Principal's Weekly Update

Now that we have "settled in" to this school year, we are ready to build some some school spirit. Next week is Start with Hello week. This is an age-appropriate Social-Emotional Learning and violence prevention program that welcomes students back into the classroom. The program teaches students to: minimize social isolation, empathize with others, and create a more inclusive and connected school culture. You can look to the “final photo” at the bottom of the letter to see the activities that students will participate in throughout the week.

We also will get a chance to say hello to our parents this week-- we look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on Thursday, September 18th at 6:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to hear from each teacher a little bit about the curriculum of each course in which your child is enrolled this year. For Back to School Night we will be following a Day 1 schedule. Please make sure you can access your child’s schedule in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. You can view the schedule on your phone using the Campus Parent app. If you wish to print your child’s schedule prior to Back to School night you can find a printable version under the “Documents” tab. If you are having trouble getting into the Infinite Campus portal please contact the main office.

We always encourage parents to get involved in our school. Along those lines, our first PTA meeting of the year is this Wednesday at 7:30 upstairs in our Learning Commons. There is also an option to attend virtually. We will follow up with the link that you can use to join us from the comfort of your home. Click here to sign up to become a member of our PTA. And, speaking of our PTA...

🍬 Candy Donations Needed! 🍬

The Madison PTA is getting ready for our Second Annual Fun-A-Thon happening on Friday, October 17th, and we need your help! The PTA is collecting candy donations to make this event extra sweet for our students. A collection box will be set up at the PTA table during Back to School Night. If you’re able, please consider bringing a bag of candy to drop off — and you will receive a free Madison Magnet! Thank you for your support!

For our 8th graders and their parents:

We offer a comprehensive transition program as we look to ready our 8th graders for high school. As part of that, we want our students to be fully informed about their options. Here is the schedule for the upcoming high school visits at Madison. All presentations will take place in the Auditorium.

• Monday 9/29 – Regional Center for the Arts (11:30–12:00 during ELB)

• Monday 9/29 – Agriscience & Fairchild Wheeler & Bridgeport Military Academy (1:00–2:00) Period 6 and beginning of 7th

• Wednesday 10/1 – Bullard Havens and Emmett O'Brien- presenting together (11:30–12:00 during ELB)

• Friday 10/17 - Aquaculture (Time TBD)

Clubs & Activities:

Late buses will begin on Monday, September 22nd. Students should familiarize themselves with the bus routes prior to getting on the late bus. This of course means that many of our clubs will start meeting during the week of 9/22-9/26, so you can expect a slew of announcements in next week's letter. Please encourage your child to give one of our many clubs a try.

Read & Roar, Madison’s Book Club, meets Friday, September 19th! All grades are welcome. Come to the Learning Commons during your LUNCH block with your lunch for our first meeting! See Ms. Dwyer with questions.

The first Sports Club activity of the year is Flag Football! Sign ups are underway in all PE classes. The permission slip deadline is Friday September 19th.

Esports Tryouts are here!

If you are someone with experience playing Rocket League or Super Smash Bros and are interested in making a serious commitment to playing for the Trumbull Middle School Esports Team, then you should try out on Thursday, September 18 in the Hillcrest Planetarium. There will be a bus from Madison to Hillcrest for any of our Madison Middle School players. There are limited spots on the team so please be sure you can commit to playing every Thursday from September 25th to December 11th from 2:30 to 5:00. If you make the team, there will be a fee of $165 to join for the season.

Please complete the interest survey by 9/17 only if you are trying out for Rocket League and are 13 years old (or about to turn 13 in September): https://forms.gle/A7yk5Ku2knrQV1pA9

Please complete the interest survey by 9/17 only if you are trying out for Super Smash Bros (no age limit): https://forms.gle/qLddFkuFcHVkXxuZ8

If you have questions contact: Coach Bryant bryantrecker@gmail.com or Mrs. Miller MillerK@trumbullps.org

The good people who run these Smore newsletters have officially started offering their fall themed background options. That is why you see some apples all around the borders. I know that many of you might be "pumpkin people", maybe even among those that anxiously await the moment when pumpkin spice flavorings become available. Pumpkins are all well and good, and I have been growing some in my garden this year, but I am all about apples. It is by choice that I follow an "apple a day" routine, and why I am already excited to start going to local orchards to collect this season's varieties. We will officially transition into the Fall season shortly, but I hope, that like me, you are already enjoying some of your favorite fall traditions.

Take care,

Peter Sullivan