Madison Elementary

Ask Your Child About Their Day! ❤️

We hope your family is settling into the routines of the school year! It has been wonderful to see our Madison Mustangs learning, growing, building friendships, and becoming more independent each day. Thank you for continuing to partner with us and for the many ways you support your child at home. The conversations you have with your child about school truly matter!

Sometimes when we ask children, “How was school today?” we get a quick response like “good” or “fine.” Try asking questions that encourage your child to think a little more about their day and share what they experienced.

Here are a few questions to try:

• What made you proud today?
• What did you learn that was tricky?
• Who did you help today?
• What made you smile or laugh?
• What was your favorite part of the day?
• What is something new you learned?
• Who did you play with or work with today?
• Did anyone help you today?
• What is something you want to get better at tomorrow?

These simple conversations are a great way to stay connected to your child's school experience. They also help children practice reflecting on their learning, talking about challenges, recognizing kindness, and celebrating their successes.

You don't have to ask every question each day! Choose one or two at dinner, in the car, or before bedtime and make talking about school part of your family's routine. We love when our Madison Mustangs are excited to share their learning with you!

Please let me know if you have any questions!

FPS Excess Mill Levy Vote

On the November 3 general election, Fargo Public Schools will have a question on the ballot for approval of an excess mill levy. The approval would grant Fargo Public Schools the authority to maintain its current offerings in its schools. Providing this authority ensures that the District can continue to cover the costs of offering a comprehensive educational experience for all learners.

Fargo Public Schools will host two information sessions where residents can learn about the ballot question, hear a presentation, and ask questions.

Join us at 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 6 in the South High School theater and 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 21 in the North High School theater.

Please vote on November 3 and visit www.fargo.k12.nd.us/vote2026 to learn more about the impact this vote will have on the District's schools, learners, educators, and the community.

Don't forget to turn in your school picture envelope if you want to order pictures.

HEAD LICE…..

Never a topic we want to discuss, but something that we need to be informed about.

The Fargo Public Schools policy aligns with the recommendations of Fargo Cass Public Health regarding head lice (AP 4780): No Exclude from school until the end of the day the live lice were found and then the child must remain home until treated. Children should be treated for lice as soon as possible. Close contacts should be checked frequently for two weeks. Head-to-head contact with other children should be discouraged.

Due to the low risk of transmitting head lice at school and to maintain confidentiality, letters will NOT be sent to parents of classmates and classrooms will NOT be checked.

What do I Need to Know? Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)

What are head lice?

Head lice are small insects (less than 1/8 inch long). They range in color from red to brown, black, yellow-tan or gray-white. Head lice live on blood they draw from the scalp and lay tiny, gray/white eggs (known as nits) on a hair shaft near the scalp. The warmth from the scalp is needed for the eggs to hatch. Head lice are not known to spread disease.

Who is at risk for head lice?

Head lice infestations occur in all socioeconomic groups, are not an indication of poor hygiene, and can affect anyone.

What are the symptoms of head lice?

Most people who have head lice do not have symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur, the most common signs include itching of the skin on the scalp or neck where lice feed. Nits are glued to hair, commonly behind ears and at or near the nape of the neck. Scratching, especially behind and around ears and at the nape of the neck, may lead to open sores and a bacterial infection that also may cause swollen lymph nodes.

How soon do symptoms appear?

Symptoms appear when a live louse is present.

How are head lice spread?

Head lice are spread most commonly by direct contact with hair. Additionally, infested people can also spread head lice by sharing combs, brushes, hats, blankets, or sheets with others, but this is not very common. It can be spread only by live lice and not nits.

When and for how long is a person able to spread head lice?

Head lice will spread until they are treated with a chemical that kills lice and until the eggs have been killed or removed. Research has shown that removal of nits may not be necessary.

How is a person diagnosed?

Diagnosing head lice is done by identifying the presence of live lice or nits within 1/4 inch of the scalp. Identification of eggs and lice with the naked eye is possible; however, the use of a hand lens or microscope may help to confirm the identification.

What is the treatment?

Over-the-counter treatments and prescriptions that kill lice and most viable eggs are available. Follow the directions on the label. Re-treat nine days after initial treatment if not otherwise specified on the product label. Contact your health-care provider or local public health unit for more information.

Does past infection make a person immune?

No. A person who previously had head lice may get it again.

What can be done to prevent the spread of head lice?

Follow these steps to prevent the spread of head lice:

• Avoid sharing headgear, coats, hats, hair ornaments, helmets, headphones, combs, brushes, towels, and bedding.

• Combs and brushes should be washed in hot water (130 °) for 10 minutes.

• Items that cannot be washed should be bagged and stored for two weeks.

• Provide separate storage areas for clothing so that the personal articles of one person do not touch the personal articles of another.

• When an infestation is found, check the hair and scalp of all household members and treat only those who have lice and those who share the same bed with the infested person.

Additional Information

For additional information about head lice, head lice removal, school exclusions, etc., contact the ND Department of Health, Division of Family Health at 800-472-2286.

Resources:

American Academy of Pediatrics, [Pediculosis Capitis]. In: Pickering LK, ed. Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 28th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009: [495-497}

CDC - lice - head lice - parents. (2013, September 24). Retrieved August 5, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/parents.html

North Dakota Department of Health, (2012). Head Lice; A Lousy Problem. Division of Family Health. pp. 1-30.

If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse.

October is Bullying Prevention Month. In this month’s Mental Health Newsletter, learn the four types of bullying, the warning signs to watch for, and how you can support your child.

Explore this month’s virtual, live events covering today’s most important parenting topics. Register for events and view the full library of on-demand videos, quick facts, practical tips, and articles at ParentGuidance.org Mental Health Series Catalog.

Join as many as you would like at no cost!

Parents and caregivers are invited to join Ask a Therapist Live on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. Central for an anonymous opportunity to ask a licensed family therapist questions about youth mental health and parenting. Register for the live event to participate and receive access to the replay all free of charge.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

For the 2026-27 school year, Fargo Public Schools (FPS) will implement four “early release” school days for learners. On these days, learners will be dismissed two hours early at each building. The early dismissal will allow our teaching staff to gather in an extended Professional Learning Community (PLC). The schedule for early release days is included below.

During these early release days, our teachers will be focusing on safety training, training on our new learner information system, analyzing student data, furthering implementation of Infinite Campus, setting goals for student learning, and reviewing and planning research-based instructional strategies for learners who need support and those who need enrichment. Teachers will collaborate with grade- or content-level peers to review, reflect, and learn from each other in meeting learners' needs.

We understand that early release days may cause some inconvenience for families, but this is an important step towards improving our teaching practices and ultimately benefiting our learners' learning outcomes. We appreciate your understanding and support in this matter.

The dates of the early outs are:

Early Out Days:

Wednesday, September 16

Wednesday, October 21

Wednesday, December 9

Wednesday, February 10

Early out dismissal at Madison Elementary is 12:47p. Buses will run at that time. If you are a parent pick up, please arrive at 12:47p. There is no supervision after school.

Dates to Remember:

October 12th: NO SCHOOL

October 20th: Grade 1 Field Trip to MSUM Fuego Tropical Dancers 9:15a

October 21st: Learn not to Burn 9:00a; Early out Day - Dismissal at 12:47p