News From The Nest🦅
Madison Elementary Parent Newsletter December 2024
It's Beginning to Look (& Feel) Alot Like Winter....
I can hardly believe it’s already December! This year seems to have flown by, and soon we’ll be welcoming a new one. The winter holiday season is such a magical time, often filled with family, friends, and festive traditions. With all the excitement of preparing for special events, gatherings, and outings, our schedules can easily become packed, leaving us feeling a bit overwhelmed by all there is to do.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle, I encourage you to take a step back and savor the moments that bring you joy. Whether it’s a quiet cup of cocoa by the fire, laughter with loved ones, or simply appreciating the twinkle of holiday lights, these little moments can remind us of the blessings life has to offer.
So, as you prepare for the season ahead, make sure to carve out time to relax, recharge, and truly enjoy the spirit of the holidays. Wishing you and your family a season full of peace, love, and all the things that make your heart smile. Happy Holidays!
MES Holiday Gift Shoppe🎁
Starting on Monday, students will have the exciting opportunity to shop for their loved ones at our Holiday Gift Shoppe! Last week, a note should have come home with your student containing specific details, an envelope to hold money, and a space to record their shopping list. Each teacher has signed up for a specific shopping time for their class, which is listed below so you can prepare accordingly.
To make the most of this experience, we recommend discussing the shopping list with your student in advance. Help them decide who they’re shopping for, how much money they have to spend, and some ideas for gifts they might like to choose. Check out the video below to preview some of the items available! Most gifts are priced between $2.50–$6.00, with some as low as $0.50 and none exceeding $12.00. Please note, this is a CASH ONLY event—we cannot accept checks or debit cards this year.
The PTO is still in need of volunteers to ensure the success of this event. Extra help is especially needed on Thursday for two 1st-grade classrooms, which often require additional assistance, and on Friday for clean-up. If you’re available, please consider signing up using the link below:
Volunteer Sign-Up Link.
Please remember that a valid background check must be on file to volunteer. As a token of our appreciation, all volunteers will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win gift cards and other fabulous prizes. Thank you in advance for your support in making this event a special experience for our students!
🎄MES Winter Holiday Extravaganza!🎄
Join us on Wednesday, December 18th 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!
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.
PTO NEEDS Y-O-U!
Last year, a small group of dedicated parents stepped up to rebuild and rebrand our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), laying a strong foundation for its success. As our school community continues to grow, we are inviting and strongly encouraging others to join and collaborate with them to provide additional support and resources for our students and staff.
The PTO is especially in need of new leadership, as our current president will be moving soon. In addition to leadership roles, we are also looking for thought partners who can bring fresh ideas and energy to the team.
If you're interested in helping, have questions, or want to share your ideas, please contact the main office or reach out to the PTO directly at madisonschoolspto@gmail.com. Together, we can make a meaningful impact for our school community!
MDPS Sick/Return Policy
As we move through this season with drastic changes in temperature, we often see an increase in illnesses among students. To help keep everyone healthy and safe, we wanted to remind you of our sick and return policy. Please take a moment to review the graphic below for guidelines on when to keep your child home and when they can safely return to school.
Thank you for helping us create a healthy learning environment for all!
Senior Center Holiday Blessings!
This holiday season, MES is excited to continue our tradition of spreading cheer to our neighbors at the Senior Center! We’ve planned a special way to brighten their days, and we’d love for you to join us in making it extra special.
Check out the flyer below for all the details on how you and your family can contribute to this meaningful initiative. Your generosity and support will make a big difference and help us bring smiles to the faces of our senior neighbors.
Thank you in advance for helping us make the holidays a little brighter for our community! 🎄✨
Got Any Extra Gift Wrap?
Speaking of being a blessing, on Monday, December 16th, 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 13th so we can plan accordingly and make sure we're prepared for Monday.
MES Is a Nut-Free Zone!
If you're planning to send in holiday treats, please ensure they are nut-free and made in a facility that does not process nuts. This must be clearly indicated on the original packaging. For the safety of students with severe allergies, homemade treats or items without original ingredient labels are not permitted. All treats must be inspected by the office before being shared. Thank you for helping us keep all of our students safe by carefully reading labels and following these important guidelines!
Mila Cahill-2nd Grader
Mila is an incredible student and an even better person! She exemplifies what it means to be a Madison Eagle in every way. Mila’s positive attitude and strong work ethic shine through in everything she does. She consistently goes above and beyond to support her classmates, whether it’s offering a helping hand with a difficult assignment or simply listening when someone needs a friend. Her maturity and thoughtfulness make her a natural leader, and she sets a wonderful example for others to follow. Mila’s perseverance, along with her natural curiosity, allows her to tackle challenges with confidence and grace. Whether in the classroom or outside, she demonstrates respect, compassion, and a genuine desire to make her school community a better place. We are truly fortunate to have Mila as a part of our school, and we know she will continue to excel in whatever she sets her mind to!
Avaya Lopez-2nd Grader
Brenna Potter-Art Teacher
Although Brenna has been at MES less than a year, she has made a huge impact o our art education program and in the hearts of our staff and students.
Brenna has brought so much energy and creativity to our art program, making it better than ever! Her coworkers love how she creates fun, engaging, and affordable projects that students enjoy while also learning about art—sometimes without even realizing it! The hallways are full of amazing artwork from every grade, showing how hard Brenna works to celebrate her students’ creativity. Her dedication to making students feel proud of their work inspires excitement and confidence. Even when Brenna isn’t at school, her thoughtful planning stands out. A substitute recently praised her for leaving clear, organized plans and even including helpful tips, like where to find lunch or other necessities. Brenna’s passion and care inspire everyone around her, and her students are always excited to have her as their teacher. Her creativity, hard work, and dedication make her an excellent choice for Employee of the Month! We’re so lucky to have her on our team!
Jessica Bain-Resource Room Teacher
We are thrilled to welcome a new addition to the Madison Elementary family! Our new Resource Room Teacher, Ms. Bain, comes to us as a recent graduate of Michigan State University (GO GREEN), where she earned a bachelor's degree in Special Education with endorsements in learning disabilities and urban studies.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Bain enjoys crafting with her Cricut, designing on Canva, experimenting with exciting new recipes in the kitchen, singing along to her favorite Taylor Swift songs, and planning her next adventure. She finds joy in spending time with family, friends, and her goofy, lovable 2-year-old English bulldog, Herbie.
Ms. Bain has already built meaningful relationships with staff and students, consistently taking the initiative to help wherever needed. Her positivity and energy are contagious, and her excitement for her new role is evident in how eager her students are to work with her. She collaborates closely with teachers to ensure students are receiving exactly what they need. We are so fortunate to have her as part of our Little Eagle community!
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.
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