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 Overview - Welcome to Memorial

Family Presentation Slideshow (from in-person event on Thursday, January 16) English / Spanish

PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL FAMILY ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Memorial Departments and Program Information
Other Engagement Opportunities

Memorial Departments and Program Information

AVID/TOPS (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
- Contact: Josh Bacskai - jmbacskai@madison.k12.wi.us or Stephanie Marshall - sjones2@madison.k12.wi.us
- AVID Information (English) - AVID Information (Spanish)
- TOPS Information (English) - TOPS Information (Spanish)
  - AVID Application
  - Deadline to apply: January 31, 2025
Dual Language Immersion (DLI) (English & Spanish)
- Contact: Katherine Perez Lohr - kgperezarrat@madison.k12.wi.us
- DLI Website
- Interest form
  - DLI Lottery Application Window opens on December 6, 2024
  - DLI Lottery Application Window closes on April 25, 2025 @ 4:00
English as a Second Language (ESL) / Multilingual Education
- Contact: Anne’ Knezevic - aknezevic@madison.k12.wi.us
- ESL Information (English) - ESL Information (Spanish)
Special Education
- Contact: Alicia Olsen - akolsen@madison.k12.wi.us or Meg Filkins - mffilkinsnie@madison.k12.wi.us
- Special Education Information (English) - Special Education Information (Spanish)

Art Department
- Contact: Grace Riedle - gariedle@madison.k12.wi.us
- Art Department Website (English / Spanish)
- Art Department Course Information (Video Presentation - English / Video Presentation - 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: Lisa Schrock - lhschrock@madison.k12.wi.us
- Music Department Course Information (English / Spanish)
Physical Education Department
- Contact: Lindsey Biel - lcbiel@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 Course Catalog

Should you have questions about course selection or any of the above programs, please email Stacy Tobin at sksnodgrass@madison.k12.wi.us or attend one of the drop-in question and answer sessions on January 16th.

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 2025-2026 school year Las familias de los alumnos Latinx en Vel Phillips Memorial para el ciclo escolar 2025-2026
When/Cuando?: Third Thursday of each month from 6:30 -7:30 pm, starting on Feb. 20, 2025. El tercer jueves de cada mes a partir del 20 de febrero del 2025.
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 Vel Phillips Memorial for the 2025-2026 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. Four different session options will be offered, including sessions for female athletes only and incoming 7th-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 Vel Phillips Memorial High School
Where: Vel Phillips Memorial High School
When: Summer 2025
Contact: Tim Richardson - ttrichardson@madison.k12.wi.us - 608-663-6079

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY: ATHLETICS - ATHLETICS KICK-OFF EVENT

Purpose: This in-person event will review the required forms for all students participating in athletics during the 2025-2026 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 2025-2026 school year must attend this event with a parent or guardian.
Who: All students interested in participating in athletics at Vel Phillips Memorial High School
Athletics Connection Survey: Please complete this survey if interested in participating in Memorial sponsored athletic programming during the 2025-2026 school year.
When: July 31, 2025
Where: Vel Phillips Memorial High School Auditorium & Main Gym
Contact: - Tim Richardson - ttrichardson@madison.k12.wi.us - 608-663-6079