Madrona Integrated Team (MIT) is a non-profit, charitable corporation whose purpose is to support and enhance the experience of Madrona School students by sponsoring educational and related family programs, as well as enrichment activities for our students. It is similar to a PTA, but operates as its own non-profit and is not affiliated with the PTA. There is no fee to join; all Madrona students, staff, teachers and parents are automatically members.  MIT is run by an elected volunteer board of directors and is responsible for raising money for use in the classrooms and throughout school as well as for creating a community through events.

2022-23 MIT General Meeting Schedule

All meetings will start at 6:30pm on the dates below (except the volunteer fair as noted).  Check back to see the location of the meetings (most likely the Madrona library).  If you are not able to attend the meetings in person, please join us online via zoom.  Links to the zoom calls will be sent via the Bear Necessities Bulletin email (subscribe to the bulletin here).

• September 14, 2022   5:30pm Volunteer Fair and volunteer photo badges
  6:30pm MIT General Meeting in the Madrona Commons
• October 12, 2022 6:30pm
• November 9, 2022 6:30pm
• December 14, 2022 6:30pm
• January 11, 2023 6:30pm
• February 8, 2023 6:30pm
• March 8, 2023 6:30pm
• April 12, 2023 6:30pm
• May 10, 2023 6:30pm
• June 14, 2023 6:30pm

Please fill out the online volunteer application through the Edmonds School District here.

Volunteering At Madrona

Madrona Volunteer Opportunities Check-list

Madrona was founded with the expectation that teachers and parent volunteers would work together to provide a terrific learning environment for our children. Many schools in the Edmonds school district try to incorporate volunteers in the classroom, but it is really on a hit-or-miss basis. Partly this is because a culture of volunteering is not at those schools. Teachers are unable to predict when parents will be in the classroom, nobody exists to schedule regular volunteer time, and the teachers are often expected to train each new volunteer who comes along. This adds up to more work for the teachers, instead of less.

Culture of Volunteering

Classroom volunteer coordinators at Madrona take the responsibility of scheduling, training, and basically supervising the many parents who are willing to donate their time. The volunteer coordinators also oversee the collection of information in the classrooms, make sure that paperwork is completed for field trips and any other special activities, and do basic bookkeeping for the classrooms.

Madrona’s nongraded, multi-age model works because of the dedication of its volunteers.  Here are some of the ways in which community members can donate their time.

Classroom volunteering: many families like to be close to the action in their child’s classroom.  Volunteers can be active during the school day, helping with art and science projects, being a reading coach or a math tutor,  sharing their expertise for a special project, and helping do the organizational work that would otherwise have to be done by a teacher.  Volunteers keep the classroom functioning by hanging art, sourcing materials, preparing science projects, filing, and organizing the classroom library.  Outside the classroom, volunteers are encouraged to chaperone on field trips, prepare for classroom projects, and arrange for parties and other social events.

Special event volunteering: Madrona hosts many events during the year, all of which require a lot of manpower.  Some of these are:

• Bear Feet Fun Run
• Bear Scare
• Family Dance
• Talent Show
• Madrona Children’s Theater annual musical
• Middle school in-house field trips

Clubs and enrichment activity volunteering: mentors and instructors for Madrona’s many clubs and enrichment classes are vital.

Schoolwide: the Madrona Integrated Team Board of Directors needs the help of many talented individuals to help operate the business that is MIT.  Officers are elected, and Directors are appointed every year, to interface with teachers, students and the parent community.

Madrona Events and Programs Made Possible by Parent Support

Fun Run

School-wide event held on the first Friday in October during the school day.  Centers compete for most spirited which entails color coordinating outfits, face painting, streamers….  Students run/walk to beat their personal record for number of laps in 45 minutes.

Volunteer needs – set up, cheering, break down, counting laps, writing out certificates.

Bear Scare

School-wide evening family event held on a Friday evening at the end of October.  Carnival-style games, cupcake walk, pumpkin carving contest, haunted house, and lots of great costumes.

Volunteer needs – short shifts at the many stations as well as set up and break down

Book Fairs

Book fair typically happens once a year – usually in conjunction with Scholastic Books. Proceeds support the Madrona library.

Volunteer needs – cashiering in shifts before and after school and on family night, promotion

After School Enrichment Classes

Activities and classes from art to Japanese culture, chess to ASL are offered after school

Volunteer needs – standing committee members, class hosts, instructors, promotion

Fine Arts Committee

Dedicated to bringing fine arts into the classroom, this committee raises funds for art supplies and school-wide art projects.  Coordinates art auction in May.

Volunteer needs – standing committee, auction item solicitation and staffing for event

Joe Rice Scholarship

MIT honors one high school Madrona alumni graduate with a $1000 scholarship each year

Volunteer needs – one afternoon reading and scoring entries for scholarship

Green Team

One of only five certified Washington Green Schools in the district due to lunchroom waste reduction program (composting). .

Volunteer needs – standing committee, lunch room supervision

STEM Committee (SUM Party/Science Expo)

Annual school-wide math and science event   Volunteer needs – setting up, staffing activity tables, breaking down, science education expertise, promotion.  Contact: madronastem@gmail.com

Talent Show

This evening events held in April provides an opportunity for Madrona students to showcase their talents.  Volunteer needs – audition coordinators, stage managers, event staff, bake sale contributions, promotion

General Scholarship Application – 2022-23
Overnight Camp Scholarship Application

Dear Madrona Families,

We want everyone to know that MIT has a scholarship fund to help families cover the costs of school supplies and a limited number of field trips. These funds do not come from the school district they come from the MIT budget. MIT has set aside a small amount of the Madrona Kids Fund, our annual fundraiser for this purpose.

Our teachers must collect funds to pay for the supplies they have already purchased or for the field trips they have planned.  They often pay out of pocket and later seek reimbursement. If the funds are not available, they absorb those costs themselves.  Any funds that centers are unable to collect have a direct effect on our amazing teachers and students. We understand that sometimes things come up that make it very difficult, if not impossible, for families to cover these types of expenses. We would never want any child in our community to be left out of an activity or event as a result of this kind of situation. This is exactly why MIT has set aside money for scholarships.

If you need help covering these costs please review the application and speak with your child’s teacher for more information.

Best Regards,
The MIT Board

March 2019: At this time we are not offering grants. As we settle into our new building, we will continue to assess our financials and keep open the possibly of bringing back this program. If you have a specific need, please email Molly Tobias at MITViceChair@gmail.com.

This program uses accumulated surplus funds in the MIT account to fund small grants which improve the classroom learning environment for Madrona students.

Requirements:

• Applicant must be a MIT member.
• Funds are to be spent within one year of receipt.
• A final report with receipts, photos, etc. is to be prepared.

Applications will be accepted until January 31st.  They will be reviewed by administration and a committee appointed by the MIT Board.

The readers will be scoring the applications based on:

• Value (cost seems appropriate/other resources have been accessed, if applicable);
• Scope (percentage of student body served);
• Benefit (proven potential to improve learning);
• Timeline (seems reasonable); and
• Thought (time and consideration show).

Applications are available in the Family Room and Staff Room or downloaded here.