Anana Elementary School Opportunities
Supporting our neighborhood elementary!
Greentree’s neighborhood school is Anana Elementary, renamed in 2021 after Milele Chikasa Anana, a Madison community leader and publisher (learn more about her here and here!). It is also the voting poll location for most Greentree residents!
As a community partner, GTNA has helped spread the word on different past school initiatives, including: gift cards for holiday meals, winter clothing drives, emergency housing and utility assistance, and an annual drive for the school’s food pantry. Many of these programs shifted during the pandemic, but there are still many ways you can be involved with the school.
“How can I help?”
It’s a question that often gets asked at the annual GTNA neighborhood meeting— people want to know how they can best support their local elementary school!
1. Volunteer to be part of their Walking Bus initiative
This is an immediate need!
Anana students who live north of Schroeder Road are facing significant safety and attendance issues, due in part to the fact that they must cross Schroeder to get to school. Because these students live within 1.5 miles of the school, they do not qualify for District busing or transportation. As the weather gets colder, darker, and wetter, attendance drops—1.2 miles is a long way for a child to walk on their own without supervision. So Anana School is implementing a "Walking Bus" system for school mornings and could use the neighborhood's help!
A Walking Bus is a group of adult staff and volunteers who assist getting kids to school safely and on time along routes that could be dangerous for younger students.
Interested in volunteering or have any questions? Contact Caitlin Sandahl, Anana School's Social Worker: cbanger@madison.k12.wi.us
Here's what you would do on days you are scheduled...
- Arrive by 7:30 am at the first pick up point (Schroeder Rd & Schroeder Ct)
- Wear your MMSD orange vest and carry the walking school bus sign
- Ensure that kids are walking on the sidewalks and that the cross roads are safe for kids to cross at
- Get students to school on time
The Walking Bus route and schedule is as follows:
- 1st pick up stop: Schroeder Rd & Schroeder Ct, 7:30-7:35am
- 2nd pick up stop: Schroeder Rd & Kessel Ct, 7:40-7:45am
- Walk along Schroeder Rd to the light-up crosswalk at Hathaway Dr
- Walk down Hathaway Dr to the crossing guard at Anana. Arrive at 8:05am.
2. Support the PTO
As the needs of the school and its students evolve, one of the most direct and effective ways Greentree neighbors can do that is by donating to the Anana Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), which works to meet the varied needs of students and teachers in real time. Donating to the PTO provides flexible and immediate support to the school!
You can donate by visiting them online (via PayPal) or by writing a check made out to "Anana PTO" and delivering/mailing to the school at 6323 Woodington Way, Madison, WI 53711 (note that checks sent during summer months may not be processed until school resumes in the fall).
3. Volunteer at the Garden
Anana typically can use help maintaining their school garden during the summer months. They often need help with weeding and watering and may also need help planting additional native plants, if available.
You can sign up to work during a specific week(s) of the summer or you may choose an area of the garden that interests you to maintain throughout the summer. Contact Anna Biermeier, abiermeier@wisc.edu, for more information.
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Businesses can also support the elementary through Madison Public Schools Foundation’s Adopt-a-School Program at Anana.