Madison Middle School

We had an amazing first full week of instruction and our new block day schedule. While this is an adjustment from previous year's schedule, students were able to confidently navigate through their classes, advisory and lunch time. This week we'll begin our flex periods, where students chose different classes for enrichment and catch-up activities. After the first sign-ups were done last week on the Minga app, some students did not get the classes they wanted; however we already see ways to make it more equitable for students and we'll be making those changes moving forward for the following week.

This week we saw a clear shift from class organization and expectation talks to diving into class content with many collaborative activities in classes: from group science challenges, proportional mathematic tasks, to conversations around class content and goal setting.

A few additional updates and opportunities are important to highlight. Last week, Yondr pouches were distributed to students. Because Chromebooks will remain at school, families who purchased Chromebook insurance may request a refund; I will share refund information later this week. Families may also choose to keep the insurance to cover accidental or intentional damage that may occur while their student is using the device at school.

This week, we will begin tardy sweeps, before- and after-school activities, and tryouts for after-school sports. We also have several upcoming opportunities for parents and guardians, including a ParentSquare and Aeries workshop and School Site Council self-nominations and elections.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to Back-to-School Night, where families can meet teachers and counselors and learn about available community resources. A brief PTA Association meeting will also be held. Tacos and Hawaiian food will be available for purchase beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Tom Berger

Principal

August 24

• Late Start (10:00am - 3:35pm)
• PE Uniforms: Last Chance to buy (3:30pm -4:30pm)

August 25

• Regular Schedule (9:00am - 3:35pm)
• Parent Tech Workshop Aeries & Parent Square (9:30 - 10:30am / Room "B")
• PE Uniforms: Last Chance to buy (3:30pm -4:30pm)

August 26

• Regular Schedule (9:00am - 3:35pm)
• PE Uniforms: Last Chance to buy (3:30pm -4:30pm)

August 27

• Regular Schedule (9:00am - 3:35pm)
• Back to School Night & PTA Association Meeting (5:00 - 7:00pm)

August 28

• Regular Schedule (9:00am - 3:35pm)

September 1

• SSC Meeting

• No school (Labor Day)

• Make-up Picture Day

• ELAC Meeting (6:00 - 7:00pm / Library)

September 14

• Bike Safety Class at Madison (8:30am)

• Welcome Back Dance

• Parent Workshop Growing Together: Helping Your Student Thrive (5:30 - 6:30pm / Library)

Please join us this Thursday, August 27 to meet your students teachers and counselors, connect with other parents and PTA, and find our more about our school programs and community resources. Click on the image for more information in English and Spanish.

Encourage your Mustangs to get involved, try something new, and represent Madison Middle School!
🚨 IMPORTANT: STUDENTS MUST REGISTER BEFORE TRYOUTS OR PRACTICE! 🚨 Students who are not registered will NOT be able to participate.

ELO (Tutoring) has returned! Linked below you will see the schedule for all of our fantastic before and after school opportunities for students this semester. Students do not need to sign up in advance. Simply check the schedule and show up to the desired ELO. They will sign in for attendance once they arrive to the class. We will make updates each week when new opportunities are added or if an and activity is canceled due to a teacher being out for the day. Please encourage your children to explore these opportunities as a way to learn, prepare, find new people and have fun!

Join us for a helpful Parents Workshop where we’ll show you how to use Aeries Parent Portal to check attendance, grades, and emergency contacts, and how to use ParentSquare to communicate directly with teachers, receive school announcements, and stay updated with our weekly newsletter! 🏫✨

• Tuesday August 25, from 9:30am - 10:30pm / Room B

Let’s make it easier to stay connected and support your student’s success!

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Acompáñenos en nuestro Taller para Padres, donde le mostraremos cómo utilizar el Portal para Padres de Aeries para consultar la asistencia, calificaciones y contactos de emergencia de su estudiante. También aprenderá a utilizar ParentSquare para comunicarse directamente con los maestros, recibir anuncios escolares y mantenerse al día con nuestro boletín semanal. 🏫✨

• Martes 25 de Agosto de 9:30am a las 10:30am en el Salon "B"

¡Hagamos que sea más fácil mantenernos conectados y apoyar el éxito de nuestros estudiantes!

Martes, 08 de Septiembre aqui en la escuela.

Codigo del dia de foto: EVTT8BK4M

Our companion facility dog has officially completed her first full week at Madison, and the students are already loving her! 🐶✨ As our newest addition to the Mustang family, she even had to have her school pictures taken! 📸

Don’t forget to follow her adventures on Instagram @pawswithpersimmon and see all the smiles she brings to our school community! 🐾💙

📅 Lunes, 14 de septiembre de 2026
⏰ 8:30 a. m.

Al completar la clase, su estudiante podrá obtener su permiso para venir a la escuela en bicicleta, e-bike, scooter o patineta. ¡Los esperamos!

All students riding a bike (e-bike or pedal powered), a scooter, or a skateboard are required to complete in-person a safety training course bike education class in order to ride to school. After completion of this course, a permit sticker will be sent to the campus where they will be able to pick it up. Read our handbook for more details.

Training sessions for the 2026 program will be held in-person only.

• September 12, 2026 --> 9-10 a.m. Vista Civic Center (200 Civic Center Dr.)
• September 16, 2026 --> 5-6 p.m. Rancho Buena Vista High School (1601 Longhorn Dr.)

More classes will be advertised as dates are confirmed.

This year we will continue the practice of random tardy sweeps throughout the year. We found them to be very effective in increasing punctuality between classes which ultimately preserves instructional time.

A tardy sweep is when teachers lock classroom doors after the bell to identify late students. Those found in the halls receive a before or after school detention; they will receive a written notice, and parents will be notified by phone. Students are usually back in class within one to two minutes. Last year we did them two to four times a week.

This week students will receive warnings as they adjust to this practice, and the week of August 31st detentions will be assigned. Thank you for encouraging your students to be on time to class.

Madison will soon be accepting applications for our chapter of the National Junior Honors Society. Please read below for membership requirements. Announcements will be made during advisory soon. You can also can reach out to Ms. Willson, science teacher and NJHS advisory, for more information.

The National Junior Honor Society chapter of Madison Middle School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in five areas of evaluation: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Students are selected for membership by majority vote of a five-member principal-appointed faculty council, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each Spring semester.

Students in grades 6-8 are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. Each Spring (and Fall 2026 for this year), those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a Candidate Form that provides the faculty council with information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service.

To evaluate a candidate’s character, the faculty council uses two forms of input. First, school academic and disciplinary records are reviewed. Second, members of the faculty are solicited for input regarding their professional reflections on a candidate’s service activities, character, and leadership.

Any solicited faculty input and all Candidate Forms are carefully reviewed by the faculty council to determine membership. A majority vote of the council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non selection according to a predetermined schedule.

Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held at the school to recognize all the newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection.

Every public school has a school site council (SSC); it is an elected group of parents and staff that uses school data to guide, fund, and monitor the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) to support all students’ academic success.

While all meetings are public, there is a group of ten elected, voting members made up of five staff members and five parent or community members.

This year we have 5 open spots for parents. If you are interested in serving, please email me that you would like to participate. Emails are due to me by this Tuesday, 8/25 by 4:00pm. I will then send out a Google Form Ballot through parent square -- the election will be open from Wednesday 8/26 through Thursday 8/27. Newly elected members will be notified on Friday 8/28, and the results of the election will be posted in the next Sunday letter.

Meetings are held monthly on Tuesdays on campus from 4:15pm to 5:15pm. This year's dates are Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1, Jan 12, Feb 2, March 2, April 6, and May 4.

Please email me at thomasberger@vistausd.org with your interest or any questions. Thank you!

In order for volunteers to help in classrooms, labs, or outdoor spaces, here are the requirements:

• Must complete the VUSD Volunteer Application
• Review and the sign the Code of Conduct
• Must complete a TB questionnaire. If you have not had a history of TB, then you do the lab test. Please email our school nurse, Maria Mendoza, with any questions at mariamendoza@vistausd.org.
• All volunteers must complete mandated reporting training annually (July, 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027) before working with students. The training can be done through Keenan or any other approved company as long as we get a certificate of completion. For example, if you’ve completed the training for another district or their employer.

1. Keenan Option: Volunteers can create a Keenan SafeSchools account using a specific district token (4392b4f8 ) to complete the modules independently. You must share the certificate of completion with the sites prior to volunteering. **Important Procedural Note: For individual training, volunteer accounts are deactivated overnight due to database updates. Volunteers must complete the training in one sitting and download their certificate immediately, as they will lose access the following day. Please email your completion information to: betsabemahn@vistausd.org or bring your certificate of completion to our office.
2. California Department of Education Option: Volunteers can complete the training here: https://mandatedreporterca.com/. This option might allow more flexibility. Please email your completion information to: betsabemahn@vistausd.org or bring your certificate of completion to our office.

We have partnered with Grapevine Elementary School to support families who have siblings attending there and would like to participate in the program at that school.

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Nos hemos asociado con la Escuela Primaria Grapevine para apoyar a las familias que tienen hermanos que asisten allí y desean participar en el programa en esa escuela.

SSC is an advisory committee combined of parents, teachers, staff, and administration that reviews school goals, improvement plans, and funding.

Follow the Madison Mustangs and stay connected with our learning community journey! Join us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, Information, celebrations, and highlights throughout the school year.

• Facebook Official School Page:
• Madison Middle School Vusd
• Facebook Community Liaison Page:
• Madison MS Community Liaison

• Instagram:
• madisonmms_vista

Madison Activities Calendar

VUSD Calendar -- English

VUSD Calendar -- Spanish

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