News From The Nest🦅
Madison Elementary Parent Newsletter December 2023
It's Beginning to Look (& Feel) Alot Like Winter....
📅 Save The Date..Mark Your Calendars!
December 4- MDPS Board Meeting -MHS @ 7pm
December 7-Pontiac Library Game Night-5:00-7:00
December 11-18- Holiday Gift Shoppe
December 11-Detroit Public Library Game Night 5:00-6:00
December 19- Winter Holiday Extravaganza 6:00-7:30
December 21-January 5- Holiday Break-No School!
January 8- School Resumes!
Don't Forget!
Please be mindful that dismissal is at 3:25 daily! Our staff is often involved in afterschool activities, meetings and other commitments that prevent them from being able to supervise students at the end of the day. With construction and bad weather, traffic can be heavy around this time, so please allow yourself adequate travel time so you can be here to greet your child when they exit the building. If you are in need of before or after school care, the Learning Tree school-age child care program is available at the Early Childhood Center for a small nominal fee. Students are bused to and from Learning Tree to MES. For more information contact Lisa DiGuilio at 248-543-5465 or click the link below to register. If there will be a change in your child's transportation home, please contact the main office by 2:00 so we have ample time to communicate changes with the teacher. Also, as the temperature decreases, please make sure students are dressed warmly because all classes go outside for recess daily if the weather permits.
MES Holiday Gift Shoppe
Starting next Monday, students will be given the opportunity to shop and purchase gifts for their loved ones from our Holiday Gift Shoppe. A note with the specific details, along with a "Gift Giving Planner" that serves as an envelope to contain money, and a place to record a shopping list will be coming home this week. Each teacher will sign up for a specific time to shop with their class, and then share that information with you so you will know when to send the money and the list. It is helpful to discuss the list with your student ahead of time so they know who they are shopping for, how much money they have to spend, and have some ideas about what they might like to buy. Most gifts are priced between $2.50-$6.00, but some are as low as $1.00, and none will be higher then $12.00. Checks can be made out to Madison District Public Schools, but cash is preferred. Some of the proceeds will even be used to support Toys for Tots, so just by shopping you and your student will have an opportunity to be a blessing to someone else!
Got Any Extra Gift Wrap?
Speaking of being a blessing, on Monday, December 18th, the MES staff will be wrapping presents for the families we've adopted for this holiday season. We, along with several community organizations will be supplying all of the gifts, but we need your help to package them and make them look pretty so all of our families receiving the gifts will be suprised by what's inside. We are looking for donations of wrapping paper, tissue paper, boxes, gift bags, bows, ribbon, tags, tape and anything else that might help make our gifts look as special for people who will receive them. If you're willing to assist, please drop off your items in the main office by Friday, Decemeber 16th so we can plan accordingly and make sure we're prepared for Monday.
MES Winter Holiday Extravaganza!
Join us on Tuesday, December 19th for an evening of festive, hoilday fun! We will begin at 6:00 in the cafeteria with a sing-along led by our choir, and then travel around to various stations playing games, making crafts and enjoying yummy treats! There will even be an opportunity to take photographs with some very special guests, but only if you've been nice (not naughty)! Hope to see you there!
Show Off Your Madison Pride!
Madison District is sponsoring a Student Video Contest focused on "School Pride". The video and contest information can also be found on the MDPS website under District News or you can get to it by clicking HERE. You can also use the video link below to hear all of the specific details! Don't worry, the deadline has been extended to December 10th so you still have time to enter! Help us show everyone why "EVERY day is a GREAT day to be an EAGLE! Good Luck!
Congrats to our December Students of the Month!
Omri Tolbert-2nd Grader
Omri is such a bright light in room 208! He is a student that can always be counted on to make great choices, be a good friend, and go out of his way to be kind. Omri is the first student to give positive affirmations whenever they are needed, and the last student helping to clean up the room. He is destined for greatness and we cannot wait to see where he goes. His teacher feels sooo lucky to have him. Way to go, Omri!! We are so proud of you!
Ameena Sem-Torres-2nd Grader
It is an honor to have Ameena Sem-Torres as one of Madison Elementary’s Students of the Month. She is kind, responsible and respectful. She is focused and does her very best in class. She never gives up! Her classmates would like to add that she is smart, empathetic, and follows the “Golden Rule”. Ameena is proud to say that she loves school! Her smile is sure to brighten anyone’s day. We are so proud to have Ameena as a student here at MES!
We Appreciate our December Employee of the Month!
Grace Voisin-1st Grade Teacher
Grace has been teaching 1st grade here at MES since 2016. She loves it because there is an incredible amount of learning and growth that happens in first grade between the beginning and end of the year. Her greatest hope is that all her students develop a love of learning and trying new things that spans across their school years and beyond. Her absolute favorite thing about teaching is watching students’ excitement and enthusiasm as they learn and grow, and she looks forward to when they come back to say hello, reminisce, and give life updates! Outside of the classroom, Grace is involved as our DEI Committee Chair, and has recently signed on to assist with our school's JEDI club. She is also trained as a youth dance instructor, loves backyard birdwatching, and curling up with a good book. According to her colleagues, she is a rockstar!! Even when faced with multiple challenges in her classroom, she always exudes dedication, motivation and hard work! She is kind, patient and loving to not only her students, but also her coworkers! She continues to do an AMAZING job at her role as DEI committee chair, by providing the staff with terrific resources and answering any questions they may have. We appreciate ALL that you do for MES and our students and we’re so thankful to have you on our team, Congratulations Grace!
💜💛💜Capturing Kids' Hearts💜💛💜
CKH Parent Survey
One of the main purposes of Capturing Kids' Hearts is to help ensure that every student at MES feels loved, valued and cared for when they enter our space at the beginning of each day! It is important to us to know how we're doing with this goal. Please use the button below to complete the parent survey to inform us of the areas that are currently a strength for us, as well as the areas that we could grow in. We look forward to your feedback so we can make any adujstments needed to improve. Thanks in advance!
We Showed Teamwork in November!
At the end of each month, we celebrate selected students who have consistently exemplified the CKH character trait focus for that particular month. Our focus characteristic for November was "teamwork". Click the link below to help us celebrate the students who were recognized for their ability to work together in unity towards a common goal!
This Month's New Focus is Responsibility!
Responsibility is the willingness and ability to take ownership of our thoughts, words, and actions. We have a responsibility to our school, family, and community to be accountable for our choices and how they impact ourselves and others.
Why focus on Responsibility?
- Responsibility teaches resilience. It is not possible to persevere and achieve our dreams without taking personal responsibility seriously.
- Responsibility empowers us to own our actions. There is great power in being able to make conscious, calculated choices to reach goals and manage those things in our control.
- Responsibility teaches us to manage our time and resources. Responsibly organizing and prioritizing needs is an executive function of the brain that improves with practice.
Looking for Some Fun Things to Do? Check Out These School & Community Events!
Game Night at the Public Libraries!
Our PTO has partnered with Communities in Schools, and two local public libraries to host Game Nights for our families! Come join us at the library closest to you for an evening of family fun! RSVP by clicking on the corresponding flyer below to register!
Please join PUEC's Education Town Hall: Pathways for Prosperity. We believe that this Town Hall will be especially beneficial for families of all students.
Date: December 5, 2023
Time: 5:30PM – 7PM
Location: Zoom (Enjoy from the coziness of home)
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming event, featuring nationally acclaimed guest speaker Dr. Alfred Tatum, Author, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, MSU DENVER. Together with members of our PUEC Leadership Team and Visionary Council advisory team, we'll share resources, tips, and techniques that you can use to enhance your child's classroom learning at home. Attendees will leave the event feeling empowered with the information they can use to level up their "at home" support of classroom learning. As an added bonus, all parents who register and attend will be entered into a $100 gift card drawing. Don't miss out! Feel free to share with others who could also benefit!
Flyer is attached above!!! It has clickable links and a QR Code.
Want Some MES Gear to Show Your School Pride?
Join our MES Spirit Wear Store! The store has tons of product and design options for you to choose from, allowing you to customize the perfect spirit wear made just for you! Your purchase can also help us raise money for our school, so it's a win-win for everyone! Click the button below to join, so you can pick out what you'd like to purchase right away, and/or be kept up to date on new products, sales and special promotions to buy from the site at another time. Don't miss a chance to show everyone you meet what MES Eagle Pride looks like!
Madison Elementary School
Felecia Hemingway, Principal
Tung Tran, Assistant Principal
Email: felecia.hemingway@madisondistrict.org
Website: https://es.madisondistrict.org/
Location: 27107 Hales Street, Madison Heights, MI, USA
Phone: 248-542-3414