STREET SAFETY REMINDER

Parents - please remember that it is not safe, nor permitted, to drop of your students on 236th street. I received a report that two young students were dropped off one morning and darted across traffic to school. We understand that the drop off/pick up line is slow and congested but it is the ONLY safe way for students by car to arrive. Four years ago we had a student hit by a car on 236th and we don’t want that to ever happen again. On an additional note, we have heard from our Madrona neighbors that some of our parents are blocking the mailboxes and driveways as they park to wait for their children.

This is not permitted and will result in law enforcement being called if the situation does not rectify itself.

MIT MEETING NEXT TUESDAY

New on the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting: bus transportation for choice schools. The district has revived the plan to change school bus transportation from neighborhood school pick up to hub-and-spoke. You won’t want to miss this meeting!

SEUSSICAL PREVIEW DAYS

Are you unsure on whether you’d like to audition for the play this year? Come and listen to the music, see what acting roles there will be, and talk with the director and the music directors about what to expect with this year’s production. Meet today, Wednesday, November 7th (music) and Thursday, November 8th (roles) from 3:50 to 5:30 in the music building. Audition packets will be available. And....

SEUSSICAL AUDITIONS NEXT WEEK

Remember there are audition sign up sheets in the music building for Seussical. If you’d like to audition, sign up for either Tuesday, November 13th or Wednesday, November 14th. Auditions will be from 3:50 until 6:00 pm in the music building. Audition packets are available in the Seussical box outside of the Office. Participation packets are due at the time of audition - additional packets are in the Seussical box. If you have questons contact Sharon Quiring (425-742-1083) or Sarah DeMun (425-775-6027).

REMINDER!!

Please remember that we must have a written request to have absences excused for family events (vacations, reunions, etc.). Requests need to be submitted to Kelly in the office at least two weeks prior to the date you leave.

IB/HONORS PROGRAM

There is an informational meeting for parents interested in the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs at Edmonds Woodway High School. The meeting is tomorrow night, November 8th at 7PM in the EWHS Great Hall.

MORE BEAR SCARE NEWS

From chairwoman Felicia Seubert: “Correction to the Bear Scare Newsletter article:

Check the newsletter for my final article on Bear Scare! And our awesome webmaster posted Bear Scare photos on the Bear Facts website, so be sure to check those out too! Unfortunately, I didn’t get the names of all the middle school advisories who worked so hard on the haunted hose in time for the article. To correct that omission, here’s a big thank you to the following advisories and parents for the wonderful haunted house at Bear Scare: Baldwin/Entrop; Miller/DeVight; Campbell; Proffitt; Edwards; Stephenson; Pollock; Gorney and Ullerich. Thanks again Madrona parents!”

CHALLENGE TESTING PROCEDURES

Do you think your student is a candidate for the Challenge Program? If so, you may sign them up for Challenge Testing. The testing will take place on December 1, 2007 and January 19,2008 at Terrace Park K-8 school. Testing forms must be in the Challenge Office on November 18th for the December testing and January 15 for the January 19th testing. Application forms are available in the main office at Madrona. If you have questions you can contact Nancy Gilbertson at 425-431-7157.

UNICEF DONATIONS

So far we have raised close to $200 for UNICEF. Please remember to turn in your UNICEF boxes to the front office by November 14th. Every penny counts towards our goal of $500. Help improve another child’s life through your contributions.

If you have any questions email Deborah Binder (Jai’s mom) at jazzyoga@earthlink.net.

BARNES AND NOBLE BOOK FAIR

Mark your calendars now! It’s Book Fair time!!! This fall we will be having our book fair at Barnes and Noble Alderwood On November 15th. This has become a very fun filled evening with activities and shopping combined! In previous years we have been able to earn at least a $1000 profit. This adds up to many, many new books for our school library. Thank you so much for your continued support. See you there on November 15th!

PARENT ENRICHMENT

It is time once again to gear up for Winter Enrichment classes. This session will begin in January after our holiday break. The parent enrichment committee would like to invite any parents interested in teaching an after school class and any parent currently teaching a class to please contact Lisa Miller at 206-409-6172 or brettlisa@comcast.net.

SCRIP NEWS

The scrip table will be open on Thursday of this week and Tuesday next week since we do not have school on Friday or Monday. Remember to order your Barnes and Noble gift cards to use at the Book Fair on Thursday, November 15th. The are available in $10 and $25 denominations and we get 9% for each card ordered (in addition to what Barnes and Noble donates to us after the book fair!) Make it a family night and order scrip gift cards for dinner (or dessert) and shopping (Old Navy is next to Barnes and Noble!) Stop by the scrip table and order or place your order in the office. Please contact Linda Park at 425-672-9485 if you have any questions. Also.......

MORE SCRIP NEWS:

Start your holiday shopping now with gift cards. We have many to choose from and something for everyone on your list. It is never too early to begin! Some of our new items this year are iTunes, Michael’s, Sports Authority, and Applebee’s. Please check out all of the vendors available for purchase.

IT’S WINTERGREEN TIME!

Once again it is our pleasure to offer fresh, fragrant and beautiful wintergreens for the holidays. Information is coming home in today’s packets.

This is a great opportunity to get something wonderful for your home and support Madrona Associated Student Body at the same time. Make sure checks are made out to MIT as they process all of our orders. For every three wreaths or one garland that you order your name will be added to a drawing to receive a $100 scrip gift certificate of your choice. Orders are due by November 7th and will be available for pickup on November 20th.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

• Nov. 9 - No School - Professional Dev. Day for Staff
• Nov. 12 - Veteran’s Day - No School
• Nov. 13 - MIT Meeting in library
• Nov. 14 - Parent Orientation Tour 9:30 am
• Nov. 15 - Book Fair at Barnes and Noble from 5 - 9
• Nov. 22/23 No School - Thanksgiving holiday
• Nov. 29 - Parent Internet Safety Mtg. 6:30
• Dec. 7 - No School - Professional Dev. Day for Staff
• Dec. 11 - Winter Band Concert - MS & Adv. Band at 7
• Dec. 13 - Hearing rechecks
• Dec. 24 - First day of Winter Break
• Jan. 7 - School starts after Winter Break

BUY SCRIP TODAY

THOUGHTS FROM LYNDA

I have heard from several parents regarding the current District protocol for information about sex offenders being released into neighborhoods within our school District. The current approach, which was created in tandem with local police departments, keeps the dissemination of such information including fliers and community meetings under the direction and responsibility of the pertinent police department. The school facility is made available to the police department for use such as the meeting held by Edmonds PD here at Madrona last Thursday evening. The local police department is in charge of all communications regarding the sex offender release and informational meeting. In this recent case they sent over 1,700 fliers into the neighborhood surrounding the offenders’ current residence. Debbie Jakala our district communications manager attended the meeting at Madrona and heard the parent concerns regarding the fact that our families live all round the District, most of them therefore did not receive the flier about the meeting. As a result, she took the concern to the superintendent’s staff on Monday where it was determined that a work group would be formed to look at the current procedure in light of the needs of all of our schools who have broad enrollment (Maplewood, Scriber/Options, Challenge and Homeschool Resource Center.) Each school will have a parent representative at this meeting, along with Joe Beards representing the Snohomish County Sherriff’s office, our District manager of psychological services and Debbie Jakala as facilitator. Our school will be represented on this work team by parent Nancy Duffy. If you would like to communicate with Nancy she has established this email for that purpose: MadronaSexOffenderRep@gmail.com.

Having said all of that, I must share that Craig and I have been overwhelmed by the misinformation and rumors brought to our attention. Most distressing has been the comments that Craig and I do not care for Madrona children and have been irresponsible in this situation. This is simply not true. I phoned my supervisor upon first hearing of the release meeting (and upon receiving the flier in my home mail) and was directed to follow the current procedure which included having the Edmonds police handle all release of information. Since Craig and I are employees of the Edmonds School District we are responsible to follow District policies and procedures. We do not have the authority to act outside of our District’s policy. I also understand after this experience that some of our parents disagree with this policy and I’m happy that it will be formally reviewed in the above described work party. Our District has a history of being responsive to parents and I trust that this concern will be thoroughly addressed. Finally, I love our children at Madrona and I am confident that we work diligently to provide for their safety at school. While attending to risk factors is important, I do believe that the most important protection parents can provide their children is empowering them with good safety sense and judgment. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office website provides excellent information to help parents discuss sex offenders and stranger danger. You can locate them at

http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Sheriff/Services/Sex_Offender. I will communicate the outcome of the District work team described above as soon as I can. In the meantime, I hope we will continue to be a community which assumes positive intent and nurtures our common goal of educating healthy, happy and wise children.