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. Contact MMSD School Board and thank them for approving bus access for school students who live north of Schroeder Rd. 

Anana students who live north of Schroeder Road face safety and attendance issues due to, due in part to the fact that they live just within 1.5 miles of the school and previously didn't qualify for District busing or transportation. 1.2 miles is a long way for a young child to walk on their own without supervision, especially across a busy road and in inclement weather. As of October, the School Board approved a 2025-26 bus pick up for Anana students living in this area—a great success story and longtime in the making. The school has been advocating for over a year to find a solution supporting these students, having even attempted to create a Walking Bus system last fall. As a community partner, GTNA sent a letter early on to the school board urging them to support the proposed bus route solution.

It is still undecided as to whether this solution will be available for students after this school year.

Consider emailing the School Board at:board@madison.k12.wi.usto thank them for their efforts and to encourage them to support a permanent solution for our neighborhood students!

Feel free to copy Alder Harrington-McKinney on your email at: district20@cityofmadison.com. She is impressed with the spirit and participation of the neighborhood residents.

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’sAdopt-a-School Program at Anana.