life and legacy of local civil rights leader Frank…

🚀 Exciting News, Madison Community! 🎉

We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate a significant milestone in Madison’s educational journey! After four years of dedicated construction, our four comprehensive high schools have been transformed into Future Ready facilities.

Join Us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies and Open Houses Friday August 30, 2024, visit our website for details https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/2024-referenda

We Look Forward to Celebrating With You: Reconnect with fellow alumni, engage with current students, and see the advancements in our schools that will benefit our community for years to come.

These remarkable upgrades were made possible by the generous support of Referenda 2020 and the unwavering commitment of our Madison taxpayers. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who contributed to this transformative project.

Construction is nearing the finish line! We are committed to keeping you informed as we complete construction for the MMSD 2020 facilities referendum.

📢 Reminder: Online Enrollment for 2024-2025 is NOW OPEN! 📚

Families, the enrollment process for the upcoming school year is easier than ever! Starting today, you can complete your entire application online!

Why Enroll Now?
🌟 Convenience: Complete everything online—no need to visit in person!
🌟 Secure Your Spot: Ensure your child’s place for the 2024-2025 school year.

Don’t miss out—enroll today and get a head start on the new school year!
For more details and to start the process, visit https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/families/enrollment

Let’s make this school year the best one yet with MMSD!

Registration Now Open for MMSD’s 2024-25 Athletic Season, Featuring New Renovations! 🏈🎾⚽️🏐🏊‍♀️

Starting Thursday, Aug. 1, students enrolled at La Follette High School, Madison East High School, Madison West High School, and Vel Phillips Memorial High School are encouraged to register to participate in co-curricular athletics programs.

The start of the 2024-25 athletic season marks the unveiling of brand-new renovations at MMSD athletic facilities across the high schools, including: football and soccer fields, tracks, pools, weight lifting gyms, basketball and volleyball courts, locker rooms, concessions, and more. The crucial upgrades were made possible by Madison community members’ overwhelming support in voting for the 2020 referendum.

Learn more and register now: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/news/article/~board/newsstories/post/registration-now-open-for-mmsds-2024-25-athletic-season-featuring-new-renovations

Join us for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Job Fair on Wednesday, July 31 at 3:30-7:30 pm at Holtzman Learning Center, 333 Holtzman Rd!

Interested in working with MMSD to build a better Madison for all children? Find the right opportunity for you to make a difference in the future of our students and community.

We are currently hiring for all positions including substitute teachers, social workers, psychologists, nurses, counselors, food service staff, custodians, and more! You will have the opportunity to learn about permanent positions for 2024-25 school year, substitute opportunities and connect with MMSD staff and principals.

Learn more and Apply: https://mmsd.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/6241?c=mmsd

Having lunch in one of the many spaces they renovated☺️We can't wait to see the final updates this fall!

Class of 2024 MMSD grads and families: Join MMSD school counselors for a virtual FAFSA completion event on Tuesday, June 25 from 6-8 p.m.

This event is offered through Summer Melt, an opt-in texting campaign run by MMSD counselors to avoid the "summer melt," when roughly 40 percent of recent grads nationwide who indicate their intent to attend college, do not actually enroll in the fall.

Sign up now: https://memorial.madison.k12.wi.us/about-us/school-news/school-news-article/~board/district-high-school-news/post/2024-grads-sign-up-for-summer-fafsa-event

Before we cheer on the Class of 2024 on Saturday, we celebrated the teachers and staff members that make it all possible at our annual end-of-the-year staff meeting. A special shoutout to this year's recipients of the Unsung Hero Award:

🏆Jason James, JH Findorff foreman for Memorial's renovation (and a Memorial alum and parent!)
🏆Lauren Schwartz, Social Worker
🏆Marie Stangel, Spanish Teacher

We are incredibly grateful to our retiring teachers, who have dedicated decades to supporting thousands of students across their careers. Once a Spartan, always a Spartan💚

🎓Senior Spotlight: Alex Bald

As Alex Bald wraps up his senior year at Vel Phillips Memorial High School, he’s handing off the baton to the next generation of Spartans – literally. For years, Bald has been a dedicated runner on the cross country and track and field teams, which gave him experiences and communities he said he is grateful to be a part of.

“During my early years as a team member, the older students set an example for me, helping me to become more confident in myself and my leadership ability,” Bald said. “Now, I see myself having that same impact on the younger members of my team, a fact that I am very proud of.”

In addition to athletics, Bald was active on Memorial’s Student Council, Young Progressives, Math Team, Peer Tutoring, Advocating for Q***r Voices Alliance and National Honors Society. Whether on the track or in the classroom, Bald is encouraging all students to participate in extracurriculars in high school.

“My advice for incoming 9th-grade students is to get involved in what you are interested in. There is a group for everyone out there – you just need to find it.”

One teacher who supported Bald on his own community participation is his former English teacher and Young Progressives staff adviser, Leslie Mitchell.

“Each one of my teachers throughout MMSD has helped guide me in some way during my schooling career, and I am grateful for them all,” Bald said. “I am especially thankful for my sophomore English teacher, Ms. Mitchell, who helped me to realize that I want to make a difference in the world through activism.”

Bald is excited to further his impact at UW-Madison this fall, where he plans to study political science.

🎓Senior Spotlight: Jian Wang

From orchestra to Latin Student Union, to quantum physics research, Jian Wang has lived by an important principle: follow your passions!

Learn more about the Vel Phillips Memorial High School senior: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/news/article/~board/newsstories/post/senior-spotlight-jian-wang

Let the countdown begin! Join us for the Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony!

WHEN: Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Alliant Energy Center, Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Learn more about ceremony information, including free parking: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/graduation/memorial

🎓Senior Spotlight: Grafton Lyons

Senior Grafton Lyons is going from Memorial High School math classes to university engineering courses; and he said math teacher Matt Kvistad helped him get there.

“Mr. K was a great teacher, not only in helping me to learn content, but also showing me how applicable math can really be outside the classroom. In some ways, he inspired me to pursue environmental engineering,” Lyons said.

During his time at Memorial, Lyons participated in Key Club and competed on the soccer and track and field teams. He shared advice for incoming high school students, encouraging them to be themselves.

“Caring what other people think is a huge waste of time.”

Read more: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/news/article/~board/newsstories/post/senior-spotlight-grafton-lyons