Madison Elementary
February 2020
The mission of Madison Elementary School
From the Principal
Our spring Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 25th, 27th and March 2nd. We look forward to seeing you at your child’s conference! This is a great opportunity for parents and teachers to come together to ensure the best possible chance of success for your child. It’s an opportunity for us to share information on how your child is doing in class. Please put this on your calendar and start making arrangements to attend.
As a parent of four children, I am reminded how much they look forward to their parents and teacher talking about them. They are filled with curiosity about what we are saying and thinking. Because of this, we try to share as much of the positives as we can because we know how proud children can be when we are sharing positive things about them. This is the excitement that we hope children are able to continue to bring to school each day. We also know that children can lose motivation pretty quickly if conferences turn into a negative situation as we discuss concerns. Children can be disappointed and let down if they think that nothing but negative things are being shared between the main people in their lives. If you have concerns, we will work together to support your child, while remaining positive and proud of who they are.
Bobby Olson, Principal
Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, February 25th - 3:20 pm to 7:40 pm
Thursday, February 27th - 3:20 pm to 7:40 pm
Monday, March 2nd - 3:20 pm to 6:00 pm
Individual conferences notices will be sent home with your child. Please sign and return to your classroom teacher. Please notify the office at 446-5100 or the classroom teacher if the time does not work for you. Conferences are a very important component for your child’s educational development.
Important reminders for conferences:
- If you can’t make it on your scheduled time/date, please contact your child’s teacher or the office to reschedule (446-5100). We want to make sure you have every opportunity to attend your conference.
- Be ready for a two-way conversation. We have a lot to tell you, but we want to hear from you as well and address your concerns. Perhaps your child is struggling with homework and we need to hear that.
- Make a list of questions ahead of time so that something doesn’t get missed.
- Schedule another time to talk. We don’t want to leave an important topic on the table just because we don’t have enough time that night. Schedule a time to finish that conversation.
- Talk to your child before and after conferences. After all, it’s all about the child. A good positive conversation with your child about their education leaves them with the impression that their education is important.
No School Days
February 17-Vacation Day
February 18-Staff Professional Development
Fargo Public Schools Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2020 opens online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2020. Child must be age 5 by July 31, 2020 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process: online registration and document submission.
STEP ONE: Registration can be completed at home online anytime or at computer kiosks in the office at each Faro Public elementary school building on the following dates with extended office hours:
- February 24, 26, and 28 - 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- February 25, 27, and March 2 - 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
STEP TWO: Once online registration has been completed, families MUST bring the following documents to the school their child will attend to finalize their child’s registration:
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s current immunization record
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and address to verify the correct neighborhood school
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701-446-1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
Questions? Call the school office or Betsy Beaton at 701-446-1043.
We need your grocery receipts!
Madison PTA is now collecting grocery receipts from all local grocery stores. These receipts can be used towards box tops and reward programs for the school. You can drop your receipts off in the Madison office. Thanks for your help!
Art News
During the months of December and January students were creating artwork for a district-wide greeting card contest. The greeting card artwork winner at Madison Elementary is Whitney from 1st grade. Congratulations!
One student from each school will have their artwork submitted to Superintendent Ghandi and the school board. They will review all the entries and select one grade prize winner and two honorable mentions.
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
Madison PTA
The next Madison PTA Meeting will be held on Monday, February 10th beginning at 4:00pm in the Madison Library. Everyone is invited to attend!
Absences or Tardies
Please call the school if your child is going to be absent or late for class. If you are picking your child up for an appointment throughout the day, please come to the office to sign your child out. Our attendance phone number is 446-5119.
Winter Dress Code and School Policy
Madison School places high expectations for appropriate student clothing for the winter weather. The district’s policy states that students will go outside for recess up to -15 degrees below zero. All students should have proper clothing to go outside: winter jacket, gloves/mittens, boots and hats. In order to be safe and warm, we expect all students to be prepared for the cold weather every day.
Lost and Found
Madison School maintains an area where items which are found can be turned in and lost items may be reclaimed. Items found should be turned into the school office. All personal items should be marked with names so that, it lost, they can be promptly returned to their rightful owners. At times throughout the school year any remaining items are donated. At various times during the school year, unclaimed items may be donated.
Attention 5th Grade Families
The Ben Franklin Band Department is excited to help you start your band experience next year in 6th grade! We would like to invite you to come to Ben Franklin Middle School on Tuesday, February 4th; Thursday, February 6th or Tuesday, February 11th from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
We will have stations set up for students to try as many band instruments as they would like. We will have a trained band director there assisting your instrument try-it process. Percussion testing will take place after first meeting with a brass/woodwind tester.
We are using PTCFast.com to make sign-ups as convenient as possible this year. Please enter the following web address into your browser window: https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/BFMS_Band_instrument_fitting_nights
If you do not have internet access, please contact us via phone at 701-446-3637 or you may just drop in any of those nights.
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