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 23rd -

• Madison Monday

Wednesday, October 25th-

• Early Dismissal! Don't forget those kiddos!

Thursday, October 26th-

• Picture Retake Day
• Fire Safety Presentations

Monday- Day 1

Tuesday- Day 2

Wednesday- Day 3

Thursday- Day 4

Friday- Day 5

Bear Family,

What a beautiful week! It was an awesome week at Madison. PTA's Fall Family Night was a big success and I enjoyed seeing so many bears there. On the 31st, we will be having our school wide fall celebrations. I ask that you send your students IN COSTUME that morning. We will start our day with an in-school parade (students only). Our classroom parties will be held from 2:30-3:00. There will be sign in tables for any grown up that decides to attend. Please make sure you indicate on the sign in sheet how your child will be getting home. I want to ensure that everyone is accounted for and getting home safely. Here are a few rules about costumes on the 31st, if you choose to wear one: No weapons/ toy weapons. No fake blood. Students are not allowed to wear a mask that covers their face. Students are to still follow the general district dress code and not wear anything that would have profanity, drugs, alcohol, or any other offensive pictures and/or language on or as part of their costume. Please be aware that, because of the parade, young students will see these costumes, so please also refrain from costumes that might be frightening. Thank you!!

That is all for this week! I hope you all enjoy your long 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!

Everyone should have received their child's Square1Art project and fundraiser brochure by now. Please shop at square1art.com/shop and use the "access code" located on your brochure. Keep in mind the holidays and other events that your child's work on an item would be a perfect gift. The students are very proud of their art projects and the opportunity for the Beartime classroom at MDE to receive funds to enhance their learning experience. Please order by November 10th, the fundraiser deadline, for funds to be shared with our Madison students!

Jeanne Fitzgerald

Bear Time Teacher

I wanted to formally invite you and all of your students to our Inclusive Trunk or Treat hosted by Legends Toyota on Oct. 30 from 5:00-7:00 pm.

This is a chance for students of all abilities to get candy and celebrate in an inclusive and safe environment. We will also have many of our community partners there to hand out resources and teach families about what they have to offer. This is a FREE event for students of all ages and abilities! I have attached our flyer, please let your students know about this opportunity!

Hope to see you there!

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.

Madison bears and families,

My name is Leanne Dalley and I am overjoyed to introduce myself as the new social worker at MDE. I have worked with children and families in many different capacities over the last fifteen years. These include mental health, school based case management, foster care and adoption. I truly enjoy connecting, helping and working with students in the school setting. I have earned my bachelors in social work from the University of Kansas and my masters in social work from the University of Missouri- Kansas City.

When not at school I enjoy spending time with my family and being part of my children’s activities and sports.

I’m looking forward to supporting students and families at MDE and being part of a wonderful team! I can be reached at dalleyl@usd231.com or at 913-837-0400.

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.

In the event USD 231 closes school due to inclement weather or other school-related closures, the information is communicated as soon as the decision is made in the following ways:

• Posted on our website - www.usd231.com
• Posted to social media ( https://www.facebook.com/gardneredgerton and https://twitter.com/gardneredgerton.
• Local television stations (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC)* Please know we are at the mercy of these stations as to whether or not they relay the information. There have been instances when the district has provided information, and the news station did not get it posted.
• Thrillshare App ( Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apptegy.gardner&hl=en_US OR Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/usd-231-gardner-edgerton/id1446800227)

Our inclement weather procedures can be found here: https://www.usd231.com/o/district/page/inclement-weather-procedures

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

To improve our practices, parent input related to home and school collaboration is appreciated. Please take a few minutes (3 to 4) to complete this SURVEY.

You may complete one survey for your family or complete a separate survey for each school your children attend. The survey will close at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 27.

Again, thank you in advance as we strive to enhance collaborative relationships between our schools and families, all in the best interest of our students.

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

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.