1/23/2008 - Notes from the Office - Madrona K-8 School

SCRIP NEWS

Scrip is a word that means "substitute money". It is actually another way of saying gift cards! A lot of people do not understand what "scrip" is. Each time you see the word, just think gift cards! Remember to keep your favorite people in mind on Valentine's Day by purchasing gift cards for them. See's Candies, Bath & Body Works, Starbucks, BedandBreakfast.com (over 3,000 bed and breakfasts throughout the country!) and many others. Please stop by the scrip table in the morning or send an order from in with your child and they can drop it off in the office.

FAMILY DANCE SET FOR FEBRUARY 22ND 2008

MIT and Madrona Middle School present "Madstock 2008", a 60's style family dance on Friday, February 22nd from 6:30-9:30 p.m.in the gym. Pull out your old 60's style clothes and come dance the night away to the BeanBarry Delights. We will be having a costume contest for age’s primary to adult! Pizza and beverages will be sold from 6:00-8:00 in the cafeteria. This is a family event for everyone! Tickets will be on sale every morning beginning Tuesday, January 22nd from 8:50-9:20. Prices are $5 for kids 8th grade and younger and $10 for everyone else (high school and adults). Advance tickets also available for pizza. A drink with one slice for $3 or with two slices for $5. Buy your tickets early for this fun event!

A number of you have already signed up to help with this event, but if you have not and would like to help, please contact Linda Park at labpark@comcast.net or 425-672-9485.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

If you have a kindergarten sibling coming to Madrona this Fall this is your last chance to get your paperwork in A.S.A.P. The drawing is held today. If you have any questions see Kelly Carlson in the office.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

Needs a few parents who might be willing to take over the money collecting/counting portion of our community service project Jump Rope for Heart. Madrona’s 'Jump-a-thon' will be held Wed., Jan. 30, for Intermediate and Middle School students@ 2:30 in the gym. Primary students will have their 'Jump-a-thon' on Jan. 31 in the gym at 2:50 p.m. Please contact BJ Stephenson, PE Dept. Head, @ ext 2940 if you are able to help, or email to: stephensonb@edmonds.wednet.edu.

LIBRARY STILL LOOKING FOR DONATIONS

The school library is interested in establishing a middle school reading area, and would love donations of a gently-used couch, armchairs and a coffee table. Please call Ann DeVight at 431-2904.

IDENTIFY YOURSELF

When you come to the school, please remember to wear your identification at all times. If you do not have an MIT badge, you can sign in at the office and receive a Visitor sticker. If you would like to have an MIT badge, call Kim Magana at 431-2911 to schedule a time to have one made.

MIT MEETINGS

A reminder that MIT meetings are a great place to find out about activities at the school, as well as provide information to your grade representatives and other parents. Agendas and meeting minutes are available on the MIT Bearfacts website. The date of the next meeting is in the calendar section of the Notes from the Office.

MCT’s POSTER AND T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST

LAST CHANCE!

Madrona Children’s Theater announces it annual poster, program and t-shirt design contest. All Madrona students are invited to submit art work for our 2008 Spring Musical - Seussical TM (Mar 20th-22nd). We will be using your artwork on our advertising poster, theater programs and on our t-shirts and sweatshirts! Be original! Be creative! Think Seuss! Submit only your own original artwork; please do not use copies or tracings of any of Dr. Seuss’s drawings. Grand Prize is tickets for your family to see Seussical TM (up to 4 tickets), a $10 gift card to Cold Stone Creamery or Jamba Juice, and a free t-shirt. Everyone who enters will receive a participation award. Drawings should be on plain 8 ½ by 11 paper using black ink or pencils to draw with. Put your name, your center / advisory, and phone number on the back. Place your artwork into the blue Seussical TM box on the shelf outside of the Office by Monday January 28th. If you have questions please contact Sarah DeMun at 425-775-6027 or Sharon Quiring at 425-742-1083.

National Expert on Children and Media Gloria DeGaetano comes to Madrona! Madrona Library on Thursday, January 24th 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Raising Our Children in a Media Saturated World

U. S. children spend more time in front of a screen than they spend with their parents or their teachers. This presentation explains the impact of overuse and misuse of TV, video, video games, and computers, particularly in influencing learning foundation skills such as attentive listening and literacy development. Learn how inaccurate and distorted media images influence a child’s worldview, affecting their competence, self-confidence and ultimately their self-image as a learner and as a creative contributor to society. Practical suggestions and fun family activities will be shared that will help you to:

Control and manage home screens more effectively.
Set up a media-literate home environment.
Teach critical viewing skills.
Promote creativity and communication through visual messages and all forms of screen technologies.

Back by Popular Demand – Parent Literacy Night

Madrona students are welcome ~ Thursday, February 21, 2008 7 – 8:30 p.m. Madrona Library

Making Sense of Reading: What You Can Do to Help Your Child Become a Better Reader.

Are you interested in helping your child understand what they read and think more deeply about it? Feb 21st our reading specialist Kendra Wagner and our literacy lead M. Wellman will share reading comprehension strategies Madrona teachers are using in the classroom. Our goal is to give you and your child tools to support the instruction they receive in the classroom. We will demonstrate how you can support your child in the following:

Connecting reading to your child’s background knowledge
Creating sensory images
Asking questions about texts
Drawing inferences from what your child is reading
Determining what's important – in a variety of texts
Synthesizing ideas and creating new insights

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

MHS DANCE TEAM ANNUAL DANCE CLINIC

Jan 25th from 9:00-1:45 *Performance at 1:30- COST $40~ GRADES K-8th For more information and to register pick up a registration form in the family room.

VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE SPRING 08

Boys & Girls ages 7-14. Starting date June 11, 2008. There are flyers in the family room or visit www.usyvl.org to register.

SNO-KING SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION

MTYAA PONY BASEBALL 2008 SIGN UPS! -. For more info there are flyers in the family room or visit www.mtyaabaseball.org or call 206-587-7267.

PACIFIC LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL & BASEBALL SIGN UPS

Jan. 15th & 26th Flyers available in the family room or visit www.pacificlittleleague.com for more info.

EW HIGH SCHOOL DRILL/POM CLINIC

Feb. 2nd for grades 1st -8th. For more info and permission slip flyers are in the family room or if you have questions call Deb Johnson 425-7311 ext. 1580

THE NORTHWEST BOYS CHOIR

The Northwest Boy Choir will hold auditions for boys 6 to 9 years old on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the University Heights Community Center in Seattle. No previous music training is necessary. Auditions are casual and fun. To make an audition appointment, call 206-524-3234. More info - visit www.nwchoirs.org or pick up a flyer in the family room.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan 24th Early Release / Gloria DeGaetano Speaker
Jan. 25th NO SCHOOL
Feb.5th Scoliosis Screening 9:15-12:00
Feb. 7th MIT MEETING
Feb. 10th-14th Volunteer Appreciation Week
Feb. 14th Volunteer Appreciation Brunch 9:15-10:00
Feb. 15th, NO SCHOOL
Feb. 18th & 19th, NO SCHOOL
Feb. 22nd Family Dance 60’s Theme