Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the questions below to go to the answers. This FAQ is constantly being updated so check here first if you have a question. You can also submit your own FAQ for review at the contact page.
Madrona
How do I enroll my child at Madrona?
I entered my child in the lottery but I haven't heard anything? Did we not get picked?
Writing out checks for lunches is a pain. Is there any way I can use a credit card?
I want to stay in touch with my child. Can she/he bring a cell phone to school?
We would like to use the bus to get our child to Madrona, but where's our bus stop?
Using the bus just won't work for us. Is there a "right" way to drive my kids to Madrona?
What do I do if there is an emergency, like an earthquake, and my child is at school and I'm at work?
My kid loves the iPod (or Zune) and he/she wants to take it to class to show his friends. Is that OK?
Does Madrona have uniforms or a dress code?
My son says we should buy SCRIP to help Madrona earn money for activities. What's SCRIP?
I know when we enrolled they said volunteering is crucial to Madrona. But I'm real busy. They won't miss me if I don't volunteer will they?
Bear Facts Web site
How often should I check Bear Facts for updates?
Last year's site had a search function, but now it's gone. What happened?
I read all the material sent home with my child. There's no need to check the Web site, right?
How do I contact the Web site so I can post my event/activity?
I saw a picture of my daughter's classmate on the Web site. Is that OK? Will my kid's picture be posted?
What's the difference between this Web site and the "official school website"?
There's a typo/dated information on the Web site. Who can I contact to fix it?
What's a .pdf? And how do I download it?
How do I enroll my child at Madrona?
A - Parents who are interested in enrolling a child must attend a Madrona Parent Information Tour. You are then able to enter your child into a lottery. Names will be drawn to fill open positions. Siblings of existing Madrona students get first priority. Read about all the ins and outs of enrolling your child on this Web page of the site.
I entered my child in the lottery but I haven't heard anything? Did we not get picked?
A - Students are drawn from the lottery for other grade levels for the following school year beginning in May. This process allows each family one week to make their decision. The process continues until all positions are filled - which may continue into August. Read about all the ins and outs of enrolling your child on this Web page of the site.
Writing out checks for lunches is a pain. Is there any way I can use a credit card?
A - Yes, the Edmonds School District has started using a new online service that will let you pay by credit card and track how much is being paid out. Read all about it here.
I want to stay in touch with my child. Can she/he bring a cell phone to school?
A - Yes, your child can bring a cell phone to school. But there are strict restrictions on its use. Bottom line: keep it out of sight and don't use it during school hours. Here is a link to the complete Madrona policy on cell phones.
We would like to use the bus to get our child to Madrona, but where's our bus stop?
A - Madrona is considered a "choice school." That means the school district does not provide direct bus transportation from neighborhoods. However, you can get bus service from other schools you live close to. The district has launched an online tool that shows the possible bus drop off locations specific to your address. Click here to go to the Web page that has the link and has more details about getting your child to Madrona.
Using the bus just won't work for us. Is there a "right" way to drive my kids to Madrona?
A - You bet! Actually there are some important guidelines about how to drop-off and pick-up your child from Madrona if you are going to drive him/her to school. It will save you a lot of trouble and frustration if you get to know the procedures by reading them here.
What do I do if there is an emergency, like an earthquake, and my child is at school and I'm at work?
A - First, stay calm. Madrona is the safest place for your child to be in an emergency. The staff is highly trained to handle stressful situations and is familiar with the plans to keep kids safe. Stay where you are and don't call the school. There are strict guidelines on picking up children (don't forget your ID). Read everything you need to know here.
My kid loves the iPod (or Zune) and he/she wants to take it to class to show his friends. Is that OK?
A - You need to read the school's policy on personal electronics for the full answer. In general, no, keep the iPod (or Zune ) at home. If it's for a special class project that's okay, but you need prior teach approval.
Does Madrona have uniforms or a dress code?
A - No uniforms, but there is a policy about what is appropriate. You can read about the Dress Code here.
My son says we should buy SCRIP to help Madrona earn money for activities. What's SCRIP?
A - That's a great suggestion AND it's a way to earn Madrona money without costing you a dime. That's right. At no cost to you, you provide funding for many of Madrona's events, activities and classrooms. There is a visual aid to help explain the concept on this page, but think of it as just buying a gift card. You purchase a $50 dollar (scrip) gift card from MIT for Albertson's - or other store or supplier - you take that card to buy your normal $50 worth of food at Albertson's. MIT makes anywhere from 2%-15% selling you that card. It's a win-win. Find out how to buy scrip here.
I know when we enrolled they said volunteering is crucial to Madrona. But I'm real busy. They won't miss me if I don't volunteer will they?
A - Actually you will be missed. Madrona was founded with the expectation that teachers and parent volunteers would work together to provide a terrific learning environment for our children. But don't let that overwhelm you. There are many ways you can contribute even if you can't commit to regular classroom help. Check out all of the volunteering opportunities here.
How often should I check Bear Facts for updates?
A - Good question. Typically Bear Facts will be updated weekly, usually on the Wednesday when material is sent home with your child. However, the site will be updated immediately if there is an emergency (like snow closures) or important notice from Madrona's staff. Keep the site saved as one of your favorites and come back often.
Last year's site had a search function, but now it's gone. What happened?
A - Returning users will notice a big change to the Web site. It's just been rebuilt from the ground up in order to meet Web standards guidelines. One of the elements that had to go was the Search page. However, there are plans to reinstall the function at a future date. You should also be aware that some pages from the old site were moved so if you bookmarked any pages from last year you may not find what you're looking for. Check out the site map to see if you can find what you need.
I read all the material sent home with my child. There's no need to check the Web site, right?
A - You'll be missing out on a lot of material if you don't visit the Web site. A few years back, the office staff was sending home what seemed like reams of paper - flyers promoting events and activities. Some of this was from internal Madrona projects, most was from outside vendors vying for your attention. Now we send home much less, then post the rest on the Web site. You can find a list of this "Extra" material here. The Home page will also carry announcement and downloads you'll only get on the Web site.
How do I contact the Web site so I can post my event/activity?
A - You can submit your post (or question or suggestion) at the Contact page. That will generate e-mail to the Web producer. If you do not receive a reply within a few days please try again or contact the office if it's Madrona related. Not everything is appropriate to post on the Web. You should also know by submitting something to the Web site it does not automatically put the same post in to the printed Bear Facts Newsletter. Please send any information, articles, photos, news for the newsletter to Nancy Karis at nancy.karis@verizon.net.
I saw a picture of my daughter's classmate on the Web site. Is that OK? Will my kid's picture be posted?
A - We go to great lengths to get permission before using images of children in the Bear Facts Newsletter and subsequently on the Bear Facts Web site. However, district policy does authorize the use. You can read about the disclosure policy here.
What's the difference between this Web site and the "official school website"?
A - The official Madrona school website lives on the district Web server. Teachers and staff from Madrona maintain it. The Bear Facts Web site is maintained by volunteers and is a provided by MIT.
There's a typo/dated information on the Web site. Who can I contact to fix it?
A - Ooops. That's probably my bad. Tell me about the problem on the Contact page.
What's a .pdf? And how do I download it?
A - Invented by Adobe Systems, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) is a document file format that is viewable and printable on any platform - Macintosh, Microsoft® Windows®, UNIX®, and more. Click the icon below to install the Adobe Reader. When you see a link on the site to download a .pdf - click it, which will open a new window and launch Adobe Reader, then in the document click "Save As" and save the document to your computer.
