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

 

8th Grade Promotion Gown Distribution – Monday June 3 AT LUNCH in the cafeteria, 2013 gowns will be distributed to all 8th graders participating in the promotion ceremonies.  Cost is $20 CASH ONLY in BILLS (no coins) and must be paid at pick-up.  No checks or credit cards will be accepted. 

 

For 8^th graders taking courses at Torrance High–Different Schedule due to THS Testing:
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 students to the high school.  1^st period ends at 12:27 pm and busses will transport students back to Madrona.

 

8^th Grade Permission Slips for Picnic, Promotion, Dance – Parents please read, sign and return to the school office by Friday, May 24^th. Thank you.

Scrip - The last day to order Scrip will be Thursday, May 30, 2013.  Scrip cards are convenient graduation and thank you gifts.  The Scrip order form is available on the Madrona website.  Thank you for supporting Madrona’s Scrip program!

 

 

Note:  Due to our construction -
Family Academic Night/Open House has been moved to:

Tuesday, June 4th; NO LATE START
                                STUDENTS ARRIVE TO SCHOOL 8:05am
                                EARLY DISMISSAL AT 1:20
                               Family Night/Open House 5:45-6:45 pm followed by  
                               Choral Concert at 7pm. 
                               Thank you for your understanding and patience.

                                June 4th Minimum Day Bell Schedule is:

                                                                 First Bell                 8:05

                                                                 Period 1                   8:09   -   8:50

                                                                 Period 2                   8:53   -   9:33

                                                                Period 3                    9:36   - 10:16

                                                                Recess                      10:16 - 10:32

                                                                Period 4                   10:35 - 11:16

                                                                 Period 5                  11:19 - 11:59

                                                                 Lunch                        1:59 - 12:37

                                                                 Period 6                   12:40 -   1:20

UPCOMING EVENTS through June 20th

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
Friday, May 24                 Co - Rec Dance at Ken Miller Rec Center
Monday, May 27              MEMORIAL DAY - No School
Tuesday, May 28              Q4 Progress Reports Go Home (Receipts Due Friday, May 31)

Thursday, May 29             Rough Draft - 8^th grade promotion speeches due, Lunch Rm 26
Thursday, May 30             BBall MMS vs. Hull at THS gym 6:00 Doors open at 5:45.
                                                 Tickets on sale Thurs, May 23- Wed, May 29th front of café. 
                                                 Pre-sale tickets $3; tickets at the door $5.

Friday, May 31                   Report Receipts Due to 6th period

Monday, June 3                 8^th Grade Gown Dissemination at lunch, café

                                                CASH ONLY - $20 bills only; no change please

 June 3 thru  June 7           Spirit Week (Details soon)

Monday, June 3                 Hickory 5^th graders visit Madrona 9:30-11:15

Monday, June 3                  8^th Grade Gown pick up – café at lunch $20 CASH ONLY

Tuesday, June 4                 NO Late Start; Early Dismissal 1:20; 
                                             5:45-6:45  FAMILY NIGHT; 7pm Choral Program

Wednesday, June 5          Fern 5^th graders visit Madrona 9:30-11:15

                                             and Parents Nite for incoming 6^th graders 6-7pm

Thursday, June 6                8th Grade Promotion Speech Rehearsal in cafe after school

Friday, June 7                     Last SAR Assembly of the Year! 11:45 am

Tuesday, June 11              Final Promotion Speech Rehearsal after school in cafe

Tuesday, June 11              PTSA Assoc Mtg 6:45pm before BAND CONCERT 7pm

Wednesday, June 12       Tryouts for Speeches after school in cafeteria

Thursday, June 13             8th Grade Promotion Speeches rehearsal in cafe after school

Friday, June 14                  Last Day for Students to return books and pay (CASH ONLY)

Tuesday, June 18              Extravaganza – periods 3-6  (Grade to be announced)

Tuesday, June 18               8^th Grade Academic Awards 6:30-7:30 Cafeteria

Wednesday, June 19         8^th Grade Picnic at Delthorne 10:30 - 2:45

Thursday, June 20              8^th Grade Promotion Practice bus 10:15 am – 
                                              8^th Graders Dismissed at 12:30
                                                 Rest of School is Dismissed at 1:20

                                                 Promotion @ 6pm; Dance @8pm

 

WATCH YOUR EBLAST NEXT WEEK FOR IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE 2013-2013 SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDING PACKET PICK UP AND REGISTRATION DATES. 

 

CLICK HERE FOR ARCHIVES of Weekly Eblast News and Translations into español, 日本語 and한국어.
http://madrona.tusd.org/Calendar/WildcatWeeklyBulletin/tabid/4540/Default.aspx

 

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 BEFORE JUNE 14.  Your child will NOT be scheduled for 7^th grade classes without this proof.

 

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

  

 

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."