Friday Update: June 10, 2022

Upcoming Events

June 12

End of Year Picnic, Cantrall-Buckley Park, 11-2 pm

June 15

Board Meeting, 4:30 pm

August 23

Parent Council Meeting, 6 pm, Las Palmas in J'Ville

August 29

First Day of School

Medallion given to the 8th grade at Graduation

From Ms. Cori

Madrone Trail Community,

Sorry this Friday Update comes a day late. This week has been super busy! The teachers had an all day meeting yesterday to reflect on the last school year and to plan and prepare for the next school year. I also attended Ashland High School's graduation last night.

This year, Ms. Cantrell's first class (when she was called Ms. Nikolic) and Ms. Coull's class graduated High School. The three of us have attended some of the Graduation ceremonies, and it has been lovely to see how our former students have grown and flourished. Four of them were valedictorians, and two gave speeches at their respective ceremonies (Crater and Ashland.) Many of them have plans for college, and some have already earned RCC credits through the courses they took in High School. Most of them stayed close with some of their Madrone Trail classmates and are still friends with them today, even if they did not go to the same High Schools. We hear over and over from High School teachers that Madrone Trail alumni are grounded, respectful, inquisitive, creative, kind, and overall wonderful students to have in class. It is gratifying to hear that what we are doing here is setting them up for success as students and as human beings when they leave our school. We are more than just a school, but a community and family that create bonds that last beyond each student and teacher's time here.

We also had a lovely 8th grade graduation on Wednesday at Cantrall-Buckley Park. The weather was perfect and considering there was no rehearsal for it, went pretty smoothly. Ms. Lowenberg, the classes' 1st-5th grade teacher spoke, and we even had their long term sub from 5th grade, Miss Benson, in attendance in the audience. I am personally sad to see this class go. They are the fourth class I have taught since first grade, and the last to remember me baby wearing Owen while teaching. They are also the first class I successfully coached to win the 8th grade vs. Faculty kickball game in a full length game (not without controversy, but that's practically tradition at this point.) They were always enthusiastic about any game I brought, and gave me a round of applause every time I came to pick them up for class, which was a pretty great way to start my work week on a Monday morning. I look forward to attending their High School graduations in four years.

This has been quite the school year! I have put more time and energy into the school this year than I ever have in previous years, including the one I was Interim Director! As we close this chapter, and begin a new one in the fall, I am optimistic that we are moving in a good direction and that things will smooth out and become more settled as we move forward. We are still on the road to recovery from the effects of COVID and all the policies, procedures, trauma, and setbacks that went along with it. We are working on getting new staff hired and up to speed and getting new classrooms to replace the yurts that will need to come down. There will be a lot happening at the school over the summer, and even though this is the last Friday Update this school year, there will be occasional Updates throughout summer keeping the community in the loop.

Thank you for taking time each week to read the Friday Update, and staying up to date on the happenings at our school. Thank you for choosing to send your children to Madrone Trail and being a part of this community. I'll see you next school year.

~Cori Royer

Assistant Director, Games Teacher, Editor of the Friday Update, and much more

cori.royer@madronetrail.org

8th grade graduation

Ashland High School graduation

End of Year Picnic--TOMORROW

The End of Year Picnic at Cantrall-Buckley Park is tomorrow, Sunday, June 12, 11-2 pm. This is a bring your own everything event where families hang out and celebrate the end of the school year together. See you there!

Meet Kendall Roberts, New School Director

Kendall Roberts grew up in Southern California. Summers would find him either playing in the waves at the beach, or helping his grandparents on their cattle farm. He has always enjoyed the outdoors, working in the garden, hiking, or playing in any body of water.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, and his Master’s degree in Special Education from Portland State University, where he also earned his administrative credentials.

He has been an educator for 27 years. He has taught elementary, middle school, and high school and has taught at the Oregon State Hospital, a Day Treatment Program, public school, private school, general education, and special education.

He met his wife, Rachelle, in college and have been married for 30 years. Together they have raised three children, two boys and a girl. His youngest son will be a senior next fall at North Medford High School.

For the past two years he has supported the special education staff and special education services at all of the charter schools sponsored by the Medford School District, including Madrone Trail Public Charter School. He has enjoyed his time on campus, and in meetings with students and families that received those services. A big factor that attracted him to the Madrone Trail Public Charter School was the Waldorf pedagogy, which looks at how the individual child learns and develops. This is also the primary focus of special education.

He looks forward to working with the wonderful staff, students, and families of Madrone Trail Public Charter School this coming fall!

Yearbooks are SOLD OUT

Yearbooks are officially sold out! Thank you to everyone who purchased one. If you didn't get one and would still like one, there is a chance to get more. If we get more than 10 people who would like one, we can put in a special order. Email Ms. Nancy, the Yearbook Editor, nancy.escherich@madronetrail.org, if you would like to be put on the list for a special order.

School Clothes and Supplies

When purchasing clothes, shoes, backpacks, and lunchboxes this summer in preparation for next school year, please keep in mind our dress code. The dress code is most easily enforced if the clothes that parents purchase align with our guidelines. Students engage in a variety of activities and vigorous play every day and thus their clothing and footwear should allow them comfort and freedom of movement. Students are also outside every day and should be dressed in appropriate outerwear that fits with our changing weather. Games class requires sneakers or the equivalent athletic support shoe and are strongly recommended for everyday use. Class teachers of the younger grades will indicate to parents whether children should bring a second pair of shoes to be worn in the classroom.

Here are the specifics:

Shorts and skirts must be longer than knuckle length (arms held at sides with a fist) or a 3 inch inseam.
No bare midriffs (shirts must be long enough keep midriffs covered during regular movement activities.) We are tightening up on this rule again.
No mesh, see-through, plunging neckline, strapless, or halter top type shirts.
Clothing, accessories, backpacks, and lunchboxes may not have any sign or promote: graffiti, alcohol/drugs, racism, gang affiliation, tobacco, profanity, sexual connotations, violence, or media images (characters or references from tv shows, movies, or video games.)
No make-up or hair dye in the primary grades (K-5).
No bare feet, flip flops, open toed shoes, high heels, or wedge style heels.

If the item of clothing is questionable, please error on the side of saying no to it. We really appreciate your support in this. In keeping with our Waldorf philosophy, we discourage clothing that draws more attention to the child's clothing than to the child.

Personal Electronic Device Guidelines

As a Waldorf-inspired school, we have a different view on the use of technology in our classrooms and at school. By choosing our school, you are making the choice to abide by our guidelines about student use of personal electronic devices at school. These guidelines are more easily enforced with parent support.

For your reference these are our guidelines regarding personal electronic devices at school. We acknowledge that these guidelines were not strictly upheld this school year as we were still adjusting to being back full-time and the use of technology and personal electronic devices was a necessity during distance learning. Moving into next year, we will be enforcing these guidelines more strongly.

Students are not allowed to use personal electronic devices (cell phones, tablets, iPods, smart watches, etc) on school grounds (on campus, in the parking lot, or in the field). This includes any function of the device (playing music, watching videos, texting, etc.) This policy is in effect before and after school (including pick up time), any school functions and events (such as May Faire, Lantern Walk, dances, etc.), and on field trips.

We expect that students in grades K-3 will not bring personal electronic devices to school.
If a student in grades 4-5 needs to bring a personal electronic device to school, parents must create a special arrangement with the school.
If parents deem it necessary, students in grade 6-8 may bring personal electronic devices to school.
If a student needs to call their parents during the day, they must go to the office and use the office phone.
When students walk onto campus, personal electronic devices must be in a bag or backpack.