Madrona Bear Facts: Week 21

Hi folks, your friendly MIT Communications Coordinator here😁

I don't usually write to you directly, but I got such a wonderful heartfelt thank you over the weekend for this newsletter, and it reminded me it's been a while since I've asked for feedback -- it really was great to hear directly from a reader!

It's amazing when I hear feedback from people who read this newsletter, positive or constructive, it's always a gift and always used to understand what's working and what isn't. You can send me feedback anytime at MITCommCoordinator@gmail.com, or you can simply use this form to let me know what you think, what's working, and anything that could be better.

The form is only 2 questions and should take just a moment to complete.

Thank you in advance!!!

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New & Timely Business

🆘 Get Involved

📅 Upcoming Dates

🧠 Madrona Tips & Tidbits

🚦Traffic Light at 236th & SR-104 (Edmonds Way)

😹 Edmonds Comedy Night - Win tickets!

⭐ MCT Program Ads and Shoutouts

🤫 MCT Silent Auction

🥪 This Week's Menu

Repeat & Future Information

👠 MCT Job Postings

👟 Madrona Miles Club!

📚 The Yearbook

💵 MIT Scholarship Program

🍽️ Free & Reduced Lunch Application

⭐ Notes from MIT

Check your center's email, newsletter, and with parent coordinators for additional volunteer opportunities

Difficulty out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = # critters you win

First 3 correct guesses get the prize

If there are multiple difficulties, there will be 3 per difficulty

This Week

Difficulty this week:⭐⭐⭐

Have fun and good luck!

Last Week

Congrats to last week's winners!

Difficulty last week:

⭐- Year of the Snake

Chinese New Year, Spring Festival

We had LOTS of correct answers

Not sure what a critter is? Check out our past Tips & Tidbits for this and other great info

Submit a theme idea

In this section you will find items that are new to the newsletter this week, or that are coming up very soon

This is your shortcut to all the current volunteer opportunities at Madrona.

Click any of the images for more information or to sign up.

• All volunteers must be cleared by Safe Visitor Solutions before volunteering in any capacity at Madrona. Complete your paperwork now!
• Please allow up to two weeks for notification from the district about clearance
• All volunteers must have either an ID badge or sticker from the office visible while on campus

Unsure if your volunteer status is still good? Please contact the Educational Services Center communications@edmonds.wednet.edu

2/10 🎶 Elementary & MS Choir @ Edmonds Woodway High School

2/11 🎹 MS & Adv. Elem. Band @ Edmonds Woodway High School

2/11 🏫 MIT General Meeting

2/11 🎟️ Guesses for Edmonds Comedy Night Ticket Contest Due

2/12 🎻 MS & Adv. Elem Orchestra @ Edmonds Woodway High School

2/17 🚫 No School - Presidents' Day

2/21 & 2/22 😹 Edmonds Comedy Night

3/3 ⭐ MCT Program Ads and Shoutouts Due

3/8/2025, 10am-4pm 🎭MCT Costume parade

3/17 🤫 Silent Auction Donations Due

3/15/2025, 10am-4pm 🎭 MCT Sitzprobe*

3/27, 7 pm 🎭MCT Wizard of Oz opening night

3/28, 7pm 🎭 MCT Wizard of Oz performance

3/29, 7pm 🎭 MCT Wizard of Oz performance

3/30, 1pm 🎭 MCT Wizard of Oz matinee

4/23 🤖 STEAM Night

Full calendar on Madrona BearFacts

Add the MIT Google Calendar to your own

Email madronachildrenstheatre@gmail.com to be added to the MCT Mailing List!

Add the MCT Google Calendar to your own

*What is a Sitzprobe?

Sitzprobe sounds like some sort of weird alien autopsy but it’s basically orchestra day where the kids get their first chance to sing together with the live band.

MCT = Madrona's Children's Theatre

The whole MIT community (That includes you!) is welcome and encouraged to attend

We will have middle school volunteers available to babysit potty-trained school age children during the General Meeting. Tips are appreciated.

Agenda items will include:

• Theatre shoes for MIT
• Update on MIT Grants
• And more!

If you have an agenda item you'd like to add, please complete this form, and use the provided presentation template

In person attendance is recommended. Zoom will be available for those who are unable to join in person.

Bekki Lyon, a parent educator and head of the Family Life Education Department (FLED) at Edmonds College will be speaking about bullying

• The actual definition
• What to do as a parent of a child being bullied
• What to do as the parent of the child doing the bullying
• Who to talk to when it happens
• Much more!

Tired of waiting forever to turn on 236th to get to school because there's no left turn arrow? Frustrated that the light takes over 5 minutes to change when leaving school because there's no sensor?

The intersection at 236th & SR-104 (Edmonds Way) is already being considered by the City of Edmonds for a left hand turn light this year. However, there are other intersections being considered that may be prioritized over ours. We, as parents, at Madrona, know how to band together and get things done. Let's show the City of Edmonds that our intersection should be a priority for improvements.

Below is the contact information for the City of Edmonds Transportation Engineer. Please write, call, or contact him to show him that this intersection is important! We've written a letter that you're welcome to use that is linked below as well.

Bertrand Hauss, PE - Transportation Engineer

Public Works Engineering Division

City Hall - Second Floor

121 5th Ave N

Edmonds, WA 98020

425-754-5325

bertrand.hauss@edmondswa.gov

February 21st & 22nd!

Grab your family and/or friends and join us for a gut busting good time of clean adult humor with 4 nationally known comedians. Hosted by Edmonds' own Kermet Apio, this show promises to be an event you can't miss!

Parent Leaders for the Edmonds School District are organizing Edmonds Comedy Night, where nationally recognized comics will treat our community to two wonderful nights of comedy. Each year, this event nearly sells out with over 1,400 attendees from the local community. It is definitely a ‘can’t miss event!

Get your tickets here - Be sure to select Madrona from the Parent Group dropdown at checkout gets our school $10 per ticket!

👇 It will look like this 👇

MCT is giving away 2 tickets to this event

All Correct Answers Will Be Entered to Win

Answer is related to Madrona

We will pick a winner randomly from everyone who submits a correct answer to this puzzle

Submit guesses by 2/11

So far, we only have ONE correct answer submitted

Every correct answer has a chance to win

Get your guess in today!!!!!

Madrona Children's Theatre is offering advertising space in their printed programs

• Do you have a business or know of businesses that would like to advertise?
• Would you like to give a personalized message to your thespian?
• Prices start at $20
• Submission deadline is 3/3
• Email jpeg or png file of your ad with ad size & (for shoutouts) student's name to MCTDonation@gmail.com

Convenient payment methods available

• Square via MIT store or checks
• Please have checks payable to Madrona Children's Theatre, note ad size and child's name in memo
• Checks can be given to any of the MCT producers

Madrona Children's Theatre will have a silent auction during each of the four shows of the Wizard of Oz

• All proceeds go towards funding next year's production
• We need your help to make this event successful
• All donations big or small are appreciated
• We plan to create gift baskets, so small items like a bag of coffee, box of chocolate, or $5 gift card are great
• Donation drop box will be in the MIT office starting 2/5
• Donations due 3/17

If you have any questions or are interested in being part of the silent auction committee, please email Sunshine at MCTDonation@gmail.com

Subject to change

See the menu any time at MySchoolMenus.com

In this section you will find repeat postings for items that are in the future to help you plan

Meet at the Madrona K-8 Track

• Bring your running/walking shoes
• Wear clothes to participate in
• Bring your own water bottle
• Have a good attitude!

The goal of the Madrona Miles Club is to provide a free, fun, and inclusive program where students can exercise with friends, improve their fitness, and learn about the importance of healthy living.

The club aims to foster a positive attitude toward physical activity, encourage regular exercise, and promote lifelong healthy habits in a supportive and social environment.

Students need to be registered for Madrona Miles Club this year so our school nurse can cross check for any health concerns. Register now

Madrona Miles Club is a DROP IN program, once you are registered, come when you can.

Care givers and family members are welcome (and encouraged!) to stay and walk/jog with their kids, but you can also drop them off and go.

Questions? Email Mr. Barnes at barnesju@edmonds.wednet.edu

Order your yearbook

• $30 per yearbook (+ any addons)
• This is the one and only time to order yearbooks for the 2024-2025 school year
• At the end of the school year there is a giant all school yearbook signing party.
• Students pick up their yearbooks and join the party!
• Pens are usually available for ~$1 in case kids don't have one handy

Do you have clear pictures from Bear Scare? What about the jazz concert last week? We'll take them all!

• Please use the QR code this link or the button below to upload your photos for yearbook consideration.
• You'll have to verify your email each time you visit the site, but you can upload multiple photos at a time.
• Please add information through the tool about who is in each picture.

We greatly appreciate all of your contributions to make the 24-25 yearbook spectacular!

MIT understands that the costs associated with school may be a hardship for some families. The MIT community has determined that it is important to support our community during this time.

MIT has updated our scholarship program, so it is no longer dependent on qualifying for Free & Reduced Lunch

The fees covered by the Scholarship Program include:

• Supply fees (also available under Free and Reduced Lunch benefits)

• One ticket to Bear Scare

• One Enrichment class per year

• Field trip fees (also available under Free and Reduced Lunch benefits)

• One yearbook & one pen

Anyone who thinks the cost of these items may be a hardship for their family should apply.

Full information and application

If you need to check on your application status or have questions regarding your eligibility, call the Food & Nutrition Department at 425-431-7078.

Hi! I'm Beth Jester, your friendly MIT Communications Coordinator

I hope you're enjoying the newsletter, including all the updates we've made over the last 6+ months to help make it more consumable and engaging.

🎁 Feedback is always a gift, and I invite you to give us the gift of your feedback!

Please email me with feedback and suggestions including, but not limited to:

• What do you like
• What could improve
• Suggest a theme
• Any other feedback or suggestions!

Do you have an article you’d like included in our weekly email? Please email your blurb to Beth at MITCommCoordinator@gmail.com, or submit online by Friday at noon to be included the edition going out that Sunday. Please include if you’d like the article to run for multiple weeks.

Interpretation for families is available through the school district for MIT events.

To request ASL interpretation, email aslrequests@edmonds.wednet.edu

To request other language interpretation, call or email Kelly Carlson at carlsonka@edmonds.wednet.edu | 425-431-2900

* Families that need interpretation must register in advance: We need 7 days to schedule interpreters for events.

* Familias que necesitan interpretación deben registrarse con anticipación: Necesitamos 7 días para programar intérpretes para los eventos.

*통역이 필요한 가족들은 미리 등록을 해야 합니다: 행사를 위한 통역관을 준비하는데3일이필요합니다.

* Các gia đình cần thông dịch phải đăng ký trước: Chúng tôi cần 7 ngày để sắp xếp thông dịch viên cho các sự kiện.

* Семьи, которые нуждаются в переводчике должны зарегистрироваться заранее: нам необходимо 7 дополнительных дня, чтобы заказать переводчика для мероприятия.

بالنسبة للعائلات التي بحاجة إلى مترجم يجب عليهم أن يسجلوا مسبقاً: نحن بحاجة إلى 7 أيام لتأمين جدول مواعيد للمترجمين لهذه الأحداث*