Bear Facts

Email: fleminge@usd231.com
Website: https://www.usd231.com/o/madison
Location: 800 W Madison St, Gardner, KS, United States
Phone: (913) 856-0400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonElementaryBears/
Twitter: @MDEBears

Monday, October 2nd-

• Madison Monday, wear your bear spirit wear
• School custodian appreciation day
• Site Council Meeting @ 6:00am
• PTA Meeting @ 7:00pm

Wednesday, October 4th

• 3rd Grade Book Club 7:50am

Thursday, October 5th

• Kindergarten field trip to the pumpkin patch
• Paw Pals Day

Friday, October 6th

• No School!!

Monday- Day 1

Tuesday- Day 2

Wednesday- Day 3

Thursday- Day 4

Friday- No School

Bear Family,

Our "Fall" in Love with School spirit week was so much fun! I've included a few pictures from the week for you to enjoy. I have quite a few things to make sure you are aware of this week.

First, we have had some dangerous behaviors arise out front in the morning. Please remember, staff are not present to supervise students before 8:05. This is when the incidents are occurring and we could fix this by either having adults staying to supervise their students if you arrive before 8:05 or by keeping your student with you in the car line. I do not want a child hurt, so I appreciate your attention to our arrival and supervision policies.

It’s hard to believe, but fall conferences will soon be here! Conference dates are designated for Wednesday, October 11th from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Thursday, October 12th from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. We are again using the Signup.com platform. Families, you should be receiving an email from teachers with a link to sign up. Please reach out if you have any questions!

The last couple of items to inform you of are from our fabulous PTA. They are needing some help! First, products from the fundraiser will be delivered soon and they would like some help with item pickup on October 10th. Here is the sign up for that: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C45ADA722A4FE3-44691785-fundraiser#/. PTA is also planning to provide some snacks for parent teacher conferences. Trust me, teachers love to be fed! If you are able, here is the other sign up for loading our lounge: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C45ADA722A4FE3-44691841-treats#/.

That is all for this week! I hope you all enjoy your weekend. Please call or email if you have any questions, concerns, or celebrations!

Take Care!

Emily Fleming

Principal

Congrats to our Bear P.A.W. ticket winners this week! To earn a Bear P.A.W., kids must go above and beyond to show adults in the building a Positive attitude, Act of kindness, or Work ethic. When we catch students working hard, helping others, and staying positive, they can be awarded with a ticket. At the end of each week, a ticket is drawn in each classroom. The students who get their ticket pulled, get to come to Mrs. Fleming's office, get a gumball, and write their name on the map in our front hallway...because these kids are going to change the world and put their mark on the map!

Congratulations to fourth grade teacher Josie Truitt on her selection as Madison's 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year! We are so proud of Ms. Truitt and know she will represent MDE well!

Eleven veteran educators have been selected to represent the Gardner Edgerton School District in the state-sponsored Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) program. The Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. The program’s mission is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in improving schools, student performance, and the teaching profession.

A district selection committee will now evaluate the applications of each nominee and identify two (one elementary and one secondary) outstanding educators to represent the district in the state-wide program.

As part of the process, these two finalists will complete a set of essays related to their current practice, solicit letters of reference from administrators, students, parents, and peers, and participate in a follow-up interview.

Madison's book fair is coming soon! It will run from Monday, October 16th through Friday, October 20th. Students will get to shop for books during their scheduled library time. We also have a family shopping event on Monday, October 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. I have created the following signup link for the volunteers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4CAEA82EAA8-44664725-fall. Each family who signs up to help will get a discount for the fair! Also, please see the information below on how to create an ewallet for your child. Please let me know if you need any more information. Thank you!

Mrs. Schmuhl

Dear Parents:

The 2nd annual Gardner Edgerton Schools Foundation cornhole tournament is less than a month away. All funds generated support the WE CARE Fund and scholarships. The WE CARE Fund assists USD 231 students and their families during times of hardship. How can you support this exciting event?

PLAY

Find a partner and have some fun on Saturday, October 7th. We start at 10:00 AM and will be done by 1:00 PM. The cost per team is only $40 ($30 for youth division). Click HERE to sign up. It is fast and easy. Skill level is not important. Coming together for a great cause is what really matters. Let's make sure our school is represented. See flyer for more details.

WIN

Purchase raffle tickets to WIN a set of USD 231 or GE Blazer cornhole boards/bags. Click HERE to purchase raffle tickets, scan the QR code, or pay via Venmo @231Foundation_. You don't have to be present to win. $20 gets you 50 raffle tickets. Other pricing options are available. Go ahead, order your raffle tickets now.

SPONSOR

Perhaps you or your company would like to sponsor a cornhole board or other available partnerships. It's really simple. Click HERE or scan the QR code below.

CELEBRATE

Our school is experiencing a great year. Our students are receiving quality instruction and support. Plus, our school has remarkable parents who are key stakeholders. Let's support the Foundation in their efforts to support our students and staff.

If you have questions regarding the information above, feel free to contact Tim Brady, GESF Executive Director, at bradyt@usd231.com.

We know many families are experiencing financial challenges so we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of some of the awesome resources in our community! Please contact Mrs. Sleeper, school counselor, if you would like additional resources, more information, or to utilize any of these resources.

Joy Closet-

975 E. Lincoln Lane, Gardner

Hours: Mon 10-7, Tues 10-7, Wed 10-4, Thurs 10-7, Sat 10-2

This is a low cost thrift store in Gardner and they have generously provided us with vouchers for FREE clothing, shoes, linens, books, and small household items. Each voucher is good for 20 items of clothes, shoes, and bedding PLUS 10 books per household! If you would like a voucher, please email Mrs. Sleeper, at sleeperm@usd231.com.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace-

This is an organization of amazing volunteers in Gardner who build, assemble, and deliver top-notch bunk beds and new bedding to children and families in need.

BackSnacks-

Harvesters’ BackSnack program provides a weekly sack filled with nutritious, child-friendly food for school children to take home over the weekend throughout the school year. Mrs. Sleeper will deliver these to students at the end of the day on Fridays, putting them straight in their backpacks. We will start this in October so please sign up your children by emailing Mrs. Sleeper at sleeperm@usd231.com.

Hope Market-

This is an awesome food pantry in Gardner!

233 E Main St., Gardner

Hours: Tuesdays 5pm-8pm; Thursdays 9am-11am; Saturdays 9am-12pm

They don’t have any requirements other than to have a need for food.

See additional USD 231 Family Resources

Over the summer, USD 231 implemented another measure to ensure the safety of our students and employees. That action is the installation of the visitor management system, Raptor. Raptor will scan a valid government ID and immediately report if there is any reason for the individual not to be in the building. Once the background is checked, the printer attached to Raptor will print out a visitor badge with the picture from the ID.

Although this might be a minor inconvenience for visitors, the safety of our students and employees is paramount.

To learn more about the Raptor system, click HERE.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

We are excited to inform you about the convenient way to add money to your student's lunch account (Available now!). All funds can be added through My School Bucks, which is available via Power School.

For step-by-step instructions on adding money to your students lunch account, please refer to the attached guide: How to Add Lunch Money

Additionally, you can set up a low balance alert at your preferred minimum balance amount or automatically fund accounts when balance reaches a desired amount.

USD 231 Nutrition Services

The Madison Elementary health room is available if your child becomes ill or injured while at school. Please familiarize yourself with the USD 231 Parent Handbook with details of our Health Services guidelines and procedures. Kansas law requires all students to have on file evidence of required immunizations prior to attending school. The Medication Authorization Form must be completed and signed by the parent or guardian for all medications given at school. It is recommended that medication NOT be sent to school with children. Parents should bring the medication to the health room (8:15 am to 3:45 pm).

A student will be sent home from school with any of the following:

• Temperature 100 degrees or greater, or with incidents of vomiting and/or diarrhea.
• Symptoms related to a possible communicable disease.
• Excessive drainage from eyes, ears, persistent earache, constant cough, or painful sore throat with enlarged lymph nodes.
• Students with acute infectious disease or parasite

Mrs. Angie Serrano, Madison Elementary’s Health Room Nurse, is available to answer any additional questions you might have and you may contact her directly at 856-0450.

We are writing to remind you of our employee and student recognition programs.

• The "Gardner Edgerton Students of Distinction" (GESD) program is designed to recognize students throughout the school year (approximately 3 to 4 employees a month - 30 or more a year).
• The "Great Employees Serving the District" (GESD) program is designed to recognize employees throughout the school year (approximately 3 to 4 employees a month - 30 or more a year).

Answers to a few questions you may have:

1. Nominations from previous years have been removed from the database.
2. Even if a student or staff member has been selected as a GESD in previous years, they are again eligible.
3. To learn more about the GESD - Students program, click HERE.
4. To learn more about the GESD - Employees program, click HERE.

Please see the attached for more information and start nominating!!! We will recognize our first student and staff member sometime in September. This will allow time for nominations to be submitted.

The Madison Elementary PTA Executive Board is excited about the upcoming 2023-24 school year! PTA works to enhance student experience throughout the school year including supplementing the funding for Field Day, Assemblies, Musical Refreshments, Teacher Appreciation, and purchasing additional resources to enhance the learning environment for our students. Get involved to make your child's elementary school years extra special! Joining the Madison Elementary PTA will ensure you are up to date on school events and helps you get involved in Madison Elementary activities. Check out the PTA link under Parent Info on the Madison Elementary website for more information.

Madison Elementary PTA Executive Board Officers

President: Leah Bates

Vice-President: Jessica Grimes

Treasurer: Heather Musselman

Secretary: Andrea Satterfield

Membership Chair: Trisha Perkins

Madison Elementary PTA Meeting Dates 9/11, 10/2, 11/13, 12/11, 1/22, 2/12, 3/18, 4/8, and 5/13. All meetings will occur in the Madison cafeteria at 7 p.m.

Email us at: Madisonbearpta@gmail.com Like us on Facebook "Madison Elementary PTA Gardner, KS"

Interested in the Madison PTA Happenings? Stay in the know!

We invite everyone to join the Madison PTA Facebook page. By searching Madison Elementary PTA Gardner, KS under Pages, you will be able to join the group and receive updated PTA information.

If you are interested in joining the PTA, please see the membership form.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter - @MDEBears and on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MadisonElementaryBears. We will use our twitter and facebook accounts to share information, pictures, and classroom happenings throughout the school year so you can have a window into the classrooms and experience the learning with your bear.