Lion Pride Newsletter
NEWSLETTER - 02/10/2025
Madison Park Middle School
Email: parkoffice@madisoned.org
Website: https://www.madisonaz.org/Domain/14
Location: 1431 E Campbell Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85014, USA
Phone: 6026647500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonAZParkMiddleSchool
Dear Amazing Families of Madison Park,
Dear Amazing Families of Madison Park,
Welcome to our latest edition of the Parent Newsletter! We are excited to share updates, resources, and tips to support your child's ongoing learning journey. As partners in education, we believe in the importance of continuous support and collaboration between home and school to ensure every child's success.
We have a busy February ahead of us. This second semester is filled with all different activities around campus. It is the time of year we prepare for Spring sports tryouts, Session 2 of 21st Century, and most importantly we get our students ready for their Spring state assessments.
With our students involved in so many activities please remind them to be on time for school and to make sure they come prepared for learning with the necessary materials i.e, pencils, highlighters, notebooks and other essential school supplies.
Remember to encourage your child to demonstrate pride in our school by wearing “Blue and Gold” every Friday!
Best regards,
Priscilla Gossett - Principal
Rebecca Galindo - Assistant Principal
PTO Meeting- Parent Teacher Organization
Join us for our next PTO meeting on 02/18/2025 at 4:30 pm in Rm. C111. Be Present or join virtually.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72976765929?pwd=LKaXaaJ8LfMtpDJvajRWMAywzbJbBm.1
Meeting ID: 729 7676 5929
Passcode: v44cHX
Valentine's Day Guidelines -Friday
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we wanted to reach out to provide some guidelines regarding gifts for the occasion at school. We appreciate your cooperation in making this day enjoyable and inclusive for all students.
Gift Exchanges: students will be asked to bring large items/and or gifts that distract the learning environment up to the front office during Homeroom. We will label and hold items up front for students to pick-up at the end of the day. We ask that all gifts adhere to school policies and guidelines. Any inappropriate or disruptive items will be confiscated.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the office or your child's teacher
Attention 8th Grade Parents and Studets
By now you and your 8th grader should have explored your options for High School. If you have not, we recommend that you and you child pursue registration for High School ASAP. Many of our students attend Camelback High School and the eighth grade team will be taking students who will be attending CBHS to Shadow Day, on Thursday, 2/13/25. In the meantime, Camelback High School offers parent tours. Use this link to inquire about a tour of Camelback High School. Click Here
A Message from Athletics- Spring Tryouts
As the warmth of spring approaches, so does the excitement of spring sports season! We're thrilled to announce tryouts for our Spring Sports teams, offering your child an opportunity to grow, compete, and create lasting memories. Here's everything you need to know.
Try out Dates and Times:
Track & Field, Softball and Baseball: February 10th, 11th and 13th 4:00 PM - 5:30PM. Please note: track will be a no cut sport. The spring sports schedule will be released in a future Lion Pride publication.
In order to ensure student safety, our expectation is that siblings may not stay after school with athletes during practice. Please do not tell your children that they can stay and watch tryouts or practices after school is dismissed. Staff members present are responsible for supervising athletes participating in a sport. Students not participating in an activity will be directed to leave campus since there is no supervision. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
A Message from Athletics: Spring Sports
As a reminder, If your student makes the team there is a $100 athletic fee. Remember to claim this sports fee as a tax credit when you file your taxes at the end of year. This fee can be paid in the office or through PowerSchool. If you have a PowerSchool Parent account for your student, fees can be paid by logging into your account. If you do not have a PowerSchool account and would like to pay a fee for a student, please visit our online payment portal. This fee must be paid before the first game of the season. A student will not be issued a uniform until the fee is paid. If you have questions or concerns about this fee please contact Mr. Duke. dduke2@madisoned.org
AZELLA Testing and Placement for English Language Learners-
AZELLA Testing will begin February 18th-21st, 2025
Madison School District provides the state-approved language proficiency test and placement testing to newly enrolled students whose home language is not English.
The Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA) is a standards-based assessment that meets state and federal requirements to measure students' English language proficiency. Students who have been placed in an English Language Learner (ELL) program will take AZELLA every year until they achieve proficiency.
AASA State Testing: Coming Soon
The window opens on March 31st-April 25th, 2025
Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) is an annual statewide assessment that measures how students are performing in English language arts (ELA) and math.
Students in 3rd through 8th grade will take AASA in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.
AASA Testing Schedule for Madison Park:
Science test March 25th, 26th, 27th (5th & 8th grades only)
Writing Test - Monday March 31st (5th - 8th grades)
ELA part 1 & part 2 - Tuesday April 1st & Thursday April 3rd (5th - 8th grades)
Math test part 1 & part 2 - Tuesday April 8th & 10 (5th - 8th grades)
Gen Tech Summer Camp Registration
GenTech is providing affordable STEM summer camps. Some of the camp programs offered are Computer Builds, Radical Robots, Drone Discovery and much more! We are holding camps at two locations, one in the North Valley and one in the West Valley. Sign up today!
Sign Up Link: https://gentechsupport.com/kidstech-at-gentech/summercamp/
A Message from NJHS
We would like to extend a Lion ROAR of gratitude to the Veatch Family and express our sincere thanks for sponsoring the NJHS shirts this school year. Your contribution has made a real difference to our NJHS club as it helps foster a sense of unity and pride, and they will be a valuable part of our service activities this year.
Thank you again for being so supportive!
Fall in Love with Madison Mixer- February 11th, 2025
"Fall in Love with Madison Mixer" Employment Job Fair Event
This event is open to those interested in joining Madison as Teachers, Guest Teachers, Bus Drivers, Food Service staff, Custodial staff, before and after school program staff, school and classroom support staff and anyone interested in learning more about employment opportunities with the district.
When: February 11, 2025 | 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: The Madison Center for the Arts - 5601 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Report Cards
Parents have access to an electronic report of their child’s academic progress on a quarterly basis. Report cards are viewable online through your child’s powerschool account. If you need a printed copy, please call the office to make arrangements to obtain a copy, and continue to check your child’s grades.
End of Grading Period October 5th, December 21st, March 7th, May 22nd
Coming Soon: New School-to-Home Communication Tool - ParentSquare
Based on feedback we have received from families and staff about the need for more streamlined communication between schools and families, we are excited to share that this year we will be rolling out a new school-to-home communication tool called ParentSquare. This tool will help provide a consistent, district-wide platform for schools and families to communicate and share information and updates. ParentSquare allows families to be connected to everyday content and updates on one single platform through the app or website interface (with a very familiar social media-like interface). Families can choose to receive either instant notifications or a summarized digest of information once a day. In emergency situations, notifications will be sent via call, text, email, and app immediately regardless of the user’s instant or summarized digest notification preference.
Check out this video to learn more about ParentSquare
Four schools have volunteered to pilot the program- Madison Heights, Madison No. 1, Madison Camelview and Madison Park. We plan to roll out the tool to the remaining schools during the spring semester.
More information will be coming soon regarding staff training and roll out timeline.
Tax Credit Donation
We have an opportunity that will assist all students of Madison Park School. If you are interested in supporting our students and receiving a credit on your Arizona State Income Taxes, please take the time to contribute to our Tax Credit Program click here. You may donate up to $400 to the children of Madison Park School. In doing so, you will receive a dollar for dollar tax break on your State Income Taxes.
Your generosity will make a significant difference in our ability to provide needed services and extended activities to our diverse population.
The tax credit donations are used to fund field trips to visit libraries, museums, and various cultural centers. It is important for us to enrich the academic environment in order to maintain a cutting edge academic program. Many of our students would not have the chance to take part in these experiences unless the school provides these opportunities. Our students deserve the rich experiences that other schools are privy to. We make every effort to provide that sense of balance, keep children safe, and provide enriching opportunities for the students of Madison Park School.
Be sure to keep your receipt(s) for tax purposes and note the CTDS numbers for our schools, listed below. You will reference the number corresponding to the school you donated to for tax purposes.
- Madison Park – 070438150
Helping Parents Navigate Apps and Games with Common Sense Media
As part of our ongoing efforts to support your child’s online safety and digital literacy, we are excited to share resources from Common Sense Media. This trusted organization provides reviews and insights to help parents better understand the apps, games, and websites their students may be using.
With technology playing such a big role in our children’s lives, it’s essential to stay informed about the content they are exposed to and how these platforms may impact their learning, behavior, and overall well-being. Common Sense Media offers easy-to-read reviews, safety tips, and age-appropriate recommendations to guide your decisions about digital content:
Use the links below for the Parents Ultimate Guide to:
We encourage you to explore these resources and have open conversations with your child about their online habits. By working together, we can ensure a safer, more positive digital experience for all our students.
Thank you for partnering with us in supporting your child’s education and well-being!
Student ID Badges (Required)
As a way to help better increase safety across campus. We are implementing the practice of requiring Student ID Badges. These badges will be the only ones that will be used district wide for the following:
Bus, Breakfast/Lunch, Leaving the Classroom, Restroom Sign-in /Sign-out, Library book check out, Field Trips and PBIS Digital Rewards
Students will be required to wear their ID’s in a visible location at all times while on campus. If an ID is lost or damaged, a new one must be purchased for $5.00 in the front office.
Free and Reduced Meal Application
Free and Reduced Meal Application If you would like to apply, please use this link Free & Reduced Meal Application form so that we can make sure that your child is receiving the appropriate food service. Take a look at some of our menus!
Fry's Community Rewards
If you shop at Fry’s Foods Grocery store, please link your Fry’s V.I.P. card to Madison Roar PTO (#GX194). The Fry’s Community Rewards program will automatically donate to our school on your behalf from each of your purchases! This will happen automatically and there is nothing else you ever need to do! Thank you for your support!
Please visit: frysfood.com/i/community/community-rewards
Park School Wide- PBIS and ROAR
PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Here at Madison Park, we have outlined four school-wide expectations for students to follow. ROAR stands for Respect Outreach Achievement and Responsibility. Students can earn PBIS digital reward points for meeting our expectations and then they can spend those points like currency in either their Teacher Stores or our amazing ROAR Store on certain Fridays. We also have our PBIS Rewards Family APP where families can view teacher comments about your child for meeting those expectations. Again our goal is to highlight the positive behaviors all students practice each and every day.
What is our PBIS Goal?
Schools that utilize SWPBIS on all levels see a lower number of student disciplines, suspensions, and detentions. Our goal is to not only use SWPBIS methods in class but to encourage parents to use them at home. Here is a guide for parents on how to use PBIS at home to help manage behavior.
PBIS Behavior Flow Chart
PBIS Behavior Flow Chart: Here at Madison Park, we have outlined four intervention steps to help manage student behavior. This is our Behavior flowchart for how behaviors are managed here at Madison Park. Intervention 1 Verbal Reteach of the following ROAR expectation, Intervention 2 Reteach the expectation with a written reflection sheet. Intervention 3 Reteach the expectation conference with the student and assign a Reflection Time afterschool with phone call home. Intervention 4 should the behavior continue an Office Discipline Referral will be completed. Teachers will be in communication with Parents regarding assigned Reflection Time. Reflection Times are held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45-4:15PM
Important Dates - Please mark your calendars for the following dates and stay tuned for more detailed information.
- 2/10 Spring 21st Century Clubs AM/PM
- 2/10 School Connect Field Trip-Selected Students Phoenix Footprint Center 7:30AM-11:30AM
- 2/10- Spring Tryouts- Softball, Baseball, Track-(no Cut sport for track) 4pm-5:30pm
- 2/10-Madison Parent Presentation- Social Media and Parenting in Digital Age by Katey McPherson
- 2/11-Madison Mixer Job Fair 4:30pm-6pm @Madison Center of the Arts (RSVP)
- 2/11- Spring Tryouts- Softball, Baseball, Track-(no Cut sport for track) 4pm-5:30pm
2/12-8th Grade Field Trip selected students to Camelback High School 9AM-12PM
2/14-Valentine's Day: See above information regarding gifts brought to school.
2/14- 7th Grade Field Trip to the Az Science Center 9:30AM-12:00PM
2/13-Spring Tryouts- Softball, Baseball, Track-(no Cut sport for track) 4pm-5:30pm
2/17- No School: Presidents Day
2/18- PTO Meeting @ 4:30pm, Rm. C111 (see above for Zoom Login)
2/18-2/21-AZELLA Testing
Library Notification
Dear Parents:
We’re excited to let you know that we’ve added new books to our library. To keep you in the loop, we’ll be listing these titles on our district website for the next sixty (60) days. The review period will start on December 9th, 2024 and end on February 8th, 2025.
If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We appreciate your involvement and support! (A.R.S. 15-721/A.R.S. 15-722).
Steps to Locate Lists
Step 1- Log onto madisonaz.org
Step 2- Click on Families and then Family Resources
Step 3- Click on Parent Access to Library materials
Step 4- Select the school
