From the Director

Dear Madrone Family,



I absolutely love comedy! I know that we like to limit screen time, and generally prefer outdoor activity to movie night and television, but when it comes to entertainment, I am a weak man! While I do like it when law enforcement catches the bad guy, or the hero saves the day, and to some extent when star crossed lovers unite, however, I usually gravitate toward the comedy genre. Much to the dismay of my wife, I don’t even mind the sillier displays of this genre such as Monty Python or British comedy such as Fawlty Towers, The IT Crowd, or Mr. Bean. I like to think that I have a good sense of humor, and know for certain that my grandfather was quite the card! There is so much joy to be found in laughter, especially when children can have a healthy chuckle! It is healing, it is therapeutic. I have been married for over 30 years and one of the main reasons for our bond is simple… we laugh together every day. It may be something small, like a humorous meme, or the antics of a pet, but we know what each other finds funny, and we can’t wait to share. 

In the classroom, humor can be such an amazing tool. I was talking with one of our teachers this morning about humor. We agreed that part of the joy of teaching is the ability to use humor to lighten the mood at times, as well as a method to connect teaching in a practical way. I’ve used humor to help students remember a concept; a mnemonic device if you will. I can’t imagine what life would be like without humor!

From the very beginnings of Waldorf education, the element of humor has been viewed as playing an important role in both teaching and learning. Rudolf Steiner suggested that at some point in practically every lesson humor has its place, not necessarily in the sense of having prepared it, but often in the context of the spontaneous interactions that occur in the classroom.

It is OK to laugh with our children, in fact, I strongly believe it is a must! Perhaps while gathered around the dinner table, ask what your children found particularly humorous that day. Open their minds to humor, and encourage a little levity. What they come up with may surprise you in a way that will strengthen your bond!

Have a wonderful weekend and see you at school Monday,

~Kendall Roberts

Director

kendall.roberts@madronetrail.org

From the Office

The office will be sending home registration packets for all returning students the first week of school. If you don't get one by the start of September, let Ms. Sherrie know. (sherrie.gasper@madronetrail.org / 541-842-3657)

Please DO NOT register your student using Medford School District's new online registration system. They are still working out some glitches and at this time cannot accommodate Charter School student registration. It has already caused issues with our class rosters. Thank you.

New Wednesday Release Time

Please note that our Wednesday release time is now 1:15 pm.

Smoke Procedures

When the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 150 and becomes unhealthy we are required to cancel all outdoor activities. Upon arrival, the students report to the gym from 7:45 – 8:15 am. At 8:15 am they are allowed to go to their classrooms. Recess and all classes are held indoors, and staff are on an alternated coverage schedule to ensure that teachers get their breaks. Our air ventilation system was upgraded to include MERV-13 filters which filters down to 0.3-1.0 micron particles. MERV-13 filters are commonly used in hospitals for general surgery, inpatient care, and superior commercial buildings. Mr. Roberts will monitor the AQI throughout the day as we have a sensor very close by and will make an hour by hour determination if we are allowed outdoors. As you may be aware, the AQI in this valley varies greatly based on location. Our main objective is the health and safety of our students. If you have any concerns about your child being outdoors in the orange zone (AQI 100-150) please let your child's class teacher know. Please let Mr. Roberts know if you have any questions, kendall.roberts@madronetrail.org.

Parking Lot Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

Drop Off: Parents/Guardians have two options this year for drop off.

• They can pull up to the drop off zone and drop off their students as we did last year. Please use only this entrance and not the gate by the crosswalk. After dropping off students, turn left and exit through the parking lot. DO NOT drive on the track in the morning.
• Parents/guardians can also park and walk their students to class. Please use the crosswalk and walkways to navigate the parking lot. 
• Students can be dropped off starting at 7:45 am. Students dropped off between 7:45 am and 8:30 am will go to the playground where they will be supervised by a staff member.

Pick Up: As with drop off, parents/guardians will have two options this year. 

• They can use our pick up lane (the track) and have their students (3rd-8th) delivered to their car as we did last year.
• They can park and walk in. THIS IS REQUIRED FOR K-2
• NOTE: If your K-2nd grader has a responsible older sibling in 4th grade or above, you can make an arrangement with those students' teachers to have the older child pick up the younger one to be picked up in the pick up line. 
• To make the pick up line go quicker, we will have 3rd-5th grade out in the courtyard and 6th-8th grade in the field. If you are walking in, please wait for those classes in the courtyard and pick them up from there. Do not go to the classroom. Pick up time will be between 3:15-3:30 pm (1:15-1:30 pm on Weds.) Please arrive in the pick up line or the courtyard no earlier than 3:00 pm (1:00 pm on Weds.)

Please be patient with us the first few weeks as we get into the rhythm of our pick up routine. There may be adjustments as we work out the kinks.

Also, please note drop off and pick up time is not the time to engage in conversation with your child's class teacher, as they will be busy getting ready for the start of the day, and ensuring all students get to where they need to go in the afternoon. If you would like to discuss something with a teacher, please email them to arrange a time to meet or talk on the phone.

Drop Off in the morning

Drop Off Lane: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the right and let your student out at the drop off zone. Proceed through the parking lot to exit. Do not drive on the track.

Park and Walk: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the left and go around and park. You may park on the left side of the double row of cars, or in the field. Everyone who parks needs to use the Crosswalk to enter campus (not the far gate.)

Kindergarten parents: look out for an email from your class teacher about drop off and pick up procedures that are specific to each class.

Pick Up in the afternoon

Pick Up Lane: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the right and go around the track, forming a line. At 3:15 pm (1:15 pm on Weds.) we will begin calling for students and loading them in cars in the 3 marked spots near the exit of the parking lot. 6th-8th grade students will be able to walk directly to their car in line.

Park and Walk: Upon entering the parking lot, stay to the left and go around and park. You may park on the left side of the double row of cars, or in the field. Everyone who parks needs to use the Crosswalk to enter campus (not the far gate.) 1st and 2nd grade will be in their classrooms, 3rd-5th grade classes will be in the courtyard, and 6th-8th grade classes will be in the field.

Lunch Program Update from Chef Evan

Hello Wonderful Parents!

Our kitchen staff is excited to welcome your students back to school! We have a lot of information to share with you, so I will try to keep my points brief! 

Click here to apply for free breakfast and lunch 

Free lunch applications are being accepted and are essential to complete if you qualify, even if you were approved last year. 

New parents: Click here for instructions to register your EZ app meals account 

PRE-ORDERING IS NOT CURRENTLY REQUIRED FOR ANY MENU ITEMS!

Starting Menu

We are starting the year with a smaller menu and will be adding more daily specials as soon as possible. I know this is disappointing for some and we are working to expand the menu. We were never able to reliably staff the kitchen last spring and it led to a lot of burn out for the kitchen managers. While we train new staff, we need to make sure they don’t face the same problem. The great news is that the board and administration have been able to work out a budget that allows for an additional kitchen crew member to be hired (apply here!). This just became possible due to a successful grant application which includes funding for additional staffing… spread that word that we are hiring and read more about our grants below!

New: for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade:

We are trying out a new concept for grades K-2 this year that will not only be more enjoyable for the students but also more streamlined and friendlier for our K-2 teachers and assistants and kitchen staff… The family style meal! These meals will be delivered to K-2 classrooms in bulk and our teachers and assistants will serve the children as a class. Your student does not have to participate and you’re welcome to send them to school with packed lunch/snacks, of course. This will create a lovely routine in the classrooms when students and teachers sit down together for a nutritious meal from our kitchen or yours. You do not need to pre-order meals but you do need to have an EZ app parent account to participate (see link above).

K-2 Lunch Menu

All offered with fresh fruit, milk, and fresh veggies 

Mondays (GF/vegan) - veggie primavera gluten-free pasta w/ lentils for protein and optional Parmesan 

Tuesdays (GF/vegan)  - homemade vegetable soup featuring a rotating line up of fresh vegetables, hearty broth and brown rice, served with whole wheat bread and cheddar cheese on the side 

Sunflower Butter and Local Jam - by popular demand and served this year on whole wheat bread bread (without seeds)

Hamburger & Veggie Burgers - featuring local beef or protein-rich, vegan and dairy-free homemade veggie patties! We coordinate with our teachers to account for vegan and dairy-free students 

Sprouts: please note that sprouts are unable to participate in free lunch since they are not officially registered with the district, but they may receive paid meals!

This will be our fall K-2 menu until winter break. We hope your kids love the meals and please send any feedback my way!

Lunch Menu Grades 3-8

We will serve the following everyday along with fresh fruit, milk, and salad bar full of fresh veggies:

• Turkey & Cheddar Sandwiches 
• Sunflower Butter and Jam Sandwiches 
• Homemade Veggie & Legume Soup w/ Bread and Cheddar

Friday Special

• Hamburger or Cheeseburger featuring beef from our neighbors at Rusted Gate Farm
• Homemade veggie and vegan burgers!

We will add more daily specials as soon as we possibly can!

Breakfast (all grades)

Breakfast is served to all grades in the gym/cafeteria starting at 8 am and for 30 minutes after the bell until 9 am. These daily menu items do not require a pre-order and are served with fruit and optional milk:

• Yogurt parfait with fresh berries and granola
• Granola and fresh berries
• Homemade banana muffins (GF and vegan) with sunflower butter on the side (they are so yummy!)
• Oatmeal with optional raisins, butter and brown sugar 

We are striving to add another hot breakfast entree as soon as we can.

Pricing and Payments

If you do not qualify for free meals, a complete meal for lunch will be $3.50 for grades K-2 and $4.25 for grades 3-8. Breakfast including fresh fruit and milk is $3 for all grades. A la carte and snack items will also be available for purchase during breakfast, snack and lunch periods. You will need to have funds in your EZ account to pay for snacks and a la carte items (all parents). Funds can be added to your account online or you may avoid the processing fee and provide funds to Ms. Sherrie ($10 minimum please). We do not accept payments at our point of service. 

Grants & Kitchen Expansion

USDA Farm-to-School 

At the very tale end of last school last year we received a USDA grant that provides a small budget for purchasing Oregon based ad products. We used this grant to pre-buy beef from Rusted Gate just down the road as well as a freezer full of Willamette Valley berries for our homemade jam. This grant is ongoing and will allow us to enrich our menu with high-quality, local products!

Library Update

The Madrone Trail Library is opening this September! We plan to have students checking out their first books the week of September 18. All parents need to sign a Library Policy Contract before children are permitted to check out books. This will be available on September 6 online at our Website, linked in upcoming Friday Updates, and at Parent Night on September 7. Please come tour the Library on Parent Night!

From the Athletic Director

Hi Madrone Trail families,

Lots of information in here and I know all of you are busy enjoying your last weekend before the first week of school. With that being said, I will most likely repeat much of the information listed in a future Friday Update. All of our sport offerings for the year are listed below with approximate time frames. One club is shown, which is soccer club. We are hoping to have more clubs this year. The requirement to running a club is to have a skill or something that you would like to teach a group of Madrone students after school and have 1-2 hours a week for 6-8 weeks. There is a lot of flexibility in how this would look. If you are interested please email me directly.

Madrone Sports this year

(Dates are approximate)

Cross Country September-Mid/late October

Girl's Volleyball September-Mid/late October

Boy's Basketball November-Mid-December

Girl's Volleyball January-Late-February

Track and Field Mid-March-Early May

Soccer Club (3rd-5th graders) Early April-Mid-May

Volleyball

Immediate Need: We need a person willing to be an assistant volleyball coach so that our athletes can participate with Sacred Heart. We already have 7 girls that have expressed interest in playing volleyball this fall. Please email me if you are interested. We are not expecting a ton of coaching experience.

Cross Country

We are pleased to announce our new head coach for Cross Country this year will be Alexis Dial. She has helped with our track team in the past. Last year’s coach, Al Zeller, will still be a part of the cross country program in a consulting role. Cross Country will begin practicing September 5th.

Fees

School sports this year will cost $100 per athlete per sport. Clubs will cost $75 per participant per club. This is up from $75 per sport and $50 per club from last year. The increased fees are necessary to have a self-sustaining athletics program. Payment plans will be available as well as scholarships for those in need. Please do not ever let money be the reason your child does not participate in a sport at Madrone. We will figure it out.

We also have a goal of raising $6,000 this year for the athletics program. We raised $2,000 through direct company sponsors last year and will be seeking to increase that this year. We also designate a certain portion of Jog-a-thon money to help support the Athletics Program each year. We already have some ideas for fundraisers in the Spring to meet that fundraising goal. Funds go to coaches’ stipends, equipment, uniforms, and scholarships. If anyone is interested in helping out with athletics fundraising, please email me directly.

Sports Physicals day

For those of you who have a student playing sports this year that hasn’t had a sport physical in the last 2 years, we will be having a reduced price sport physical day September, 1st. These will be completed by Nurse Practitioner, Sarah Roberson. Also, we will not have another one until after winter break. Boy's basketball happens before winter break, so please consider signing up if you know your student will be competing in boy's basketball this year and needs a sport physical. You can always have this completed by your students’ primary care physician. Students are not allowed to practice without this on file.

For more info and to sign up, click the button below.

Go Dragons,

Jeff Roberson

jeff.roberson@madronetrail.org

From the Parent Council

Hello Madrone Trail Parents!

My name is Megan Shaw and I am your new Parent Council Chair. I’d like to give a big thank you to Michelle Sanders, who held Parent Council Chair through some of the toughest years! 

We had our first Parent Council Meeting on August 21st and we had a great turn out of 14 people! I hope that number only increases as the year goes on. 

If you are wondering if the Parent Council is right for you, the answer is yes! Parent Council has a place for everyone from a casual and curious attendee, to a driven and eager volunteer. If you haven’t made it to a Parent Council meeting yet, I urge you to give it a try!

Our next Parent Council meeting is Monday September 11th @ 6pm at Bella Union. 

Each Parent Council meeting is made up of parents as well as a faculty, administrative, and board representative. These representatives attend to provide parents with pertinent and relevant information of the welling being of our school. This gives parents an opportunity to gain information about all the different parts of our school and voice any opinions, questions, or concerns you might have about it. 

We are looking for volunteers to help out at Parent Night 9/7 @ 5pm. Not only is parent night a great opportunity for you to get first hand experience in your children’s classroom. It is also one of the biggest events for parents to sign up for volunteering and committees. Please sign up at the link below if you would like to volunteer to help at Parent Night from 5:45-6:30pm to speak about a committee or help people sign up for volunteering and committees. (Anyone can do this!)

For those attending

5:00-5:45pm 1st-4th Meets in the classroom

5:45-6:15pm All school introductions

6:15-6:30pm ***Sign ups*** Please go to sign-up tables during this time!

6:30-7:00pm 5th-8th Meets in the classroom

If you want to get more involved or have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Sincerely,

Megan Shaw

meganzshaw@gmail.com

Bus Schedule

Meet Miss Casenhiser, 2nd grade teacher, Willow Class

Allison Casenhiser enjoys being in nature with her family and friends. She is especially in love with swimming in the warm ocean. When she cannot do that, she likes the river or going backpacking. Allison has a little farm with chickens, cows, dogs, and a cat. She enjoys gardening, milking cows, and eating good food. Allison enjoys spending time creating art of all sorts. She is in awe of Waldorf education and loves teaching. Allison has taken a class from First grade to Eighth grade at Madrone Trail. She is excited to return to the Madrone Trail community!

Meet Ms. Lowenberg, 3rd grade teacher, Otter Class

Hillary Lowenberg was born and raised in Washington, D.C. She studied Global Environmental Policy and the Media at the University of Vermont and traveled abroad through the International Honors Program to England, Tanzania, India, New Zealand and Mexico in a year-long study abroad program called Rethinking Globalization. Her professor gave her the advice of returning to the US to affect change locally, so she did. Hillary began teaching farm and garden-based programs to children both in Vermont and then in Portland, OR. Her passion for connecting children to nature through arts-integration and her desire to have long-lasting relationships with the students led her to obtaining dual masters degrees from Southern Oregon University: Masters of Arts in Teaching and a Masters of Science in Environmental Education.

Hillary discovered Waldorf education through her quest for an educational pedagogy that focused on teaching to the whole child through the arts and a deep connection to the earth and community. Her first teaching job after graduate school was at Madrone Trail in 2014, where she taught first through fifth grades. In addition, Hillary taught online during the pandemic at the Portland Village School and also at a small Waldorf-inspired farm school in Ashland, OR. Hillary attended the Micha’el School’s Waldorf Foundation Year training, as well as grades preparatory trainings from the Rudolf Steiner College.

In her free time, you can find Hillary kayaking with her labrador retriever, Soli, singing songs, making ceramics, rafting, swimming and going on adventures both locally and abroad.

Meet Ms. Martin, 4th grade teacher, Marigold Class

Heidi Martin was born in Berkeley, California. She and her two siblings were the children of a busy, corporate executive who kept his family on the move every four years, up and down the West Coast. After living in Huntington Harbor and the Wine Country of California during her elementary school years, she then attended high school on Mercer Island, Washington. She has always maintained a longing for adventure after all those moves!

Heidi left high school in the U.S. to travel to Tubingen, Germany at age 16 to live as an exchange student for a full year. She was first enchanted by Waldorf Education there, in Germany through her host-sister’s experiences at the local Waldorf High School. After living in Europe for a year, she returned to her homeland to attend college at U.C. Berkeley for four years, majoring in English.

At 21, Heidi left the Bay Area and moved to the picturesque land of Southern Oregon. She settled in Williams and became a tutor and teacher for children of all ages for many years.

At age 30, Heidi was inspired to deepen her skills in the art of teaching and enroll in the Waldorf Teacher Training in Eugene, Oregon. She completed the program in 2003. Subsequently, she taught kindergarten at the Corvallis Waldorf School from 2003-2005. Then, in the Spring of 2005, she accepted an invitation by Waldorf parents in Southern Oregon to move back to Ashland and open a Waldorf-inspired kindergarten for the community.

After having a second son in 2008, Heidi finished her undergraduate studies at Southern Oregon University with a B.A. in English and Writing. She continued to teach preschool and kindergarten in the Rogue Valley out of her home, while also mentoring other Waldorf Early Childhood Teachers.

In May of 2012, she was hired at the Siskiyou School to teach First grade. For eight years off and on until 2023, she taught first through fifth grade at the Siskiyou School, alternating with teaching preschool in her backyard yurt. In 2019, she was the lead teacher of the Pear Blossom Kindergarten at Madrone Trail, guiding parents in a home-based kindergarten program during lockdown in Spring of 2020.

Heidi’s emphasis as a teacher of all children is in nurturing the foundations of learning through rich sensory experiences, integrative movement, music, puppetry, arts and storytelling. Her favorite thing to do is play her guitar and sing with her students. She has attended numerous supplemental teacher trainings and workshops over the years and has gained a wealth of knowledge in the realm of therapeutic work, nutritional support for children and the art of Waldorf teaching, both grades and early childhood.

Heidi feels deeply rewarded to look back on over 19 years of Waldorf teaching, both Early Childhood and grades. At present, she lives in Talent, Oregon with her husband, Greg, and sons Ayani and Oliver. They love to garden together, fish in Oregon’s pristine, wild rivers and take trips to the Oregon coast with their three beagles!

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. 

Volunteering at School

To be a volunteer in the classroom or to attend field trips, you are required to pass a background check through MSD. These expire after a few years, so if you have not filled it out in awhile, you will need to again. Fill it out today, so you are ready to go for the beginning of the school year.

An Easy Way to Support Madrone Trail

If you shop at Fred Meyer there is an easy way to earn money for our school! You only need to set it up once, then you are good to go.

The Fred Meyer Community Rewards program donates to local schools, community organizations, and non-profits. Go to their website. You will need to create a log-in if you don't have one already, or sign-in if you do. Search for Madrone Trail Public Charter School, and select us as your charity of choice. Every time you use your Fred Meyer Reward Card it will donate a small portion to our school. Last quarter our school earned $54.99 from 31 families, the more families we can get to do this the better!

Wednesday Aftercare Offering

Elements Nature School is offering a Wednesday Aftercare program for Madrone Trail students! They are offering transportation to their location, with parent pickup at 4 pm in South Medford. See their website for more information: https://elementsnatureschool.com/wilderness-wednesdays

Community Offering

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.