Welcome to Ninth Grade

We’re excited to welcome you to the Spartan Family and we look forward to helping you plan and prepare for your Freshman year of High School. Our vision at Memorial is that we are a place where students thrive because we believe in identifying and disrupting educational inequities, creating opportunities for all students that are rigorous, engaging, and relevant to student’s lives, creating a community where students, staff, and families feel a sense of belonging and all identities, abilities, and personal assets are valued. We believe in being responsive to student needs and invested in student success. We are Memorial and we can’t wait for you to join us.

-Matt Hendrickson, Head Principal

8th to 9th Grade Transition - Welcome to VPM High School: SAVE THE DATE!

As we near the close of 2023, we begin looking forward to the 8th to 9th Grade transition process and welcoming you into the Vel Phillips Memorial community! We wanted to provide you with an important upcoming transition date:

8th to 9th Grade Transition Overview - Welcome to Memorial: This in-person event will provide an overview of the 8th to 9th grade transition and course selection process, as well as an opportunity to explore electives course offerings. It will also provide you with an opportunity to ask drop-in, program specific questions about each of the following: AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), DLI (Dual Language Immersion), Special Education, and English Language Learner programming. This event will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. More information will be shared with you during the week of January 8th.

Memorial Departments and Program Information

Memorial Departments and Program Information

Please find information about some of our Memorial Departments and/or Programs below

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) (English) - AVID (Spanish)
- Contacts: Johanna Golden - jgolden@madison.k12.wi.us and Josh Bacskai - jmbacskai@madison.k12.wi.us
- AVID Information (English) - AVID Information (Spanish)
  - AVID Application
  - Deadline: TBD
Dual Language Immersion (DLI) (English & Spanish)
- Contact: Aitor Luna Olivares - aaluna@madison.k12.wi.us
- DLI Website
- Interest form
  - Applications open TBD, for current MMSD Students
  - Applications open TBD, for new MMSD students
Personalized Pathways
- Contact: Steve Guziewski - sguziewski@madison.k12.wi.us
- Pathways Information Slides (English) Pathways Information Slides (Spanish)
- Application
  - Deadline: TBD
English as a Second Language (ESL) / Multilingual Education
- Contact: Anné Knezevic - aknezevic@madison.k12.wi.us
- ESL Information (English) - ESL Information (Spanish)
Special Education
- Contact: Alissa Schneeberg - acschneeberg@madison.k12.wi.us
- Special Education Information (English) - Special Education Information (Spanish)
Art Department
- Contact: Teri Parris Ford - tparrisford@madison.k12.wi.us
- Art Department Course Information (English / Spanish)
Business Department
- Contact: Sacia Wheeler - spieper@madison.k12.wi.us
- Business Department Course Information (English / Spanish)
Family and Consumer Education Department
- Contact: Annie Costello - accostello@madison.k12.wi.us
- Family and Consumer Education Course Information (English / Spanish)
Music Department
- Contact: Ben Jaeger - bjaeger@madison.k12.wi.us
- Music Department Course Information (English / Spanish)
Physical Education Department
- Contact: Julie Geerdes - jgeerdes@madison.k12.wi.us
- Physical Education (English / Spanish)
Technical Education Department
- Contact: Miles Tokheim - mtokheim@madison.k12.wi.us
- Technical Education Course Information (English / Spanish)
World Languages Department
- Contact: Jenni Zupan - jzupan@madison.k12.wi.us
- World Languages Course Information (English / Spanish)

Vel Phillips Memorial High School 2024 - 2025 Course Catalog - COMING SOON

Should you have questions about course selection or any of the above programs, please email Stacy Tobin at sksnodgrass@madison.k12.wi.us.

PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL FAMILY ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Other Engagement Opportunities

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY: LATINX FAMILY GROUP/Grupo Latinx de Familias

Purpose/Proposito: VPM’s Latino Family Group is a space for Latinx family voice and leadership at Memorial High School. The group helps build understanding of the school experience in the Spanish-speaking families of Memorial High School as they connect to the Memorial, MMSD, and Madison communities. It is a bridge between the culture and language of our community and Memorial in order to better support the academic achievement and socio-emotional growth of our students and make sure the voice of our families is represented.
Who/Quien: Families of Latinx students at Vel Phillips Memorial for the 2023-2024 school year Las familias de los alumnos Latinx en Vel Phillips Memorial para el ciclo escolar 2023-2024
When/Cuando?: Third Thursday of each month from 6:30 -7:30 pm, starting on Feb. 15, 2024. El tercer jueves de cada mes a partir del 15 de febrero del 2024.
Contact: Anné Knezevic: aknezevic@madison.k12.wi.us / (608) 663-6114 / (608) 442-2275 / (608) 442-2246

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY: PARENTS UNITED FOR RESPONSIBLE EDUCATION - AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENT GROUP

Purpose: Parents United for Responsible Education provides a safe place for African American parents to discuss the importance of parent involvement in the education of their child or children. We plan to work together to hear your school-related issues and concerns and seek solutions.
Who: Parents of African American students at Madison Memorial for the 2024-2025 school year
Contact: Andrea Jones - apjones@madison.k12.wi.us - 608-663-6168

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY: ATHLETICS - SPEED & STRENGTH TRAINING

Purpose: The Memorial Athletic Department offers a Summer Speed & Strength Program for all athletes. The program includes a dynamic warm-up, instruction in proper technique on all lifts, speed and agility drill instruction, plyometric training, and a log book to chart progress. All skill and experience levels are welcome. Five different session options will be offered, including sessions for female athletes only and incoming 9th graders only. Specific session information will be made available by the Memorial Athletics Department in the spring.
Who: All students interested in participating in athletics at Madison Memorial High School
Where: Madison Memorial High School
When: Summer 2024
Contact: Tim Richardson - ttrichardson@madison.k12.wi.us - 608-663-6079

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY: ATHLETICS - ATHLETICS KICK-OFF EVENT (VIRTUAL)

Purpose: This event will review the required forms for all students participating in athletics during the 2024-2025 school year and allow athletes and families to meet with coaches for sport specific information. The event will cover the Athletic Code as well as student-athlete and parent responsibilities to the Code, school, and team. All Memorial students who wish to participate in a WIAA sport during the 2024-2025 school year must attend this virtual event with a parent or guardian.
Who: All students interested in participating in athletics at Madison Memorial High School
When: August 1, 2024
Contact: - Tim Richardson - ttrichardson@madison.k12.wi.us - 608-663-6079

Tips & Pointers: Preparing for High School

Make sure to attend freshman orientation: This is the number one most important time to prepare yourself for high school! Be sure to check out other events as well (see above).
Talk to your friends from middle school: Many of them will go to the same high school as you. But remember that you’re likely to make some new friends, too. On average, your high school will be about 3 to 4 times bigger than your middle school!
Check out the school’s publications: From blogs, to social media, to TV broadcasts, to other online materials, you can learn about what other teens are up to at your school. You could also get involved in school media yourself, if you’re interested!
Keep track of your stuff: Do you have a good system for organizing your schoolwork? Make sure you’ve got a binder, assignment notebook, and anything else that helps you stay on top of things. Going paperless instead? Awesome! Tech tools will help you succeed from freshman to senior year, and beyond.
Tech tools: Check out your school’s website, Infinite Campus, Google Classrooms, and your MMSD e-mail to make sure you’re in-the-know about all the tech tools available to students. If you’re not familiar with these yet, your teachers and other school staff will be happy to help.
1:1 tech devices: Don’t have a computer at home? No problem! All MMSD high schools are going one-to-one with devices this year, which means you should have access to your own Chromebook. MMSD’s policy for appropriate use of tech tools can be found here.
Be yourself! (Seriously.) There are so many people in high school, you’re bound to find other people with the same interests, hobbies, and even quirks, as you.
Be kind! In the words of one East High student: “You’re going to be with these people for the next four years of your life, you might as well get along with each other.”
Specific supports: Do you have anything in particular you need to find in the school? Learn about AVID, Student Services, Personalized Pathways, and other programs early in the year, to get a head-start on your own needs as a high schooler. Some helpful links can be found at the bottom of this page.

Making the most out of your high school experience

High school can be an amazing experience for students. Below are a few tips for making the most of the next four years.

Join a club or sport. High school is much more enjoyable when you get involved. Don't see a club that interests you? Start one!
- Athletics
- Extracurriculars
Stay on top of your progress and grades. Check Infinite Campus often.
Ask for help when you need it!
Get to know your teachers and help your teachers get to know you.
Attendance is VITAL! Come to school on time, every day.
Take advantage of the supports provided at your high school. That may be tutoring, counseling, mentoring and more.
Talk to adults at school about your postsecondary goals and get advice on courses you should take while in high school to help you reach your goals.
Get to know your classmates, especially those that are different from you.
Ask questions! There are many people here to to help you, communication is key.
Take a good balance of classes. Explore a new hobby or skill through an elective class and challenge yourself with an Advanced Placement course or Dual Credit class. Learn some of the benefits of advanced coursework.
Know your support system! There are counselors, social workers, psychologists and many other adults at our school who are here to support your academics and well-being.

Staying on Track: Academics

Ninth Grade: The Most Important Year of High School

An open book with ideas flowing out of it

You are about to start the most important year in your high school career! How do we know this? Madison Metropolitan School District’s research team has found that more than anything else, your grades and attendance in ninth grade matter for high school graduation. If you are On-Track at the end of 9th grade, you are more than twice as likely to graduate in 4 years. Graduate with a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher and your opportunities beyond high school skyrocket!