Madison Elementary School Update

🏫 WEEK 2- August31 - September 4

Madison Upper Elementary – Week 2 Update

Week 1 Recap:

Fantastic attendance and great energy at breakfast each morning!
Students did an excellent job learning school procedures, routines, and expectations.

Looking Ahead to Week 2:

Academic Focus: Classroom instruction ramps up this week.
Homework & Planners: Homework will begin—please review and sign your child's planner daily.
Stay Connected: Keep reading teacher updates and asking your child about their day and new friendships.
No school on Friday, September 4th or Monday, September 7th

Thank you for your continued support. Let's make it a great week!

Go Trojans!

Nate Pechaitis, Principal

🚗 Morning Drop-Off, Dismissal, and Bussing

Thank you for a wonderful start to the school year! We want to take a moment to compliment everyone on how well morning drop-off, afternoon dismissal, and transportation went during our first week.

Transitioning into new routines takes teamwork, and your patience, courtesy, and support have made a huge difference. From encouraging our 3rd–5th graders to walk to class independently, to adhering to our designated pickup areas and staying on the paved drives, your efforts helped keep our campus safe and organized. We also deeply appreciate your grace with our bus routes as we double-checked every stop to ensure all students arrived home safely.

Thank you again for your incredible partnership. We look forward to seeing these safe and efficient routines continue to run smoothly every day as we get our students to and from school!

🌟LEAD The Madison Way

Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support

Our goal is to create a sustainable and consistent set of expectations that allow teachers to teach and students to learn, that fosters a positive school culture.

To that end, the Madison School District has been dedicated to implementing our enhanced PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) system as a district wide focus for over three years now. Our mission is to cultivate a positive culture and climate where every student feels safe, valued, and confident.

At the heart of our system is a clear understanding of expectations. To help our students grasp these expectations, we emphasize “Leading The Madison Way.” This is encapsulated in the acronym L.E.A.D.:

L - Live Respectfully

E - Embrace Responsibility

A - Act Safely

D - Develop Healthy Choices

During the first week of school, students will engage in learning and practicing what L.E.A.D. means in various areas of the school, including classrooms, the cafeteria, the playground, hallways, bathrooms, on the bus, and during assemblies. We are committed to continuously teaching and reinforcing these expectations, celebrating students when they embody them.

🏆 Merit Trips

Think of it as a bonus for a job well done!

Students in grades 3-5 have the opportunity to earn merit trips—exciting field trips organized by each grade level team of teachers. Past merit trips have included fun activities such as roller skating, ice skating, trips to the movie theater, Toledo Mudhens and Toledo Walleyes games, visits to Corner Park, bowling, and more. Your child’s teacher will share specific details each trimester about the upcoming merit trip destination.

At the end of each trimester, students who meet the criteria will be eligible to attend. These trips are designed to reward students for developing the skills and mindset necessary for success both in and out of school. The criteria for earning a merit trip are as follows:

No more than two detentions during the trimester
No suspensions during the trimester
No more than four countable absences for the trimester
No E’s and no more than one D for the trimester (No more than two N’s for 3rd grade)

***Attendance is an important factor. Please note that students with more than 4 absences in a trimester will not be eligible for the trimester merit trip.

✅ Attendance

At Madison we want to ensure your child has every opportunity to thrive, build strong friendships, and succeed in the classroom. Because you are our most important partner in child’s education, we want you to know that we understand that getting to school every day isn't always easy. If your family is facing challenges related to transportation, health concerns, morning routines, or school anxiety, please let us know. We have resources and support teams ready to partner with you to help make mornings smoother. So reach out if you have challenges getting your child to school.

If attendance becomes problematic, we will communicate with you following these guidelines:

After 5 countable absences during a trimester, we will notify you with an attendance letter and alert. Only one letter alerting families of excessive absences will be sent per trimester. Once the letter has been received, it is the responsibility of the student and family to stay informed as to the number of absences they have accumulated.

After 7 countable absences during a trimester, we will notify you with an alert.

After 12 Countable absences during a trimester or after reaching 9 countable absences for a second time in a school year, a truancy meeting with administration and family will be held. The goal will be to address the root cause of the absences, offer academic or other supports, and develop an attendance agreement. A plan of action will be agreed upon and if the expectations are not met, a referral to the Lenawee County Truancy Specialist will be made.

Students who arrive at school at 8:40 or later, or leave at 3:20 or earlier will be marked absent for a half day. If your child is absent for any reason, please communicate with the school.

Together, we can work to improve attendance and support our students' success!