News From The Nest🦅
Madison Elementary Parent Newsletter August 2024
Back to School!
Arrival & Dismissal!
Our school start time is 8:35am! All students should be dropped of at the main entrance to line up at their classroom cones. Administrators will meet students outside as early as 8:20 to supervise as they wait for their teachers. Please note, students will not be able to access the building prior to 8:35, so please plan accordingly. In the event of inclement weather, students will line up at cones inside, but not before 8:20am! In the interest of safety, please avoid dropping students off before 8:20, as there will be no supervision prior to that time! All tardy students must check in with the office before reporting to class.
Regular dismissal is at 3:25pm, and on half-days students will be dismissed at 12:00pm. 1st and 5th graders will exit out the main entrance, 2nd and 4th graders will exit at door 12, and 3rd graders will exit at door 10. Students will not be released to cars that are not in designated pick-up spots: at the curb in the pick-up lane (main entrance), or an actual parking spot (doors 10 & 12). Use the button below to access a full diagram and explanation of our parking lot rules and reminders. Please pack your patience as we all get used to our processes and procedures, and remember these guidelines are designed to keep your students safe, so thanks in advance for your compliance!
Late Pick-Up Policy
At the end of last year we implemented a new late pick-up policy. Staff members are often involved in afterschool activities, meetings and other commitments that prevent them from being able to supervise students beyond dismissal. To address this issue and help ensure the welfare of all students, we are enforcing the following policy:
Any pick-up occurring beyond 3:35 (10 minutes after scheduled dismissal) is considered late. Parents will receive a verbal reminder from school staff after the first late pick-up, emphasizing the importance of timely arrival. Monetary fines will be imposed for subsequent late pick-ups within the academic year, as follows:
$10 for the first 15 minutes, with an additional $1 for every minute thereafter.
Parents will receive written notification of any fines incurred due to late pick-ups.
We value the trust you have placed in us to care for your child, and we believe that open communication is vital in addressing issues effectively. Therefore, we kindly request that you make every effort to adhere to the pick-up schedule in the future. If you anticipate any challenges in doing so, please do not hesitate to communicate with us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Transportation
MDPS is looking forward to the opportunity to transport your child in a safe and efficient manner this year. We provide transportation for all elementary students who live within the district or in Pontiac. If your child is in need of transportation use the link below to submit your request. Once your request has been submitted, please allow at least 2-3 business days for your child to be routed, and then you will be contacted by the transportation director with specific details regarding pick-up/drop-off. All parents with students enrolled through "schools of choice" are responsible for providing their own transportation. If you have any questions regarding transportation, please contact Cat Vyse at 248-548-1800 x 1207 or 248-953-7423.
Learning Tree School-Age Child Care
If your child is in need of before or after-school care, our Learning Tree program will be available at the Early Childhood Center for a small nominal fee. All MES Learning Tree students will be bused from ECC to MES in the morning, and then taken back to ECC after school as well. Registration packets are available in the main office. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa DiGuilio or Michelle Scott at 248-399-7800.
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.
Parent Square (No More Dojo!)
We will no longer use Dojo as a communication method. We will use Parent Square so we are aligned with the rest of the district. Parent Square will be used to send mass reminders and updates via text, voicemail and/or email. Newsletters and other written communication will be distributed through this system. In order to receive these messages, it is necessary to activate your account with your current email address and phone number on file with the office. If you have not received a mass email or voicemail from me within this past week, please call the office to make sure we have accurate contact information for you on file or provide an update if necessary.
Teachers will also be utilizing this platform to share pertinent classroom information, direct messages and pictures to give your glimpses of what's going on here at school, so make sure you're connected so you don't miss anything!
Emergency Contact Verification
Instead of the paper emergency contact card and packet we've sent home in the past, this year we are asking parents to verify enrollment and contact information, and fill out all required forms electronically in MiStar using Parent Connect. Step-by-step directions are provided for you below.
It is imperative that we have multiple means of contacting you or someone you trust to be responsible for your child in case of an emergency. If any of the information you provide at this time changes at any time in the future, please make sure you contact the main office to make the necessary adjustments so we always have accurate and up-to-date information on file.
In addition to verifying contact information, you will also find a "Chromebook Acceptable Use Form". This will need to be signed in order for your student to receive their Chromebook for the school year. Other important documents included are a: student behavior compact, walking field trip permission slip, photo release form, and concussion sheet. Please read through each item carefully, then sign and return them as soon as possible to complete your child's files.
**Steps to Complete the Enrollment Verification:**
1. Log in to Mistar ParentConnection using the link below:
(https://mistar.oakland.k12.mi.us/madison/parentportal/).
2. Navigate to the "Mandatory Enrollment Verification" section (top right corner)-See photo below.
3. Carefully review and update the necessary information.
4. Submit the completed forms.
Nut-Restricted Environment!
When preparing lunches and/or snacks for your children, please be mindful of our nut-restriction policy. We have students with severe allergies that can be dangerously harmful if they come in contact with products that contain nuts, so for their safety, please read ALL labels carefully to ensure that you don't send ANYTHING with nuts or made in a facility that processes products made with nuts to school. This includes birthday treats and snacks. Anything brought to school with the intent to share with others MUST be inspected by the office prior to distribution, and MUST contain an original label detailing all ingredients. If there is no label, it can not be served! Therefore, all homemade treats are prohibited! This is the only way to ensure the safety of all students, so we appreciate your diligence in adhering to these guidelines. Use the button below to access our full nut-restriction policy.
PTO Needs Y-O-U!
Last year, we were blessed with a small group of parents who were willing to take on the task of rebuilding and rebranding our Parent-Teacher Organization. They have laid the groundwork and would now like to encourage others to collaborate and assist. Please consider joining forces with them to help provide additional support and resources for our students and staff! The board will have it's first meeting on Thursday, September 5th at 4:00pm. They are looking for new leadership and thought partners, so if you're interested, please contact them at madisonschoolspto@gmail.com to find out how you can help, or even offer some ideas of your own! Use the link below to check out what they've done so far!
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