From the Director

Greetings Madrone Trail Parents and Families,

As previously mentioned, I had my first Waldorf Leadership class last Saturday. Mr. Torin Finser led us through some good discussions, asking us to ponder, faith, love, and hope. He asked us to address questions such as, "What is the difference between unconditional love, and love that enables?" "What is the difference between faith and dogma?" and "How can we continue to emulate hope?" The last question resonated strongly with me. It reminded me of another conversation I had recently with a member of our Executive Board of Directors. Sometimes as adults, teachers, or leaders, people look to us because they need us to tell them, "Everything is going to be okay." When in reality, sometimes things are not okay, sometimes we are not okay, and perhaps the world today is not "okay."  I pair this reflection with a discussion with Dr. Kok-Mun Ng, professor in the counseling department at Oregon State University. He recently shared with us a belief that, "sometimes, it's okay to not be okay." Feelings of discomfort and unease are in fact healthy indicators to ourselves that something within us is not well. Often we can not control the external factors that lead to the unrest, but we can manage our feelings, and how we choose to respond to them. Perhaps, if we welcome these feelings of discontent into our consciousness, we can take care of ourselves rather than try and control things in this world that we can't. Finally, I believe strongly that when we are faced with challenges and difficulties in the universe, we can persevere together by supporting each other, standing shoulder to shoulder, rather than toe to toe.  

I hope you all have time to relax and recharge over the next couple of weeks. We are going to be very busy with activity when we return throughout the rest of the school year. 

With Gratitude, 

Andy Bracco

Director

andy.bracco@madronetrail.org

Sibling Enrollment Form

Please fill out the linked form below if you have an incoming Kindergartner or another child whom you would like to enroll for the 2025-2026 school year if there is space available. Please fill this form out even if your other children are already on the waitlist, as siblings of current students get waitlist priority. Kindergartners will be placed in next year's classes on a first come, first served basis before we lottery non-Madrone Trail families. Please note that incoming Kindergartners need to be 5 years old by June 1st, 2025 to be eligible to enroll for the 2025-2026 school year. The form is due April 15.

From the Auction Committee

Please fill out this anonymous survey about the Auction. Even if you didn't attend we would love to hear from you!

Media Mindfulness March

March is Media Mindfulness Month at Madrone Trail! 

This month, we will be sharing some relevant articles and resources on this topic, and invite everyone to spend some time reflecting on the impact screen time can have on our children and family life.

Allowing our Children to use Smart Phones: Why Wait?

There is a reason why top Silicon Valley executives are saying no to the smartphone until at least 14 for their children. In fact, there is a long list of reasons and parents need to know them.

Please click below to learn more about the "why-wait movement", and consider taking the pledge:

https://www.waituntil8th.org/why-wait

Order your Yearbook-

Last chance!

Now is the time to make sure you get a yearbook for the 2024-25 school year. We will order a few extras for sale at the end of the year, but they usually sell out. The pre-order window will close at Spring Break.

Check out the beautiful cover drawn by Theo Gerig and Silas Moon, 8th grade.

Cornhole Tournament

Come support the 8th grade class and have fun! This tournament is Luke Walker's 8th grade project.

Contact Sky for more information: skymelodywalker@gmail.com.

Bingo Night

Family Friendly BINGO night at Madrone Trail on Friday, April 11 from 6-8 pm. Games will start at 6:30 pm with doors opening at 6 pm. Food and drink will be available to purchase. School age children welsom and there will be a separate game area led by 8th graders. All proceeds go to the 8th grade class trip.

Sprouts Program 2025-2026

We will begin accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Sprouts Preschool Program after we return from Spring Break on April 7th. Interested families who have not yet filled out the Sprouts Program Interest Form should fill out the form to get on the list. Once you have submitted the form, the program manager will send further details about the program, teacher bios, cost, etc., for your review so you can make the best decision for your family. Applications will be sent out to families who have submitted their form.

Your child must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:

1. Child must be 4 years of age by December 1st, 2025 to be considered for the 25-26 school year. 

2. Child must be potty trained.

3. Child must be able to be away from parents for at least a four hour period.

4. Note: Enrollment into the Sprouts program does not guarantee a spot in Kindergarten

For further questions, please contact office@madronetrail.org.

Oregon Battle of the Books at Madrone Trail

Our Fiction Phoenixes OBOB team went to the regional tournament in Rogue River last weekend, where they took 2nd place!!! Congratulations to Mary Twylla Kemple, Ari Emptage, Lily-Ann Woodard-Morgan, and Juno Battisti for being excellent representatives of Madrone Trail and putting in a ton of work as a team. 

We also offer congratulations to the Ashland Middle School OBOB team, who will represent our region at the state tournament next month. They are a great team and we enjoyed getting to know them. 

No other previous Madrone Trail team has made it to the final battle of regionals, so they have succeeded in making school history as sixth graders. There were some nail-biting moments but the Fiction Phoenixes' teamwork support for each other put them over the top of some other very good teams. We enjoyed meeting bookworms from all over southern Oregon! 

That wraps up a very successful season of OBOB for us, and we can't wait to see what next year brings! If your child is entering middle school next year and would like to be a part of OBOB, we will be starting up again in early September. You can find the 6th-8th reading list at  https://www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org/2025-2026-obob-title-list/

Happy Reading,

Mrs. Richardson

From the Kitchen

Spring Break is Here!

While the kitchen crew is ready to recharge, we’re gearing up for a busy Spring Break ahead. We’re thrilled to announce the installation of our new convection ovens, the final addition funded by our Healthy Meals Incentive grant. These ovens will quadruple our baking capacity and give us more flexibility with menu planning—rumor has it, we’ll be testing out some pizza recipes once they’re up and running! We’ll also be putting the finishing touches on our exciting new Spring menu. Be sure to stay tuned for a Special Announcement on Friday, April 4th, when we’ll unveil the full menu!

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come:

Spaghetti Day will remain a staple (we wouldn’t dare upset the tradition, right?) We’re also keeping Stone Soup on the menu, but we’re shaking things up by taking a short break from the weekly soup special and re-introducing weekly sandwich specials! Expect tasty options like Cubanos, Italian subs, fresh tuna salad (line caught from Port Orford Sustainable Seafood), and more.

Comfort Food Fridays will replace Foreign Fridays for the remainder of the school year (hard to believe there are only 5 Fridays left!) Get ready for comforting dishes like nachos with homemade queso, beef pot roast with mashed potatoes & gravy, turkey chili with cornbread (a fan favorite!), and other mouthwatering specials to keep students excited when the lunch bell chimes!

And last but certainly not least, Thursday’s Dilly Chicken Sandwich will be a must-try! We’ll marinate chicken breasts in our homemade dill pickle brine and slow-cook them until they’re tender and juicy, served on a bun with cheese and an optional roasted garlic & dill mayo. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

We can’t wait to see you back after Spring Break! Enjoy time with your family, and in the meantime, keep it tasty!

Chef Evan

evan.wilson@madronetrail.org

From the Athletic Director

Spring Break time! No Soccer Club during Spring Break.

Track & Field

No practice the first week of Spring Break.

2nd week of Spring Break practice: Monday, Wednesday (Only Wednesday practice), and Thursday 3:30-5:00 pm

March 17th Track Meet Notable Finishes

(We set seven grade level records and two school records!)

Men’s Events

100M

Silas Moon 7th place 13.48

200M

Titus Stewart 7th place 32.07

Shawn Long 8th place 33.09

800M

Peter Lummer 5th place 3:18.03

1500M

Titus Stewart 4th place 6:06 (8th grade Madrone Trail record)

3000M

Theo Gerig 3rd place 12:50.6

John Richardson 4th place 13:36.1

4 x 100M

(Theo Gerig, Roman Roberson, Titus Stewart, Silas Moon) 3rd place 58.76 (8th grade record)

Shot Put

Roman Roberson 2nd place 33’7.5 (Madrone Trail school record!)

Gray Bardsley 4th place 25’7.25”

Discuss

Gray Bardsley 5th place 61’6”

Javelin

Luke Walker 1st place 113’6” (Madrone Trail school record!)

Theo Gerig 5th place 86’9”

Roman Roberson 7th place 80’3”

Mason Goldey 8th place 76’5”

High Jump

Solomon Stricker 3rd place 4’5” (School record watch 4’6”)

Silas Moon 5th place 3’11”

Long Jump

Silas Moon 1st place 15’0”

Theo Gerig 5th place 12’10”

Solomon Stricker 7th place 12’4”

Caleb Guidotti 8th place 12’3”

Mason Goldey 10th place 10’10”

Women’s Events

100M

Lily Bevers 1st place 6th grade (4th overall) 14.35 (6th Grade Madrone Trail record)

Jazelle Santos Ward 9th place 14.85

Aiza Caran 3rd in 6th grade 15.47

Madelyn Musselwhite 4th in 6th grade 15.81

Malaya Sigalove 5th in 6th grade 15.94

200M

Bailey Briggs 1st in 7th (3rd overall) 30.23 (School record watch 29.34)

400M

Bailey Briggs 2nd place 1:08.9 (School Record watch 1:08.64)

3000M

Juno Battisti 2nd place 13:34.6

100M Hurdles

Malaya Sigalove 1st place in 6th grade (8th overall) 21.59 (School record watch 20.74)

Juno Battisti 2nd place in 6th grade (13th overall) 22.6

4 x 100M

(Bailey Briggs, Rowan Botillier, Gracie Walker, Jazelle Santos Ward) 3rd place 1:02.96 (7th grade Madrone Trail school record)

(Juno Battisti, Aiza Caran, Mary Twylla Kemple, Malaya Sigalove) 5th place 1:03.78 (6th grade Madrone Trail school record)

Shot Put

Bella Waterman 7th place 22’2”

Lily Bevers 1st place 6th grade (8th place overall) 21’11” (6th grade Madrone Trail school record)

Adrianna Oakes 9th place 21’7”

Corinne Sanders 10th place 21’3”

Javelin

Adrianna Oakes 2nd place 51’11”

High Jump

Lily Bevers 2nd place tie (1st place 6th grade) 3’8” (6th grade Madrone Trail record) (school record watch 3’11”)

Bailey Briggs 2nd place tie 3’8”

Fiona Maple 2nd place tie 3’8”

Long Jump

Juno Battisti 6th grade 1st place (7th overall) 11’1” (6th grade Madrone Trail record)

Gracie Walker 10th place 10’11”

Next Meet:

April 7th at Spiegelberg Stadium (Oakdale Middle School)

Meet starts at 3:45 pm. Students released at 2:15 pm, depart Madrone at 2:30 pm

Special thanks to our newest sponsors this week-

Rothfus Family Dental and Oregon Diesel & Automotive

Go Dragons!

Jeff Roberson

jeff.roberson@madronetrail.org

Rothfus Family Dental

Dr. Karla Rothfus at Rothfus Family Dental has a secret… She knows that the secret to success is surrounding herself with caring competent individuals. No one person can do it all or be the best at everything. That is why the doctor has put in place strong successful people in her office that love what they do and do it well.

When you enter our office Kimi and Jessica are at the front to meet you with a warm smile and get you all checked in and make sure you are comfortable. They will make your follow up appointments, and also orchestrate payment from your dental benefits.

At Rothfus Family Dental, it’s our goal to provide you with the highest level of dental care in a safe and caring environment. We want to be there for your entire family, whether you’re 2 or 102.

Rothfus Family Dental in Medford, OregonProviding most aspects of dentistry in one location makes us a true Medford, Oregon general dental practice. We also utilize the most advanced dental techniques, equipment and materials, so that the dentistry you receive will last for many years to come.

Earning your trust and treating you how we would want to be treated is the basis we want to build our dental relationship on. We want to be your dental care provider for a lifetime, and we want to make you a raving fan of our office.

We provide Medford, Oregon family dentistry and Rogue Valley dental services. Call us today to schedule a dental appointment. You’ll be happy you did, because at Rothfus Family Dental, we are… “Making Smiles Happen, Daily.”

3138 State st., Medford 97504

Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm

541-858-7994

Info@rothfusfamilydental.com

https://rothfusfamilydental.com/

Oregon Diesel & Automotive



Superior Auto & Diesel Repair

Oregon Diesel & Automotive is a family owned business. Integrity and communication are our priorities. When we are working with you, we want you to be informed. While we take care of your vehicle, we will inform you of our progress and when you get it back, it will be in working order.

Service & Repair

Our services include repairs and service for diesel and gas powered engines, auto and manual transmissions, suspensions, auto electrical, exhaust systems, radiators, brakes and auto AC.

Maintenance

Oil Change | Lube | Filter Change | Tuneups | Manufacturer Recommended Maintenance

Servicing

Autos, diesel trucks, Jeeps and off-road performance vehicles, along with fleet, insurance claims and extended warranties.

Get Unparalleled Service at Oregon Diesel & Automotive

When you choose Oregon Diesel & Automotive we will treat you like our friends and family. First of all, we will treat you with respect. Secondly, you will know in advance what your problem is and how much it will cost. Then, we will keep you in the loop while your vehicle is serviced. Finally, we will do our best to finish on time.

7645 4th St., White City

541-879-0719

oregondieselandautomotive@gmail.com

https://medforddieselrepair.com/

Insight into Waldorf Education

Johnathan Haidt, the author of the book "The Anxious Generation" was recently interviewed on NPR. 

Below are some highlights:

"Smartphones are not only addictive, but they contribute to low self-esteem and feelings of isolation among kids. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says it's not too late to undo some of the damage if parents walk back what they allow their kids to access on their phones and delay when they give them smartphones. He lays out how in his new book, "The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring Of Childhood Is Causing An Epidemic Of Mental Illness."

Continue reading here

State Testing

The window for taking our state-wide assessment, the SBAC, opens when we get back from Spring Break. 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, parents and guardians have the right to opt their children out of this assessment. In order to do this, you will need to meet in person with our School Test Coordinator, Ms. Cori, to sign the opt-out form. Please email her to set-up a time to meet if you wish to opt your child out of state testing, cori.royer@madronetrail.org. As a reminder, 3rd, 5th, and 8th graders do not have to take the Spring I-ready assessment so they can focus all of their attention on the SBAC.

Offerings from Nina Gallwey

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.