Madison Elementary

Dear Madison Families,

We are so excited to kick off a brand-new year at Madison Elementary! This year is especially exciting as Madison begins our new chapter as a K-2 school. We will be welcoming many new students, families, and staff members into our Madison community, and we cannot wait for the adventure ahead!

We are incredibly grateful for our passionate and highly skilled staff who are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment for every child. Whether you are a returning Madison family or joining us for the very first time, we are so glad you are here!

Here's to a fantastic year filled with learning, growth, new friendships, and Madison pride!

First Day of School for First and Second grade is Wednesday, August 26th

First Day of School for Kindergarten will be Friday, August 28th. Kindergarten will sign up for a 30 minute assessment time on Wednesday and Thursday.

School Hours

8:10 a.m. - First Bell
Students may enter the building and go directly to their classrooms. Breakfast will be available at this time.

Please note: There is no supervision prior to 8:10 a.m. Students should not arrive on school grounds before this time.

8:25 a.m. - School Begins

2:47 p.m. - Dismissal

Dismissal Plans

It is very important that we have a dismissal plan for every student so we know exactly how your child is expected to get home each day. Please make sure your child's classroom teacher and the school office know your child's regular dismissal plan.

If your child's dismissal plan changes, please communicate the change with the school as early as possible.

Important Kindergarten Dates

Wednesday, August 26 & Thursday, August 27

Kindergarten Assessment Days

Kindergarten students will attend for their scheduled assessment time rather than a full

school day. Families will use this link to sign up for a time to come to the school. Click the link below and select a day and time that is convenient for you.

https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Madison_Elementary_School

Friday, August 28

First Full Day of Kindergarten

It's the big day! All kindergarten students will attend school for the full day as we begin

an exciting year of learning, growing, and making new friends.

Our Classroom Placement Process

During the first week of school, all kindergarten students will have the opportunity to spend time

learning with each of our kindergarten teachers. This special rotation gives our team the chance

to get to know every child-their learning style, strengths, interests, and how they interact with

Classmates.

After getting to know each student, our kindergarten team will thoughtfully create balanced

classrooms. We believe taking this extra time helps us make the very best placement for each

student and creates strong classroom communities from the very beginning.

On the afternoon of Thursday, September 3, families will receive an email with their child's

assigned kindergarten homeroom teacher.

Bus Students

If your child lives in an area served by a bus route, bus information should be available prior to the start of school. Families can also use the district's Bus Route Finder to check transportation information.

Breakfast & Lunch

Breakfast and lunch information for the 2026-2027 school year will be shared with families. Please complete any required meal benefit forms online, as these forms can provide important benefits for both families and our school.

Morning Drop-Off

Students may enter the building beginning at 8:10 a.m. Please do not drop students off before this time, as there is no supervision and the school doors remain locked until 8:10.

Support staff will be outside beginning at 8:10 a.m. to welcome students and help them safely enter the building. Please drop off students at the parking lot door as the buses will be using the lanes in the front of the school.

Dismissal Procedures

Students will exit the building at 2:47 p.m. and follow their regular dismissal plan. Staff members will be available to help students learn their routines during the first days of school.

Please make sure your child and teacher know whether your child will be picked up, walk, ride the bus, or attend an after-school program.

Traffic Flow at Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up can be busy, especially during the first few weeks of school. While traffic typically clears fairly quickly, we understand that it can sometimes be frustrating.

Our number one priority is student safety. We ask families to be patient, drive slowly, remain alert, and follow all established traffic procedures.

Drop-off and pick-up for students takes place on 11th Ave North (See attached map). Please watch carefully for children and staff members as you enter and exit the area.

Drop-off and pick-up for bussing students takes place in the front of the school on 29th Ave., so please do not block this area.

Before & After School Supervision

There is no supervision before 8:10 a.m. or after school unless your child is enrolled in an approved before- or after-school program.

All students should be picked up by 2:50 p.m. There is also no playground supervision after school. Students who walk home should leave school grounds and head directly home following the 2:47 p.m. dismissal.

If you need afterschool care, please contact the boys and girls club at 701-235-2147.

Picking Up Students Early or for Appointments

To ensure student safety and maximize instructional time, students will be called from class after a parent or guardian arrives at the school office and signs them out.

Please allow enough time for your child to leave the classroom, gather their belongings, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Medication

If your child requires prescription or non-prescription medication during the school day, the appropriate authorization forms must be completed before school staff can administer medication.

Prescription medication must be provided in a pharmacy-labeled container, and non-prescription medication must remain in its original labeled container.

Please contact the Madison office for the required medication forms or additional information.

Phone Numbers & Addresses

Please make sure the school always has your current phone number, address, emergency contacts, and email address.

Having accurate contact information is extremely important so we can reach you quickly in the event of an illness, emergency, or other concern.

North Dakota law requires schools to maintain required immunization documentation for students. Please make sure your child's immunization records are current before the beginning of school.

Families may contact their healthcare provider or Fargo Cass Public Health for assistance with immunizations.

Fargo Cass Public Health
Phone: 701-241-1360
Address: 1240 25th Street South, Fargo

Families,

The Campus Parent Portal is now open for the 2026-27 school year. Parents/Guardians can log in to access their student’s school schedule and check attendance, assignments, and grades.

The Campus Parent screen is organized with communication items on the right, menu options on the left, and student information in the center.

On the right side, Announcements will display general messaging. The Inbox will display messages sent to families by the school. Shortcuts will contain items of interest for a parent like teacher contact info, and access to online registration forms.

On the left side, the menu options provide access to a student’s daily class schedule, as well as attendance, assignments, grades, and the school calendar. As you click each menu item, details related to a student and topic will appear in the center of the screen. If you have multiple students associated with your Campus Parent account, you can switch between students using the dropdown next to the student name in the upper right of the screen.

At this time, parents may also choose to download the Campus Parent app from their phone’s App Store. Once downloaded, parents will be asked to search for the school district. Enter Fargo for the District Name, select North Dakota from the state list and click submit. From the list that appears, select Fargo Public School District. You will then be prompted to enter your Campus Parent username and password.

Thank you,

Lori Conmy, Principal

Madison Elementary

Dear Families,

Fargo Public Schools uses “Here Comes the Bus” to track students who ride the bus. Students in grades K-5 who ride the bus will receive a bar-coded card; school staff will attach the card to a student’s backpack on the first day of school or the day that your child begins riding the bus. Students in grades 6-12 will use a student ID card to scan or input their lunch number on the bus keypad.

Students will scan each time they enter the bus. When students arrive at the school, they will not scan off the bus, but the bus driver will complete a walk-through of the bus to make sure all students are off the bus (this saves valuable time each morning). At the end of the school day, returning home, your student needs to scan on and off the bus. When students scan, we can, in real-time, know that they are either on the bus or have exited the bus. This provides another level of safety for our students. Please encourage your child to participate in the scanning process onto the bus in the morning and scanning both on and off the bus after school.

If your child needs a replacement card, please notify the school office. A replacement will be given to the child at their school.

Parents/guardians can download the “Here Comes the Bus” app, which notifies parents when their children are picked up and dropped off. Click here for instructions on how to set up Here Comes the Bus. Students can also download the app and view where their bus is located.

If you have any questions about this system, please call the school office.

Thank you,

Brad Johnson, Transportation Coordinator

Fargo Public Schools

Dear Parents and Guardians,

For the 2026-27 school year, Fargo Public Schools (FPS) will implement four “early release” school days for learners. On these days, learners will be dismissed two hours early at each building. The early dismissal will allow our teaching staff to gather in an extended Professional Learning Community (PLC). The schedule for early release days is included below.

During these early release days, our teachers will be focusing on safety training, training on our new learner information system, analyzing student data, furthering implementation of Infinite Campus, setting goals for student learning, and reviewing and planning research-based instructional strategies for learners who need support and those who need enrichment. Teachers will collaborate with grade- or content-level peers to review, reflect, and learn from each other in meeting learners' needs.

We understand that early release days may cause some inconvenience for families, but this is an important step towards improving our teaching practices and ultimately benefiting our learners' learning outcomes. We appreciate your understanding and support in this matter.

The dates of the early outs are:

Early Out Days:

Wednesday, September 16

Wednesday, October 21

Wednesday, December 9

Wednesday, February 10

Early out dismissal at Madison Elementary is 12:47p. Buses will run at that time. If you are a parent pick up, please arrive at 12:47p. There is no supervision after school.

We have big ideas for a couple Madison neighborhood parks, but we want to hear from you! Cannon Park and 123 Park are in the early stages of park improvement plans, but before we get started, we need to know exactly what kind of upgrades the neighborhood wants. Looking for some extra green space? Wanting just a classic slide and swing for your kids? Hoping to see your park encourage creativity with an interactive art piece? Whatever you choose, we want to help bring these dreams to life!

• Your Park, Your Choice. Learn more and take our short survey here à https://connect.fargoparks.com/2027-playground-replacements

We cannot wait to welcome our students through the doors and officially begin our first year together as a K-2 Madison community!

This year will bring many new faces, new friendships, new traditions, and new opportunities. Our staff is committed to making Madison a place where children feel safe, valued, connected, challenged, and excited to learn each day.

Thank you for trusting us with your children and for partnering with us throughout the school year. Strong schools are built through strong relationships between students, families, staff, and our community, and we look forward to working alongside you.

Here's to an amazing 2026-2027 school year!