Madison Memos
The Madison School Newsletter / September 22, 2016
Madison School
Email: memos@madisonschoolpta.org
Website: http://www.cusd200.org
Location: 1620 Mayo Ave. , Wheaton
Phone: 682-2095
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/653462651407851/
Dear Madison Families,
The 2016-2017 school year is off to a fantastic start! We have already completed a full month of learning. Warm and friendly classroom environments are in place. Procedures for arrival, lunch, dismissal, and other daily operations are running smoother each day. Most importantly, all Madison students are reading, writing, learning new math concepts, and working toward their social and emotional learning goals!
School Improvement Goals: The 2015-2016 school year was a very successful one for Madison students. We made great strides in reading, math, and other areas of growth. As we continue to strive for greater rates of academic growth, we have identified a few areas to focus our improvement efforts. In math, it is imperative that all students develop a strong conceptual understanding of fractions. It begins in the primary grades with an understanding of wholes, parts, and equal parts (1/2=2/4). It continues through fifth grade as students solve real-world problems requiring multiplication of fractions. We want our students to truly understand these concepts, not just memorize steps to get answers on a standardized test. Our math learning environment goal is to provide learners with frequent, constructive feedback on mastery of standards and posted learning targets. You will also see a strong emphasis on improving student ability to fluently memorize math facts. Most classrooms are using Xtra Math to help accomplish this goal. Ask your children about it.
To help all students become better readers, who can competently understand complex text, our focus will be to improve students’ ability to infer relationships (cause/effect, compare/contrast, etc.) while reading informational texts. Since learning to read is such a collaborative effort, we have attached a learning environment goal and a social emotional learning goal. Our reading learning environment goal is to require meaningful contributions from all, as well as individual accountability. Our social emotional learning goal is for students to use communication and social skills to interact effectively with others.
Run-a-thon: Students had a great time at our Run-a-Thon last week. Pledges and funds are still pouring in and the exciting raffles will take place next week. We can’t wait to announce our final fundraising totals. This is the PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year and these funds are used to maximize student learning in so many ways. Thank you all for your contributions!
I wish to thank all of the hard-working staff members and parent volunteers that have worked to ensure all of our students got off to a great start.
Looking forward to a wonderful school year,
Tim Callahan
Congratulations Run-A-Thon runners
Run-A-Thon pledges are due today, Thursday Sept. 22, but you can still turn them in if you forgot. Please send them into your child's teacher. All students who turn in a pledge sheet will receive a raffle ticket. The raffle will be held on Friday, Sept. 30 for a chance to win one of over 30 fantastic prizes, including a Garmin. Remember online donations are available HERE for friends and family.
Thank you for choosing to support the Madison PTA on our largest fundraiser of the year! The PTA spends approximately $80 per student on field trips, parties, assemblies, and other activities!
If you have any questions please contact Michele Triscik at mtriscik@prodigy.net.
Parent's Night Out
Our 3rd annual trivia night is here! Please join us on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. for a fun-filled evening. This year, the admission price of $35 / person includes dinner provided by Mi Casa restaurant. Reservations can be emailed to trivianight@madisonschoolpta.org.
This year, trivia night will include a craft beer pull, as well as many exciting prizes up for auction. We are still accepting donations for the silent auction. Please contact Stephanie Brown (stephbrown04@yahoo.com) if you would like to contribute a basket or prize.
Order from Amazon and raise money for Madison
The AmazonSmile program donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Madison PTA. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price. Please support the Madison PTA by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com. Then search for Madison PTA (Wheaton, IL) and select it to be your charity. Or, get started by clicking on this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3662363. Once you select Madison PTA as your charity, Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.
Join the Madison PTA
Madison PTA advocates for all children through literacy, math, science, problem solving, arts, music, social studies, character development, physical fitness, reaching out, and having fun. Your membership helps to support the numerous programs and activities that our children experience.
Your Family Membership includes our mobile app/digital directory, DirectorySpot, which will be launched on September 26 with updated information for this school year.
For convenience we offer online registration
Go to www.cusd200.org
· Select Madison School from drop down menu at top
· On left side menu, select ‘PTA’
· On left side menu, select ‘Join Madison PTA! – Family Membership’
· Click on the link to register and pay online
If you prefer to pay by cash or check, please select ‘PTA’ and then ‘Forms & Flyers’ to find registration and order forms. Print and complete the forms at home and submit payment(s) to the school office. Registration and order forms are also available in the school office. All checks should be made payable to Madison PTA.
If you have any questions regarding PTA membership, please contact Lisa Thomas at membership@madisonschoolpta.org
Madison School Directory coming soon!
Madison School Directory will launch September 26. Make sure to join the PTA so you'll have access.
Madison Elementary offers parents and teachers a directory app called DirectorySpot available on both iPhone and Android smartphones. The Madison PTA develops the directory, which is available to all current PTA members. So be sure that you have registered for PTA Membership! Online PTA Membership can be completed on the PTA section of the Madison website at www.cusd200.org/madisonpta or by clicking here.
If you were a DirectorySpot user last year, the app still reflects last year’s data. We hope to launch data for the 2016-2017 school year by early October. At that time, all PTA members for the current school year will receive instructions over email for how to download, access, and use DirectorySpot.
DirectorySpot puts many great features right at your fingertips. You can view class lists as well as the school calendar, and the app gives you the option to download and print a PDF of the directory . The app also performs auto dial when you click on a phone number, or the auto launching of maps when you click on an address. DirectorySpot will even create an email if you click on someone's email address.
If you would like access to the Madison School Directory, please be sure to join our PTA.
If you have any questions regarding the Madison School Directory, please contact the Directory Committee at directory@madisonschoolpta.org.
Attend District 200 Parenting Workshop
District 200 is offering a parenting seminar, Protecting Children in a Hyper Digital Age, for all District 200 parents on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Monroe Middle School. If you have a child with the ability to go online you are encouraged to attend.
Submit "Your Story" to Reflections
Reflections time is here. This year’s theme is “What is Your Story."
Tell your story through dance, a short film, a poem or story, an original song, a photo, or a visual work of art.
Flyers were sent home in backpacks on Friday, Sept. 2. If your son or daughter is interested in participating, please return the bottom portion of the flier and we will send home the informational packets including the rules for each category.
Get creative Madison students! When your entry is complete, bring it along with the Student Entry Form to the school office. All entries are due by Wednesday, Oct. 12.
If you have any questions please contact Kristin Olson, kolson1@me.com, Rachel Bailey mooreracheld@hotmail.com, or Christina Hull, christina.hull@cusd200.org.
Make a difference day!
Madison Elementary School will participate once again in Make a Difference Day, which is a community-wide event that takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22.
We will be collecting non-perishable / non glass food items and household items to donate. Every student will be given a bag to fill with items. All donations can be delivered to the school daily until Friday, Oct. 21 when we will "stuff the truck" with all of our donations. Look for your donation bag to come home soon.
Screen Free Committee Chair Opening
Go Green seeks volunteers
Volunteer for Multicultural Day
A Great Book Fair seeks volunteers
Our school is conducting a Scholastic Book Fair from Oct. 11-13 to motivate students to read more. Join our volunteer group and help us plan and conduct our school’s best reading event ever!
We are seeking volunteers for:
Tuesday, Oct. 11
· Help students write “wish lists” from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
· Need cashiers from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., chose your hours.
Wednesday, Oct. 12:
· Need cashiers and help students write “wish lists” from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 13:
· Need cashiers from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., choose your hours.
E-mail the hours you wish to volunteer. We appreciate your support.
If interested, please contact Mrs. Graham at diane.graham@cusd200.org
Walk/Bike to School Day
Time to return welcome signs
We hope your child enjoyed their surprise from the New Family Welcoming Committee. Just a reminder that yard signs need to be returned to the office no later than October 1. Should you decide to keep the sign, please submit an $8 check made out to Madison Elementary PTA.
Save General Mills Box Tops for Education
Please save General Mills Box Tops and turn them in to the LLC. Madison can earn ten cents for every General Mills Box top turned in. Thank you to Mrs. Spires for heading up this effort. Last year we purchased many copies of the new Rebecca Caudill, Monarch, and Bluestem Award Book Nominees. Thank you for your support.
Order the Madison school yearbook
You can now place orders for the 2016-2017 Madison Paw Prints. A yearbook costs $17 and will be delivered to the student before the end of the school year. Please use the following link to order and pay with credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover) or check. There is a 15% discount if ordered by September 30.
https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1014308585474714
The Yearbook Committee would appreciate you sharing your "Meet & Treat and First Day of School" photos for use in the yearbook. Please upload your images using the following link:
http://www.treering.com/asset/f8204dc52c7ce64f26c966a6a9d59979ee0a5b7a/
Please be sure to share only high resolution images of Madison School students, teachers, and staff only on school property or at the bus stop.
If you have any questions, please contact Dawn Draus at yearbook@madisonschoolpta.org.
Donate to the art room
The art teachers are looking for anything from the list to be donated.
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Egg carton
Yogurt and any plastic containers
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Kleenex
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Large T-shirts for smocks ( please, no button down shirts)
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Paper towels
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Wet Wipes
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Q-tips
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Wallpaper
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Ribbon, string, buttons
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Tape
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Pencils
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Magazines ( appropriate )
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Murray at gayle.murray@cusd200.org.
SchoolPay available for Madison committee use
PTA committees are welcome to use Madison’s online payment system called SchoolPay. There are many advantages to using SchoolPay to collect payments for your event or fundraiser:
Improves payment collection by providing a quick and convenient way for parents to pay.
Provides a secure form of online payment.
Reduces the use of backpack mail in which payments get lost or forgotten by children.
Reduces the amount of cash and check payments that require collection by a chairman.
Provides a helpful interface for tracking payments and creating monthly Treasurer reports.
For chairman who are new to using SchoolPay, it can take some extra time to learn how to use SchoolPay or to establish a payment item for the first time. Therefore, please be sure to allow approximately 2-4 weeks to coordinate with Madison’s SchoolPay administrator prior to launching the online payment option for your committee.
Although the use of SchoolPay may take some extra time and effort at first, our online payment system will make your work easier. If interested, please contact Madison’s SchoolPay Administrator at Communications@madisonschoolpta.org.
Save the dates
Click on the calendar on the Madison section of www.cusd200.org to view upcoming dates. See below for some highlights:
Sept. 23: No School
Oct. 10: No School
Oct. 11 & 13: Parent/Teacher conferences
Ot. 17-21: Roller Skating week in PE
Oct. 18 PTA General Membership Meeting, 7 p.m. in LLC
Oct: 22: Trivia Night
Nov. 4: No School
Nov. 15: PTA General Membership Meeting, Noon in Music Room
Nov. 18: Multicultural Day
Nov. 21-25: Thanksgiving Break
View the 2016-2017 school calendar here.