News From The Nest🦅
Madison Elementary Parent Newsletter September 2023
September Already?!
📅 Save The Date..Mark Your Calendars!
September 1- No School for Labor Day
September 4- No School for Labor Day
September 11-MDPS Board of Education Meeting 7pm-WMS
September 12-MES Open House 6:00pm-7:30pm
September 15-1st Day of Hispanic Heritage Month
September 21- PTO Meeting 6:30pm
September 27-Picture Day
MES Open House
Come to our Open House on Tuesday, September 12th at 6:00 and see where the magic happens! We will begin all together in the cafetorium for general announcements and school-wide information, and then each grade level will present specifc details about their classrooms like schedules, expectations, communication methods, and so much more! There will be two sessions so you'll have an opportunity to attend more than one if you have multiple children.
Open House Schedule
6:00pm Whole Group Meeting in Cafetorium
6:30pm Session 1-Grade level Presentations
7:00pm Session 2-Grade level Presentations
Specials teachers will be available in their classrooms to answer questions, and you can see the members of our Literacy Team for reading tips and books to take home with you!
The PTO will also have a table where you can ask questions or sign up to get involved!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
National Hispanic Heritage Month!
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Hispanic communities. Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 will last from Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, October 15, 2023. During National Hispanic Heritage Month, the U.S. government celebrates and honors the countless contributions and achievements of more than 60 million Hispanic Americans, Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx-identifying people within our society. Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States today, and generations of Hispanic Americans have consistently helped make our country strong and prosperous. They contribute to our nation beyond description. Hispanic Americans embody the best of our American values, including commitment to faith, family, and country, and many have left an indelible mark on our government, culture, and economy. So during this month, we will proudly recognize and celebrate the culture and accomplishments of various Hispanic Americans across our country through books, videos and activities within our classrooms. Here at Madison, we value inclusivity and respect for others within and beyond our school community and are committed to creating a learning environment that embraces diversity and promotes harmony so all of our students learn to thrive in our global society despite our differences.
😁SMILE, Say Cheese!😁
Picture Day is coming on Wednesday, September 27th! All students will be photographed on Picture Day! Once completed, proofs will be distributed and sent home with your students. If you like them, you can decide to place an order and purchase picture packages or other items on mylifetouch.com using this Picture Day ID number: EVTFR8F94. You can also place your order before Picture Day if you like!
Check Out These DAPCEP STEM Programs!
Our district is looking for students who would like to participate in DAPCEP (Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program)! It’s not free, but the cost is only $25 (per class for upper el)/$100 (lower el) for 6 Saturdays! Financial aid can be applied for through the program, however partial scholarships and transportation may also be available through the district, depending on how much interest there is. It’s in Detroit, but there are both onsite, and virtual classes available. This is a great opportunity to expose students to more science and math and the classes sound like so much fun! Please email me or your child's teacher to let us know if you're interested! Classes begin as early as September 23rd, so let us know as soon as possible!
Here is a link for more info and registration procedures for Pre-K through 3rd: https://www.dapcep.org/saturday-classes/
Here's the link for more info and registration procedures for 4th-5th: https://www.dapcep.org/pathfinders-4-12/
If you have middle school or high school aged children, there are classes available for them as well!
Daisies Are Still Going Strong!
I'm excited to announce we will cotinue to have a Daisy Troop at Madison again this year! Daisies are now open to Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade. Meetings will be held at MES on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. For more specific details, use the contact information found on the flyer above! Use the QR code to sign-up or renew your membership to be ready for the 1st meeting, this Thursday at 6:00pm.
I'm hoping we will be able to reestablish a Brownie and/or Junior troop this year, along with a BoyScout pack as well, but this will require adult volunteers! If this sounds like something you or someone you know would be interested in helping with, please contact me directly to discuss the details!
Let's Get It Poppin'!
Friday, September 22nd, we will have our first popcorn sale of the year! Each bag of popcorn costs $1 and students can purchase as many as they'd like! The proceeds go to our PTO to help fund school events and activities. Order forms will be sent home on Monday, September 18th!
We are also still looking for volunteers to help pop popcorn each Friday! If you're available on Fridays from 9am-1pm , use the button below to sign up!
Congrats to our September Students of the Month!
Kaden Hart-5th Grader
Kaden brings a steady and calm demeanor to our school that helps anchor the class and focus our minds. But don’t let that calm outside fool you, he is also a fierce competitor and steadfast friend to all who need it. He can always be counted on to make good choices and show others what a true MES eagle looks like!
Harleigh Hill-5th Grader
Harleigh started off this year the same way she ended last year, with high energy and a positive outlook. She is always kind and ready and willing to help whenever needed! She is consistently a fantastic role model for all of her peers! Her hard work and positive attitude brighten up the classroom and help make any day a great day to be an eagle at Madison Elementary!
We Appreciate our September Employee of the Month!
Roberta Libstaff-Music Teacher
Roberta Libstaff is a music educator at Madison Elementary and the Madison Early Childhood Center. She has been with the district for twenty-three years. Mrs. Libstaff is an active member of the Madison Elementary PTO, Madison DEI Committee and is a representative for the Oakland Fine Arts Council. She is married to her husband, Kristofer and has a cat named Mitzi. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, teaching flute lessons, and playing her flute at church with concert bands. According to her colleagues, Mrs. Libstaff is the definition of a team player. She goes above and beyond for her students and fellow staff. She is always willing to help out with just about anything and she attends after school functions for students and staff. When Roberta is going to be absent, she not only creates lesson plans for a guest teacher, but she will also prepare stuff for the classroom teachers in the event that there is not a guest teacher to fill her absence. She constantly seeks what best practices are for her students and takes student progress to heart. Mrs. Libstaff always makes sure she includes everyone, whether it is special needs students in concerts, or colleagues with her great treats or after work adventures. Although she does not have an official leadership role or title, she is always willing to step in whenever needed. When we are low on guest teachers, she will walk around and offer breaks to teachers that missed their prep. Roberta has a heart of gold! Thank you Roberta for being a team player.
Capturing Kids' Hearts!
At MES, we believe it is just as important to nuture your children's hearts as it is to expand their minds by establishing an environment where every student feels valued and loved. Last year, we were recognized as a "Showcase School" for doing just that! As a part of our SEL curriculum, we will continue to use CKH to help all of our students learn how to build and maintain relationships with others, as well as how to understand and manage their emotions appropriately. Each month we will focus on specific characteristics designed to help establish and promote a positive school climate and healthy environment in which we all can learn. Attached to the button below you will find a more detailed explaination of Capturing Kids' Hearts, and suggested ways to help support these same ideas at home.
This Month's Focus is Empathy!
Empathy is the ability to be aware of, understand, and be sensitive to another person’s feelings. Instead of focusing on how these feelings impact ourselves, empathy motivates us to focus on others and respond with care and compassion.
Why focus on Empathy?
- Empathy builds positive classroom culture. Empathy empowers students to learn to understand each other to build trust and safety in the classroom.
- Empathy strengthens communities. Empathy helps students strengthen their relationships with classmates, other students, and adults at school, and at home.
- Empathy prepares your students to be leaders in their community. The best leaders understand the people they lead and are able to show they care.
Empathy in Action:
- Take a different perspective. When you take a different perspective, you put aside your own feelings and reactions to see the situation through another’s eyes.
- Put aside judgment. Take a pause, and rather than express conclusions about a situation based on what you see, step back and consider other things you may still need to know or understand.
- Communicate that you understand. Instead of giving advice, respond with reflective phrases like, “It sounds like you...” or “I hear that you...” to express that you understand and care.
Let's Keep In Touch!
As we partner together this school year, consistent communication will be essential. There are three main methods we will use to inform, alert, or remind you of incidents and emergencies, upcoming events, good news and any other information pertinent to your child's educational experience. Getting these messages to you may be time sensitive and extremely important so please be sure to update your contact information with the main office any time a change has been made.
Phone/Email
If any staff member needs to speak with you directly regarding your student specifically, we will reach out via phone or email. If you need to contact us, the number to the main office is 248-542-3414, follow the prompts and Mrs. Andrews will be happy to assist you. If it is an urgent matter requiring immediate attention, you may contact me directly via email at felecia.hemingway@madisondistrict.org or at 248-953-0298 which is my work cell. Please make sure you have up-to-date contact information on file, with at least 2 additional contacts in case of an emergency. It is important for us to be able to reach you (or another responsible adult) whenever necessary!
Class Dojo
Please make sure you are connected to Dojo through your child’s teacher. This is one of the most efficient ways for me to message the entire student body quickly. I may post updates or reminders of upcoming events, as well as impromptu messages in case of emergencies. Teachers will also be communicating about their classrooms through Dojo, so make sure you’re not only connected, but that you are checking your messages and stories regularly.
School Messenger
Want Some MES Gear to Show Your School Pride?
Join our MES Spirit Wear Store! The store has tons of product and design options for you to choose from, allowing you to customize the perfect spirit wear made just for you! Your purchase can also help us raise money for our school, so it's a win-win for everyone! Click the button below to join, so you can pick out what you'd like to purchase right away, and/or be kept up to date on new products, sales and special promotions to buy from the site at another time. Don't miss a chance to show everyone you meet what MES Eagle Pride looks like!
Madison Elementary School
Felecia Hemingway, Principal
Tung Tran, Assistant Principal
Email: felecia.hemingway@madisondistrict.org
Website: https://es.madisondistrict.org/
Location: 27107 Hales Street, Madison Heights, MI, USA
Phone: 248-542-3414