Climate and Culture Newsletter

October 15 - Sinking Fund Informational Meeting @ 6:00pm (Virtual)

October 22 - Sinking Fund Informational Meeting @ 6:00pm (Virtual)

October 25 - End of Quarter One

October 29 - Sinking Fund Informational Meeting @ 6:00pm (Wilkinson Middle School)

The Stay & Play Social Club is a Royal Oak-based organization that includes a diverse network of friends, young professionals and active individuals. They offer a variety of sports each season, as well as events focused on both personal and professional development.

Co-ed Volleyball Leagues play at Wilkinson Middle School Monday-Thursday. Winter 2025 registration opens November 10th, click HERE for more information.

The Madison METRO adult transition program will be rolling out their bagel/coffee cart. Ordering email will go out the Monday before. Contact Christina Coden if you have any questions.

Using a Graffiti Brainstorm teaching strategy is a great way to activate students’ knowledge about a topic of study. It is really important that we as teachers add variety to our lessons. No student wants to read and answer questions every class. Students need time to interact with their peers and share their ideas. This teaching strategy is fantastic as it adds a different element to your lessons beyond the textbook. Click HERE for more information and step by step directions for implementation.

Graffiti Walls are a simple, fun, and interactive way to get kids involved in their learning. All you need is a blank whiteboard or some sheets of butcher paper to get started. Kids can write, draw, and express themselves as they learn and review a variety of subjects. Click HERE to access 20 engaging ways to teach with Graffiti Walls.

Formerly recognized as Christopher Columbus' Day, a total of 20 states including Michigan now recognize this federal holiday as Indigenous People's Day. This shift in recognition started with a conference in the United Nations in 1977 and has grown steadily since. This effort calls on us to reframe our understanding of the "discovery" of "new lands" by European powers, and to respect those peoples who had built civilizations and cultures that persevered for thousands of years prior to European contact.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Since the 1980s, October has been designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month to raise public awareness of and advocate for the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome. Click HERE for "31 facts for 31 Days"

National Principals Month

October is National Principals Month! Show your appreciation by visiting principalsmonth.org to find ways to celebrate the amazing principals in Madison District Public Schools. Let’s make this month special for those who have made a major impact! #ThankAPrincipal #NationalPrincipalsMonth

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For nearly four decades now, the country has recognized October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time annually devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer — including metastatic breast cancer (MBC) — and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care. In 2024, more than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Elementary Special Education Paraprofessional @ MES

Head Custodian @ ECC

Math/Science Teacher @ WMS

Previous Climate and Culture Newsletters can be accessed on the district webpage under Staff Links > Staff Resources.

Did you know there is an area on the district website dedicated to staff? It's called Staff Links (found in the upper right corner of the website). You can find helpful information like Whom to Ask and the CARE WorkLife Solutions flyer under Staff Resources. You can also access important forms like FMLA and Employee Report of Injury under Human Resources.

October 19 - Skelebration Trail, Madison Heights Civic Center Park, 6:00pm - 9:00pm

October 26 - Trunk or Treat, Madison Heights Civic Center Park, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

November 1 - The Great Pumpkin Roll Down, Civic Center Shelter Building, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

The SET SEG Foundation is once again partnering with the Michigan Association of School Boards to honor Michigan public school programs with the Education Excellence Awards. Ten educational programs within Michigan public schools and/or ISDs will be awarded the grant to continue their positive influence on their students and community.

Deadline is December 9, 2024. Click HERE to apply.

Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys recognizes an Exceptional Educator each month and donates $1,000 to their classroom, program, or school.

"We see educators giving back everyday and want to honor their immense contribution to our community. In our schools, extra-curricular activities and churches, there are people really making a difference in our children’s lives. We would like your help in recognizing some of these Exceptional Educators."

Click HERE for additional information.

Click HERE to nominate an Exceptional Educator.

October 15 - I Love Lucy Day

October 18 - Chocolate Cupcake Day

October 21 - Count Your Buttons Day

October 24 - Bologna day

October 27 - American Beer Day

October 30 - Candy Corn Day

The moon sits at 3,400 kilometers (2,113 miles) in diameter, while Australia’s diameter from east to west is almost 4,000 km (2,485 miles). The Moon, as a sphere, has more surface area, but it's still pretty impressive.

Amy Conrad - October 1

Roderick Pitts - October 6

Fadwa Dawd - October 8

Pontsho Kgope - October 15

Abbey Collins - October 16

Peggy Shamoun - October 16

Scott Stinson - October 17

Don Gerard - October 18

Denise Beguhn - October 20

Kim Cardenas - October 20

Felecia Hemingway - October 22

David Shaw - October 22

Michael Caruso - October 26

Sarah Gaynor - October 29

Keisha Newman - October 29

Rasha Essa - October 30

Cathy Gifford - October 30

Aaron Ondra - October 30

PJ Elam - October 3 (30 years)

Sheila Fisher - October 3 (11 years)

Margi Nelson - October 4 (16 years)

Aaron Ondra - October 6 (10 years)

Julekha Chowdhury - October 10 (8 years)

Keisha Newman - October 10 (8 years)

Kim Cardenas - October 12 (1 year)

Ashley Kudla - October 14 (5 years)

Amanda Brown - October 15 (3 years)

Marjon Jones - October 16 (1 year)

Maya Farhat - October 17 (8 years)

Belinda Masterson - October 17 (2 years)

Ivanna Sayajon - October 23 (16 years)

Sonja Stauffer - October 24 (8 years)

Theresa Seid - October 27 (12 years)

Demario Humphries - October 30 (1 year)

Danielle Sulfridge - October 30 (27 years)

Click HERE to access the MDPS 2024-2025 Calendar.

If you would like to include a Staff Shout-Out or Staff Spotlight in the next newsletter (10/25), email the information to Pam Vermiglio at pam.vermiglio@madisondistrict.org. If possible, please include a picture.

Self-care for educators is an essential practice if you want to avoid chronic stress, burnout, and limited productivity. Banish any guilt you associate with self-care, and think of it as the only way to offer your best self to others. And remember, you deserve to be cared for too!

CARE Worklife Solutions is our Employee Assistance Program provider. They are staffed with experienced counselors to help with a variety of issues including:

• Short-term counseling for you and your immediate family members
• Child care, elder care, family worries, grief and loss
• Grief and loss
• Referrals to providers, specialists and resources to meet specific work, life or caregiving needs
• Password access website resources and support

Please click HERE for more information.

Use the Google spreadsheet to add building events/activities, personal "good news" (graduations, engagements, son/daughter college commitment, etc), staff spotlights/shout-outs, etc. for the newsletter.

The spreadsheet has tabs at the bottom for each month. Staff birthdays and employment anniversary dates should not be added to the spreadsheet (I already have those dates).

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O5IpTg6k9YR4tsO3hgO30t9uV-1SU08vgQQ8FaLKbws/edit?usp=sharing

Email: pam.vermiglio@madisondistrict.org
Website: www.madisondistrict.org
Office Phone: 248-399-7800 ext. 3407