WELCOME TO 
MADRONA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Where Learning is the Key to Success

Parents:  To ensure you are receiving e-blasts each Wednesday,
make sure your email does not block or send to spam folder the following address
madronawebsite@gmail.com

Hello to all of our wonderful Madrona parents! – Two important upcoming events are taking place:

 

CST TESTING at MADRONA: ALL STUDENTS:

On Tues 5/14, Wed, 5/15, Thurs, 5/16, Fri 5/17 will report to Madrona by 8:05 (9:20 on Tuesday)to SSR class for testing .

 

1.         STAR testing will take place next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 5/14-5/17. Please make sure your child gets a good night sleep every night before testing, and a good breakfast every morning of testing. It is VERY important that your student attend every day of testing

 

2.         Radio, Pizza, Camera party that will be happening on Thursday, May 23rd for those students who have 100% attendance on the four days of STAR testing, have good behavior during testing and do their very best on the tests! If you need to make any doctors or dentists appointments for your students, PLEASE make them for the afternoon on those testing days.

 

 

Note:  Due to our construction -
Family Academic Night/Open House has been moved to:
Tuesday, June 4th; 5:45-6:45 pm followed by Choral Concert at 7pm. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

PERMISSION SLIP FOR THE SPRING DANCE -
Click on the word DANCE for the permission slip - read, print, fill out.
No one may attend the dance without this form!

UPCOMING MAY EVENTS:

May is National Asian Pacific Heritage Month
May 12 Sunday                  Happy Mother's Day!

Tuesday, May 7                  7^th & 8^th Gr Honor Roll from 8:15 am – 9:00 am

Tuesday, May 7                  Drama Performance 6:30-8:30

Wednesday, May 8           School Site Council Mtg 3:10 in Lab
Wednesday, May 8           6pm Meeting at THS regarding Enrichment (Drill, Music, Sports)

Thursday, May 9               Drama Performance 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Tuesday, May 14               5:45 mtg./discussion regarding AIA prior to PTSA board meeting
May 14, 15, 16, 17             CST TESTING - Good night's sleep & breakfasts please

Friday, May 17                   Spring Dance 3:30-5:30 in cafe.  Permission slips go out
                                               May 9th in SSR.  Tickets on sale May 13-16 in front of cafe
                                               for $3 in advance.

Wednesday, May 22,       CHANGE OF DATE:  GATE  3:15 to 4:15 in the cafeteria
Thursday, May 23              music, pizza, camera day for 100% attendance at CSTs
Friday, May 24                   Congratulations Salvadar Ruiz, Principal for the Day
Monday, May 27                MEMORIAL DAY - No School
Tuesday, May 28                Q4 Progress Reports Go Home
Thursday, May 30              BBall MMS vs. Hull (details to follow)

Friday, May 31                   Report Receipts Due to 6th period

 

No SAR in May due to CSTs, and music/pizza/camera day- last SAR is Friday June 7

Attention Parents - LEARN ENGLISH NOW! 3 locations to choose from in Torrance. March 25 - June 14 All Levels  Torrance Adult School  310-533-4689
www.tastusd.org for on-line Catalogue  click HERE for flyer

  

 

ATTENTION 8th GRADE PARENTS

CLICK this LINK for IMPORTANT DATES
Pertaining to Promotion, Torrance High School, and MORE!
http://madrona.tusd.org/8thGradePromotion/tabid/4512/Default.aspx
and please also note TORRANCE HIGH SCHOOL Late Start Days: Tuesday June 4

For 8^th graders taking courses at Torrance High–Different Schedule due to THS Testing: The middle school students who attend Torrance High classes will have a different schedule for testing days. OUR 8^th GRADE STUDENTS THAT ATTEND TORRANCE HIGH will adhere to the following:

 

CST TESTING at MADRONA: ALL STUDENTS: (8th graders that report to THS will NOT on these days. Instead on Tues 5/14, Wed, 5/15, Thurs, 5/16, Fri 5/17 will report to Madrona by 8:05 (9:20 on Tuesday)to SSR class for testing .

 

 

On Tuesday, May 21^st, 2^nd period only on this date, (no 1^st period), 8^th graders with a SECOND PERIOD at THS will attend classes at THS. 2^nd period starts at 11:37 am. The bus will arrive at Madrona at approximately 11:10 am to transport them to the high school. 2^nd period ends at 12:27 pm and busses will transport them back to Madrona.

 

On Thursday, May 23^rd students will attend THS FIRST PERIOD only at THS. 1^st period starts at 11:37 am. The bus will arrive at approximately 11:10 am to transport them to the high school.1^st period ends at 12:27 pm and busses will transport them back to Madrona.

 

ATTENTION 6^th GRADE PARENTS: 
California law requires all students in grades 7-12
to show proof of immunization for whooping cough (Tdap). 
This shot MUST have been given AFTER THEIR SEVENTH BIRTHDAY. 
Please provide this to the Health Office (Mrs. Katzelnick) as soon as possible. 
Your child will NOT be scheduled for 7^th grade classes without this proof.   

The South Bay Enrichment Academy 2013 Summer School Program 2013! Class schedules now available in the office and online at http://www.tefsbea.org/  Through the combined efforts of the Torrance Education Foundation (TEF) and the Torrance Unified School District (TUSD), the SBEA is continuing the tuition-based summer school tradition. This program, designed largely by credentialed TUSD teachers and offered at all levels for incoming K-12th grades, will enable students to maximize their potential for success. Our classes are designed to supplement student learning at the elementary and middle school levels, while providing acceleration and advancement at the high school level. Each and every student will benefit from small class sizes and take away educational experiences lasting a lifetime.

SCHOOL CLUB MEETINGS:
FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes): NOW MONDAYS at lunch, room 14.
P.A.W.S Club: Tuesdays at lunch, room 8
Chess Club:  Wednesdays in room 5 AFTER afinished eating lunch.   
Running Club:  RETURNS:  April 17th - See Mrs. Farrell
Ping Pong: Wednesdays at lunch room 31. (postponed until further notice)
Math Enrichment Class - First Class Thursday, October 25, 3:00-4:15, Room C
CJSF meets twice a month. The 8th grade meeting is the first and third Tuesday of the month whereas the 7th grade meeting is the first and third Wednesday of every month. All meetings are in SC1. 

Click here for the Summer Catalogue of the Torrance Parks and Recreations Programs!

 Click Here for Homework Center Info from Torrance Public Library

 

Returning to School after an absence:     Please click this link to view our attendance policy. http://madrona.tusd.org/AdminandStaff/AttendanceOffice/tabid/1931/Default.aspx

Policy for Requesting Homework:  If a student is absent for 3 or more days, parents please call the office early in the day.  If your student is absent for less than three days, PARENTS are to email the teachers before 9am.  If time permits, they may be able to send homework to the "homework box" in the office.  Call the office after 3pm to inquire if homework has been sent.

Traffic Safety:   DO NOT park in or block the loading zone or handicapped spaces, in the front of the school to drop off your students.  Park a block or two away and walk them in.  Thank you.  Watch for pedestrians, students on bikes.  

Bike Safety:  All bikes and scooters on campus are to be LOCKED with a bike lock! Last week there was a theft. All students who travel on bike/skooters to and from school are REQUIRED to wear a helmet.

TUESDAYS - LATE START - Students should arrive to campus after 9:00 am.  The tardy bell is at 9:23.  Only those students whose parents signed them up for Study Hall may come to the cafeteria by 8:05am.  

Textbooks:  Please remind your students that textbooks are not to be left outdoors and/or unattended, especially if a chance of rain.  Wet and/or damaged textbooks will be billed for. 

A reminder to parents that when your child is absent from school due to a fever, the standard District Policy requires that students be FEVER FREE without the use of medication for 24 hours BEFORE returning to school.  This is for the safety of all students and staff.

Attention Parents:  Torrance Middle School staff members are spending an exorbitant amount of time delivering lunches, lunch money, and other items (dropped off by parents to their students) during school hours.  These numerous daily interruptions prevent teachers and staff from important duties, interrupt students' valuable instructional time, and take up (extremely limited) counter space in our offices.  We ask parents to help assist us by planning for their children's needs in advance the night prior or in the morning before school begins.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Attendance is Important.
There are many ways parents can help support their child’s education at Madrona Middle School.  The most important way is to promote good attendance. Since July 1, 1998, California schools have received State funding only for students who are present at school. Regular attendance plays an important role in student achievement. Parents/guardians of children aged 6 to 18 are obligated to send their children to school unless otherwise provided by law.    
(Education Code 48200)
 

 
CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE FOR THE
TORRANCE COUNCIL OF PTA COMMUNICATOR Newsletter
 

Emergency Preparedness: Please view the parent emergency plan by clicking the link below.  If a real emergency or disaster occurs, we rely on parents to support us. Schools are one of the safest places for a child. In a real emergency, we will only release students to individuals who are included on the Emergency Card (green). If we have an emergency during school time, students will be released from the gate at Opal Street once the situation is stabilized. Please be familiar with the process. Thank you everyone for your continuing support.   http://madrona.tusd.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=unCFvYQKjPk%3d&tabid=3571

Congratulations to Madrona's Science Olympiad Team 2013 with the following honors received at the February 23, 2013 event at Occidently College:

40 middle schools in Los Angeles County competed.

15 students from Madrona competed in 23 events

2nd Place Food Science- Ryley Albers & Cindy Takigawa (regionals)

6th Place Keep the Heat-Caleb Paek & Sam Gallegos (regionals)

2nd Place Rotor Egg Drop- (invitational & Regionals) Caleb Paek & Sam Gallegos

6th Place Forestry- Amy Fernandez & Shannon Ennis (invitationals)

1st Place Metric Mastery-Caleb Paek & Kai Munekata (regionals)

Congratulations Madrona! Torrance Unified's very FIRST and ONLY Middle School to participate in the Science Olympiad.  Saturday, January 26, 2013 was their preliminary event. 
OUR TEAM WON TWO MEDALS at the January event:
 2nd place for Egg Drop
 5th place for Forrestry

 

 
Congratulations Madrona on a winning Pegasus Award Grant written by Marissa Stillittano.  ExxonMobil awarded the Grant for a Science Olympiad Team - the only MIddle School in Torrance to be participating in this exciting program.

 Congratulations Marissa Stillittano 

Los Angeles County  District Teacher of the Year 2012-2013
Torrance Unified School District

On Friday, September 21, 2012, Mrs. Stillittano was honored as an ambassador for education and teaching achievement along with the 55 Los Angeles District Teachers of the Year and 16 County Teachers of the Year.

Her seventh-grade life science students say that "Mrs. Stillittano's room smells like science."  To her, this pungent blend of squid dissections, old bones and burning leaves equates to hands-on learning by her students. A parent testifies, "My eldest daughter claims Mrs. Stillittano is the sole reason why she ever found an interest in science."