
Bear Facts
For the Week of December 9
Madison Elementary School
Email: billingsm@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/MDEBears
Twitter: @MDEBears
Mission
Vision
Core Values
Monday, December 12 - Madison Monday (Wear your Madison Spirit Wear)
Monday, December 12 - 3rd/4th Grade Spelling Bee, 8:30 am
Monday, December 12 - Madison Site Council, 4 pm
Monday, December 12 - PTA Meeting, 7 pm
Wednesday, December 14 - Madison Night at Papa Johns, 4:00-9:00
Thursday, December 15 - Winter Holiday Parties, 2:30 (Family Members can sign in at 2:15 and head down to classrooms at 2:20)
Friday, December 16 - No School, Elementary Teacher Work Day
Lunch Menu
Just a reminder... Weekly balance reminders are sent to families whose students' account balances fall below zero due to purchases.
Specials Schedule
For a specific class schedule, please refer to the classroom information provided by the classroom teacher.
Monday - Specials Day #5
Tuesday - Specials Day #1
Wednesday - Specials Day #2
Thursday - Specials Day #3
Friday - No Specials, No School
News from Dr. Wachel
Our winter parties will occur on Thursday, December 15 (PreK-4). Classroom teachers will reach out to each set of families to discuss snacks and activities for the parties. Parents/Guardians will be able to join us this year for the winter parties and all guests must check in, receive a visitor badge, and sign their child out if they will take him/her home at the conclusion of the parties.
Party Information:
Families are welcome to join us for the party and will check in at the tables located in the main lobby. We ask that families do not arrive prior to 2:15 as we don't want to interfere with the classroom environment. All family members will be allowed down to the classrooms at 2:20 to help set up for the parties. The parties will run from 2:30-3:00 to allow time for staff and students to prepare for dismissal. Thank you for your assistance with arriving after 2:15.
*Early Childhood Families - Please consult your teacher's newsletter for more details on the Early Childhood winter parties and schedule.
Gift Wrapping
The Madison PTA is offering gift wrapping for our staff. Please check the signup if you can come and help wrap presents on December 13 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0c45ada722a4fe3-gift1
PTA Meeting
Our next PTA Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 12 at 7:00 pm in the Madison Cafeteria. Childcare will be available during the meeting. We hope to see you there.
Give Back 2 Schools (repeat)
Have you heard all the buzz? Our district, in cooperation with the Gardner Edgerton Schools Foundation, has been on the ground floor of a new way to support Madison through an innovative company called GiveBack2Schools. Here is the good news – it doesn’t require spending extra money, selling something, or adding events to your packed calendar. Dozens of area businesses have pledged a percentage of every purchase to go back to our school. See some of the businesses above.
By downloading the phone app and following the directions provided, our school will receive easy money. You can select what group within our school you want the funds to go toward (i.e., grade level or the General Madison Fund). Our academic and activity efforts will be supported financially by your simple participation.
Feel free to share this information with your family members. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents can participate as well. Get started now by downloading the app. Search GiveBack2Schools. The logo is an open hand with a green hand in the center.
For more information about GB2S click the link:
https://giveback2schools.com/.
Thanks for your continued support of Madison Elementary and our students.
Community Feedback
Gardner Edgerton USD 231 is seeking community input and feedback. Your insights will help inform the vision for the coming years and the development of a strategic plan that will ensure success as we continue to grow and evolve. The survey takes less than 15 minutes on average.
English survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/USD231
Spanish survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/USD231Espanol
Thank you for your attention and participation.
Character Counts Award Recipients
Congratulations to these bears for receiving the October Character Counts Award for demonstrating our building-wide expectations.
Rayah, Addison, Emma, Jensen, Layla, Kolton, and Jade
Positive Office Referrals
Counselor and Social Worker Corner
Hello awesome families!
Finding fun AND useful holiday gifts for kiddos can be stressful. We get it! Need some ideas?
Check out this holiday gift guide that has fun ideas that also support social emotional growth. Or here is a list of some great children’s books if that’s on your list this year.
Wishing you joy, peace and rest amidst a busy season!
As always, we are here for you! Contact us anytime.
With thankful hearts,
Jackie Hodson, social worker
913-856-0409
Allison Southerland, counselor
913-856-3313
Watch DOGS
If you would like to sign up to be a Watch DOG, sign ups are now available for half day slots. We ask that you sign up at least two days in advance so a schedule can be created and the teachers can prepare for your visit. Volunteers must fill out a registration form and submit it to the office one week in advance of their scheduled day. Thank you for making a positive impact on our Bears! if you have specific questions, please contact Mrs. Daniels and Mrs. Billings at 856-0400.
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our SignUp: You can sign up to be a WATCH DOGS Volunteer here.
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like (please add your child(ren)'s name).
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password.
Note: Signup does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact the Madison Office and we can sign you up manually.
Watch D.O.G.S Apparel - If you would like to order and have the apparel shipped directly to you, please follow this link - DOGS Store
Madison Health Room Overview
As we enter into Fall/Winter, it is a great time to remind our school community of the measures we take to keep students healthy and prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
We reinforce frequent hand washing with our students and coughing/sneezing into a tissue or their sleeve (not their hands).
In addition, we refer to the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) recommendations when determining the need to send a student home from school (see attached document). The JCDHE recommendation chart provides specific guidance on when a student can be readmitted to school.
For example, students should be fever-free for 24 hours WITHOUT using fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
Occasionally we receive questions about head lice management in our schools, and we have an extensive set of resources on our website that can be found HERE.
As needed, we will inform parents when we see an increase in illnesses in our school population with the potential for rapid spread among students and staff (such as influenza) or in the rare instance we have a mandatory reportable disease occur in our population, like Mumps. General head lice notifications are not recommended as they have been found to cause harm and lead to unnecessary treatment. Instead, the school nurse will assess the need for notification individually to those considered close contacts.
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
Thank you for reinforcing healthy habits with our students. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (913) 856-0450.
Nurse Angie
Birthday Treats
Amazon Smile
Madison PTA
Hello MDE families! We’re looking forward to the return of our Bears for the 2022-23 school year!
Madison Elementary PTA Executive Board Officers
President: Leah Bates
Vice-President: Jessica Grimes
Treasurer: Heather Musselman
Secretary: Andrea Satterfield
Membership Chair: Diane Owen
Madison Elementary PTA Meeting Dates 9/6, 10/3, 11/14, 12/12, 1/9, 2/13, 3/20, 4/10, and 5/1. All meetings will occur in the Madison cafeteria at 7 pm
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.
GESD RECOGNITION
Nominate a Deserving Student or Employee Today!!!
The GESD recognition program has been established to recognize students and employees who exceed expectations.
"Gardner Edgerton Students of Distinction" (GESD) nominees can be any current student in the Gardner Edgerton School District who exemplifies traits of outstanding character and serves as a positive influence on their peers and the community-at-large.
"Great Employees Serving the District" (GESD) nominees can be any certified or classified employee in the Gardner Edgerton School District who exemplifies traits of outstanding customer service and is a positive influence on students, parents, co-workers or members of the community. The award will be presented on a weekly basis.
Answers to a few questions you may have:
Nominations from previous years have been removed from the database.
Even if a student or staff member has been selected as a GESD in previous years, they are again eligible.
We will recognize our first student and staff member sometime in September. This will allow time for nominations to be submitted.
Nominate a deserving STUDENT by clicking HERE.
Nominate a deserving EMPLOYEE by clicking HERE.
Current Registrations: GEYCP enrollment site
Click each link to learn more about each program and to register!
GEHS Blazerettes Dance Clinic-- Students in Grades K - 8
Building Blazers Cheerleading -- Students in Grades 3 - 6
GEHS Cheerleaders Mom and Son Blazer Bash -- For Moms and Sons in Grades K - 5
Trailblazer Wrestling Club -- Students Ages 5 and Up
Trailblazer Hitting League -- Baseball Teams in Grades 5 - 8
Coaches will sign up their team.
Youth Experience T-Ball Academy -- Students Ages 4 - 6
The Gardner Edgerton High School Cheerleaders would like to invite you to the First Annual Mom and Son Blazer Bash! This semi-formal event will include dancing, a craft station, photography, and carnival games. Finger foods and drinks will also be available. Blazer Cheerleaders will be leading crafts, and games, and serving refreshments. All proceeds will benefit the GEHS Cheerleaders. Please no high heels on the gym floor.
This event is for moms and sons in grades K-5.
When: Sunday, December 11, 2022
Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Gardner Edgerton High School MAC
Cost: $50 per mom/son ($15 for additional sons)