Madison Elementary
September 3 Newsletter
Thank you!!!
The teachers have been working hard this week on practicing routines and procedures. It is evident when you watch a classroom walk quietly down the hallway or walk into a room and see all the students focused and working. Great job to both the teachers and students for learning and working hard to be amazing.
We had our first Mustang Moment winners this week. Great job to those that earned the awards!
Congratulations to the following:
Josh D
Grayden W
Raven D
Aliyah C
Deborah K
Alpha N
Manuela I
Sargeant J
Abio M
Keep up the great work as we will keep drawing each week. We will also have our monthly drawing to eat lunch with any adult in the building. AND at the end of the year....we hope to have some fantastic prizes to give away to everyone that has worked hard each day to earn Mustang Moments!!!
School Out Day - September 6
5th Grade Orchestra Event
Sept. 7 | Rental night at Ben Franklin 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Sept. 13 | Rental night at Discovery 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Sept. 14 | Rental night at Carl Ben Eielson 5:00-7:00 p.m
Keeping Students in School
With the goal of keeping students and staff in school, Fargo Public Schools is working to create a COVID-19 testing program in schools. Each school will have a scheduled time during the day that they will have BinaxNOW rapid testing available for both students and staff.
If a student or staff member is deemed an unmasked close contact, they can use this program to remain in school. In order to participate in the testing program, parents must fill out the testing consent form for their child in PowerSchool. The student or staff member must test at least every other day and remain asymptomatic during the duration of the testing program. Students and staff members should work with their building administration and testing staff to determine which days to test and work around scheduling conflicts.
Fargo Public Schools plans to have this program running as soon as possible. For the time being, students and staff can get tested at Fargo Cass Public Health’s testing site open Monday - Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 3051 25th Street South, Suite K, Fargo. For additional ways to stay in school, visit the FPS How to Stay in School webpage.
Great Plains Backpack Program
MADISON SCHOOL-FAMILY COMPACT
This school-parent compact is in effect during the 2021-2022 school year.
Madison Elementary Staff and the parents/guardians of the students participating in activities, services, and programs funded by Title I agree that this compact outlines how they will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and how school and families will build and develop a partnership that will help children achieve the State’s high standards.
School Responsibilities:
Madison Elementary Staff will:
Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the participating children to meet the State’s student academic achievement standards as follows:
- Provide whole group and individualized instruction in core subjects
- Use research-based instruction strategies and curriculum
- Create a positive student culture through instructional practices, Social Emotional Learning and Restorative practices.
- Teach, Model and Reteach Madison learning and behavioral expectations
- Use data to meet students’ needs through whole group and small group instruction
Hold parent-teacher conferences during which this compact will be discussed as it relates to the individual child’s achievement. Specifically, these conferences will be held:
- In conjunction with the annual District calendar in which elementary conferences are held twice a year.
- Provide families with frequent reports on their children’s progress. Specifically, the school will provide reports as follows:
- Standards-based progress report three times per year: November, February, and May/June
- Provide parents reasonable access to staff. Specifically, staff will be available for consultation with parents as follows:
Individual meetings face to face or via Zoom
Classroom updates/newsletters
- Provide families opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and to observe classroom activities, as follows:
- Teachers will share volunteer opportunities within the classroom throughout the year as safety protocols allow.
- Parents/guardians interested in observing can contact the school office and observations will be scheduled based on district policy.
Parent Responsibilities:
We, as parents/guardians, will support our children’s learning in the following ways –
- Encourage at-home reading and support a love for learning
- Ensure that my child comes to school on time and ready to learn
- Monitor amount of screen time for my child
- Participate in decisions relating to my children’s education
- Stay informed about my child’s education by attending all parent-teacher conferences and participating in school events when possible
- Hold my child accountable for following Madison Behavior Expectations
- Positively support Madison Elementary students, staff and families
Dispute Resolution Policy
Federal regulations require that each district adopt procedures for receiving and resolving disputes pertaining to Title programs.
If a parent, school personnel or any interested person wishes to file a complaint, the following process must be followed:
The written complaint must be sent via mail or e-mail to:
(Manager of Specific Title program)
Fargo Public Schools
415 North 4th Street
Fargo, ND 58102
Fargo Public Schools Title Managers:
Title I Part A (Disadvantaged Students)
Jan Anderson anderja@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title II Part A (Teacher Training/Recruitment)
Robert Grosz groszr@fargo.k12.nd.us
Missy Eidsness eidsnem@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title III (English Language Acquisition)
David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title IX (Discrimination/Sexual Harassment)
Brad Franklin franklb@fargo.k12.nd.us
Patty Cummings cumminp1@fargo.k12.nd.us
Section 504 (Students with Disabilities)
David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Any complaint must include:
• The date;
• The name of the district, unit, or individual the complaint is against;
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person making the complaint;
• A detailed description of the complaint, including specific facts; and
• The signature of the person making the complaint.
When a complaint is filed, the appropriate Fargo Public Schools Title Manager will investigate and issue a written response within sixty (60) calendar days from the date the complaint is received.
Reconsideration
Once a response is received from Fargo Public Schools staff, the person making the complaint has the right to have their complaint reconsidered. The complainant may submit a reconsideration request in writing to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the U.S. Department of Education.
State Superintendent
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept 201
Bismarck, ND 58505-0440
The Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20208Every Student Succeeds Act - Parents Right to Know
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires teachers and paraprofessionals to be “highly qualified” as defined by each state. In addition, the law requires that parents be informed about such qualifications. According to the definition currently in effect in the state of North Dakota, all such employees of Fargo Public School District meet this definition.
Since Madison Elementary is a designated Title I school, parents have the right to request information on the professional qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessional at our school. If you are interested in learning this information, contact our building principal, Lori Conmy at 446-5100.
Title I District - School Parent Engagement Policy (DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS)
Each school district must establish the district’s expectations for parental involvement. [Section 1118(a) (2), ESEA.] Fargo Public Schools agrees to implement the following statutory requirements:
• The school district will put into operation programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in all of its schools with Title I programs. Those programs, activities, and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful consultation with parents of participating children.
• The school district will work with its schools to ensure that the required school-level parental involvement policies meet the Title I requirements, and include, as a component, a school-parent compact.
• The school district will incorporate this district-wide parental involvement policy into its district plan.
• In carrying out the Title I parental involvement requirements, to the extent practicable, the school district and its schools will provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with children with limited English proficiency, parents with children with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in an understandable and uniform format and, including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.
• If the district plan for Title I is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, the school district will submit any parent comments with the plan when the school district submits the plan to the Department of Public Instruction.
• The school district will involve the parents of children served in Title I schools in decisions about how the one percent of Title I funds reserved for parental involvement is spent, and will ensure that not less than 95 percent of the one percent reserved goes directly to the schools. (Only applicable for districts with Title I allocations greater than $500,000.)
• The school district will be governed by the following statutory definition of parental involvement, and expects that its Title I schools will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with this definition:
Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring—
(A) That parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;
(B) That parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;
(C) That parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child;
(D) The carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.
• The school district will inform parents and parental organizations of the purpose and existence of the Parental Information and Resource Center in North Dakota (i.e., NDPASS in Minot, ND).
DISTRICT/SCHOOL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY REQUIRED COMPONENTS
1. The Fargo Public Schools will take the following actions to involve parents in the joint development
of its district/school parental involvement plan:
• Invite one parent/Title I school in the district to take part in the development of the district/school parental involvement plan.
• Incorporate suggestions (from the building level surveys) in the parental involvement plan to design strategies for more effective parental involvement.
• Revise, if necessary, the district’s/school’s parental involvement policies.
2. The Fargo Public Schools will convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under this part and to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved
3. The Fargo Public Schools will offer a flexible number of meetings, such as meetings in the morning or evening, and pay for costs related to parental involvement:
• Parent/Teacher conferences scheduled in October and February
• Phone conferences
• Home visits as appropriate
• Individual meetings with parents or classroom visits
• Parent meeting held in the fall
• E-mails and phone numbers distributed on business cards, newsletters, and given at parent
conferences
4. The Fargo Public Schools will provide the following necessary coordination, technical assistance and other support to assist Title I schools in planning and implementing effective parental involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance:
• Provide opportunities for school personnel to preview parental involvement videos, activities, strategies, etc. for use with parents. Various resources will be gathered by Title I support personnel.
• Provide contacts for technical assistance for either presenting information or parent training sessions.
• Provide assistance with the logistics in planning and implementing effective parental involvement activities.
• Provide opportunities for Title I teachers to share parent involvements activities and brainstorm new ideas.
5.The Fargo Public Schools will build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement, in order to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, through the following activities specifically described below:
- A. Fargo Public Schools will, with the assistance of its Title I schools, provide assistance to parents of children served by the school district or school, as appropriate, in understanding topics such as the following, by undertaking the actions described in this paragraph
• the state’s academic content standards
• the state’s student academic achievement standards
• the state and local academic assessments including alternate assessments
• the requirements of Title I
• how to monitor their child’s progress
• how to work with educators
Assistance to parents may be provided in these ways:
• Parent/Teacher Conferences held twice a year
• Title I Fall Meeting
• PTA Meetings
• Individual meetings at parents/teachers request
- B. Fargo Public Schools will, with the assistance of its Title I schools, provide materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s academic achievement, such as literacy training and using technology, as appropriate, to foster parental involvement, by:
• Holding Title I parent information meetings
• Holding Title I training sessions
• Developing a Parent Resource Center
• Informing parents of available training sessions in the community
• Sending home “Tip Sheets” for parents with strategies to use and suggestions for success in school
- C. Fargo Public Schools will, with the assistance of its Title I schools and parents, educate its teachers, pupil services personnel, principals and other staff, in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to implement and coordinate parent programs and build ties between parents and schools, by:
• Informing all staff of Title I parent programs
• Inviting all staff to Title I parent meetings/training sessions
• Share resources gained from conferences, etc.
- D. The school district will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs and activities with Head Start, Reading First, Early Reading First, Even Start, Home Instruction Programs for Preschool Youngsters, the Parents as Teachers Program, and public preschool and other programs, and conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children, by:
• Collaborating with personnel from other programs to integrate parental involvement activities.
- E. Fargo Public Schools will take the following actions to ensure that Title I information related to the school and parent- programs, meetings, and other activities, is sent to the parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand:
• Enlist translators to translate notes, meetings, and other activities when available.
• Have a group of parents preview/review notes sent home and identify any areas that may need clarification.
6. The Fargo Public Schools will coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies under Title I with parental involvement strategies under the following programs: Head Start and ELL, by:
• Establishing a communication vehicle with all the appropriate local agencies.
7. The Fargo Public Schools will take the following actions to conduct, with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this parental involvement policy in improving the quality of its Title I schools. The evaluation will include identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in parental involvement activities (with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background). The school district will use the findings of the evaluation about its parental involvement policy and activities to design strategies for more effective parental involvement, and to revise, if necessary (and with the involvement of parents) its parental involvement policies.
• Title I teachers, at the building level, will send home a survey to the parents in the spring regarding parental involvement policy and activities.
• Parents will complete the survey giving recommendations for areas in need.
• Title I teachers, at the building level, will compile the recommendations for changes and/or improvements in the Title I program and design strategies for more effective parent involvement.
• Title I teachers, at the building level, will revise, if necessary and with the involvement of parents, its parental involvement policies.
• Revisions will be made at the district level if necessary and with the involvement of parents.
8. The Fargo Public Schools will take the following actions to involve parents in the process of school review and improvement:
• Inform and invite parents to school review and school improvement meetings.
• Hold meetings at a time when parents can attend.
• Use information and suggestions given by parents to improve Title I.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
As a component of the school-level parental involvement policy, each school shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement.
• The School-Parent Compact is part of this policy
• Form a committee comprised of staff and parents to jointly develop the compact
• The actual compact will be given to each Title I parent for review and feedback
• Revisions will be made accordingly
DISCRETIONARY DISTRICT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS
The District Parental Involvement Policy may include additional paragraphs listing and describing other discretionary activities that the school district, in consultation with its parents, chooses to undertake to build parents’ capacity for involvement in the school and school system to support their children’s academic achievement, such as the following discretionary activities:
• Involve parents in the development of training for teachers, principals, and other educators to
improve the effectiveness of that training.
• Provide necessary literacy training for parents from Title I, Part A funds, if the school district
has exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for that training
• Pay reasonable and necessary expenses associated with parental involvement activities,
including transportation and child care costs, to enable parents to participate in school- related meetings and training sessions.
• Train parents to enhance the involvement of other parents.
• In order to maximize parental involvement and participation in their children’s education,
arrange school meetings at a variety of times.
• Adopt and implement model approaches to improving parental involvement.
• Establish a district parent advisory council to provide advice on all matters related to parental
involvement in Title I, Part A programs.
• Develop appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses, including faith-
based organizations, in parental involvement activities.
• Provide other reasonable support for parental involvement activities under section 1118 as
parents may request.
ACCESSIBILITY
In carrying out the parental involvement requirements of this part, districts and schools, to the extent practicable, shall provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with children with limited English proficiency, parents with children with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in a format and, to the extent practicable, in a language such parents can understand.
• Translators are available upon request
• Elementary resources on staff include: a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech-language Therapist, Learning Disabilities Teacher, Educable Mentally Handicapped Teacher, and a Special Education Teacher who assists students with emotional/behavioral needs. These teachers act as resources for parents and students.
Madison Elementary
Email: conmyl@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