Madrona is Blossoming!

From the Principal

I hope your family enjoyed spring vacation! As I write this on the eve of spring break they are forecasting snow . . . not the sort of weather many of us hope for during this vacation!

Congratulations to the cast, crew & especially Director Ted Jacquith & Producers Sharon Quiring & Sarah DeMun for the fantastic success of Seussical last month! I hope you were able to see the show. What I hear over & over from the children & parents involved in the annual musical production, is their appreciation for such a thrilling experience that becomes memories for a life time! It is truly a labor of love AND a huge commitment by all involved.

As you know, April is the month of WASL Testing, which now encompasses grades three through eight in our K-8 school. Testing begins on Monday, April 14 through Thursday, May 1st. Please remember that consistent and punctual attendance is very important to your students’ success all through school and especially during testing time. We also appreciate your partnership in encouraging your student, and affirming your belief that they can and will do their best on the test. I have found it helpful over the years to let students know that we use the information we get from tests to help us be better teachers – rather than emphasizing the performance outcomes for individual students. Our goal is to provide the best testing environment we can, without overemphasizing the test as a sole measurement of a students’ success.

Positive Communication

In keeping with our goal for continuous improvement, I would like to share a concern that has been communicated to me increasingly – something I think we can all contribute to positively shifting, and that is email communication. I have heard from both parents and staff about their anxiety upon receiving some emails regarding conflicts and concerns. The most common complaint is what is being described as harsh wording, which causes either parents or staff to feel offended or anxious. I’m sticking my neck out here, but I would like to suggest something that I think will help us to use email more effectively – and that is this: If you have a serious concern or feel that you are in conflict with someone in the Madrona community, please consider using the telephone or arrange for a personal meeting as the preferred method of communication.

While most of us find email very efficient in terms of time, etc. – my observation is that the sometimes impersonal nature and concise writing used in email; coupled with the absence of other important elements of communication such as body language, tone of voice and dialogue – actually can cause communication to breakdown. The presence of these personal elements is especially important when the topic of communication involves emotions, anxiety or conflict. Clearly there are times when email is the most effective form of communication we can choose. But if whenever possible, we can choose methods that allow for more complete communication when we have a serious issue or concern – I am hopeful we will more quickly and effectively understand each other and achieve the resolutions we desire.

Thank you for the caring support you provide the Madrona School community! I hope you enjoy the beautiful blooming flowers and trees when you come on campus.

Happy Spring!

 – Lynda

Madrona Children’s Theater

Seussical is a Huge Hit!

Wow! What a show! MCT was able to sell out all of our four shows this year - with people waiting for tickets at the door! Once in the theater, the audience was not disappointed. We were all transfixed by the wonderful music, the incredible set, the colorful costumes, and, of course, our talented Madrona students.

We would like to thank all of the many, many remarkable Seussical parents that worked to make this year’s musical a great success. Your contributions were so important and appreciated. Without your support this production could not have happened.

A special thanks to Rob Bretz and his creative group of parents that build a set that transported us into the land of Seuss; and to Beth Mahmoud-Howell and DawnRene Becker for working tirelessly from the first day until the last to create those amazing costumes. Thank you to Ted Jaquith, Diane Jamieson, Mark and Nancy Press, and Gabe Corey for not only seeing in our kids the potential to put on such an ambitious musical but also being able to bringing it all to life on the stage.

In the next couple of weeks we will have a Wrap-Up meeting to discuss what worked and what we can do better next year. We should have all of the budget information in by then, so you can see the financials for the production. Anyone and everyone who is interested in theater at Madrona is welcome to attend.

As we close this book on our 2008 production year, we want to thank our talented cast. It was a pleasure to sit in the audience and watch everyone perform. You were truly amazing! We hope to see many of you next year!

-Your Producers, Sarah DeMun & Sharon Quiring

Madrona Integrated Team

MIT Co-Chair’s Corner

The Littlest of Us

As you know, we are trying to get enough money together to purchase a new climbing structure for the little kids’ playground, which is in the fenced-in area between Buildings 2 and 3. This is the playground that is used by the DHH preschool, as well as all 3 Kindergarten classes. The Kindergarten teachers use this space as blow-off-steam area for the kids all day long, as it is just outside their classrooms, separate from the bigger kids, and under cover.

Since the climber has disappeared, the equipment that is left can accommodate all of 6 kids at one time, so the rest of them get to run around and throw wood chips at each other. The little ones ride trikes when it’s not raining, but this is the Northwest, and non-rainy days are rare in Spring.

The loss of the climbing structure which had been installed just a couple of years ago is especially galling to those parents and staff who worked so hard to raise the money and design and coordinate its installation. Since they already approached friends and family for sizeable donations, a second round of fundraising in less than 4 years seems like a cruel joke.

The Edmonds School District has some funds left in its Capital Investment fund for this year, but not enough to pay the full price of the climber. They have offered a partial match to what we at Madrona can raise. The quote we have from the facilities people is $18,000 for a new climber. The Madrona community needs to plan to find at least half of this amount.

Let’s get our youngest kids a decent place to play! Please consider buying one of these books, or giving one or more as a gift – remember: the use of only one coupon pretty much pays for it. Books are available in the office, family room, or online at www.madronabearfacts.com .

I know that Madrona and MIT always seem to have their hands in your pockets. We raise a lot of money through your enthusiasm and generosity, and we spend it conservatively, first on support of classrooms’ academic pursuits and then on making the school a great place to be. The MIT budget is established a year in advance, and unforeseen expenses like this cannot be covered by our normal operating budget. This structure would represent a third of all we collect and spend in a year, and I have no idea what we would be able to sacrifice in exchange for the playground.

 Luckily, we have been very fortunate to have Sally Foster / Entertainment Books Inc. as a fundraising partner. They gave us their entire local inventory of Entertainment Books, at zero cost, to sell for this project. Each $15 sale of a book goes directly into a fund for the playground. But it takes a lot of $15 books to fund an $18,000 project. That is why MIT is also encouraging families to make directed donations to All for Kids, and seek matching funds from their employers.

Parents have expressed the concern that a new climber would suffer the same fate when this school is remodeled in 2011-2012. As long as it is still in compliance with the District’s safety rules, there is no reason why a new climber could not be moved to a new location when construction is done. Our little kids cannot wait until the new school is built before they can have fun outside again.

 – Linda Hood

Donate to All for Kids & Give Little Kids a Place to Play!

Write a check to MIT and direct your donation to the Little Kids’ Playground. Your employer may match your donation! Help raise $18,000 for playground equipment.

Use Credit Cards to Donate to All for Kids!

Newsflash -- you may now use your credit card to donate to All for Kids! Simply go to www.madronabearfacts.com and follow the link to the secure payment site, Paypal.

Madrona Integrated Team & More

Informal Parent of the Month

This month’s totally unsanctioned and unofficial Parent of the Month award goes to Rebecca and Steve Eborall, who have been members of the Madrona community forever, thanks to having thoughtfully spread out the births of their kids over many years. Steve has freely shared his artistic talents in so many ways, from Art Daze for the primary-age kids to painting fabulous sets for the school musicals. Rebecca is always there when somebody needs a helping hand, and treats all our kids with love and cheer. We are so lucky to have them.

 – Linda Hood

MIT Business Meetings 2007—08

All meetings will be held in the library at 7:00 PM

• April 15th - Tuesday
• May 21st – Wednesday
  • (Nick Brossoit visit)
• June 10th* - Tuesday

Buy Entertainment Books Online –

Help Madrona's Little Kids!!

Help Madrona buy new playground equipment for the littlest kids -- go to www.madronabearfacts.com & follow the link to Little Kids Playground. Use your credit card to pay for the books, & they will come home in the next couple of days with your child.

Coffee Hour with Lynda & Craig

Lynda Fischer has been hosting a coffee hour for parents who have time to drop in and discuss anything that comes to mind. The first coffee hour gravitated to a discussion of academic standards and requirements, and the most recent session bounced around among a few topics of interest. The next opportunity to chat about what interests you is on April 17th, at 10 AM. Please drop in and see what develops. There is no planned agenda or topic, just an informal setting to chat and yes . . . there really is coffee and tea!

Thursday, April 17, 9 – 10:00 am Brad Proffitt’s room

Friday, May 16, 9 – 10am Library

Summer Scrip

Now is the time to start thinking of stocking up for summer scrip use!! You can buy ahead of time so you have gift cards to use during the summer months! It’s not easy to go to the grocery store without your gift cards to use! Think of the money that Madrona could be earning!

If you are a Safeway shopper, please remember to go online to www.escrip.com and register you Safeway Club Card (Madrona’s group # is 8546372). Madrona earns a % of what is spent each month for everyone who signs up and shops at Safeway. Remember, any family member can sign up their card (grandmas, aunts, etc). We currently have 68 families registered. Let’s try and make it 100 by the end of the school year! If you have any questions, contact Linda Park at (425) 672-9485 or labpark@comcast.net.

 – Linda Park

Intermediate PE: Mariners Game

Intermediate P.E. parents take note: Permission slips for the Mariners Baseball Game Field trip go home April 2 and must be returned no later than April 30. Cost is $15; that includes ticket, bus to the game and train home to Edmonds train depot.  

 -BJ Stephenson

More Info

WANTED: New WAMU Volunteers!

I need to recruit new volunteers for WAMU School savings for the fall! I would be happy to help out in the fall to get things going, but I will no longer be a Madrona mom. Gina is in the 8th grade :( :) mixed emotions!! This is a two person job for security purposes, taking money from kids, etc....

It is a fairly simple task, once a week between 8:50 and 9:20 AM. We meet in the Cafeteria and collect $. Then I generally go home and enter the deposits online, make sure I balance, then take 2 copies of the deposit and the $ to the WAMU on 5th & Walnut in Edmonds and deposit the money. It works out to about an hour a week, maybe a little more. If you are interested, please contact Gwen Anderson at: gwenmand@hotmail.com, or 425-741-6542 (home) 425-772-8537 (cell).

 – Gwen Anderson

 (Ed. Note: Gwen has been handling the WAMU School Savings for Madrona for 8 YEARS! We will miss her so much! I had to ask her about it: “I started helping out with school savings the first year Gina was at Madrona, so that makes 8 years! I so enjoy getting to know some of the younger kids, sometimes when I see them in the community they come up to me and say, "I know you!" even though they usually can't figure out how they know me. It has really been fun.”)

Thank you, Gwen!!

News from the Music Room

March 25th and 27th were big dates for our primary students as they presented the musical revue “Possibilities”. Colorful T-shirts and creative career costumes were a delightful backdrop to the heartfelt songs and words expressed by our students. Thanks to our wonderful parents and teachers who helped to make this a memorable event!

 – Barb Jensen

Madrona Loves Books!!!

Our Scholastic Book Fair was a great success! We had fun looking at all the new titles available, hugging Clifford, buying our very own books, and seeing all the great posters made by very artistic Madrona students. Our profit was the largest yet with $5,500 to be used to purchase new books for the Library. Look for those books to be circulating soon!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the Book Fair: decorating, setting up, taking down, and running the cash register (even without the key!!!). An especially HUGE thank you to Paprika Fahrenwald for masterminding the entire operation. You were all such a great help and I thank you so much.

 - Ann DeVight

Music Department

Upcoming Concerts

• EWHS Big Band Dance – April 19
  • Jazz I
• Madrona Jazz Night – April 30 (tentative)
  • Jazz I & Jazz II
• Sno-King Solo/Ensemble – May 3
  • Selected middle school ensembles
• Art Walk – May 8
  • Jazz I
• Elementary Band Concert – May 28
  • Jazz II, Beginning, Intermediate, & Advanced Bands
• Middle School Spring Concert – June 5
  • Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz I, Orchestra
• Edmonds Arts Festival – June 13
  • Field Trip & afternoon concert – Jazz I & Inter. Orchestra

Deaf Awareness Week – Thank you!

A huge thank you to the Eleanor Roosevelt Dance Company from Maryland, for their inspiring performance at the assembly last month! Thanks also to all the staff and teamwork that made that week a success. We'd also like to thank Sorenson

Communications, Edmonds Subshop, Edmonds Harbor Inn, New Hope Deaf Church and the Gallaudet University Alumni Association, Washington Chapter for their financial contributions and wonderful community support. On Friday before Spring Break, deaf and hearing children from all around the Seattle area came to Madrona for the dance workshop, and we were amazed at the talent and inspiration even amongst our very own!! Marlee Matlin here we come!! If you'd like to see more on young deaf dancers, check out Good Morning America at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4511890

 - Cheryl Kaler

DHH News

Our annual Deaf Awareness Week was a great success. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program provided an inspirational assembly that included:

The primary DHH class and Summit center welcomed the crowd to a video rendition of "Give me a Sign." A special thank you to Barb Jensen for including teaching sign in your music classes!

Video by DPAN on "Waiting for the World to Change," followed by a live version by primary/intermediate class doing the same, with their own personal deaf pride posters. Haven't seen the video? Check out http://www.dpan.com/

An amazing dance performance by the Eleanor Roosevelt Dance team from Washington, D.C

Our own personal MADRONA bear (ABC) story - by Paul Glaser!!

Special thanks to Cheryl Kaler for coordinating this performance and for all the staff who helped make this the best Deaf Awareness Week yet.

On Friday at the Vineyard Club, Madrona's deaf and hearing students were joined by students from many surrounding schools for a fun filled HIP HOP time!! The Roosevelt team not only dances, but they really know how to teach! It was cool to see how they set up the rhythm; everybody signed the count, and placed all the dancers around the gym, to get everybody moving in unison. They ended with group performances and two more dances by the team, with a final farewell.

Lastly I'd like to thank our sponsors: Sorenson Communications, WAGUAA (Washington Gallaudet University Alumni Association), Edmonds Subshop, Harbor Inn, and New Hope Deaf Church, MIT and to all the parents and folks from the community who showed their support in spirit, finances and smiles- may we all carry the momentum forward in our hearts and work. Thanks!

  - DHH Program Manager, Alicia Carter

More Info

Attribute of Character for April - Creativity

 “Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.”  

 -Arthur Koestler

“It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.”

  – Edward De Bono

“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”

 – Victor Hugo

Are You Helping

Your Child Develop Creativity?

Children who think creatively are likely to solve problems in any field they pursue. Here’s a quiz to see if you’re helping your child develop imagination.

Give yourself five points for something you usually do, zero points for something you never do, or any score in between.

___1. I have a special place to display my child’s creative work.

___2. I have a box of materials ready for imaginative play.

___3. I challenge my child to think of new uses for everyday objects.

___4. I encourage my child to solve his own problems.

___5. I brainstorm with my child about better ways to do routine tasks.

How did you score?

Twenty points and above means you’re nurturing your child’s creativity. Fiftenn to 19 is average. Below 15 means you should do creative activities more often.

 -Helping Children Learn – The Parent Institute

ASB News

Thank you to everyone who sent in canned goods for the recent ASB canned food drive.

A painless, but huge help to our larger community.

 -BJ Stephenson

Speaking of being creative!

Buy First Grader’s original artwork to benefit Cambodia

I am raising money for a girl I am sponsoring in Cambodia. Her name is Bo and she is 8 years old. My parents are helping me sponsor Bo, but I want to raise some money by myself. So I have been drawing pictures that I am selling for $1 each. If you are interested in buying a picture, please email my mom at LindstromCPA@msn.com. My mom said we could collect money through her PayPal account if it were easier for the buyer. Here is an example of my drawings. I can then arrange to deliver your picture to your classroom. Thank you for your help.

 -Bridget Duffy, 1st grade, Ohana Center

Did you know?

• Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour
• The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
• The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. (What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
• Butterflies taste with their feet.
• Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.
• Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
• At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!
• Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.
• Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

Center News

Kindergarten News

Ms. Rust’s Class

Diverse creative projects were undertaken this month in Ms. Rust's class. The month started out with them making Leprechauns and food pyramids. For Deaf Awareness Week the kids' middle school buddies helped them write their names in Braille. The game of freeze tag which was new for many kindergarteners on Tribes Day has become a staple of recess. Then right before spring break the middle school buddies returned to help the kids with a junior paleontologist project of digging toy dinosaurs out of clay and making volcanoes. Starting spring break with snow was a whole lot of fun, and hopefully the weather will be clear enough for a whole lot of outdoor play during the week off school.

– Erika Jennings

Renaissance

This month Renaissance Center students designed and completed their own science experiments. What a great job! A few experiment posters will be displayed in the library. Others "traveled" the world and wrote postcards from their locations abroad. New cultural understandings have been fun to learn and share. All students are beginning a health unit focusing on family, friendship, self-esteem and decision-making. Happy Spring!

 – Anne Garing

The View from the Summit

The most exciting event in the Summit Center in March was teacher Judi Lawrence’s wedding, which happened 3/30. The class made her a scrapbook of cards and well-wishes, and held a little surprise shower just before Spring Break. In Social Studies, we are learning about ancient Egypt – especially about the layers of the society, from pharaoh to priests to specialized workers to farmers to slaves.

 - Liz Hood, Summit student

Center News

Paw-Sal-Cha’l

The students of Paw Sal Cha’l had a phenomenal fieldtrip to the Seattle Aquarium. The Windows on Washington showcase exhibit had our group enthralled with the divers’ ability to talk through the 12” thick, 20’by 40’ foot window. They learned about the Pacific Coral Reef and Ocean Oddities such as the Potbellied Seahorse. A group favorite was the Marine Mammals exhibit with Loot as the sea otter also known as Little Wave Eater. The children were amazed by the 12 foot high crystal Ring of Life with Moon Jellies; Life of a Drifter tank. The Giant Pacific Octopus inhabits a home with the Wolf Eel among many other wondrous sea lives. The touch tanks allowed the children to feel how delicate and squishy life is underwater. They were also involved in a discussion with a very knowledgeable Naturalist speaker to learn how they could protect our oceans and all of the life it sustains. It was a great experience for everyone. The primary concert “Possibilities” A Celebration of Life was a joy to behold. Guided by Mrs. Jensen the children sang as well as narrated their potential to dream big. The ability to choose their own paths and become anything they wish to become is a powerful message. Also the very impressive synchronized snap turn, to exit the bleachers safely, had the audience cheering!

Spring break had the children cheering and they were eager to share their plans with us.

• Sarah: I have a grandpa that has a new puppy. He is teething. I think he might bite or jump. I am so excited I want it to be today!
• Jasmine: I am going yurting in Oregon. It is like camping but it doesn’t have a bathroom. I am also doing homework.
• Maxim: We are planning to go to the Space Needle. My second plan is to go to the ferry across the sea in Edmonds.
• Shaelen: I’m going to Disneyland! It is my first time. My cousins also live in San Diego and I’m going to visit them. It will be fun!
• Jadin: I want to go to Hawaii!
• Brooks: I just learned how to long board! It’s so fun! I’ll ride my bike and play baseball with my dad. I plan to go bowling and have lots of fun with my friends. We always have a big birthday party for my sister and it’s my dad’s birthday the same day!
• Gracie: I am going to have a family fun day! That is when you get together with your family and do fun stuff with your family. I am going to Chuckie Cheeses and after that go bowling! Cool!
• Isabella: I’m going to go to California to visit some of my dads’ side of the family. It’s going to be hot so I’ll be swimming a lot. It will be a blast!

Deborah, Johanna and the students of Paw Sal Cha’l would like to wish all the families at Madrona a very Happy Spring!

 - Shellette Dubois

Aqua Center

Aqua Center performed the John Mayer song "Waiting on the World to Change" in ASL for the Deaf Awareness assembly. The kids made posters of famous Deaf people and important landmarks in Deaf history that they held up during the music parts with no words. JiEon Lee designed the buttons for Deaf Awareness week! We got so many people answering deaf trivia questions this year, it was great. We chose three of the correct answers from each center and let them choose a fun surprise.

 – Sandi

Center News

TriCenter

The Tri center has been very busy these last few weeks in the class room, but recently took a break for a fun field trip. Stopping first at Dahl park in Seattle where we got to play on the wonderful playground. Then we went on to the Northwest Puppet Theater and watched a play called SCUBA. During this program we learned about how different fish live and survive at various ocean depths. We are looking forward to another field trip this month to the Edmonds Beach to learn about our local native sea life. The Beach Rangers have already visited our classroom to help us get ready for this trip coming up later in April.

 - Marilyn Conley

Epicenter

As Epicenter enters the last trimester, fractions and decimals take center stage in math. In science, simple machines are being studied, drawn and linked to the civilization that used them. Also the tulip project is blooming right along and if you want to check out progress of tulips across the U.S. then log onto journeynorth.com. In language arts the students have received their assignments complete with tracking sheets to insure they meet their deadlines. In social studies the kids are busy creating artifacts for the history museum that you can see at the annual Art Walk in May. Finally, in the arts department, the class went to see 100 dresses, a play featured at the Seattle Children's Theater.

 – Doug Fair

Ohana

Our class was recently preparing their garden for summer by planting very pretty flowers and healthy vegetables. Plus we know our garden will be healthy too, because we’ve been finding worms.

Jeanice’s language group has been visiting the da Vinci Center every Tuesday. Last week we taught them how to finger knit.

The whole class took a field trip to the International District in Seattle. The class got a special tour of a store called Uwajimaya. Some of the items pointed out in the produce section were habanera peppers, jalapeno peppers, and different kinds of mushrooms, cactus and eggplants. After the tour the class ate lunch at The House of Hong. All the food served had to be sampled and announced by the kids whether they liked it or not. Robert taught us some words, like panya which means bakery and kuniya which means bookstore. I learned some words along the way, like tai chai which means a school that teaches karate.

 - Ohana 3rd grader, Kyle Sparks

What I Didn't Know Until I Had Kids

• How many seconds it takes to microwave 4 fish sticks perfectly.
• How to change a diaper in the dark, in a parked car, on a standing child and all of the above simultaneously.
• Which lines of The Cat in the Hat and If I Ran the Circus can be skipped over without a child noticing.
• How bright a 3 a.m. full moon is.
• Locations of public restrooms all across town.
• Why anyone would bother retracing their steps for miles just to retrieve a lost blankie.
• How to open a van door while bobbling 2 lunch boxes, two extra coats, a purse, a diaper bag and a baby.
• The fine art of vacuuming a floor without hosing up a Barbie shoe or a Playmobil cannonball.
• That solid white socks get lost in the dryer at a much slower rate than do the mates of patterned socks that coordinate to special outfits.
• How little sleep a human body truly needs to function.
• How to spell amoxicillin, let alone say it.
• That reverse psychology really works.
• The distinctive sounds of Cheerios crunching underfoot.
• Why they call them Happy meals.
• That man (or child anyway) really can live on peanut butter alone.
• That gender inequality starts early in clothing: Boy's underpants have a wide band on top, while the waistband & leg holes on girls look the same.
• That the more my kids learn, the less I seem to know.
• And the one I wanted to add ... How much you could love one human being!

Madrona Cooks!

Try this recipe now that spring asparagus is in season!

Asparagus Hollandaise Strata

• 1 lb asparagus, cut into 2” sections
• Loaf of crusty bread, cut into 1” cubes
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 8 – 10 eggs
• 1 stick butter, melted
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup milk
• 8 oz Havarti cheese, cubed

Clean the asparagus and steam it until nearly cooked, about 5 minutes. Spray the bottom of a flat casserole dish with cooking spray or oil, and spread 2/3 of the cubed bread in the dish. Mix the asparagus with 2/3 the cheese and the rest of the bread, and spread it in the dish. Spread the rest of the cheese as the last layer. Beat the eggs with the butter, sour cream and milk. Stir in lemon juice. Carefully pour the egg mixture over the contents of the dish. Cover with aluminum foil and let stand in the fridge for 2 – 12 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake casserole, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for 15 – 20 minutes until the eggs are cooked and the top is lightly browned.

 - Linda Hood

Submit recipes to: nancykaris@comcast.net

Bear Facts Web Site

The Madrona Bear Facts Web site (http://madronabearfacts.com) is YOUR reliable source of information about Madrona! Please contact Allan Townsend, for suggestions or concerns about the Web site. It is updated constantly with fresh information. And don’t forget the online Calendar – it’s a great way to check on Madrona events & meetings.

  -Allan Townsend, MIT Communications Director

 Important dates and events to remember…

Save The Date!

• Apr 14-May 2 WASL
• Apr 15 MIT Meeting
• Apr 17 Coffee Hour w/Lynda & Craig
• Apr 19 EWHS Big Band Dance
• Apr 30 Madrona Jazz Night (tentative)
• May 3 Sno-King Solo/Ensemble
• May 3 Bear Facts Deadline
• May 5-9 Teacher Appreciation Week!
• May 8 Art Walk
• May 9 Non-Student Day
• May 11 Mother’s Day
• May 16 Coffee Hour w/Lynda & Craig
• May 21 MIT Meeting (Nick Brossoit visit)
• May 23 Non-Student Day
• May 26 Memorial Day – no school
• May 28 Elementary Band Concert

Bear Facts Newsletter

Many thanks to all who contributed to this newsletter! It’s your news that keeps the Bear Facts interesting. Our next deadline is May 3 & will come out on May 7. We only have 2 issues left for the rest of our school year! Send to: nancykaris@comcast.net.

 - Nancy Karis

Scrip News

Spring is finally here – although you would never know by the weather! Please support Madrona by buying gift cards for your spring gardening and home improvement projects. We carry Sky Nursery, Home Depot, Lowes Hardware, Fred Meyer, and many others.

Teacher Appreciation Week will be the first week of May. We have great gift ideas for all of the wonderful Madrona teachers. Please stop by the scrip desk to place your order early. We have a “Teachers Favorites” book located in the Family Room or at the Scrip desk to help you.

If you plan on traveling this summer, please remember to use scrip gift cards for all of your travel needs. We have Disney gift cards in you are planning a Disneyland or Disney World vacation. There are many hotels, gas cards, and casual dining or fast food restaurants available for your traveling needs.

Stop by the Scrip table outside the office for an order form or pick one up any time during the day in the family room or outside the office.

 – Linda Park