Madison Elementary
October 2019
The mission of Madison Elementary School
From the Principal
How does Madison respond to students who are struggling in school? This is a question many parents ask. A large percentage of students will struggle periodically throughout their educational years. Those struggles may range from the short to long term and from one subject to multiple subjects. The first step a parent should take is to talk to your classroom teacher and begin the process of becoming knowledgeable in what is causing your child’s struggle.
At Madison, we gather a lot of data through assessments. We use this data to help us understand our students better and to help us plan for the next steps. We give certain types of assessments that are called Universal Screeners. Each grade uses three of these universal screeners to help determine if a child is at grade level or is struggling. If they are at grade level, they are Tier 1 in our process. If a student is struggling with either short term concepts or just overall struggling and is probably within one year of being at grade level, they are Tier 2. If a child’s struggles are either long term or more intense, they are Tier 3. If a student is placed at Tier 2 or Tier 3, we are working on writing formal plans called interventions to help that student close the achievement gap.
Conferences will be held soon, so if your child is struggling you may want to ask your child’s teacher if they are receiving Tier 2 or Tier 3 interventions. Interventions take place for shorter periods of time, typically for a 6 weeks period. If the first intervention is not successful or if progress is too slow, we’ll try a second intervention. If we find similar struggles with the second intervention as well, the child’s intervention plan is then referred to BLST (Building Level Support Team) for a much more intense study of that child’s struggle.
A vast majority of students can be helped through this system, known as RtI (Response to Intervention). For the smaller percentage of students who would continue to struggle, even after being referred to the BLST, discussions between parents and teachers will determine if that child will be referred for special education testing.
In writing this article, I certainly don’t expect that you would memorize the terms or abbreviations that we use, or even what Tiers 1, 2, or 3 mean. I want you to know there is a process in place at Madison when students are struggling. I want you to be able to have conversations with our teachers about your child. I want you to feel empowered to be a part of your child’s education. If you should have any questions about the process, please feel comfortable to call me or your child’s teacher. Together we make a difference.
Bobby Olson, Principal
No School
There is no school on:
Thursday, October 17
Friday, October 18
and
Monday, October 21
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences will be held on:
Thursday, October 10 from 3:20pm-7:20pm
Monday, October 14 from 3:20pm-7:20pm
Tuesday, October 15 from 3:20pm-7:20pm
Career Day
Madison students will participate in Career Day on Wednesday, October 16th
Students are encouraged to dress up in a career outfit
Some ideas of acceptable careers are:
Truck Driver
Construction Worker
Doctor
Firefighter
Veterinarian
Military/Soldier
Nurse
Police Officer
Farmer
Musician
Junior Achievement (JA) lessons are being taught to students in grades K-5 as part of our Career Day activities. JA Worldwide is a partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers, working together to inspire young people to dream big and reach their potential. JA’s hands-on, experiential programs teach the key concepts of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to young people all over the world.
Family Educator Enhancement Team
Fargo Public Schools and West Fargo Public Schools will hold a joint Family Educator Enhancement Team (FEET) meeting in October. FEET is designed to assist families who have children with special needs by connecting them to available educational partners. Parents and guardians are invited to attend the meeting on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the Leidal Education Center in Room #138, 207 W Main Ave, West Fargo.
If you wish to attend, please RSVP one week prior to the event at http://bit.ly/2ktCAYa. Free childcare will be provided.
Counselor's Corner
Coats for Kids and Families
Winter outerwear will be handed out to families in need October 4th and 5th at the Fargo Air Museum located at 1609 19th Ave N. Hours are Friday and Saturday from 10:00am-7:00pm. The head of household must bring in a photo ID and a Social Security card for each member of their household who wants to receive a coat, hat or gloves.
Thanksgiving Food Basket Registration will take place October 4th and 5th during the Coats for Kids Distribution. A child must reside in the household in order to register for the Thanksgiving Food Basket.
Christmas Food Box Registration will be November 25th, 26th and 27th from 9:00am-3:00pm each day at the Salvation Army in the Chapel. The Salvation Army address is 304 Roberts Street N, in Fargo.
**Photo ID, Social Security Card and verification of income required for these registrations**
For additional information on any of these events, please call 701-232-5565.
Art Expectations
In visual art there is a fine line between creating a fun learning environment that inspires the true flow of artistic creation and maintaining an acceptable level of classroom discipline. Following are the classroom expectations to ensure an orderly, safe and productive learning environment for all students.
Expectations for participation in art are as follows:
· Students are to exhibit respect for other students, their artwork, the art classroom and all art materials and tools
· Students are expected to participate in clean-up
By experiencing success in art class I hope all of my students feel the ability to be successful in anything that they set their mind to accomplish or achieve. A student, who recognizes the ability and takes the initiative to achieve a goal, will always be “exceptionally exceptional”.
If you have any questions or concerns about your students’ art experience, please feel free to contact me:
Ms. Johnson
Lincoln and Madison Elementary Art Teacher
Fruit and Vegetable Program
We will once again participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program this school year. The produce will be prepared in our Nutrition Services kitchens and be available for pick up with the milk at milk break. We will try to serve a variety of favorites and new products and serving sizes will vary.
We plan to serve four days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There will be no produce on Mondays.
Attendance/Tardy
It is important for Madison students to be on time every day. Attendance is a very important factor in becoming successful students. If your child is late getting to school, they are missing important activities in the morning. If you know your child will be late or absent, please call the attendance phone number 446-5119 before 8:40 a.m. Thank you.
Our school day begins at 8:40am
Head Lice
Never a topic we want to discuss, but something we need to be informed about.
The Fargo Public Schools policy regarding head lice (AP 4780) states: Exclude from school until treated and determined to be non-communicable (no nits). Children should be treated for head lice as soon as possible. Close contacts should be discouraged. Note: Cass Public Health philosophy differs from that of Fargo Public Schools.
If there have been head lice in your child’s classroom you will not be notified. Students and parents often share this information with one another but according to policy, we cannot share this from the office. Please do your part to check your child at home.
What are head lice?
Head lice are small insects (less than 1/8 inch long). They range in color from red to brown, black, yellow-tan or grey-white. Head lice live on blood they draw from the scalp and lay tiny grey/white eggs, known as nits, on a hair shaft near the scalp. The warmth from the scalp is needed for the eggs to hatch. Head lice are not known to spread disease.
Who is at risk for head lice?
Head lice infestations occur in all socioeconomic groups, are not an indication of poor hygiene and can affect anyone.
What are the symptoms of head lice?
Most people who have head lice do not have symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, the most common signs include itching of the skin on the scalp or neck where lice feed. Nits are glued to hair, commonly behind ears and at or near the nape of the neck. Scratching, especially behind and around ears and at the nape of the neck, may lead to open sores and a bacterial infection that also may cause swollen lymph nodes.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Symptoms appear when a live louse is present.
How are head lice spread?
Head lice are most commonly spread by direct contact with hair. Additionally, infested people can also spread head lice by sharing combs, brushes, hats, blankets or sheets with others, but this is not very common. It can be spread only by live lice and not nits.
When and for how long is a person able to spread head lice?
Head lice will spread until they are treated with a chemical that kills lice and until the eggs have been killed or removed. Research has shown that removal of nits may not be necessary.
How is a person diagnosed?
Diagnosing head lice is done by identifying the presence of live lice or nits within ¼ inch of the scalp. Identification of eggs and lice with the naked eye is possible; however, the use of a hand lens or microscope may help to confirm the identification.
What is the treatment?
Over-the-counter treatments and prescriptions that kill lice and most viable eggs are available. Follow the directions on the label. Re-treat nine days after initial treatment if not otherwise specified on the product label. Contact your health-care provider or local public health unit for more information.
Does past infection make a person immune?
No. A person who previously had head lice may get it again.
Should children or others be excluded from child care, school, work or other activities if they have had lice?
No. Young children with head lice do not need to be excluded from child care and school, but they should be treated as soon as possible after diagnosis. However, try to minimize any activity that involves the child in head to head contact with other children or sharing of any headgear until after the child has been completely treated.
Additionally, older children and adults do not have to be excluded from child care, work, school or other activities but should be treated as soon as possible after diagnosis. Just like younger children, older children and adults should minimize any activity that involves head to head contact with other people or sharing of any headgear until after treatment has been completed.
It is the policy of Fargo Public Schools NOT to send letters home with students if they have been exposed to head lice.
What can be done to prevent the spread of head lice?
Follow these steps to prevent the spread of head lice:
· Avoid sharing headgear, coats, hats, hair ornaments, helmets, headphones, combs, brushes, towels and bedding.
· Combs and brushes should be washed in hot water (130 degrees) for 10 minutes.
· Items that cannot be washed should be bagged and stored for two weeks.
· Provide separate storage areas for clothing so that the personal articles of one person do not touch the personal articles of another.
· When an infestation is found, check the hair and scalp of all household members and treat only those who have lice and those who share the same bed with the infested person.
Additional Information
For additional information about head lice, head lice removal, school exclusions, etc. contact:
North Dakota Department of Health
Division of Family Health
1-800-472-2286
Join the Madison PTA!
We encourage all parents/guardians to join the Madison PTA. Dues are $5.
We are always looking for volunteers to help with our movie nights at Madison, classroom activities and other events throughout the year.
PTA meetings are held the first Monday of the month from 4-5pm in the Madison Library.
October’s meeting will be on Monday, October 14th.
Madison PTA would also like your Box Tops for Education. They will be having a contest later in the year and your child’s class will have the opportunity to earn an ice cream party.
The Madison PTA Movie Night will be Friday, October 25th from 6-8pm in the Madison Gym.
Please bring all unsold coupon books or cash from the sale of your coupon books to the Madison Office. Our fundraiser ends on October 7th.
After-School Programming
Reading Room is available for all grades (K-5) each day.
After-School Gym for Grade 1 is on Wednesday.
Grades 2 and 3 are on Tuesday and Friday.
Grades 4 and 5 are on Monday and Thursday.
Grade K will begin at a later date.
Makerspace is available for Grade 1 on Monday;
Grade 2 on Wednesday;
Grade 3 on Thursday;
Grade 4 on Friday and
Grade 5 on Tuesday
- All students must be picked up at 3:45pm. There is no supervision provided after this time.
- If your child does not participate in an after-school activitiy, they must go home at 3:02pm.
Madison Elementary
Email: olsonb4@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Madison
Location: Madison Elementary School, 29th Street North, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-5100