Madrona Bear Facts: Week 7
Bear Scare Update, Madrona Kids Fund Update, and More!
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In This Issue
Check your ParentSquare for the latest information on the school parking lot and other back-to-school info!
📅 Upcoming Dates
🐻 MIT General Meeting Monday Oct 13
💰 Madrona Kids Fund!
🙋 Get Involved With MIT - Volunteer to Help Our School!
🪪 Reminder for Volunteers
🐻 Bear Scare Update
💲 MIT Grants: Call for Submissions and Readers
🍱 Conference Week Teacher Appreciation Dinner
🏃🏻♂️ Madrona Miles Club - Register Here
🎨 ArtWise After-School Art Class - Register Here
🎭 Madrona Children’s Theatre — Auditions Coming Up
🏒 Ball Hockey Camp During Conference Week!
🛫 Madrona Middle School Trip - Save the Date!
🧠 Madrona Tips & Tidbits - Conference Week
💻 MIT Scholarships
⭐ Notes From MIT
📅 Upcoming Dates
10/13 6:30 PM 🐻 MIT General Meeting
10/14-16 4-7 PM 🎭 Madrona Children's Theatre Auditions and Callbacks
10/20 💲 Deadline for Round 1 of MIT Grants
10/21 5:30 PM 🛫 Informational Zoom meeting for Middle School Trip 2027
10/24 🏫 NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development Day
10/27 🏃🏻♂️ Madrona Miles Club starts
10/27-31 💬 Conference Week - half-day schedule all week - release at 12:25 PM
10/27-30 🏒 Ball Hockey Camp During Conference Week
10/28 🍱 Conference Week Dinner for Teachers
11/7 6 PM 🐻 Bear Scare!
11/12 📸 Picture Retake Day
💰 Madrona Kids Fund!
What is the Madrona Kids Fund (MKF)?
MKF is our once-a-year fundraiser run by MIT (Madrona Integrated Team). It supports our school community. We don't ask kids to sell gift wrap, candy, or other items to fundraise for the school. Instead, we as a community are asked to contribute.
MKF supports the MIT programs and events you love so much, like the Back to School BBQ, Bear Scare, MIT Scholarships, STEAM night, and so many more!
How to Participate
This year's recommended donation is $67
You can donate through PayPal
No PayPal account is necessary to donate
A green envelope will come home with your child this week which can be used to send cash or check
You don't need to donate to participate!
Commit to attend 3 MIT General Meetings
Commit to volunteer for a MIT event
Commit to sign-up for store give backs
Sending back the form in the green envelope counts as participation
EVERY KIND OF SUPPORT MATTERS!
As of Thursday night, PSC is in the lead for Madrona Kids Fund participation! Remember:
PLEASE RETURN THE GREEN ENVELOPES TO YOUR CHILD’S CENTER/CLASS EVEN IF YOU DONATE ONLINE OR COMMIT TO SUPPORT US IN ANOTHER WAY!
All centers/classrooms that return 100% of their envelopes will win a popsicle party!
What if I can't donate right now?
Use the QR code you'll be seeing all around school and donate when you can
You can donate anytime using the same PayPal link, which is also on the Madrona Bear Facts website
Other info:
All donations made through PayPal will receive an automatic donation receipt for tax deduction purposes
Donations may be eligible for your corporate matching program. Please contact your benefits department for specifics.
Recurring online donations may be made through the same PayPal donation link
🐻 MIT General Meeting Monday Oct 13
Our next MIT General Meeting will be at 6:30 PM on Monday, October 13, at the school library. All parents are invited to attend, in-person or via Zoom.
Attendees can park in the bus loop and staff parking, since it's after school hours.
If you would like to attend via Zoom, please use this link to join at 6:30 PM: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4695225641?pwd=cm5STEZhb1R6RnBqZDQ5TTNBSnhmdz09&omn=87158587447
This meeting is an important opportunity to find out more about MIT and all of our programming for the school throughout the year.
What is MIT?
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.
🙋 Get Involved With MIT - Volunteer to Help Our School!
More information about volunteering may be found on our website here: https://www.madronabearfacts.com/helpful-information/volunteer-information/
Volunteer Signup Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSNMS9S_Y2ANOP7HccdhiB7Y6h8SuHqENJ5kCTUy23WvBa0Q/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=110083319410728073725
🆔 Reminder for Volunteers
All volunteers can pick up their SafeVisitor badges from the Madrona office front desk!
Please make sure to print your safe visitors approval barcode and stick it on the back of your ID badge, if you have one. If you don't have an ID badge, please use an ID sleeve or laminate it. Using your safe visitors barcode to sign in is a lot faster and will eliminate some login errors.
Those who have not been cleared by the district, please sign in using your driver's license. If you get an error message while signing in, please let Carolyn or Brittany know.
🐻 Bear Scare is Back!
Bear scare is back with a new location! Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities and ticket sales soon!
💲 MIT Grants: Call for Submissions
"Grant" is just a fancy way of saying -- write up your idea to improve the school. The way you write it doesn’t need to be perfect - we will be looking at ideas, not spelling or grammar.
What are your ideas? Something educational? Something to support the learning environment? Ways to improve the campus maybe? Something artsy? Something STEM? A new event? An assembly?
Round 1 - $2,500 Available to Support Ideas for Improving Our School. Grant Submissions are due Monday, October 20th!
Submitting an idea is easy, just fill out this short form!
If you feel you need assistance writing up your grant application for any reason, please reach out to your friendly Grant Administrator.
📖 Grant Readers Needed
We are also looking for Grant Readers to read and score grant submissions to help determine recipients. We are expecting the time commitment to be a few hours 3 times yearly - how much time will depend on the number of applications.
Apply to be a reader here:
🍱 Conference Week Teacher Appreciation Dinner
🏃 Madrona Miles Club - Register Here
Welcome to Madrona Miles Club!
Students in grades K-8 can participate in running (or walking) club. Bring your running/walking shoes, wear clothes to participate in, bring your own water bottle, and have a good attitude!
When: Mondays and Thursdays beginning on October 27th through the week of June 1st (last day will be June 4, 2026)
What time: 8:40-9:10 AM
Where we meet: Madrona K-8 Track
Please register your students for Madrona Miles Club so our school nurse can cross check any health information for us
Madrona Miles Club is a DROP IN program. So, once you are registered, come when you can. Parents and family members are welcome (and encouraged!) to stay and walk/jog with their kids but you can also drop them off and go.
Goal of the Madrona Miles Club:
To provide a free, fun, and inclusive program where students can exercise with friends, improve their fitness, and learn about the importance of healthy living. The club aims to foster a positive attitude toward physical activity, encourage regular exercise, and promote lifelong healthy habits in a supportive and social environment.
Questions? Email Mr. Barnes at barnesju@edmonds.wednet.edu
🎨 ArtWise After-School Art Class - Register Here
Here is another after school opportunity for Madrona artists, run directly through Artwise! Please see flyer for more information.
🎭 Madrona Children’s Theatre — Auditions Coming Up!
🎶 What to Expect at Auditions
All auditioning students will:
- Sing: Practice Happy Birthday (or another familiar song) in two keys (high/low). Students will pick one to sing solo.
- Act: Perform short sides or exercises with expression and storytelling.
- Dance/Move: Learn ~30 seconds of choreography and perform in a small group.
⸻
👉 Important Dates
Tue, Oct 14 & Wed, Oct 15 – 4:00–7:00 PM • Auditions (all students)
- Note: If you did not attend the required family/guardian Zoom meeting on Oct 9, email madronachildrenstheatre@gmail.com to arrange an alternative before auditions
Stay tuned for more updates via email, newsletters, and social media. Watch for more information about role pathways, rehearsal schedules, and expectations on the Madrona Children's Theatre page on the MIT website.
Questions? Contact us anytime: madronachildrenstheatre@gmail.com
MCT Producers
Alison, Carrie, Chris, Farah
🏒 Ball Hockey Camp During Conference Week!
No ice? No skates? No problem!
Join Emerald City Ball Hockey for 1 to 4 days of action-packed fun during Parent-Teacher Conference Week — open to Grades 1–5!
📅 Dates: October 27–30
🕐 Time: 12:30–3:30 PM
📍 Location: Madrona Gym
💲 $78.40 per day or $274.40 for all 4 days — save $35!
Use discount code: PTCweek35
👭 25% sibling discount (same day required) — code: sibling25
Registration opens Monday, October 6 at 8:00 AM
Registration closes Wednesday, October 22 at midnight
Adult volunteers needed daily — volunteer and receive 50% reimbursement!
🛫 Madrona Middle School Trip - Save the Date!
Who? Current 6th and 7th graders
When? Informational meeting Tuesday, October 21st 5:30-6:30pm on Zoom.
Trip Sign-Up Opens: Friday, October 24th 8:00am
Zoom link: https://edmondsschools.zoom.us/j/81374776305?pwd=9nKa0r2ElXmf2MaxKXfM5uWiqbVazt.1&jst=2
This week’s hint…
A few activities we are really looking forward to on this trip include meeting some sheep, kissing a stone, and walking the halls of Hogwarts.
Check back next week for the final reveal of our trip destination for 2027!
🧠 Madrona Tips & Tidbits - Conference Week
- Conference Week is coming up, 10/27 - 10/31
- You should already have a slot booked with your student's teacher, if not check Parent Square for a message from them with how to book a slot
- Students are released early that week to accommodate conferences - 12:25 pm release
- Conferences are generally between teacher and caregivers. Some teachers will ask that a student attends. Please check with your student's teacher
- Lunch is still served that week. However, no hot options are served
- Students will still have recess and specialists
- Middle school will have 20-minute periods during Conference Week
💻 New digital form for MIT Scholarships
The fees covered by the Scholarship Program include:
- Supply fees (also available under Free and Reduced Lunch benefits)
- One ticket to Bear Scare
- One Enrichment class per year
- Two tickets to a Madrona Children's Theatre show
- Field trip fees (also available under Free and Reduced Lunch benefits)
- One yearbook & one pen
Anyone who thinks the cost of these items may be a hardship for their family should apply.
Note the information received is confidential and only goes to our Office Manager, Kim Zimmerman. MIT does not have access to the information.
🥪 This Week's Menu
Subject to change
See the menu any time at MySchoolMenus.com
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⭐ Notes From MIT
Please Forward This Email to Other Madrona Parents You Know!
If you or anyone you know would like to receive updates on what is happening at Madrona and how you might be able to get involved, you can sign up for the MIT Newsletter on our website.
A Note from Your MIT Communications Coordinator
Hi! I'm Dan Hart, your friendly neighborhood MIT Communications Coordinator. I will be responsible for sending the weekly MIT newsletter on Sundays. My goal is to continue to keep this newsletter fresh, fun to read, and informative for the whole Madrona community!
You may notice that this email is a little lighter on images than usual. After some feedback, we've decided to move away from the use of AI images as part of our newsletter theme (other than when they are used as the graphic for a specific event). Instead, we'll be coordinating with the centers and Spark! to include student artwork in the newsletter. Watch for this in the near future!
🎁 Feedback is always a gift, and I invite you to give us the gift of your feedback!
Please email me with feedback and suggestions including, but not limited to:
- What do you like
- What could improve
- Suggest a theme
- Any other feedback or suggestions!
Contribute to This Newsletter
Do you have an article you’d like included in our weekly email? Please email your blurb to Dan at MITCommCoordinator@gmail.com or submit online by Friday at noon to be included the edition going out that Sunday. Please include if you’d like the article to run for multiple weeks.
**Interpretation**
Interpretation for families is available through the school district for MIT events.
To request ASL interpretation, email aslrequests@edmonds.wednet.edu
To request other language interpretation, call or email Kelly Carlson at carlsonka@edmonds.wednet.edu | 425-431-2900
* Families that need interpretation must register in advance: We need 7 days to schedule interpreters for events.
* Familias que necesitan interpretación deben registrarse con anticipación: Necesitamos 7 días para programar intérpretes para los eventos.
*통역이 필요한 가족들은 미리 등록을 해야 합니다: 행사를 위한 통역관을 준비하는데3일이필요합니다.
* Các gia đình cần thông dịch phải đăng ký trước: Chúng tôi cần 7 ngày để sắp xếp thông dịch viên cho các sự kiện.
* Семьи, которые нуждаются в переводчике должны зарегистрироваться заранее: нам необходимо 7 дополнительных дня, чтобы заказать переводчика для мероприятия.
بالنسبة للعائلات التي بحاجة إلى مترجم يجب عليهم أن يسجلوا مسبقاً: نحن بحاجة إلى 7 أيام لتأمين جدول مواعيد للمترجمين لهذه الأحداث*