Madrona Family Memo
Our Wildcat Motto: Be Responsible, Be Respectful!
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Dear Madrona Families,
Thank you again to all the families who joined us for Back to School Night a few weeks ago! If you missed it or want to review the welcome presentation, you can view our 2026-27 Back to School Night Presentation (Translations: Spanish | Korean | Japanese), which features resources for families and slides from the Madrona PTSA association meeting.
Yearbooks & School Photos
2026-27 Yearbook Sales: Yearbooks are officially available for purchase! Take advantage of our early bird pricing of $40 through November 1 (price increases to $45 after Nov 1).
Photo Make-Up Day: If your student was absent on picture day, make-ups are scheduled for October 21.
Heat Mitigation & Student Safety
With warmer weather in next week's forecast, we are taking extra measures to keep students and staff cool and safe on campus. Please review the Torrance Unified School District’s detailed Heat Mitigation FAQ at tusd.org/heat.
How you can help from home:
Send your student with a full, reusable water bottle (pack extra ice!).
Dress students in lightweight, light-colored, and breathable clothing.
Provide sun protection (hats, sunscreen).
Consider a personal cooling cloth or small handheld fan.
Highlights in This Week's Edition
Wildcat Staff Award: Congratulations to our latest winner!
PTSA Trunk or Treat: Join us this Friday, October 9 (5:00–7:00 PM) for a night of spooktacular fun!
Spotlights & Celebrations: Portrait of a Graduate & Student/Family Shout-outs!
School, District and Community Resources
Wishing everyone a safe, refreshing, and restful weekend! Go Wildcats!
PTSA Reflections Art Contest Theme: "What My Culture Means to Me"
Online entry form: https://forms.gle/wfC8qYFQMnT1N2CD6
Email: reflections@ptsamadrona.com
Direction donation/membership
Calling all Madrona families! The PTSA is holding our annual direct donation and membership drive and we need your support! Join the PTSA to benefit from our membership perks and have a voice in our initiatives!
Donate to the PTSA to support our events and programs for students and teachers! Certain donation levels will receive awards, including raffles for first in line entry and 5 minute student early lunch dismissal to Midday Mingle, Dr. Key and Mrs. Schiappa-Gobee's parking spots for Midday Mingle or other Madrona events, and a special fall gift basket!
8th-Grade Committee Update
There are a few important ways you can support our 8th graders this year:
8th Grade Fundraiser
- Our 8th grade fundraiser helps support end-of-year celebration activities for our students. You can make a direct donation to 8th Grade Giving and share the link with family and friends who may also be willing to support your 8th grader.
- Now is also a great time to purchase your student’s promotion packet, which includes a lei and yard sign to help celebrate their big milestone at the end of the school year. Order yours here Leis & Signs.
- We are looking for parent volunteers to help sell and provide concessions at Madrona home games throughout the year and at the October 9 PTSA Trunk or Treat night.
- Volunteer Sign-Up
- Concession Supply Donations
- We also have an 8th Grade Skechers Team! When registering, simply select Madrona Middle School and then choose the 8th Grade Team. It's a fun way to support our school and our 8th grade celebration efforts. Register - SKECHERS Friendship Walk
- Stay tuned for more information! We are working on some fun fundraising opportunities throughout the year to help support our end-of-year 8th grade celebration activities.
- Thank you for supporting our students and helping make their final year at Madrona special. Please feel free to reach out to the 8th Grade Committee with any questions at 8thgrade@PTSAmadrona.org.
Wildcats! Join Madrona's Homework Club!
Calling all students with a growth mindset! Homework Club is a quiet space open to ALL students to complete homework (or) get help from the supervising teacher or peer tutors. Get your homework done before going home!
3:30-4:30 pm - Sign-up for one, two or all three days!
- Mondays (Room 14 w/Mrs. Bloomfield)
- Tuesdays (Room 27 w/Mrs. Rokugawa)
- Wednesdays (Room 6 w/Ms. Wulpern)
Families! Volunteer To Support Our Crossing Guards Needs (10 mins afterschool)
We are in need of family volunteers to assist students crossing the cross walk at Madrona Ave/El Dorado St for about 10 minutes after school, from 3:16 PM to 3:26 PM. If you can volunteer for 10 minutes on one or more days, please complete this form, our staff will follow up to assist with our volunteer application! Thank you to families who have signed up!
- Thank you to all the families that donated popcorn for our lab. Your generosity is much appreciated. ~Mrs. Miskimen
- Thank you Alyssa Richardson and Landen Rico for helping me rearranging my the desks and chairs in my classroom. You were a big help! ~Mrs. Miskimen
- Henry Carlson and Lance Rico had amazing speeches on "Interview a Partner" Your creativity was out of this world. Some of the best speeches I've ever heard. Great job! ~Mrs. Miskimen
- Dylan Nakanishi for working so hard on your testing ~Mrs. Brown
PTSA Snack Bar Helpers!
PE Uniforms & Online Ordering - the 3rd round of orders w/end of October delivery.
Madrona branded PE uniforms are optional. For families who would like to purchase PE clothing, the online store is still open! The 3rd round of orders available until mid-October. Once the mid-October deadline closes, items will be fulfilled in 12 day after (end of October/early November).
Note: Students enrolled in a Physical Education class are required to wear a red top (t-shirt or sweatshirt) and black bottoms (shorts or sweat pant), socks, and sneakers for PE. This can be any red t shirt and black shorts/sweat pants that appropriate for physical fitness/exercise that your student already has at home.
Torrance HS Classes & THS Late Start Calendar
Madrona students taking classes at Torrance High School must follow the high school bell schedule, including on irregular schedule days. On these days, students returning to Madrona will report directly to their next class depending on when they return or join our designated supervised study hall.
Tuesday is Late Start schedule at Torrance High. The following Tuesdays are not scheduled as late start:
- 10/27/26 (College & Career Day)
- 1/19/27 (week of S1 Finals)
- 4/27/27 (week of ELA testing)
- 5/18/27 (week of MATH testing)
- 6/01/27 (week of Senior Finals)
- 6/08/27 (week of S2 Finals)
"What Was Homework?" Button on the Madrona Website!
A new addition to the home page of our school website is a "What Was Homework" Button, which links to easy to reference spread sheets.
i-Ready For Families Report Information
At the start of this school year, students completed the i-Ready assessment in Reading and Math. i-Ready Inform is an adaptive assessment that identifies student strengths and growth areas, helping teachers tailor instruction throughout the year.
To access your student's score report through their Clever login, please view our family guide in your preferred language:English | Spanish | Japanese | Mandarin
For more information about how to read your child’s results, please review this i-Ready Family Center Article: Understanding Your Student's i-Ready Inform Results.
Health Office Reminder For Rising/Incoming 7th Graders!
Madrona Health Office emailed a reminder to Current 6th-graders / Rising 7th grade parents/guardians regarding their student's required Tdap and 2nd Varicella Immunizations for the 2026-2027 school year. If you received an email, it is important to send the Health Office your student's updated vaccination record now so there are no issues with school entry or schedule delays in the fall.
Please Note: If you did not receive an email from the Health Office, your child is up to date on their immunizations and all set for 7th grade. Any questions, please email madronahealthoffice@tusd.org.
SaySomething Anonymous Reporting System
TUSD students are encouraged to use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System offered through the Sandy Hook Promise to keep our schools secure and our students safe.
This life-saving service empowers you, our students, and our community members to anonymously report any concerns, including potential threats, bullying, or individuals who may be at risk of harming themselves or others. There are three ways to make a report:
Call the 24/7 crisis hotline counselors at 1-844-5-SayNow (1-844-572-9669)
Download the mobile app at Google Play or Apple Store
Submit a tip through their secure website
TUSD Online Learning Resources (Clever and Schoology)
All TUSD students access the online version of textbooks and educational resources (including textbooks) through the TUSD CLEVER portal
Have your student log in to CLEVER (https://clever.com/in/torrance) using their TUSD email and password to show you all of their online learning tools.
- Schoology - an online learning management system where teachers post agendas and assignments. Family accounts are sync'd from PowerSchool, and families only if they have made an access account there - Here is our help page for families.
- iReady - a resource teachers use to support learning in essential Reading and Math domains.
- and more!
Local Technology Resources for Students & Families
Options for students without access to computers at home:
- The Madrona Library - computers are available for student use before school (8:15 am-8:35 am) and during lunch (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Fridays)
- The Madrona After School Homework Club (3:30-4:30 pm) - Monday (Rm 14), Tuesday (Rm 9) -Wednesday (Rm 6)
- Madrona ELOP Program (3:30-6:00 pm)
- City of Torrance - Katy Geissert Library (located on the corner of Torrance Blvd/Madrona Avenue) - Monday, Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
TUSD DevELOPment Academy
The application for Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) is open. The program provides after-school care, academic support, enrichment activities, and a safe environment for TK- 6th grade students outside of the regular school day.
Space is limited. Priority enrollment is given to students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, foster youth, and students experiencing homelessness.
Families interested in enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year will need to complete an application.
Application Link: https://tusd.arux.app/
For more information, please visit the TUSD ELOP website.
Ralphs Community Contribution Program
Sign up for Ralphs/Kroger Community Rewards Community Contribution Program at NO added cost to you. Use Madrona's Organization ID UF902. Click here
Madrona's Amazon Charitable Donation "Wish" List
Looking for a way to help out our school? We are ALWAYS in need of tissue boxes, reams of paper, and school supplies! Donations are greatly appreciated. Madrona Middle School Wishlist Link
If you purchase items online, please have it delivered to:
Madrona Middle School 21364 Madrona Avenue Torrance, CA 90503 310-533-4562. Thank you! If you have items delivered to your home, please drop off at the front office (or) have your student bring items in.
Thank you, Madrona Families!
Madrona was named South Bay’s BEST Public Middle School for 2026!
Following our FAVORITE spot in 2025 and BEST recognition in 2024, this single-award honor belongs to our entire school family. Thank you for your continued support and for making the Wildcat community extraordinary.
