Winter has arrived! The last few days have been cold, icy and windy. This week looks to be warmer but more snow on the way. Here are some important details of which to take note…

February 3 is a no school day. Teachers will be having a work day prior to Parent-Teacher Conferences. Kids Klub will be open that day.

Please be aware that Influenza is starting to show up at Madison.

Common signs and symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever over 101 F (38 C) in adults, and often as high as 103 to 105 F (39.5 C to 40.5 C) in children

• Chills and sweats

• Headache

• Dry cough

• Muscular aches and pains, especially in your back, arms and legs

• Fatigue and weakness

• Nasal congestion

• Loss of appetite

• Diarrhea and vomiting in children

If you see these symptoms in your child, you may want to contact your physician to be evaluated for influenza. If you have influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home 24 hours after your fever is gone. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.) Encourage fluids and rest, and treat the symptoms.

To prevent others from getting influenza, please wash hands frequently with soap and water, teach children to keep their hands away from their mouth and nose, and to cover their cough. Also keep the ill child home and out of public places. If symptoms worsen, please contact your doctor.

If you need some encouragement regarding your parenting, consider attending the Kirk Martin presentation next Tuesday January 28th from 6:30-8:30pm at Pella High Auditorium. It is free and will be an enjoyable night looking at dealing with defiance and disrespect.

Our building goal this year is to improve our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) with students. More specifically, we want to increase student’s sense of belonging at Madison. We want them to feel at home at Madison and that they are connected to others here at school. We measure that as best we can with an assessment called Panorama. Our third graders take that assessment two times each year. Panorama is not available for younger students so we supplement with another assessment through PBIS that Mrs. Tjeerdsma does during guidance time. A high percentage of our students feel connected at school, but we always want to improve.

Free and reduced meals can be applied for any time during the school year. The Iowa Application is available on the district website, at all of the district buildings or by contacting Connie Boldt, Director of Food Service, at 641-628-1748 or connie.boldt@pellaschools.org.

Breakfast is available in all buildings prior to the first bell. National School Breakfast Program guidelines are used to ensure a healthy and nutritious breakfast. The charge for breakfast is attached to your child’s lunch account.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.