The Mustang Memo!

Hello Mustang Families,

December is here, and the true feel of cool winter days and nights are upon us! We were excited to step back in to the school days and we are pointed in the right direction by our new signage welcoming us to Madroña Academy of the Arts and Sciences. Our outstanding Madroña students were recognized at our school wide assembly on Monday morning, what a nice way to ease back into the school week of December.

We celebrate Inclusive Schools Week with a flurry of activities - classroom activities, PE games, and more! Madroña Academy is a participating in Unified Sports this school year. This past Tuesday, students learned new games and activities for all our students to learn and play together.

Please check the lost and found - there are many jackets, sweatshirts, and sweaters that your students may need as we enter the cool months ahead.

Remember to support our PTA with the See's Fundraising event, Ralph's, and School Cents! (See the information below.). Our very own Madroña Academy Student Council is sponsoring a toy drive and a cereal drive (See the flyer below).

As always, we look forward to seeing our Mustangs dressed for success and ready to learn looking sharp in their uniform Tee's. On Mondays and Wednesdays we are learners unified in our uniform polo shirts. Our new web store link is open!

Thank you for all that you do for our school community. To all our students: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Prepared!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mandell

Principal

*Mondays and Wednesdays - wear your uniform polo shirt!

*Fridays - wear Madroña spirit wear!

November

• 25-29 No School - Fall Break

• 2 -Recognition Assembly
• 6- Earthquake Drill
• 12 - Family Art Night
• 17 - PTA Restaurant Night, Pedals & Pints
• 23 - Winter Break

January

• 6-Back to School
• 10 - Fire Drill

Please use this CVUSD School Year Calendar to help you plan throughout the school year.

For reference ~ Madroña Academy of the Arts and Sciences Bell Schedule

One School, One Book is here! Madroña Mustangs are excited to read our latest school book:

Life According to Og the Frog By Betty G. Birney.

All students have the opportunity to listen/watch both English and Spanish versions while they read along at home. (See links below.) Students will be learning about frog habitats, creating STEM based environments for their "class Og" , complete some "ribbiting" art, and work with class buddies, to learn about Og's life. Let's get hopping and start reading!

Life According to Og the Frog By Betty G. Birney

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 (1 reader)

TK-K: Rythym, songs, and listening.

1st-5th Grades:

Here’s what we’re up to in music:

First Grade: Reading Green Eggs and Ham to introduce our new transportation theme and listening to In the Hall of the Mountain King.

Second Grade: Starting our space adventures by playing rhythm sticks, singing Star Light, Star Bright, and exploring space while listening to Mars from The Planets by Gustav Holst.

Third Grade: Introducing our next two reasons for making music (celebrations and religious practice), and singing/playing half notes to Hanukkah, Hanukkah.

Fourth Grade: As we set sail to our next geographic region, we have been attacked by pirates! To beat the pirates and find the treasure, we are learning about single eighth notes and clapping rhythms in 6/8 time. We also listen to 2Cellos playing Pirates of the Caribbean.

Fifth Grade Ensembles: Students are divided in their ensembles for the remainder of the year. Students are now using instruments on a regular basis in their ensembles. We are waiting for the forms from the district to formally check instruments out to students; we will distribute the forms to students once we receive them and then when students return the forms they will be able to take their instruments home to practice.

Hey Mustang Community~

We are looking for volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year advisory councils:

African American District Advisory Council Representative

GATE Advisory Council Representative

Join an Advisory Council!

District Advisory Council representatives attend one 2-hour meeting each month with parent representatives from other CVUSD schools. The representative shares information from those meetings with the SSC team at our 1-hour monthly meetings held on Thursdays at 3:00PM.

For additional information about each position, please click here.

If you are interested in becoming a representative, click the button below.

Mustang families, when dropping off students, please remember to proceed with caution and stay in the far right lane so students can exit the passenger side of the vehicle once it is stopped at the designated drop off areas only. TK/K families, if your student(s) are picking up morning breakfast, please escort them to the cafeteria and then to the TK/K playground gate. If they are not picking up breakfast, please escort them to the TK/K playground gate. If you need to assist your student, please park in the church parking lot or a non-designated space. Lastly, please do not park in handicapped marked parking areas-we do not want our families ticketed!

Available Now: Chromebook Accidental Damage Protection

We are proud to provide all students with a Chromebook through the District’s 1:1 Program. While Chromebooks are provided at no cost to families, proper use and care of the Chromebook is the responsibility of the student and their parent/guardian. To support this program, CVUSD is offering Chromebook Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) program for families to eliminate the concern and costs of repairing or replacing damaged, or stolen Chromebooks.

📍 Important Note: Coverage must be in place prior to a claim being submitted = the time is now to secure Chromebook Accidental Damage Protection for your student's chromebook!

💻 Click here to learn more about the Chromebook ADP program, and for the steps on how to purchase the ADP for your student's Chromebook.

If your child will be absent or arriving late for any reason, please remember to call our office or leave a message on our attendance line at (805) 498-6102 before 8:30am. Be sure to state the date and reason for your child’s absence or late arrival, and your child’s teacher or room number. Any unexcused absence is counted as a truancy. Students are allowed only three truancies per year before action is taken. Planning ahead with your child will also help to avoid unnecessary tardiness. Students who arrive on time feel better about themselves and perform better in the classroom. Ask about Short Term Independent Study (STIS) if your student is absent.

Learn how to develop a safe environment for your children using the powerful tools of love and

communication. Receive the necessary information by attending the course: Parents Raising Children in a Safe Environment This program is sponsored by the Westminster Free Clinic.

(Program presented in Spanish)

CVUSD Child Nutrition Menus

Although all students will receive meals at no charge again this school year it is very important for parents or guardians, to complete and submit an application for free or reduced meals as soon as possible after July 1st.

Visit Free meals for all Students

If your student has a medical dietary need, dairy allergy, or other, please complete the required documents. Documents may be accessed here: Child Nutrition Services under Additional Information

Our cafeteria is open at 8:00AM. Students attending child care will go to the cafeteria at 8:00 AM. Students not attending child care should be dropped off at the cafeteria so they are able to pick up breakfast, walk through the marked crosswalk zone supervised by a campus safety assistant,

and enjoy their delicious breakfast at the tables on campus. Please note: For the health and safety of our students, the cafeteria is open for students only. When picking up food, students are to enter the front cafeteria door and walk out the exit door around the lunch table area to the crosswalk.

Hey Mustangs, what is more fun than singing alone? Singing with our Madroña chorus! Chorus begins in the spring, so hurry up and register to be part of the program. :)

This year, the CVUSD Strings and Band program is offered at 4 different sites. Please see the attachments below for enrollment information.

CRPD is offering afternoon recreation options for our students. Check out the flyer below to see what's happening.

If you would like to send a birthday message to your student on the Mustang Monitor outside our school office, please complete the form below. All proceeds support Madrona PTA.

Thank you for supporting our arts programs!

Madrona Academy of the Arts and Sciences

Email: gmandell@conejousd.org
Website: https://www.conejousd.org/madrona/
Location: 612 Camino Manzanas, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Phone: 805-498-6102
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madronamustangs/
Twitter: @madronamustangs