Madrona Family Memo
Our Wild Cat Motto: Be Responsible, Be Respectful!
Friday, January 3, 2025 - Happy New Year!
Dear Madrona Families,
We look forward to seeing our students back on campus this Monday, January 6!
As we start 2025, I am reflective and proud of the growth our Madrona students have achieved in a little over four months.
Our students are embracing challenges with resilience and curiosity. Whether tackling complex math concepts, exploring scientific questions, or expressing creativity through writing and art, they are making meaningful progressโoften in ways they may not even recognize.
Equally inspiring is their growth in social-emotional skills. Through teamwork, collaboration, and leadership opportunities, our students are building empathy, confidence, and their sense of community. Theyโre learning to navigate relationships, celebrate diversity, and support one another, all of which are vital skills for life beyond middle school.
None of this would be possible without youโour incredible Madrona families. Your unwavering support, encouragement, and partnership are pivotal to our studentsโ success. To our parents, guardians, and extended family members, Thank you! Whether attending school events, volunteering, cheering from the sidelines, assisting with homework, or simply being there to listen and encourage your student. Your engagement enriches our community and sets a powerful example of the importance of connection. Thank you!
I also want to recognize our dedicated staff, whose passion for teaching and commitment to fostering a love for learning in and beyond the classroom.
Academic and Elective options such as Art, Band/Music, Guitar, Leadership, Sports Management, PLTW, Journalism, 6th-grade Enrichment, GATE activities, intramural sports, eSports, and the Science Olympiad, along with clubs such as art club, cinema club, math club, ultimate frisbee, and homework club, provide countless opportunities for our students to explore their interests and build their sense of belonging by tapping into their strengths.
As we welcome 2025, I remain committed to supporting our students in their journey of growth and discovery, ensuring they are ready for the transition to high school. Hereโs to celebrating many more student milestones and achievements!
Thank you for being an integral part of our Madrona community. Wishing you and your family a joyful and prosperous start to the new year. Go Wildcats!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Sue S. Key, Ed.D., Principal
Madrona Middle School
HOMEWORK CLUB
Calling all students with a growth mindset! Come to Madrona Homework Club for a quiet space to do homework and get help from the supervising math teacher or peer tutors. Students will need to check in and check-out every session. Sign-up HERE. The club is limited to 35 student per session.
The Club is open to ALL Content/Grade Levels- 3:30-4:30 pm (three days a week, Monday-Wednesday).
- Mondays (in Room 14 w/Mrs. Bloomfield)
- Tuesdays (in Room 9 w/Ms. Fu)
- Wednesdays (in Room 6 w/Ms. Wulpern)
As our nation struggles with yet another tragic incident of school violence, we want to remind you again about the important tool we use to help keep our schools secure and our students safe: the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System offered through the Sandy Hook Promise.
This life-saving service empowers you, our students, and our community members to anonymously report any concerns, including potential threats, bullying, or individuals who may be at risk of harming themselves or others. There are three ways to make a report:
Call the 24/7 crisis hotline counselors at 1-844-5-SayNow (1-844-572-9669)
Download the mobile app at Google Play or Apple Store
Submit a tip through their secure website
No matter how you report, Say Something ensures that every voice is heard and every concern can be addressed promptly.
Wildcats! Submit your work to the Visions of Unity!
The Visions of Unity student contest is celebrating its 25th year! Students are invited to submit essays, Poetry, Short Stories, Paintings, Drawings, Computer Art and sculpture that โexpress a path to unity.โ Submissions are due on Monday, February 3, 2025.
8th-graders - Submit your Students and Government Day Essay by 2/3!
The City of Torrance will be hosting the 19th Annual Students and Government Day on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. 8th-grade students interested in participating must complete the form by February 3, 2025 to be considered. One student will be selected per TUSD middle school.
8th-Grade Donation Letter
8th-grade families! The Madrona PTSA needs your help and contributions ensure your student's 8th-grade class activities are fun and memorable. Click here to learn how to help.
So far, the Madrona PTSA has raised $8,586 of their $25,000 goal for 8th-grade student activities.
Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) Math Acceleration
TUSD is happy to provide different acceleration opportunities in math for students.
- 6th graders - independently practice 7th grade content on Khan Academy and then take a test in April (date TBA) in order to enroll in Accelerated Math 7 or Algebra 1 in 7th grade.
- Students currently in Math 6 can study 1st Semester 7th Grade content and test into Accelerated Math 7 as 7th graders.
- Students currently in Accelerated Math 6 can study 2nd Semester 7th Grade Content and Math 8 content and test into Algebra 1 as 7th graders.
Here are links shared during a TUSD Math Acceleration Zoom Meeting, also posted on the TUSD Parent/Student Mathematics Website
- Acceleration by Defense (Pathways and FAQ)
- Math 6 to Accelerated 7th (Presentation Slides - 2023-24 version is still current, Sign Up Form, sample assessment, learning targets, and links to Khan Academy)
There are other acceleration opportunities available to 6th, 7th and 9th grade students. If your student is not ready for independent practice/testing as a means of acceleration, they will have additional acceleration opportunities in the future.
iReady Diagnostic Results
The iReady Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that identifies studentsโ strengths and opportunities for growth during this school year. This information helps teachers determine how best to support their student learning and monitor student growth over time. Watch this video to learn more.
How can I access my studentโs results?
- Log in to your studentโs i-Ready Dashboard through Clever.
- Click the "For Families" dropdown and select the "For Families report".
- Enter the Torrance Unified School Districtโs Report Code: 40497Y.
For more information:
Use the PowerSchool App to Monitor Student Progress!
PowerSchool & PowerSchool app - Download and use the app to monitor your student's grades and attendance. Enable in-app alerts to receive real-time information on progress. Android | Apple. The district code is TCXN. Students use their student ID # and password to login, while families use district assigned login credentials.
Mental Wellness - School Counseling Referral Form
Anyone (student, staff, parent/guardian) can fill this out our Google Form to refer a student for counseling. Referrals will be prioritized and responded to by the level of urgency.
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NOTE: All referrals are first sent to Ms. Lujan, School Counselor. The school counselor may refer the student to our school therapist, Darren Thomas. In either case, counseling is an optional service and completely confidential, unless there is a safety risk at-hand.
If this is an ๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ and you do not have immediate access to the counselor, please call 911 and/or contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988.
CALKIDS Scholarship
As a California public school student, your child may be eligible to receive a CalKIDS scholarship of $500 to $1,500 for college or career training. Funded by the State of California, a CalKIDS scholarship can be used for qualified college and career training expenses such as tuition and fees, books and supplies, computer equipment, and some room and board expenses. Checking a studentโs eligibility and claiming a CalKIDS scholarship is easy. It only takes a minute. All you need is your childโs 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), which can be found at the top of the page when you select your student in PowerSchool. For more information and to check your childโs eligibility, visit CalKIDS.org.
Metro GoPass Program Continues for 2024-25
Our Board of Education voted to extend the free Metro GoPass program for a second year, and we are proud to offer this benefit to all our students. The program includes a Metro TAP (Transit Access Pass) card that offers FREE unlimited rides on Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) bus rail and subway lines, including Torrance Transit, Long Beach Transit, Culver CityBus, Gardena Transit (GTrans) and LADOT Dash.
If your student has a TAP card from last year, you will just need a new code, which you can pick up from our school office. We also have a stock of TAP cards for new riders or those who lost their old cards. New cards will need to be activated before being used. For more information, visit https://www.tusd.org/administrative-services/metro-gopass.
Shop at Ralphs and Support Us All Year Round!
Sign up for Ralphs Community Contribution Program ad NO added cost to you. Use Madrona's Organization ID UF902. Click here The program requires registration each September to stay active!
Madrona Middle School was voted the Best Public Middle School in the 2024 Daily Breeze/Beach Reporter South Bay Best Readers' Choice survey! This recognition is a testament to the supportive and safe learning environment created through the collaborative effort of our student body, staff, and families.
The Daily Breeze / Beach Reporter published its annual Readers Choice Awards - link to the webpage and insert: https://dailybreeze.readerschoice.la/2024-south-bays-rc-on-issuu-com/