Akira Toki Middle School

10/03/2026

What is your favorite part of Hispanic Heritage Month?
My favorite part of Hispanic Heritage Month are the historical and political independence movements of so many Latin American countries!

Why are you proud to be latino/a/e?
I am proud to be Latino because it is such a rich culture with so many positive contributions to society in the arts, inventions, innovations in astrology and math, gastronomy, etc.

How is your culture represented at Toki?
My culture is represented at Toki by the diverse staff and student population that walks our hallways every day.

Why is it important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
It is important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because having a strong sense of identity is part of being a well rounded individual.

Who is a Hispanic/latine figure that inspires you?
Emeliano Zapata of the 1910 Mexican Revolution is a strong figure in history along with Benito Juarez as being the first indigenous president of Mexico.

What is a piece of advice you would give to our Latine students?
Never be ashamed of your culture and where you come from. Carry yourself with pride! And travel to see the greatness of the world in Spanish speaking countries!

10/03/2026

📢 Olson Community: Come collaborate with us!

Participate in our boundary review session to ask questions and share feedback on proposed enrollment scenarios.

🗓️ Wednesday, October 7
⏰ 5:30 p.m. (Free dinner and refreshments start at 5:00 p.m.)
📍 Olson Elementary School (801 Redan Dr.)

Let's design a stronger district together.
🔗https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/building-for-the-future-boundary-review

10/03/2026

"Wow!" 🔬😮

In 6th grade science classes this week, students learned to set up and adjust a microscope up to 400x magnification.🔍

👀 They observed various non-living things including feathers, mesh, and newspapers, learn what makes something living. Then observed living organisms in different samples of pond water, and created a scientific argument on whether they infer a mystery object is living or not! 🦠

Check out these photos from Ms. So!

10/03/2026

Great Turnout for Building for the Future!

Thank you to everyone who joined us this week for our Building for the Future community sessions! We appreciate the strong turnout, thoughtful questions and meaningful conversations.

Your voice matters. Your input will help shape future enrollment and school attendance boundaries. No decisions have been made. This is your opportunity to help guide the future and strengthen MMSD as a Destination for All.

There are still opportunities to participate! Join us at an upcoming in-person or virtual session. Food and refreshments will be available 30 minutes before in-person presentations.

Upcoming Community Sessions

In Person:

Monday, Oct. 5 | 5:30 p.m. — Lake View Elementary School, 1802 Tennyson Ln.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 6 p.m. — Stephens Elementary School, 120 S. Rosa Rd.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 5:30 p.m. — Olson Elementary School, 801 Redan Dr.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 5:30 p.m. — Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr.

Thursday, Oct. 8 | 5:30 p.m. — CENTRO, 2403 Cypress Way (presentation in Spanish)

Monday, Oct. 12 | 5:30 p.m. — Meadowlands Apartment Complex, 6834 Milwaukee St.

Virtual:

Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Noon–1:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 12 | Noon–1:30 p.m.

Learn more and find session details: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/about/building-for-the-future-boundary-review

10/02/2026

I am proud to be Latina because my (Bolivian) culture shapes the foundation of who I am, and I feel so blessed and proud to be who and where I am, and of the part I play in our Toki community. I am grateful to my parents, who recognized the value and power of education, and who ensured that I had the opportunity for far more education than either of them were able to access. I am thankful for my sisters, two incredible, passionate, determined, and successful women who have supported me and pushed me to become the best version of myself. I am glad for my husband, who has opened his life and shared his own, sometimes very different and sometimes very similar, (Dominican) Latino culture with me. I am honored to have the opportunity to raise our son as a product of three cultures, and to be proud of who he is and where his roots lie. To me, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to showcase everything that has made me the person I am today.

If I had one piece of advice to give to my Latine students, or to any young Latino in general, it would be to read. Read in whatever language you are comfortable with, read whatever interests you, and always be open to challenging yourself. If you can build a habit of reading, it becomes easier with practice. Worlds open to you, and after a while you can look back and see how much you’ve grown.

If I had a second piece of advice to give to ALL my students, it would be to learn about our music and attitude toward movement. You don’t have to be a professional to let the beat flow through you. Music breaks the language barrier and helps us to share common sentiments.

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

💡 Shine a Light on Someone Making a Difference: Nominate Them for a Purpose Award!

Great things happen when people are committed to a purpose bigger than themselves. The Purpose Award celebrates MMSD students and staff who inspire student success through innovation, leadership and a commitment to educational excellence. 📚✨

Who is helping move MMSD forward? Who is finding new ways to support students, lead with purpose or make learning better? Nominate them for a Purpose Award!

📅 Purpose Award nomination deadline: Oct. 12

Each month, one staff member and students will be recognized at a Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education regular meeting, with honorees also celebrated at an end-of-year celebration.

Help us recognize someone whose passion and purpose are making a difference for students and our community.

👉 Submit a nomination and shine a light on their impact!
https://ow.ly/ylTk50ZSQM8

10/01/2026

Who is a Latina figure that inspires you?

Frida Kahlo 🎨

She was a total icon and an unstoppable force whose legacy continues to inspire a new generation of Latinas, decades after her death.

Her paintings didn't just stop me in my tracks, they made me see my own cultural identity as something to be proud of... something to share with others... something that couldn't be defined by anyone, but me.

Growing up half-Hispanic, half-White in the 90s, I struggled fitting in with my classmates. I never truly felt like I belonged.

I felt like an imposter in my own skin, but seeing "The Two Fridas" painting made me realize, I am enough just the way I am.

I am Latina. ❤️

09/30/2026

...and they're off! 🏁

Congratulations to Toki's MSCR-Madison School & Community Recreation Cross Country team!

A special shout-out to 6th graders Sadie Jaime (2nd place) and Oliver Bach (3rd place)! 🏅

09/29/2026

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

I think it is a great time to explore and appreciate cultures. It is a time for people to show their pride in their culture. It is a chance to celebrate our differences while we also celebrate the things we have in common. It is also a time for reflection. Where do labels like 'Hispanic' and 'Latino' come from and what have they meant to people throughout time? What are the lasting effects of colonization we still see today? We eat food, listen to music and question our reality; that sounds like a great time to me!