Madrona Monthly Newsletter

As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible progress our students have made so far this year. It has been a time of growth, learning, and joy, and I am so proud of the hard work and dedication that our students, teachers, and families have shown.

The month of December is a special time for our community. It's a time to come together and celebrate the many traditions that make our community unique and to show kindness and gratitude as we prepare for the new year. We encourage all of our students to continue to follow the PATH and be respectful, responsible, and show kindness to everyone in our community.

As we move into the final weeks of this semester, I want to remind families about a few important dates and events:

• Holiday Concert: Please join us for our annual holiday concert on Thursday, December 12th at 5:30 pm. Our students have been practicing hard, and we can't wait to showcase their musical talents. We will also have a dessert reception after the concert.
• Winter Break: The school will be closed for winter break from December 23rd - January 3rd. We hope that your family has a restful and joyful holiday season.
• 1 hour Early Dismissal: On Friday, December 20th, students will be dismissed early at 1:25 pm for the holiday break. Please make sure to arrange transportation for your student.
• Attendance: As we approach the end of the semester, I encourage all families to ensure that students continue to attend school regularly. Every day counts, and we appreciate your support in helping students finish strong.

In this season of gratitude, I want to express my deepest thanks to our teachers, staff, and families for their continued support. The success of our school is made possible by our strong partnership. Together, we care creating a nurturing environment where every child can thrive.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season filled with peace, joy, and time spent together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in January for the second half of the school year!

Warmly

Regina Carter

Principal, Madrona Elementary School

Dear Madrona Families,

The children and I are so excited for our upcoming Winter Concert on Thursday, December 12th at 5:30pm! We look forward to seeing you at this special musical event, where all K-5 students will be performing a variety of winter musical songs.

Please note that Madrona students should wear formal attire or their school uniforms.

In addition, if you would like to help with the event (I.e. set-up/decorate, share a dessert or appetizer, clean-up, etc.), please click on the link below & fill out our sign-up genius form:

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0A4BA9AB2BAAFDC61-53537202-winter

Thank you so much for your support of the performing arts at Madrona Elementary!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Lori Badruswamy

lsbadruswamy@seattleschools.org

K-5 General/Vocal Music

Madrona: T, W-pm, Th

Dear Elementary School Families,

We hope this message finds you well. Recently, we have noticed an increase in student absences across our school. While we understand that illness and family emergencies are unavoidable, we want to emphasize the importance of consistent attendance for student success.

Regular school attendance is vital in ensuring that your child stays engaged with their learning, builds positive habits, and receives the support they need to succeed academically and socially. We encourage families to make every effort to send their children to school each day unless they are truly unwell or facing an emergency situation.

If your child is experiencing challenges that are affecting their ability to attend school regularly, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to work together and provide the support necessary to help all students thrive. As a courtesy, last week we sent home letters to families of students who have been absent 5 or more days.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. We look forward to seeing all of our students at school and engaged in productive earning.

Warm Regards,

Principal Carter & Ms. Tanya

We are pleased to announce the start of our Panther Pride Council. The goals of our council are:

• To encourage and uplift student voices, opinions, and ideas,
• Work collaboratively with others to complete schoolwide improvement projects,
• Model examples of positive school community behavior,
• Provide student leadership opportunities to unify our community.

This month, we will hold classroom elections and vote in our first term Panther Pride Representatives. Ms. Tanya will be our Panther Pride Advisor leading classrooms through the application process and will send out election results in coming weeks.

Thank you

This year, we will be printing and sending home our first Trimester Report Cards on December 20th. If you would like additional copies of your child's report card, you will be able to access your student’s Elementary Progress Report (report card), on the Source after this time. Parent and guardian Source accounts also display SPS registered student attendance records, assessment scores, SchoolPay Accounts, Schoology Access Codes, and other important information parents/guardians may need throughout the school year.

Before you setup your account:

1. You must be on record as the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in SPS.
2. Your email address must be on record at each student’s school.
3. Confirm you provided the same email address for each SPS student in your family.

To set up Parent or Guardian Source Account:

1. Visit http://ps.seattleschools.org/ and click the Sign Up! link.
2. Type the email address on record, then click Enter.
3. Check your email for a message from sourcesupport@seattleschools.org. If you don’t receive this email: a). Check your Spam or Trash folders. b). Contact the school to provide an updated email address.

4. Open the email and click the link.
5. Enter your Username (email address) and create a Password. (Please do not use an apostrophe in your password.)
6. Click Enter to begin exploring the Source!

Please let us know if you need additional information. Please call the main office at (206)252-3100.

Thank you,

Principal Carter

Again this year, we are thrilled to be partnering with Treering to create a yearbook for this school year! Its a wonderful way to capture all the special moments, memories, and milestones that make this year unforgettable. We are excited to involve students and families in the process, and we can't wait to share the finished product with you.

Just like last year, every student will be able to personalize 2 free pages with photos and selected memories they would like to capture in their book. This is not mandatory, but it is an option families can choose if they would like. the cost is $1.99 for the additional 2 pages.

To order your book today, all you need to do is create your free account. Here is the website: https://www.treering.com/validate. Then enter our school passcode: 101696453284409. Then, you can order your book for $21.88 until May 2nd, 2025.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at recarter@seattleschools.org. We're looking forward to building an epic yearbook with you this year!

Thank you,

Principal Carter

Madrona Elementary and the PTSA are teaming up to bring warmth and support to Madrona families this holiday season. We have already provided grocery gift cards for the Thanksgiving break and will be providing more grocery and gift cards to families in need over the winter break and holidays. If you’re able to make a difference, please consider donating. Remember to include "Giving Wreath" in the comments to ensure your contribution goes directly toward holiday assistance.

Every donation, no matter the amount, helps brighten the season for our families in need. Thank you for being a vital part of this effort—your generosity makes it all possible!

See Website: http://eepurl.com/i5nX_Y

You can also utilize company matching for Madrona’s Giving Wreath! If you have any questions regarding matching funds, please contact your company’s Human Resources department or contact the Madrona PTSA directly at ptsa@madronaptsa.org for guidance. Your company can find us at:

Madrona PTSA Seattle Council / EIN: 91-1229255

We are looking for volunteer tutors for our Afterschool Tutoring Program. Come be a part of our tutoring team and support young mathematicians, readers, and writers in our community.

Time: 2:30 0 4pm

Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Session dates: January 7th - March 2025

If you are interested, please contact Kate Poux at kgpoux@seattleschools.org.

Has your child lost something at school? Our lost and found collection is growing! If you've misplaced an item, please check the Lost and Found area in the main hallway. Items that are unclaimed by the end of December will be donated to charity. Please help us keep our space organized and ensure your belongings are returned to you. Don't forget to label your items with your name to make it easier for everyone!

Thank you

12/6 - College Friday

12/6 - Picture Retakes

12/12 - Winter Concert; 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Dessert will be served during the reception.

12/19 - Schoolwide Dance Party 😀

12/20 - School dismissed 1 hour early (1:25 pm)

12/23 - Winter Break Begins

1/6 - First Day back from Winter Break

1/16 - 3rd Grade Family Night, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

1/17 - School Tours - 8:30 - 9:45 am, registration is required.

1/24 - School Tours - 1:00 - 2:00 pm, registration is required.

1/31 - School Tours - 8:30 - 9:45 am, registration is required.

Proud Principal - Regina Carter

Office Manager - Ms. Ebony Hall

Assistant Office - Ms. Tanya Dailey

Email: recarter@seattleschools.org

Website: https://madronaes.seattleschools.org/
Location: 1121 33rd Avenue, Seattle, WA, USA
Phone: (206)252-3100