Madrona Bear Facts: Week 18

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📅 Upcoming Dates

🆘 Madrona Family Resources - Food and Community Support

🤝 Free and Reduced Meals

🍿 Movie Night at Madrona - Friday, January 16

🎵 Middle School Concert - String Fling/Band Blast - January 22

👕 Order Bear Wear - Deadline January 31

😆 Edmonds Comedy Night fundraiser - February 20 & 21

🧠 Madrona Tips & Tidbits

🙋 Helpful MIT Links and Info

🥪 This Week's Menu

⭐ Notes From MIT

1/12 6:30 PM 🏫 MIT General Meeting

1/16 6:00 PM 🍿 Movie Night in the Madrona Gym

1/19 🫂 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

1/22 🎵 Middle School Concert - String Fling/Band Blast

1/26 🏫 Teacher Grading Day - No School

1/31 👕 Order Bear Wear Deadline

2/6 🎷 Bellevue College Jazz Festival

2/16-17 🗽 President's Day Break - No School

2/20-21 😆 Edmonds Comedy Night fundraiser

Full calendar on Madrona BearFacts

Add the MIT Google Calendar to your own

As we head into the winter months we are aware that an increase in need can occur. Additionally, with the government shut down, this limits many families' budgets for food and resources. We wanted to share some school, local and state resources that may be able to provide support.

Check out these two pages on the MIT website for information on community resources available! We'll continue to update this list as we work to find more ways to support Madrona families

💛 If you’re experiencing a change in income — whether from the shutdown or any other reason — please take a moment to apply for Free and Reduced Meals. This program allows for students of qualifying households to recieve one full beakfast and lunch each school day.

📝 The application is just a snapshot in time, so even if things turn around quickly, it’s still worth applying. If your income fluctuates, use the lowest amount you might expect to receive when filling it out.

✅ If approved, you’ll qualify for the rest of the school year. There’s no need to notify our department when things improve. Instead, let this time help you build a strong foundation for your family.

💬 If you have questions or need help with the application, we’re here for you. Contact our department at: fnsoffice@edmonds.wednet.edu or (425) 431 - 7077.

Link to application in multiple languages: (These are also available in our school office) https://share.google/a4rRNENZFJytGBdeO

Letter to Households: (Details application process and guidelines)

https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/our-district/departments/food-nutrition-services/letter-to-households

Food & Nutrition Services - Edmonds School District webpage https://share.google/yktcqRwoI1gGddmy3

We will have pizza, popcorn, candy, and water to give out to families. All Madrona parents, kids, including siblings, are welcome to attend. Please use the link to RSVP so we can ensure we have enough food for everyone.

All children need to be accompanied by a parent. This is not a drop-off event!

We want everyone to be comfortable, so here's what you may (want to) bring.

• Beanbags
• Camp chairs
• Camp mats
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Stuffies
• PJs
• Ear protection (for those littles with sensitive ears)

• Couches
• Arm chairs
• Inflatable furniture or mats

Parents of Band and Orchestra students have already seen this info via ParentSquare from your teachers, but mark your calendars for this month's January 22nd concert: String Fling/Band Blast.

Orchestra is up first at 6:30pm, Band/Jazz is up at 7:30pm.

It is flu season, so follow these tips from the CDC to help prevent flu.

The single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year, but preventive actions also can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like flu.

These tips will help you learn about actions you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too. Putting physical distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you're sick. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
   1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
   2. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). After these two criteria are met, there are some additional precautions that can be taken to protect others from respiratory illness.
3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Influenza viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to do to further protect yourself and others. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
4. Clean your hands.
   Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
   1. Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
   Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Take steps for cleaner air.
   You can improve air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors. Cleaner air can reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.
7. Practice good hygiene and other healthy habits.
   Cleaning frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly can help prevent the spread of some illnesses. Also, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

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We do what we can to help get the word out, but we are a volunteer staff! Your contributions and feedback are invaluable in helping us make sure we are communicating effectively with the whole Madrona community.

• If you see something in this newsletter and aren't sure what it is
• If you have questions
• If you think something is missing
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Subject to change

See the menu any time at MySchoolMenus.com

If you or anyone you know would like to receive updates on what is happening at Madrona and how you might be able to get involved, you can sign up for the MIT Newsletter on our website.

Hi! I'm Dan Hart, your friendly neighborhood MIT Communications Coordinator. I will be responsible for sending the weekly MIT newsletter on Sundays. My goal is to continue to keep this newsletter fresh, fun to read, and informative for the whole Madrona community!

You may notice that this email is a little lighter on images than usual. After some feedback, we've decided to move away from the use of AI images as part of our newsletter theme (other than when they are used as the graphic for a specific event). Instead, we'll be coordinating with the centers and Spark! to include student artwork in the newsletter. Watch for this in the near future!

🎁 Feedback is always a gift, and I invite you to give us the gift of your feedback!

Please email me with feedback and suggestions including, but not limited to:

• What do you like
• What could improve
• Suggest a theme
• Any other feedback or suggestions!

Do you have an article you’d like included in our weekly email? Please email your blurb to Dan at MITCommCoordinator@gmail.com or submit online by Friday at noon to be included the edition going out that Sunday. Please include if you’d like the article to run for multiple weeks.

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*