Madison Elementary School Update

• March 1: Yearbook Orders Due. See below for details
• Noon Dismissals:
• 🟦 March 5
• 🟨 March 6
• 🟦 March 12 (Parent Teacher Conferences)
• 🟨 March 20 (Spring Break)

• March 6th: End of 2nd Trimester
• March 10th: PATT Meeting in the Commons at 3:45 p.m.
• March 16th: 4th Grade Musical - Pirates
• Week of March 16th: 3rd and 5th graders will have their vision assessed sometime during the week of March 16th. 4th graders will have their hearing tested that same week.
• Week of March 23rd: Spring Break

Throughout the month, our students will participate in special activities designed to strengthen their love of reading and writing. We are especially excited about two wonderful opportunities for our students:

🐾 Books with Birdwell

Each year, Deputy Birdwell, our School Resource Officer, and his K9 partner Jinx visit classrooms for Books with Birdwell. Students enjoy hearing a story read aloud and each child receives a book to take home. We are so grateful for Deputy Birdwell’s investment in our students and for modeling that strong readers come from all walks of life!

✍️ Author Visit – Jonathan Rand

Mr. Rand is best known across our state for his popular Michigan Chillers and American Chillers series — fast-paced, high-interest chapter books that blend mystery, adventure, and just the right amount of suspense. Many Michigan students recognize his stories because they feature real locations throughout our state, making reading feel exciting and close to home.

Jonathan Rand’s engaging, high-energy presentations inspire students to:

• See themselves as writers

• Understand how authors develop ideas

• Recognize that reading fuels creativity

• Believe that their stories matter

His message consistently encourages students to read more, write more, and dream bigger. We are excited for our students to hear directly from an author whose books are so well-loved in Michigan classrooms and libraries.

📖 How Families Can Support Reading at Home

Research shows that just 20 minutes of reading each day dramatically increases vocabulary, comprehension, and academic confidence. Here are simple ways to support reading at home:

1️⃣ Establish a Reading Routine
Set aside 20–30 minutes each evening for independent or family reading time.

2️⃣ Talk About What They Read
Ask:

• Who were the main characters?

• What problem did they face?

• What surprised you?

• What lesson did the story teach?

3️⃣ Let Them Choose
Graphic novels, sports articles, biographies, magazines, and audiobooks all count. Choice builds motivation.

4️⃣ Read Aloud — Even in Grades 3–5
Students still benefit from hearing fluent reading modeled.

5️⃣ Use Free Resources

• Michigan eLibrary (MeL): https://mel.org

• Scholastic Parents: https://www.scholastic.com/parents

• ReadWorks: https://www.readworks.org

• Storyline Online: https://www.storylineonline.net

March is a time to celebrate imagination, curiosity, and growth. Thank you for partnering with us to help every child build a lifelong love of reading.

📚 Let’s make it a great month of stories!

Mark your calendars for the 4th grade presentation of Pirates on Monday, March 16th. See details below.

Please pass on the message to families and friends who have kiddos getting ready to start school. We have some opportunities coming up for them to check out. This is for all 4, 5, and 6 year olds: