Bear Facts
Madison Elementary - Info for the week of July 18
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
News from Dr. Wachel
Summer break has proven to be a busy one at Madison! We are beginning to prepare for a successful school year. Our mission statement is our Blueprint or School Learning Plan for the 2022-23 school year. The MDE Blueprint will focus on meeting the needs of the Whole Child. The Whole Child approach is an effort to transition from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of all children. Whole Child Tenants include:
- Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle.
- Each student learns in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.
- Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and the broader community.
- Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults.
- Each student is challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and participation in a global environment.
This focus on the Whole Child will enhance our work ahead and support our actions within the MDE Blueprint.
Believe it or not, enrollment for the 2022-23 school year has already begun. Our school office is open Monday through Thursday, July 18-July 28 from 8-4 and Monday through Friday, August 1 on from 8-4 in preparation for the upcoming school year. You can find information about the enrollment and registration process here. Should you have any questions about enrollment or the upcoming school year, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 913-856-0400 during our office hours.
Until we reunite for another exciting year at Madison Elementary, I wish you and your family a continued wonderful, relaxing, and safe end to your summer vacation.
Take care,
Dr. Wachel, Principal
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I know my child’s teacher assignment?
Madison will email classroom assignments to each family on August 5. We will send class placements to the email addresses on file within PowerSchool. Thank you in advance for having your email address updated. Much thought and collaboration were utilized to create classroom placements. We thank you in advance for your support of the decisions made for every student.
When will I get to meet my child’s teacher?
Students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade get ready for the Madison Meet the Teacher Night on August 9, 5:00-6: 00 pm. Students will meet their teacher, visit their classroom, unpack school supplies, sign up to be a PTA member, and reconnect with classmates and Madison staff members. To help with parking, if at all possible we encourage families with last names A-L to come between 5:00-5:30 and last names M-Z to come between 5:30-6:00 to visit the classrooms and meet the teachers.
When is the first day of school?
Students in grades K-4 will begin on Thursday, August 11. Families with only a kindergarten student will arrive at 8:45 am on the FIRST DAY ONLY to allow for families and students the opportunity to walk to the classroom by themselves. If Kindergarten students ride the bus on the first day, they will be guided to the kindergarten classrooms and will be with their teacher until the other kindergarten students arrive at 8:45 am. If families have a kindergartner and an older sibling, we encourage families to arrive at 8 am and walk both children to the classrooms before we start the day at 8:25.
This first day is an early dismissal (11:25). Pre-K students will begin on Monday, August 15.
How do I connect and stay up to date with information regarding Madison Elementary?
You can find information on our school website, our twitter account, and on our Facebook page. Be sure to use the #MDEBears in your posts!
Do you have other questions?
If you have other questions not answered above, please contact the school office at 913-856-0400. We look forward to working with you to ensure a successful school year for all!
Would you like to work at Madison Elementary?
We are currently looking for a special education para to work with Bears of all ages. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Dr. Wachel at wachelm@usd231.com.
Back to School Central
School Supply List Orders
Change to National School Breakfast and Lunch Program
As we approach the start of a new school year, USD 231 Nutrition Services would like to inform you of changes to school meals beginning the first day of school. The federal government allowed schools to offer free meals to all students during the pandemic, but Congress did not extend this benefit for the 2022-2023 school year. Families that are eligible for free or reduced-price meals must again apply to receive them, and all other students must pay full price for their meals beginning the first day of the new school year. (This does not affect our summer meals program running through August 5, 2022!)
If your household has received an email from our office in the past few days notifying you that your students are directly certified for the 2022-2023 school year, you do NOT need to complete an application. Please follow the instructions in the second email sent in order to obtain bus and fee discounts.
Under certain circumstances, some families will be eligible for temporary carryover status for the first 30 days of the school year for meals (only), but this will not apply to transportation or instructional fee discounts. If your household is eligible for this carryover status, you should have received an email from our office on July 7, 2022, and will need to complete the online application before you can obtain fee/transportation discounts in 2022-2023.
We encourage all other households who wish to be considered for free or reduced-price meals in 2022-2023 to complete the meal benefits application as soon as possible. All applications can be submitted online through the link at https://bit.ly/USD231onlineapp
If you have additional questions, please contact our office by email at nutrition@usd231.com for assistance.
Counselor and Social Worker Corner
We know that many families are experiencing financial challenges. Hope Market is providing a backpack giveaway this year to help!
August 6th from 11am - 1pm
at the ARC 132 E. Main St. Gardner
Families just need to fill out this FORM HERE. Hope Market will then send out a confirmation email.
The free backpack is filled with school supplies. This year they will be offering socks and underwear as well! Please contact Mrs. Hodson, school social worker, at hodsonj@usd231.com if you have questions or additional needs.
I love my county art contest
In an effort to bolster civic education and educate communities on the role of county government, the National Association of Counties is hosting the 2022 “I Love My County Because” art contest. Johnson County Government has created a Johnson County- specific entry form to help young residents submit their drawings to the competition.
“Johnson County is a wonderful place to live, work and play, and we’re excited to see how our youngest residents will turn those great experiences into art,” said Sarah VanLanduyt, Arts Council of Johnson County executive director. “This is a fun opportunity for students in first through 12th grades to creatively showcase a county program or serve that represents what they love about Johnson County.
NACo will select 13 submissions and award each winning artist a $100 prize. In addition, NACo will
feature the winning art in a 2023 calendar that will be distributed to NACo members nationwide.
Winners will be announced in NACo’s publication, County News, and their artwork will be displayed at
NACo’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The contest runs through Oct. 7, 2022.
“We’d love to see your students’ art, and feature select images in our quarterly magazine, JoCo
Magazine, and our social media pages. Eligible participants are encouraged to share their submissions on social media with the hashtag #ILoveJoCo,” said Jody Hanson, Johnson County Government director of Public Affairs and Communications.
Learn more about the contest, including the contest rules. You can also download our template for
submission.
Transportation Enrollment
Transportation enrollment for the 2022/2023 school year is underway and runs through July 22, 2022.
To access the enrollment information, please click here.
The enrollment form is a PDF you can complete, save, and email to First Student. You can submit your form by saving a copy of the completed PDF and emailing to usd231transportation@firstgroup.com or you can drop it off at our office (19450 S. Gardner Road).
Madison PTA
Interested in the Madison PTA Happenings? Stay in the know!
The Madison Elementary PTA Executive Board is excited about the upcoming 2022-23 school year! PTA works to enhance student experience throughout the school year including supplementing the funding for Field Day, Pancake Bingo/Auction Night, School Carnival, 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: Diane Owen
Email us at: Madisonbearpta@gmail.com Like us on Facebook "Madison Elementary PTA Gardner, KS"
Information will be coming soon regarding how to join and support the Madison Elementary PTA.
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