Dear Madera Families,

The next week and a half are going to be busy at Madera! Please remember that Spring Conferences are Monday and Tuesday and those are early dismissal days. Please plan accordingly.

Please join us for Open House on Thursday, March 23rd from 6-7PM. You can tour your child's classroom and see all the wonderful things that they have been learning this year. The book fair will be open in room A4 that evening.

Spring Break will be March 27th-31st! Happy Spring!

Go Mustangs!

This month we focus Courage and Celebrate Inspirational Women

3/15-Firehouse dine out night

3/15-Volleyball practice

3/16-Fire Drill

3/17-5th Grade Physical Fitness Testing (PFT)

3/20-21-Spring conferences, early dismissal

3/20-24th Spring Book Fair

3/20-4th grade on site field trip

3/20-Panorama Survey window opens

3/20-Drama practice New time 1:10-2:30

3/21-5th Grade Flag Assembly 8:15AM

3/21-Volleyball-New Time 1:10-2:15

3/22-Volleyball

3/23-Madera open house/showcase night 6-7PM

3/24-Music/PE/We care Friday/Early Dismissal/Character Awards

3/27-31st- Spring Break

If you have taken any photos this year at school events, please upload to images.jostens.com using the code: 0pOsBfzlW7hyyLlAfflL27w

You can copy and paste the code for easier access to upload your memories for consideration in the yearbook.

Each year, 5th graders participate in Physical Fitness Testing. This year our physical fitness testing will take place on March 17th. Please be sure that your child has water, sunscreen, hats, and is dressed appropriately for physical fitness activities on this date. This includes proper footwear. This test is an important part of our reporting process for the state of California. Please see the attachment below for more information regarding the test.

Students in grades 3rd-5th will be taking the CAASPP tests in ELA and Math between April 27th-May 12th. Your child's teacher will send out information regarding your child's specific testing schedule. All 5th graders also take the CAST which is a Science Assessment. More information to come in the weeks ahead. Please see the attachment regarding testing.

Overnight Shelter program. The Samaritan Center's PADS ("Public Action to Deliver Shelter)" will be open through the end of March. Information about the shelter can be found at the bottom of the Dinner Site calendar as well as on the Samaritan Center Website. Families who wish to use the shelter need to meet with a caseworker at Samaritan Center to set this up.

Meals for March: March Dinner Site Calendar. This is available to all families in need. Samaritan Center also serves breakfast and lunch. Families can use their showers as well but need to meet with a caseworker at Samaritan Center to set this up.

Food Pantries: Samaritan Center and Still Waters Cafe continue to serve as our local food pantries. Please note that the Samaritan Center Food Pantry hours have changed

Every week I would like to share one small piece of the parent handbook to keep you informed. This week the topic is:

Homework Help:

Each student should have a specific time each day for home study. Teachers will develop a

homework plan which includes specific guidelines for the assignment of homework. In addition to

homework assignments, children should spend time reading or being read to every day. For your

child to be successful with homework, he/she needs:

● A place to do homework. If possible, your child should do his/her homework in the same

place each night (an uncluttered, quiet space to study).

● A schedule for completing homework. Set a homework schedule that fits in with each

week’s particular activities.

● Encouragement, motivation, and prompting. It is not a good idea to sit with your child and

do homework with him/her. Your child needs to practice independently and to apply what

he/she has learned in class. If your child consistently cannot complete homework assignments

alone, please contact the teacher.

● Understanding of the knowledge. When your child is practicing a skill, ask which steps

he/she finds difficult and easy and how he/she plans to improve speed and accuracy with the

skill. If your child is working on a project, ask what knowledge he/she is using to complete the

work. If your child consistently cannot answer these questions, please contact the teacher. In

intermediate grades, if your child is working on a long-term multi-step project, help them break

the task into smaller tasks with interim deadlines.

● Reasonable time expectations. If your child seems to be spending too much time each night

on homework, please contact the teacher.

● At bedtime. When it is time to go to bed, please stop your child, even if he has not finished the

homework.

Madera’s mission is that we will develop thoughtful citizens and empower young leaders to become active members in their school, community and government.

We accomplish this through integrated classroom instruction, school-wide events and community partnerships.