From the Board

Hello Madrone Trail,

We hope you all had a wonderful winter break and a joyful time of holiday celebration. Since our last meeting was only three weeks ago and we have been on break for two of those weeks there is not much new to report. The board is always diligently looking after the well being of the schools finances and logistics to ensure our school continues to thrive. Our budget looks good and on track for this time of year. We are also collaborating with faculty on strategic planning for the next 5-10 years so that we have a clear vision and goals that we are intentionally working toward. Two other things that are front and center for the board right now are preparing for the auction by finding sponsors and donors and also researching different options and softwares to implement an easy to use mass notification system for clear communication and safety purposes for all Madrone families. We always love hearing from our school community so if you have any feedback, questions, or concerns please reach out at board@madronetrail.org.

For the Good of the School,

Madrone Trail Board of Directors 

Parent Education Night--Next Week

Phones, Social Media, and Healthy Development

Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00 pm in the Gym

When should I allow my child to have a smart phone? What about social media? What about my own use, what am I modeling? This session will explore these questions, and the complex dynamics of technology, youth, and society. This will not be a fear-based session, rather participants will be encouraged to think critically, increase their knowledge, and develop skills to deepen conversations in their own family and school community. There will be a presentation about specific trends and impacts, followed by an interactive group discussion.

Update: we will have a zoom option to attend the meeting if you are unable to be there in person. Please use the link below to join.

Facilitator Bio:

Matt Vogel is a faculty member in the Health and Exercise Science Department at Southern Oregon University. Over the past 15 years, he has regularly presented at conferences, universities, and high schools on a variety of health-related topics. He has been a guest presenter at Madrone Trail in the past on a variety of topics.  

From the Auction Committee

Why does Snow White own an Android? For some reason she doesn't like Apples...

Mark Your Calendars for a night of Enchantment, Wonder and Mischief as we journey into the beautiful and spellbinding world of Grimm's Fairytales at 

This Years Annual Live and Silent Auction:

Saturday March 8th, at the Ashland Armory

Doors Open at 5:30 pm

Tickets Coming Soon

Our Decoration Committee has a wishlist, if you would like to support us making the magic happen, please click the link below.

Next Auction Committee will be meeting Tuesday, January 14 at 3:45 pm

at Hummingbird Winery

Meal Program Update

For today’s rendition of “Foreign Friday,” we ventured to the beautiful Caribbean island nation of Jamaica! Red beans & rice flavored with coconut and ginger was the base for slow cooked jerk chicken (we omitted the traditional scotch bonnets!) with a side of delicious potato-pumpkin mash. We continue to be really excited about how receptive the students have been to these new dishes – don’t be surprised if a few of them make it onto our weekly rotation on the spring menu!

Jamaican jerk chicken, red beans & coconut rice, potato-pumpkin mash

Next week’s specials 

• Soup: Chicken & Wild Rice (the kids loved this one last time… loaded with a plethora of fresh herbs and veggies with homemade chicken stock)
• Wednesday Scramble Special: ham & green chili (available also with just potato, egg & cheese every week through spring break)



With no school on Friday 1/17, we will not have a Foreign Friday special, but students can look forward to the following weeks:

• January 24th - Bulgaria: Bulgarian-style Moussaka (potato, carrot, and beef casserole with a tangy egg & yogurt topping) and optional Shopska Salad (cucumber, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, feta)
• January 31st - China: Cantonese Style Pork with Broccoli and Garlic Cucumber Salad (on the salad bar), served with chow mein noodles

Chef Evan

evan.wilson@madronetrail.org

From the Athletic Director

Yoga (First time offering at Madrone)

Mrs. Gerig is now a certified yoga instructor! She is offering her new skills in this area as a club offering here at Madrone.

Who: 5th-8th graders (Coed; 8 participant minimum, Capped at 20 participants)

When: January 14th-February 20th, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Madrone Trail

Cost $75 (Payment and scholarship requests are in the office)

Registration deadline: January 13th (We must know if we have met the minimum on Monday)

Sport registration form required. (No sport physical needed for clubs)

Note from Mrs. Gerig:

This should be a cozy, fun and rejuvenating time together. We will do some mindfulness practices, play some movement games, learn the traditional Sun Salutation and some other pre-teen/teen friendly yoga essentials.

Track & Field

I know it is early to talk about a Spring sport, but I wanted to put track and field on our middle school parent’s radar early. Practice will begin March 3rd.

I wanted to start the conversation early for a couple of reasons. First to give plenty of time to get your student in to see their PCP if they need a sports physical. The form is attached. Reminder: Your physical is covered if you have had a sport physical within the last 2 years and turned it in to Madrone Trail.

Secondly; track is our biggest sports season of the year. Last year we had 30 participants and I would love to see that grow. Track & field is a wonderful opportunity for our students and offers so many different events to allow them various opportunities to get involved.

Who: 6th-8th graders

When: Weekdays March 3rd-May 5th (Meets are typically on Mondays this year)

Cost $100 (Payment and scholarship requests are in the office)

Registration deadline: February 28th  

Go Dragons!

Jeff Roberson

jeff.roberson@madronetrail.org

Chipotle Fundraiser

The Butterfly Class would like to thank everyone who went to Chipotle on Tuesday. We made $307 for our class trip!

Spotlight on 4th grade

Fourth grade is such a dynamic year in the Waldorf curriculum! We introduce several new concepts that are complete firsts for the students, such as science main lesson blocks and an in-depth study of fractions. 

The Otter Class is just wrapping up one such block this week, completing our first Local History and Geography block. Learning to make maps is a challenge as we go from looking at our artistic subjects straight-on, to imagining landscapes from a bird's eye view. We begin by standing on our chairs to draw maps of our desks, and expanding on these skills until we can draw maps of our whole state. This will serve us well in the upper grades when we map entire continents!

We have also been learning about the First People of southern Oregon, mainly the Takelma and Modoc people. Our classroom is full of labels bearing the Takelma words for numbers, colors, and objects like “basket,” “canoe,” and “mountain.” We have told, drawn, and written the stories of people like Kintpuash (Captain Jack) and Winema Riddle. We have learned the stories and legends that arose from local landmarks like Crater Lake and Mt. McLoughlin (or Alwilamchaldis as the Takelma call it). Next week, Mr. Jesse Jackson from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is coming to give a cultural presentation to our class, which we very much look forward to.

~Mrs. Richardson

Spotlight on Handwork

In Handwork classes the students have been working hard with their hands, hearts, and heads this year creating beautiful new projects. They are also learning the art of focusing on the work of their hands. In First grade the students have made their own knitting needles and have learned to knit. Second graders have learned how to cast on and do the purl stitch. They are knitting gnomes and animals. Third grade has had a busy year, learning now to card and spin wool and then have learned to crochet. They are busy making pencil cases and hats. Fourth grade has taken a turn into hand sewing. They are working on making their beautiful handwork bags, which some have completed and have moved on to a cross stitch project. In Fifth grade we return to knitting, and students are knitting hats, socks and mittens. One student knit a beautiful Christmas stocking. In Sixth grade the students designed their own elephant patterns and have been working on their hand sewn stuffed elephants. Our Seventh graders have been working hard on the complex Waldorf doll and are finishing up the hair and clothing. In Eighth grade we take the leap from hand to machine, as they study the Industrial Revolution this year, and they have all learned how to sew on a sewing machine. This awesome group of students just completed their flannel pajama pants. 

Insight into Waldorf Education

If you missed the article in the last Friday Update you can read it here: Success or Fulfillment? by Gesine Abraham

State Testing

Students in 3rd-8th grade are tested annually in Language Arts and Math, and 5th and 8th graders are tested in Science as well. As per Oregon law, we are required to give parents and guardians notice regarding this assessment. Please read the attached notice.

Quote of the Day

Handlettered by Ms. Cori

MADRONE TRAIL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

www.madronetrail.org

Madrone Trail Public Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age in its programs and activities.