

eHoot
Friday, December 1, 2023

E-HOOT 4/4/25
PRINCIPAL'S NOTE
Field Renovation Starting April 28th
Starting April 28th, the field at MTA will undergo extensive improvements to provide a beautiful, level, grass-covered, and rock-free area for our students. To ensure the new sod and grass seed are adequately established, half of the field will be closed from April 28th through the end of the school year.
These repairs will not impact MTA’s daily routines; however, students will have a smaller area to play on for the last three weeks of school. This decision was made thoughtfully, taking into account various factors. Ultimately, the benefits of a safer, enhanced field far outweigh the temporary inconvenience.
Improvements Include:
Upgrading the sprinkler system.
Excavating the field approximately 6-12 inches for better leveling and removal of rocks.
Installing a combination of sod and grass seed to ensure full grass coverage.
Raising the banks near the basketball court and the walkway from the cafeteria for safer access.
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP
OFFICE MEMO
4th QUARTER 3/8/25 to 5/23/25
Breakfast and lunch volunteers, once you have clocked in you are on duty. This means you should be physically working in the cafeteria for 30 minutes and 30 minutes outside for recess and NOT socializing. As soon as you have finished your cafeteria duty step outside for your recess duty. This volunteer opportunity is for one volunteer hour. If your clocked out time is more than one hour, your time will be modified to one hour.
- No volunteers on campus during state testing dates(see dates below)
- If your student(s) will not be attending 25-26 school year email us at mtaoffice@madisoned.org Current MTA student's automatically rollover.
Yearbook Info Update
Pre-sale MTA Yearbooks are OVER but In Person Sales are coming in mid-May!
Thank you so much for getting all of your presales in! We have sold over 400 copies and over 80 Happy Hoots! But don't worry if you have NOT gotten one yet. We will be selling them for $25 CASH in mid-May in front of the office. Be on the lookout for when they arrive in your E-Hoots and Happy Hoots (we do not have a set date yet). If you pre-ordered, your student will receive them before the cash sales. Thank you for all of your support for our school yearbook!
BATHROOMS
Bathrooms throughout the campus are for students only. The adult visitor bathroom is in the front office.
EARLY CHECK OUT CUT OFF TIME IS 2:45PM
Kindly reminder to ALWAYS be prepared to show photo ID to sign your child out of school early and to volunteer on campus. We are fortunate to have wonderful subs who help when we are short-handed in the front office but they will not recognize you and CANNOT send a child home with you or allow you onto campus without following this mandatory district-wide safety procedure.
RECORDS
For records request and 8th grade high school records email District Office at Records@madisoned.org
LIBRARY NEWS
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 website for the next sixty (60) days. The review period will start on Monday, March 17, 2025 and end on Friday, May 16, 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!
Steps to Locate New Book Lists
Step 1- Log onto madisonaz.org
Step 2- Click on Families and then Family Resources
Step 3- Click on Library Resources
Step 4- Click on Parent Access to Library materials
Step 4- Select the school
2025 STATE Testing Dates
2025 State Testing Dates: In Spring, we will administer the Arizona Academics Standards Assessment (AASA) for 3rd-8th graders and Arizona's Science Test (AzSci) for 5th and 8th graders. For test security purposes, there will be no volunteers on campus during the day, which will be in effect for all grades and includes volunteers during lunch. The only volunteers will be during the morning before school, and they must be off campus by 8 a.m. Please save the following dates below:
If you have questions about AASA or AzSci testing, please contact Assistant Principal Shannon Smith.
If you know your child will be absent on any of these dates, please email your child’s teacher.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
APRIL/MAY
- 4/6 MTA Sweetheart Dance 💕(The Orchard)
- 4/14 Guild Meeting (Cafeteria 6:30pm)
- 4/14 Site Council Meeting (Library 5:15pm)
- 4/18 Spring Holiday NO School
- 4/21 New KG Family Presentation (Cafeteria 4:30-5:30pm)
- 4/29 3rd Gr Diorama Project Walk Thru (Gym 5:45pm)
- 4/30 MTA Art Walk 🎨
- 5/13 5&6th Grade Drama Performance (Cafeteria 6:00pm)
Music Department News
MTA 5-8 Spring Chorus Concert
Thursday, May 1st
6:30pm at the MTA Cafeteria
MTA 5-8 Spring Band Concert
Wednesday, May 7th
6:30pm at the MTA Cafeteria
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CORNER
MTA TEACHER TUTORS
Yearbooks and Happy Hoots!
Please go to buytheyearbook.com to order your yearbook and buy a Happy Hoot to be included. All ONLINE yearbook and happy hoots orders will close MARCH 14th, 2025. (In person cash sales will be available in May if you miss the online deadline for $25 - first come, first served.)
Email rwehrenberg@madisoned.org for questions.
ATHLETICS UPDATE
All students must have AIA physicals uploaded into Aktivate to tryout. Directions in link.
https://aktivate.helpscoutdocs.com/article/38-how-do-i-begin-a-registration-for-a-sport
*Aktivate registration needs to be completed and AIA Physical needs to be uploaded to tryout and participate and make sure your athletic fee is paid.
All games imformation can be found on the MTA Athletics website. If you need to pay an athletic fee per sport, see below “STUDENT FEE (S)” for directions. Athletic fees are $100 for each sport. If a tax credit donation was made and you would like to apply part or all of the donation towards $100.00 athletic and or $50.00 activity fee, email us mtaoffice@madisoned.org and provide a copy of your receipt. You can also drop off a copy at the office.
UPCOMING EVENTS/FUNDRAISERS
MTA Sweetheart Dance 💕
The annual MTA Sweetheart Dance is just around the corner on Sunday, April 6th! Girls, grab someone special and bring them out for a night of fun and dancing!
Orchard Events & Catering is hosting this year's event at The Orchard (7100 N 12st Street; 12th St & Glendale Ave) with a special pre-event dinner.
The Dinner will include a pre-fixed buffet from 5pm - 6pm including the following:
- Braised Beef Short Ribs
- Chicken Kabobs w/ Saffron Rice
- Garlic Penne w/ Tomato Relish
- Charred Broccolini
- Mini Classic Cheeseburger
- Mac & Cheese
Cost of dinner is $39 for each adult, $19 for each child.
The Dance includes a ticket for ice cream from Splurge (located on site) for each child attending, a dessert table and non-alcoholic beverages from 6pm - 8pm. Dinner is not included with the dance so please make sure your child has eaten. Cost of dance is $50 for one adult & one child; $10 for each additional child.
DAY OF TICKET SALES will be $60 for one adult & one child; $10 for each additional child.
PURCHASE DINNER TICKETS HERE: https://checkout.square.site/buy/YOOVRSUVGJPKBWQO2XLPEGU4
PURCHASE DANCE TICKETS HERE: https://square.link/u/z3JXB7XV
MTA Art Walk 🎨
our students’ have been working hard in art class preparing for our annual MTA Art Walk! This fun and FREE event will feature an interactive art experience, mirrored art room, out-of-this-world Glow Gallery, a 3D art Gallery, a scavenger hunt, spin art, a DJ, food vendors, face-painting and of course, YOUR child’s art work on display!
Pre-Purchase Art Work!
Right now is the perfect time to mark your calendar and pre-purchase your child’s framed art. Each class will have ONE special project pre-selected to be professionally printed and framed in a thin white frame. Framed art is available for $25. Unframed art is available for $10. This special offer will ONLY be available during pre-sale!
Volunteer for the Art Walk!
Did you know that you can earn ALL of your Q4 volunteer hours with Team Art Walk? In April, we will have MANY hours available to help mat, frame, label and hang all of the art. We are also seeking volunteers who are available to help set up, run booths, and clean up on the day of the big show!
MTA Art Walk
When: Wednesday, April 30th, 6:00p - 7:30p
Where: MTA Campus
Tickets: FREE!
Pre-Order your child’s professionally printed/framed art work here.
Volunteer opportunities: Sign up here.
Creatively Yours,
Team Art Walk
“Every Child is an Artist.” ~ Pablo Picasso
We are absolutely thrilled to announce The Madison Performing Arts Summer Camp, presented by Britestar Touring Theater!
- Mark your calendar: June 9th - June 13th
- Who can join?: Students aged 8-14
- Registration Starts: March 17th
- Registration Fee: $165 (Includes lunch)
Join our Production Theatre Camp at The Madison Center for the Arts, where young stars will experience the thrill of bringing a full-scale show to life!
Under the expert guidance of our professional team, campers will hone their skills in acting, singing, and stagecraft. We'll provide everything from scripts to costumes, ensuring a spectacular performance on the final day of camp.
You do not want your students to miss out on this experience!
If you have any questions need additional information, please feel free to reach out to Theodore Guillot at tguillot@madisoned.org
Thank you for your support in making this summer an unforgettable experience for your young performers!
OWL STORE
Hello, amazing MTA families!
Our MTA students are showing incredible behavior, reflected in the tickets collected at the OWL Store. We collected a total of 5229 tickets at our January store -- incredible! If you'd like to support our OWL Store, we are appreciative of donations including:
Chips (especially spicy chips!) and other snacks
Small ticket items (e.g., slap bracelets, keychains, erasers, etc.)
Tiny toys and items that can fit in our gumball machine
We have updated our Amazon wishlist (find it here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/UZ69GPQQ7ZOM...) to reflect some of the things that have been very popular and have sold out recently. We are also getting creative by raffling off some big-ticket items and have experiences that students can use their tickets for, like "Lunch with a Friend" or song requests at lunch!
We want to thank all the families that have supported the Owl Store by donating and volunteering this year. We could not do it without you!
-- The OWL Store Team
If a tax credit donation was made and you would like to apply part or all of the donation towards $100.00 athletic and or $50.00 activity fee, email us mtaoffice@madisoned.org and provide a copy of your receipt. You can also drop off a copy at the office.
TAX CREDIT DONATIONS
Tax Credit Donations: It’s a win-win situation! Tax credit donations are 100% deductible to you, and the school can use your tax credit donations to fund such things as field trips, assemblies, athletic equipment (including uniforms), athletic fees, and student transportation to and from events.
You may submit up to $200.00 for an individual or $400.00 per family. You do not have to have a child attending the school, so let your relatives and friends know about this excellent opportunity. You may also want to check with your employer to see if they will match your donation. Forms and further information is available on the Madison School District website.
Please note: When donatiions are made via the Madison website https://www.madisonaz.org/families/family-resources/pay-a-fee and not the PowerSchool Parent Student Portal, MTA does not receive receipts for our parents who have paid online. If a tax credit donation was made and you would like to apply part or all of the doantion towards $100.00 athletic and or $50.00 activity fee, email us mtaoffice@madisoned.org and provide a copy of your receipt. You can also drop off a copy at the office.
VOLUNTEERS
Link to check your existing Raptor account:
https://apps.raptortech.com/Volunteer/Login/MzcyNDpWb2x1bnRlZXI6ZW4tVVM=
*click on the 3 lines and then select hours to view all your hours.
*you will need to check other parents/guardians/grandparents accounts separately if they are also accumulating hours for your family.
Every volunteer has a separate account.
*hours cannot be added to a non-existing account. You must have an approved Raptor account in the system to accumulate hours.
- Volunteer requirement is a minimum twenty (20) hours per family during the school year.
- Each family must complete at least five (5) volunteer hours per quarter
- Both legal guardians are required to have a registered RAPTOR account.
- Only parents/guardians/grandparents can volunteer.
- The process for legal guardians (including step parents, grandparents) process can take 1-2 weeks to complete. They MUST go through a secondary background check and need to get their fingerprints taken.
- Hours do not roll over to the following quarter.
- It is the Volunteer's responsibility to track their hours in Raptor and to seek volunteer opportunities.
- Do not sign up for any volunteer opportunities until you receive notification that your volunteer application has been approved. If you have not been approved, you will not be allowed to volunteer nor will you be credited for hours.
- Off campus volunteering requires that the Teacher, MTA staff or Committee Chairs, identifies a job and a predetermined amount of time to correspond with that job. Teachers, MTA staff, Committee, Chairs, are responsible for electronically submitting your hours for off campus work and when you volunteer at an event.
- For volunteer application questions contact us at volunteers@madisoned.org
- For volunteering opportunities or missing hours contact the Guild at mtaguildboard@gmail.com The Guild manages all volunteer opportunities and keeps track of all volunteer hours. https://www.mtaguild.org/
- If you are having trouble logging in your Raptor account or or signing in at the front office Kiosk, contact Liz Hernandez at the District office at volunteers@madisoned.org or call 602-664-7580
BREAKFAST & LUNCH SignUp
In order for you to volunteer for breakfast and lunch you must SignUp. If you have not signed up you will not be able to volunteer. To avoid volunteers overlapping, please DO NOT CLOCK IN before your SCHEDULED TIME.
Breakfast and lunch volunteers, once you have clocked in you are on duty. This means you should be physically working in the cafeteria for 30 minutes and 30 minutes outside for recess and NOT socializing. As soon as you have finished your cafeteria duty step outside for your recess duty. This volunteer opportunity is for one volunteer hour. If your clocked out time is more than one hour, your time will be modified to one hour.
https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?groupkey=88318611804#group_page
GUILD-PTO
ABSENT and TARDY PROCEDURES
ABSENT : Call the 24-hour attendance line at 602-745-4021.
All absences must be timely reported to the attendance line, even if you have notified your student’s teacher.
If your student will be absent multiple days, please leave ONE voicemail with the range of dates.
TARDY : Students who arrive late must be signed in at the front office by a parent or caregiver and receive a tardy pass before they are allowed into the classroom.
A student is tardy if they are not in their classroom at 8:00 AM.
REMINDER: MTA is a school of choice. To maintain open enrollment, students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of the school days for the full-time school is in session. Any combination of tardies, absences, half-day absences, or early sign-outs that add up to more than 10% of the current total of school days (over 4 per quarter) is classified as excessive by the state. Regardless of the reason, excessive absences or tardies may result in the loss of open enrollment at MTA.
TIPS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR OPEN ENROLLMENT:
Timely report absences to the 24-hour attendance line. 602-745-4021
Schedule trips and appointments outside of school hours.
Have your student to school, ON TIME, every day!
ITEMS DROPPED OFF BY PARENTS FOR STUDENTS
We have a process for parents dropping off items. Below are the Instructions which are also posted in the front office on the black bookshelf.
1. Label the item
Write your student's first and last name on a post-it note and attach to the item.
2. Leave item on the black shelves
If your student was not able to get the item during the school day, please ask them to pick it up promptly after school or before class the following day.
3. Email the Teacher(s)
For 5th -8th, email all teachers in your student's grade, in the subject line, please type: ITEM IN OFFICE, in the email: Child's name and item(s) you dropped off. Below is the QR code link for all Teacher's email addresses. If you email from home, please make sure to include the "time", you will be dropping off the item.
Madison Traditional Academy-Where Learning Never Stops!
Email: mtaoffice@madisoned.org
Website: https://www.madisonaz.org
Location: 925 East Maryland Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: 602-745-4000
Where Learning Never Stops!