Week 32 MIT Update

This Week

📅Upcoming

💰Madrona Budget Meeting

⏰MIT Board Member Nominations

🎁Teacher Appreciation Week

🎨Art Walk & Silent Auction

🌱Garden Club

✅Bylaw Updates

⭐More From MIT

4/30 ⏰ Deadline for MIT Board Nominations

5/2 6:30 Advocacy Meeting–Location to be confirmed

5/6-5/10 🎁 Teacher Appreciation Week

5/7 🍝 Teacher Appreciation Potluck - Sign Up!

5/13 6:30PM ✅ MIT Meeting - Vote on bylaw updates

5/13 Post MIT 🍻Parents Night Out - Scotts Bar & Grill

5/14 6:30PM ❗ School District Board Meeting

Hey there! Did you know that we have a poll at the end of every email? It’s just for fun and we have a different question every week. Make sure to scroll all the way to the end to participate.

Do you know there is a calendar on the Madrona BearFacts website? This one can be linked to your personal calendar. https://www.madronabearfacts.com/calendar/events-calendar/

There is also a calendar in the ParentSquare app and on the official district Madrona page. https://madrona.edmonds.wednet.edu/calendar

MIT also has a Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/madronamit

Madrona Children’s Theatre now has an Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/madrona_childrens_theatre?igsh=cm5iZm1rdWY5YzV2&fbclid=IwAR2kHYeFLPR-muTD0OL6D8_5S0BGWAJEmFpQ8jhUk5uhbbljjp3zDCVVMqk

Meet us in the Madrona library at 6:30 pm. If you have items to bring up for discussion please send them to mitparentchair@gmail.com in advance so Molly can get it on the agenda.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82104527371?pwd=cZbq83Rq3NbhRzeraZl5fxPMsZzJB4.1

Meeting ID: 821 0452 7371

Security Passcode: 910768

We are meeting at

DIAMOND KNOT
BREWPUB @MLT
5602 232ND ST SW #106,
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, WA 98043

In the recent April 25th MIT special meeting Dr. Castilleja explained the impact of the proposed budget cuts on Madrona for the 2024-2025 school year, and on the K-8 school model; teachers also spoke, and parents asked questions to both.

This is a summary only, please see the Meeting Minutes (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CwJFQVOcEVxE5ONS-A6RebLdOraIVPt7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108647701996491214077&rtpof=true&sd=true) or Zoom recording (Passcode: 9j06?eCm, starts around minute 14) for additional information.

• The district is planning to reduce the staff for Madrona from 6.0 to 4.9 FTE

• The budget cuts would eliminate art programs for all students, as well as electives for middle school students, and result in larger class sizes

• Movement to a 5-period model is not desired, but is being considered, along with other possible options

• The K-8, mixed age model at Madrona would be at risk with the proposed funding

• 2 K-8 schools in the district have already been lost to budget cuts!

• Loss of art and electives will impact school choice by parents, future enrollment, and therefore future school funding

• Loss of art and electives at our school disproportionately impacts the DHH community

• The unique structure at Madrona serves students with a variety of needs who may not thrive in traditional classrooms

Call to Action: Make your voice heard!

• Contact your representative

• Attend and speak at District School Board meetings

• Donate to the Foundation for Edmonds School District

• Join or support the new MIT Parent Activism committee (Join Madrona Grassroots 2024 Budget Advocacy Group on Slack | Slack)

• Templates, talking points, and other tools are expected soon!
  
  

JOIN SLACK COMMUNITY and INFO SESSION SAVE THE DATES:

• URGENT - asking all families to join the Madrona Advocacy community SLACK page - https://join.slack.com/.../zt-2hmzamkdi.... This is a information / community sharing space specific to the 2024 Grassroots Madrona budget advocacy efforts (occurring between now and July). It has been created to hold a variety of different conversations and resources in one place, not limit communication to a single decision-maker, and accommodate those who do not maintain a social media presence - that support a grassroots effort at saving our Madrona K-8 community and is not dependent on any one individual or action.

THIS THURSDAY May 2 at 6.30 - gathering / info session / action steps regarding the budget cuts and how they impact Madrona K-8 (location and zoom link to be confirmed)

• Initial focus will be on our upcoming School Board meeting with plans shared for state based advocacy after the May 14th board meeting.

• Asking all families to join an additional information and advocacy meeting - there will be a walk through the budget issues (in follow up to last week's meeting), ex why this is different, how our K-8 model is affected (compared to last year or years past) and as a group to collaborate through how to best approach the upcoming May 15th board meeting - drafting messaging for emails in the lead up, how to submit and what messaging to submit to the school board, AND most importantly what and how to speak at a school board meeting.

• It's planned that this will be in person and on zoom but request in person attendance for more effective collaboration. (and please remember, these are volunteers stepping up where and when they can to coordinate and speak out)

Tuesday May 14 at 6.30pm (be there at 5.30pm) - School Board Meeting - PLAN TO ATTEND in person (arrive early for poster waving) AND SPEAK!!!!!! Parents and Kids participation encouraged.

Join the MIT Board and become an integral part of the Madrona community!

There are 3 open positions for the upcoming year: Parent Chair, Vice Treasurer, and Recorder (one nomination).

• Attend two meetings per month (meeting times TBD by 2024-2025 board members)

• Contribute to decisions on how donations are utilized to support the school

• Participate in the planning of all-school and community-building events

• Meet new people & forge deeper connections within the Madrona Family

Nominate yourself or someone else (preferably with their permission!)

Email Molly at MITParentChair@gmail.com with questions or nominations

Open board positions:

Parent Chair–Description can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k-AgNl6V9T2V3Avv6pTm_mHtxvbFyQu_A4D9xjxnbW8/edit?usp=sharing

Vice Treasurer–Description can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oCNMS3B2p6Dc2fLcO6k8GtEp7tC42BDqxkcapiRdshc/edit?usp=sharing

Recorder–Description can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19MVR-1OONw9qRiQPglf7xcw8NQRMSxP58KfgJYl5dDE/edit?usp=sharing

Help us say thank you to our wonderful teachers by contributing to the annual potluck lunch on Tuesday, May 7th

Contributions of food and/or time are welcome - Sign up here!

We are thrilled to have our annual Art Walk and Auction again this year!

We need your help!

• Join the art walk committee

• Volunteer on event day (Many available positions!)

• Donate a piece of art - Due May 16

• Lend easels to display artwork (Please coordinate pickup / dropoff)

Thank you!

Taste the Flowers Download

Volunteers needed:

• Start plants at home or purchase plants to donate - Give to teachers by mid-late May

For Classroom Outdoor Spaces

Plant these seeds now

Lettuce

Spinach

Radishes

Calendula

Zinnia

Marigold

Nasturtium

Alyssum

For Students To Take Home in June

Start these vegetables now:

Cucumber

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Kale

Swiss Chard

Beets

Carnation

Dahlia

Daylily

Sunflower

Seed Starting 101:

• Fill cells or pots with soil to the top of the pot, the soil will settle.

• Use a pencil to make larger holes, but small seeds only need to be covered very lightly.

• 2-4 seeds per cell or pot

• Plant seeds 2xs the depth of their size

• Place flats or pots in a warm location on a patio or in a greenhouse, on a table where slugs can not reach them

• They will need 8-10 hours of natural light from the South or West

• If you have grow lights, be sure to keep grow lights close to the soil so the starts do not get leggy

• Use a gentle watering nozzle to keep soil moist. Don't let the soil dry out, or get too soggy

• A plastic bottle with holes poked in the cap makes a great watering can for plant starts

Supplies Provided:

• Pots and empty flats (Pickup in the garden, behind the Madrona sign by the metal tree)

Supplies NOT Provided:

• Potting soil / Seed starting mix (Black Gold is a good brand)

• Seeds

• Plants

If you need assistance or would like to coordinate for donation of purchased plant starts, please email melissarmcginn@gmail.com

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DAEAF2CA2F8C34-48812962-madrona

Want to help from home?

Volunteers needed to start plants at home or purchase plants for school gardens.

Please pick up flats and pots in the community garden area. This area is located behind the Madrona sign where the metal tree is located. The pots will be close to the driveway.

We will need you to provide potting soil or seed starting mix for the pots and seeds. A good brand of potting soil to look for is Black Gold.

Purchase and plant the following seeds now to give to teachers by Mid-Late May to plant in their outdoor spaces.

Lettuce

Spinach

Radishes

Calendula

Zinnia

Marigold

Nasturtium

Alyssum

The following vegetables can be started now and will be collected to give to teachers to allow students to take home in June:

Cucumber

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Kale

Swiss Chard

Beets

Carnation

Dahlia

Daylily

Sunflower

The MIT Board would like to update the Bylaws

Current bylaws

Proposed bylaws to vote on

Some changes

• Changing pronouns to non-gendered pronouns and expanding the inclusion statement

• Requiring faculty chair to be employed at Madrona at 0.7 FTE

• Allowing a student vote on board if a student rep is on the board

• Increasing the requirement of a second signature on checks from $1,000 to $1,500

Please review the bylaws and submit any comments to Molly at MITParentChair@gmail.com.

We need to have at least 25 people present at our next regular General meeting, May 13 at 6:30PM to have a vote on updated bylaws.

We encourage you to attend in person but understand this can be difficult (Zoom link coming soon).

Email Submission

Do you have an article you’d like included in our weekly email? Please email your blurb to Molly at MITParentChair@gmail.com by Saturday at noon to be included the following week. Please include if you’d like the article to run for multiple weeks. More process improvements are coming soon!

Your feedback is a gift!

Have feedback on this email? Reach out to MITParentChair@gmail.com

Volunteer Paperwork

All volunteers must be cleared by Edmonds School District before volunteering in any capacity at Madrona. Complete your paperwork now! Please allow up to two weeks for notification from the district about clearance. All volunteers must have either an ID badge or sticker from the office visible while on campus.

Unsure if your volunteer status is still good? Please contact the Educational Services Center communications@edmonds.wednet.edu

**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*

Become an editor for your MIT project, activity or committee page on our site. MIT Technology has put together the ability to safely allow individuals to be editors of a page on the site. You will be able to login and edit the content on your page whenever you want to keep it updated. You will be able to upload images and media to support your activities. Contact Molly via MITParentChair@gmail.com if your interested in this ability and then register here at https://www.madronabearfacts.com/register/. We are compiling a list of folks with the time and desire to volunteer to adopt a page.

Open Call for MIT technology volunteers. We need to find additional web site support volunteers to help post updates to the web site and produce the MIT news letter emails. A few hours each week are needed. Zoom Training will be provided by Michael Scott McGinn in how to use WordPress, Smore and A.I. tools to create images and story editing ideas. If you would like to volunteer please email Molly at MITParentChair@gmail.com and then register here at https://www.madronabearfacts.com/register/

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