MED-O-GRAM NOVEMBER 19, 2013
MEADOWS MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Dear Meadows Families, It is a busy time of year for many families and organizations, and Meadows is no exception. The end of the semester is rapidly approaching, and teachers are working hard to ensure that students are able to master required standards-based learning. As we enter the downhill slope of 2013, please help us to help your students be successful. Here are just a few suggestions:
• Nov. 21@5:30pm Spring Social Meeting
★Ensure children are in bed at a time which allows them eight hours
• Nov. 22 Staff Volleyball @ Madison #1 4:30pm
★Encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast.
•
sleep.
★Make certain that they arrive at school on time and ready to learn. ★Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. ★Enforce school rules (dress code, phones, attendance, and behavior). ★Do not allow your children to “opt out” of homework assignments. ★Enforce homework time at home before free time is allowed. ★Schedule holiday trips during allotted vacation time; including weekends, there are five days for Thanksgiving & Hanukkah and 16 days for winter break! Many times students tell parents that there is no homework when that is simply not the case. Most teachers have websites for your convenience. Teachers also welcome email or phone calls for clarification or student “status” checks. However, we also want students to become more self-sufficient when it comes to their education. High school is fast approaching, and it is important that students take responsibility for their own learning and success. As we enter the excitement and joy of the holiday season, we will continue to remind students that school, assignments, and learning will take place through December 20th. We hope you will remind your children of this as well, and encourage them to continue to be responsible and do their best. We expect all students to achieve at high levels and experience success. Your expectation is crucial and support in pursuit of this appreciated.
Upcoming Events!
Nov. 27-29th – Thanksgiving Break
• Nov. 30th – Last Day to order reduced price yearbooks • Nov 22 5:00- 7:00 pm Fall Black Out (7th &8th Grade Dance ) DECEMBER
• Dec. 2nd: Coffee, Tea & I.B. @ 5pm • Dec.5th thru Dec.11th : Book Fair Winter Concert Dec. 9th 5th/6th Grade Dec. 10th 7th/8th Grade •Dec 11th: NJHS Toy Trot • Dec 13th: 8th Grade Ad Deadline • Dec 18th: PTM Meeting
Happy Holidays! With Ram Pride, Susan Doyle, Meadows Principal
MADISON MEADOWS MIDDLE SCHOOL
225 W. OCOTILLO RD., PHOENIX, AZ 85013 (602) 664-7600
PTM
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
A Message from your PTM President
PTM Meetings Media Center 6:00PM (Wednesday) December 18 January 29 March 26 April 23
Dear Meadows Parents, The re-designed PTM website (www.meadowsptm.org) is a year old now. We went through a few struggles & bugs in the beginning (as all new websites do) but we are confident that the Meadows PTM site is now a fully functional tool for our parents. The site is an excellent source of information for our community. It is updated very frequently to reflect all that is happening at Meadows. Sample of things you will find on our site: • A calendar of everything happening – click on an item in the calendar and you will get event details • A volunteer page where you can see the PTM Committees and how you can help • A PTM store where you can donate to the PTM, become a member or purchase PE shirts (and more) • Links to previous Med-O-Gram Newsletter issues and Meeting Minutes • Sign up for eblasts to stay connected with communication via email • Committee Chair and Executive Board contact information • What’s happening with Camp Friendly Pines, Graduation, Athletics & more! We know you can’t always make the parent meetings (and middle school students aren’t always the best at letting us know what’s going on). I encourage you to please use this resource to stay informed about what’s happening! And….if you want even more frequent information, visit the PTM Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MeadowsPTM) where we give you almost daily insight on what is going on at your child’s school! Sincerely, Chris Goodfarb 2013-14 PTM President chris@meadowsptm.org
CONNECT http://meadowsptm.org/ptm_home/meadows-calendar-2/
FALL BLACK OUT DANCE
d Cans o o F e t a n o D o ser ve ! to ICM tin poor the work g
7TH & 8TH GRADERS
$5 advance (before school and at lunch) $6 at the door At ICM Food & Clothing Bank (formerly known as Interfaith Cooperative Ministries), we meet the basic needs of up to 150 families every day, six days a week. These are things most of us take for granted…
Y L N O E D A R G H A I T R 8 E T E & F A H C T 7T U SO
T H G I L • M P 7 5 2 2 V O N , K! Y N A A B D G IN FRI H T O L C ICM FOOD & E V ed food R E S O T items of cann o N tw U y F er ev F r Fo lable for 25¢. od and Clothing Bank. ENTS A NIGHT O w bands avai
NJHS PREudSes a slice of pizza, a beveraa prgeiz, ane! dSpdeonsssoerret. dGbylo NJHS, Donatkioensagot futo nICkMeFo03@cox.net incl ce to win $2 Meal Deal receive a chan g in br u yo s rone: donation ted to chape
a Volunteers w
n
Contact Jen
nifer Fun
Donations Encouraged!
NJHS PRESENTS
2013 TOY TROT Wednesday, December 11, 2013 starting at 2:20 pm Please bring $5 or a new, unwrapped toy to run around the field to earn community service hours. For every two laps of the course you will receive ½ hour community service credit. Eight laps maximum. Your toy or money will benefit the families at ICM Food and Clothing Bank this holiday season. Join your classmates and help us support the under privileged in our community! Parents invited!
RS VOLUNTEdE! Wante
About the Madison PTM/PATS Tradition This combined celebration of Madison Meadows and Madison Simis has been a tradition for many years and the tradition continues. This is an ADULTS only party - Flip Dunk has agreed to entertain children for $5/hr for over 8 and $25 for the evening for under 8 - please call and make your reservation with them by Nov. 29, (602) 277-0067
An Event you won’t want to miss!
Holiday Party Time!
Come when you can! Our annual PTM/PATS Holiday Party for parents, staff, teachers and administration is Friday, December 6th at the home of David and Pam Hannappel (5625 N. 4th St). The party starts at 3:30 pm and ends when the party is over! Simple Open House/happy-hour style.
ENJOY A NIGHT FOR ADULTS ONLY Friday, December 6th
Serving Sizes
3:30 pm Celebrate in style WINE AND COFFEE BAR
Location
Home of David and Pam Hannappel
5625 N. 4th Street Phoenix, AZ
MEADOWS PLEASE BRING
8 BOTTLES OF WHITE WINE 10 BOTTLES OF RED WINE 1 BOTTLE of IRISH CREME 1 Bottle of Brandy
Type of Food
Appetizer
Cold Appetizers
Desserts
Qty
8.00
8.00
10.00
Per Serving
1 dozen people
1 dozen people
1 dozen people
Please direct any questions to leah@meadowsptm.org Please sign up to bring your item(s) to the party with you on Friday December 6th. See you then!! Over@low parking at North Phoenix Bible Church -‐ no parking on Montebello -‐ tickets issued because of The Yard traf@ic. p.s. YES the AWESOME Hot Chocolate/coffee bar will be there!
Sign Up h#p://www.signupgenius.com/go/ 20F0E4DA4A82CA13-‐ptmpats
You’re invited... Meadows Families and Friends
We’re GOING COUNTRY!
T h i n k F U N
ia c o S g Sprin
l
Save the Date... 6:00 pm -10:00 pm on Saturday, March 29 Location will be announced soon...
chili cook-off, silent auction, raffles, dancing, dinner, etc.
Meadows Goes Country Chili Cook Off Event!
OFF. We will encourage all our "cooks" out there to enter their best Chili recipe.
This will be a fun event held on March 29th, 2014 from 6-10pm
Mark your calendars and be sure to plan on joining us for dinner, dancing & some good ‘ol fun!
It will be a Country & Western theme. (Think cowboy hats, boots, flannel, bandanas, chaps…you name it—get creative!)
Our next committee meeting is set for Thursday, November 21st @ 5:30pm; if interested in getting involved, please contact leah@meadowsptm.org
Besides the usual silent auction & raffle items, we will have a CHILI COOK
VOLUNTEERS Wanted! C h il i R e c ip e 3 tablespoons extra
-virgin olive oil,
2 1/2 pounds groun d turkey (85 perce nt lean) or ground tur key breast (99 percent lean), 2 pa ckages 4 tablespoons dark chili powder, 2 pa lm fulls 2 tablespoons gri ll seasoning blend , any brand, 1 palm full 1 tablespoon cumi
n, 1/2 palm full
2 tablespoons Wo
rcestershire sauc
1 to 3 tablespoon s hot sauce, mediu m to extra-spicy 1 large onion, quart
ered
2 large peppers, an y color combinatio n, red, green, purple, yellow or orange, chopped 1/2 bottle beer (th e alcohol cooks ou t), about 1 cup 1 (14-ounce) can tom ato sauce
e
1/2 cup smoky ba rbecue sauce
PBIS Rewards for Students and Staff The PBIS team has been working on creating and implementing new student and staff rewards/ incentives for students. The following events are planned with the help of PTM to encourage positive behavior and attitudes across Meadows.
Student Incentives 1.
Student of the Month- Each teacher will select a student of the month from one of their classes. That student will be recognized in their class period with a certificate and invitation to join Ms. Doyle and Mrs. Webb for donuts in the library the following week. Teachers should collaborate with team members in order to “share the wealth” and not double up on names. The idea is to recognize students for a wide range of reasons- academic performance, academic improvement, caring attitude for others, willingness to help, improved behavior in class, increased participation etc. It would be great for grade levels to pick a date that the award is given so all teachers award it at the same time. Teachers please select and award a student of the month for September by Fall Break. The first donuts with Admin will be on October 23rd. Please select your Student of the Month hereafter by the end of the month with donuts planned for the first week of the next month.
2. Quarterly Assemblies- Grade level assemblies in the library will begin next week during Guided Study. At the assemblies, Laura will discuss any behavior expectations and/or reminders that teams would like her to talk about. Also, we will randomly draw 5 names for $10 gift cards. We are thinking that students will get their name in the drawing by the number of RAMS stickers they have in their planner. For every 10 stickers, they get their name in once.
Staff Incentives 1. It’s All About You! Message boardPlease take the time to read the message board to see what great things are happening around campus. The positive note board is designed to spread good feelings and thanks for those we work with. This includes all staff- both certified and classified. Publicly sharing the good works our peers do can be inspiring and up-lifting. 2. Staff Team Player Award- Two staff members each month will be recognized at the staff meetings as the team players of the month. Those staff members will receive a traveling team player poster to put on their door and public accolades from their peers. The recipients of the award then choose the next month’s honorees to pass the posters onto. The names will also be read on the announcements for students to congratulate. 3. Staff Gift Cards- Staff members may anonymously recognize peers through a RAMS pride card located in the office. The PBIS team will read the cards at the faculty meetings and then put them all in a hat and draw two names for gift cards.
IB Corner of the World
"I think, therefore IB".
APPRECIATION IN ACTION!
The teacher Appreciation committee served a fall dessert Nov. 19th to the Meadows staff. Hot apple cider and carrot cake was enjoyed by all. A belated thank you to Sarah Conyers for being one of our bakers during conferences . Thanks, Kari Blakley
Photo Credit: Mr. Murphy
Raised over $350 Mrs. Webb thanks the PTM for pizza and salad during Parent conferences on behalf of the Meadows staff!
And the WINNER is.... 1st. Cohen 674 2nd. Vakula 578 3rd. Bloom 353
Ms. Cohen is the @irst place winner and gets a restaurant gift card and the class gets snack shack tickets Thank you Angie Gulick
Charitable Acts Committee News
Need community service hours? Sign up for these upcoming CAC events: A Message from Charitable Acts Commi#ee… • Meadows is signed up for one Wednesday per month at Growing Garden on Glendale Avenue from 3-‐5:00pm on TCT days • Students are encouraged to donate to the Holiday Turkey Drive to support Park families. Goal 100 Turkeys! Contact Bri#on on where to bring in your turkey donaSon! britton@meadowsptm.org | Britton Sanchez
Charitable Acts Committee
GIVES!
Thank you Meadows families for serving our community. ~ Britton Sanchez CAC Chair
A Big Thank You to all that made The Gold Canyon Candle Fundraiser such a  great success. Congratulations to Kaitlyn Rodriguez and Eston Brauer for being the top sellers. Thank you to Debbie Hinds and Andrea Brandt for all of you help with the fundraiser.
Also, thank you to all that came out to Let It Roll Bowling. Â We had a great time. Â Thank you to Heidi Blair and Kerrie Wallace for all of your help. Thank you to the 5th grade team for always helping. Thank you, Staci Csizmadia
scorwick@cox.net (602)486-6161
Look out for the next Camp Friendly Pines fundraiser in January The Yard, $5 for 2 drinks The Meadows Snack Shack is open after school and during RAMMS sporting events on campus (some nights & Saturdays).  Groups on campus can “sponsor� the snack shack for the month and proceeds for that month will help your group! Parents (with student helpers) are needed to staff the
snack shack. Student helpers gain community service time. Fun and easy! Check out the online schedule and submit your time on line. Contact Snack Shack Coordinator Theresa at MeadowsSnackShack@yahoo.com to learn more!
CFP snack shack month of Nov!
High Five to our favorite community partners who provide NJHS support!
.  $900  x o r p p sed  a Costume  i a r  S H p.s.   NJ o  Grams  and  lar! for  Bo !  Spook-tacu day
NEWS FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
HEALTH
NURSE SHARON
ITEM OF THE MONTH: Please help us offset the high cost of supplies by donating feminine products and hand sanitizer.
Meadows Athletics David Vibber Athletic Director
Every year we come together as a community here at Meadows to help those in need during the Holiday Season. Please help us make this holiday a little brighter for some Meadows families in need! Gift Card Collection -‐ Through December 11th Bring a gift card to the office this week! We will help Meadows families with grocery store and box store gift cards (please refrain from restaurant/ boutique type gift cards). There will be a collection box in the office. Nurse Sharon will distribute.
Friendly Reminder: Madison Meadows requires all students that participate on an athletic team to pay an athletic fee of $100 to offset the cost of operating our athletic program. The fee pays for coaches, referees, conference dues, transportation, uniforms and equipment. The fee is “given back” in the way of a Tax Credit for the same amount. Please pay the $100 athletic fee online: www.msd38.org • Click “Tax Credit” on the top right hand side. Scroll down and click “Donate Online”. • Forward the tax credit confirmation email to dvibber@msd38.org and include player’s name and sport. • Credit card payments also accepted in the office.
Meadows has not turned away a student who meets the academic and behavioral criteria from playing a sport due to financial circumstances. If a student/ family is in need of a financial consideration; volunteer assistance to our school and/or athletic program may be considered instead of the $100 payment. If the student meets all of the academic and behavioral requirements, then we will consider providing a waiver that will enable him/her to participate. Thank you for supporting your son and daughter by encouraging them to participate in our athletic program. We truly believe that the investment will enrich their lives from the experience they have in practice and games.
Sincerely, David Vibber Meadows Athletic Director
Mea
dow s Staf Voll f e y Gam ball e! S you h o w r sc hoo spir l it!
Meadows Faculty plays Madison #1
@Madison #1 on Friday, November 22 at 4:30pm. Rivalry cup is being transferred amongst the winning teams!
GO RAMS! ATHLETICS3
Support Class of 2013!
8th Grade Graduation!
Designate your 2013 tax credit dollars toward Meadows 8th Grade Graduation. Allocate $400 (couples filing jointly) or $200 (individual) tax credit dollars. Tell Grandparents, friends, and relatives about the way to donate.
We need your help! This is our last time for our eight grade parents to consider earmarking your 2013 tax credit dollars toward our Eighth Grade Graduation. These funds will go a long way in providing your child with the best graduation experience possible. If you can allocate all $400 (couples filing jointly) or $200 (individual) tax credit dollars toward 8th Grade Graduation, that would be fantastic! And remember, any amount would be appreciated. Grandparents, friends, and relatives may also contribute their tax credit dollars. Contributors will have special recognition in the commencement program. Ways to donate: •
Online www.madisonaz.org -Click where it says “Tax Credit” on the top right hand side -Scroll down and click where it says “Donate Online” -School: Madison Meadows; Activity: General – general
•
Come in to Madison Meadows Office. Donations can be made by credit card or debit card in the office.
•
PTM Website – Donations through the PTM Web site will not qualify for the tax credit but are automatically tagged for graduation so may be an easier way to donate. Visit www.meadowsptm.org and select Donate to the PTM on the right side.
Forward the tax credit confirmation email, Office donation or PTM donation information to jdebenedetti@cox.net. Your name will be listed in the Commencement Program as a contributor. We are already putting exciting graduation ideas and plans in motion and would greatly appreciate receiving the contributions as quickly as possible. For more information on graduation or to volunteer visit the graduation page at www.meadowsptm.org under “What’s Happening.” Thank you for your support! Jeni DeBenedetti & Kim Wickey Graduation Fundraising Co-Chairs
inspire
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Photo Credit: Brigette Rapatz First Place Winner!
Our very own, Meadows student, Mallory Buisker, won a first place blue ribbon for her mixed-media sculpture she entered in the Arizona State Fair this year. Last Spring break, when Mallory was in 5th grade, she had traveled to New Mexico and worked with an local artist/sculptor, Susana Erling (www.susanerling.com) as a mentor of her talents. The paper MâchÊ process to sculpt a figure requires great attention to detail and patience, focus and vision. Congratulations to this young artist for her talent in creating this stunning piece of art work.
Tuesday’s “A4er School Art” Program On Tuesdays from 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm, the art room will be open for “aXer school art.” This FREE a4er school program is open to all students, regardless if they are in art class. This will be a Sme for any Meadows student to come into the art room and work on projects of their choice or conSnue on projects that have already been started. The only requirement is a note from a parent or guardian indicaSng how the student will be transported home (walking, riding a bike, parent pick-‐up, etc.). The next “aXer school art” meeSng will conSnue every Tuesday unSl May 2014. Any addiSonal informaSon and updates can be found at www.mistervoss.com. If there are any quesSons, please contact Sco# Voss at svoss@madisoned.org.
Please consider being an Art Masterpiece Guide! Each 5th & 6th grade class will have six presentations from late January to early May for the Art Masterpiece program. An art background is not necessary as training is provided for all volunteers. The Phoenix Art Museum w i l l h o s t t h e i r a n n u a l D i s t r i c t Orientation/Training on Saturday, January 11th (2014!) from 9-‐11:30am. This opportunity is especially helpful for newer art guides, but I’ve been to the training a number of times and
learn something new each time. More details to follow! All materials are provided to the volunteer. At a later date we will schedule an AM orientation to answer any questions you may have after we find guides for all the 5th & 6th grades. Nancy Stouffer Art Masterpiece Committee Chair nbstouffer@cox.net | 602-‐770-‐8724 cell
Madison Meadows Homework Club has been established to provide a consistent opportunity to complete daily homework with staff available to encourage and assist. Mr. Lee Meyer, 7th Grade Social Studies teacher is the coordinator. SCHEDULE: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ( No homework club on TCT or early release days.)
3:40 Dismissal 3:45-4:45 Homework Club in Media Center 4:50 Bus departs from the front of the school
GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS 1. Attendance will be taken each day. 2. Students are expected to be on time and prepared to work. 3. Students will read quietly once his/her work is completed. 4. Planners should have specific assignments listed for each subject area. 5. Student will not leave the media center during Homework Club. 6. Students may not leave homework club early unless parent/guardian provides written consent or picks them up from front office. PAYMENT $20 weekly payment is expected on the Monday of the week of attendance. If payment is not received by Tuesday of the week of attendance, the student may not attend Homework Club until payment is received. Please pay your Homework Club fee online by going to: www.madisonaz.org Click “Tax Credit” on the top right hand side. Scroll down and click where it says “Donate Online” School: Madison Meadows: Activity: General – general. Forward the tax credit confirmation email to lmeyer@msd38.org (Include student’s name and specify Homework Club.) Parents and students please sign and return form to the school office.
I would like my student, who is in grade ______ to be enrolled in the Meadows’ Homework Club. My child’s homeroom teacher is ____________________. I understand that Homework Club will meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3:45 to 4:45pm. The charge is $20 per week and if my student is a bus rider, transportaSon will be provided. _____My student will need bus transportaSon. His/her regular stop is ____________________________ _____My student will not need transportaSon. Please indicate mode of transportaSon._____________________ Between 3:45 and 4:45pm, I can be reached at: _________________________ Student Signature _______________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature _______________________________________