March 11-13
Online Auction
March 14
Auction Item Pick-Up, 3-6 pm.
March 14-18
Spirit Week
March 18
Friday Assembly- 5th grade
March 21-April 1
Spring Break
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Watercolor painting of Poseidon
by Theo Gerig, 5th grade
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Message From the Director
Greetings Madrone Trail Community,
I want to thank Dara Cantrell and the 3rd Grade for putting on such a touching and wonderful assembly this morning. Things are really starting to feel like they are getting back to normal.
I’m very excited about the extra-curricular activities our faculty has brought to our school. Thank you to our Athletic Director and all the staff that are coaching.
I don’t have many updates regarding facilities at this time, but we did make some headway with the kitchen. Please be sure to complete the survey regarding your interest. We want this to be successful and we need your input to do so.
Monday, March 14 will be the first day that masks are optional. Please talk to your child about respecting others decisions regarding whether or not they decide to wear a mask. I will be wearing one next week and will try and make an appearance in each class in an effort to make sure that all feel comfortable. I will confess, I’m going to have a difficult time recognizing kids without masks, but their smiles will surely be worth the confusion.
I want to express gratitude to our faculty, community sponsors, Parent Council, and Auction Committee for their efforts to ensure our auction will be a success. As always, I sincerely feel this school would crumble to the ground without the steady guidance of Cori Royer, our Assistant Director, Games Teacher and “just about everything else extraordinaire.”
I also want to thank our Board for their service. It is not an easy gig and sometimes a thankless job, but we are ultimately lucky to have such passionate and dedicated volunteers. I understand and will admit I don’t make their jobs easier, but I want the public to know I do appreciate them and the time they contribute to make sure our school is the wonderful place that it is for the children. I am taking steps to address the areas where I need to improve and we all need to model the behavior we want our children to grow up to displays themselves. Forgiveness is a synergistic feeling for everyone.
It is an honor to serve this community. It has truly become my greatest pride.
Please enjoy this weekend ahead. It is supposed to be quite nice. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
-John Bissey
Director
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Auction-- Happening Now!
The Online Auction is live! Bidding went live at noon today, and will end at 3 pm on Sunday, March 13. There were a couple of hiccups in the first few hours that we have worked out. Thank you to everyone who alerted us so we could fix them. Pick up for items won at the Auction will be on Monday, March 14 from 3-6 pm.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues while bidding, there is a contact form on the main page of the Auction site, or you can email the Auction Committee, auction@madronetrail.org. We will be monitoring it all weekend to get back to you quickly.
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Thanks to our generous sponsors!
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Update from the Kitchen Manager
We are on track to open the cafeteria after Spring Break. Please take a brief 2-minute survey to help us gauge initial interest and demand. Thank you!
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From the Board
One of the requests from the Faculty that we are happy to honor is including a recap of our board meetings in the Friday Update. Here are some of the highlights from the meeting on March 9.
The board interviewed and voted on a new member, Justin Botillier. He is a parent of two children at our school and comes with an extensive background in finance. His bio is included below.
The first mediation session between John Bissey and Erik Johnsen happened on today, March 11. Although a detailed update will not be available, the board and faculty look forward to working together with our community for the good of our school.
A complaint was filed with the board and the board voted to go through points of the complaint at a separate meeting. The meeting will be posted on our website once all involved parties agree on a date and time.
The faculty reps presented a list to the board on points we can come together and work on. Those points included moving forward with mediation and not changing the administration before the end of the year.
A draft of the discipline policy was presented to the board by the faculty. We are hoping to have a final draft ready to vote into policy in the coming months.
The board is also asking for input on Grant Needs for our school. Please click the link below to fill out the survey
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Library Committee Members Wanted
We are looking for volunteers to get the school library up and running. If interested, please contact the Library Committee Chair, Mrs. Richardson at kelli.richardson@madronetrail.org
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From the May Faire Committee
The next May Faire Committee is Monday, April 4 at 3:30 pm.
This year we will be having a Children's Booth again, where students can make crafts and sell them. They will be giving 10% of their profits to the school. There will be an application form which they will fill out.
We are still looking for craft, artisan, and food vendors. If interested, or just have some questions about it you can contact the May Faire Committee at mayfaire@madronetrail.org.
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The Seven Core Principles of Waldorf Education
Founded in the early 20th century, Waldorf education is based on the insights and teachings of Rudolf Steiner. Guided by these insights, the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education has adopted Seven Core Principles for Waldorf Schools. These principles articulate the most important values that inform the policies and practices of Waldorf schools in North America and are held as a central tenet of our school.
As part of our school’s membership process to the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, the faculty is currently participating in an extensive "self study" process, looking deeply at the Seven Core Principles of Waldorf Education and how each of those principles is living in our school. We thought we would share these with the wider school community as well. We will share one Core Principle each week in the Friday Update for you to ponder.
Principle 4: Human Relationships
Public Waldorf Schools foster a culture of healthy relationships.
Enduring relationships — and the time needed to develop them — are central to Public Waldorf education. The teacher works with each student and class as a whole to support relationship-based learning.
Healthy working relationships with parents, colleagues, and all stakeholders are essential to the well being of the student, class, and school community. Everyone benefits from a community life that includes festivals, events, adult education, study, and volunteer activities.
Public Waldorf education encourages collaboration in schools, within the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, among all schools working out of a developmental approach, in conjunction with the broader field of education.
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From the Athletic Director
Track update
Track is going well with some sore kids learning the value of proper stretching and warming up.
No track practice the first week of Spring Break. There will be practice the second week, but no rides will be provided that week during Spring Break. Practice times will remain Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3:30-5:00 pm. We understand if your athlete can’t make it that week.
Soccer
Spring soccer registration is now closed for several age groups for Junior Comets sports. A couple age groups remain open, including
Kinder Soccer
U8-U10 boys
U8-U10 Girls
If you are not wanting to sign up for a season long commitment; we are also exploring having soccer clinics after school at Madrone Trail a couple days a week, starting after spring break for 3rd-6th graders. Be on the lookout for interest surveys next week.
Also, thank you to Junior Comets for providing several sports opportunities and being a great place for Madrone Trail students to get sport opportunities this year. Last weekend several of our 5th grade young ladies had an opportunity to play basketball against each other. Natasha said, “It was a blast and never give up!”
Thanks everyone,
Jeff Roberson
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Meet Justin Botillier- New Board Member
Dear Madrone Community,
My name is Justin Botillier, I am the new board member elected last Wednesday at our school’s monthly board meeting. For those of you who don’t know me already, I would like to introduce myself. My wife Amy and I have been Madrone parents for over four years. Our daughters are Rowan (4th grade) and Juniper “June” in second. We were turned on to Madrone and Waldorf education by friends who were already Madrone Parents, and later by the independent research that we did on Waldorf education. We were elated when our older daughter was accepted into kindergarten at Madrone by way of lottery. After which we have been further captivated by the dedication, passion, and sacrifices made by the school’s faculty.
The experience that qualifies me for the board position includes my leadership skills acquired through owning a small CPA firm in Medford for over fifteen years. As a small business accountant, I have done accounting and consulting for the administrations of numerous nonprofit organizations, and their boards. I have also served on multiple boards of nonprofit organizations, and I have founded a nonprofit organization myself.
My intention in serving on the board is to enhance the educational experience of my girls and their peers by fostering a sense of flow and ease in the classroom. The best way I can contribute to this outcome is to volunteer ideas, make decisions judicially, to be a good steward of the school’s resources, and most importantly communicate effectively.
The last two years living with, and adapting to, the covid epidemic has caused a lot of stress on people and strain on their resources; the Madrone community is no exception. It is clear to me that after the long winter that is/was covid, like a body that needs a massage and some chiropractic adjustments, the Madrone community also needs a little TLC. I ain’t no doctor, but it is my intention to contribute to healing. One thing that is clear to me is that Madrone “wants you,” the Parents, to be involved regularly. Healing involves rallying resources and in the school’s case, one of the largest resources here are the parents. I encourage everyone to do their part, whether it is to bid generously at the school auction, help plan and volunteer for the cherished annual May Faire event, or serve on one of the school’s numerous committees.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I look forward to serving you.
Sincerely,
Justin Botillier (Rowan & June’s dad)
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Volunteer Opportunities
Check out the link weekly to see what you can help out with!
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Spring Bulb Fundraiser
Help support the 8th grade by getting your Spring bulbs below. There are lots to choose from, check it out!
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Yearbook
The yearbook committee is hard at work taking pictures for this year's yearbook. They are now available for pre-sale online. Order yours today! If you do not remember if you have ordered a yearbook, contact Ms. Cori, cori.royer@madronetrail.org. She can access the list of sales. |
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Handlettered by Ms. Cori |
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MADRONE TRAIL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
www.madronetrail.org
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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. |
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