October 12, 2012
A memo from Principal Tim Callahan
I can’t say often or loud enough, how proud I am to be the principal of such an amazing elementary school. All three facets of our great partnership (staff, students, and parents) are working hard to accomplish great things.
- Day in and day out, Madison students astound the staff and me with great acts of Bucketfilling, increased student achievement, and a work ethic to be applauded.
- This staff is working before, during and after school hours to prepare highly engaging and meaningful lessons for your children. There are professional book clubs, Professional Learning Communities, and important committees working through lunch hours, during breaks and at odd hours to ensure that we are challenging our students to make the greatest social, emotional, and academic growth possible.
- Madison parents have continued to support the school through volunteering, fundraising, and positive reinforcement. We see so many parents asking to be a part of the learning within the building. If you have time to volunteer at Madison, please contact me, your child’s teacher, or the PTA. Assisting instructional improvements with finances, Madison in Motion takes place later this month and is working to provide the school with new learning tools. Last but not least, the staff is continually encouraged by groups like Moms in Prayer and other random acts of kindness.
Celebration of Student Achievement…One of the ways we measure student achievement at Madison Elementary and District 200 is by our student performance on the ISAT (Illinois Standard Achievement Test). Here at Madison, we are proud to announce that 92% of last year’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students met or exceeded standards in reading and 96% met or exceeded in mathematics! Even more astounding, 57% of our students exceeded standards in reading and 52% exceeded standards in mathematics!! We are excited for our students’ success and are encouraged by the continued growth in the number of Madison students who exceed standards on the Illinois standardized assessment. Thank you for partnering with us in Madison’s shared mission to ensure that ALL students learn at high levels.
Safety and Security…The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority at Madison Elementary. Please be aware that we routinely practice our response to fire and suspicious person/lock-down situations. Typically, after the first practice of the year, we do not inform students and staff that the situation is a practice until our drill has concluded. In the coming weeks of October, the Wheaton Fire Department will come to Madison to assess our preparedness for fire or evacuation, and the Wheaton Police Department will soon come and surprise us with a suspicious person/lock-down drill. You may be present, as a parent volunteer, during such a drill and I thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns about our plans, please contact me.
Severe Weather Preparedness… The Madison Health and Safety Committee recently revised our procedures for early dismissal due to severe weather. You may remember a storm that came through town about five years ago in late August. The storm forced our students and staff into a “heads down” position of safety for about 30 minutes from about 2:30-3:00pm. Many, many parents were here at school by 3:00pm wishing immediate release of students. Many other parents were unable to retrieve their students for hours because of storm damage and closed roads and expressways. The situation was stressful with the absence of electricity, landline phones, and overload of cellular phone grids.
In the future, if we should close school early because of severe weather (assuming students are not still held in safety positions), parents will enter Door 3. Many staff will be present in the multi-purpose room to assist in retrieving students. Please note that students will only be released to those family and community members listed under that student’s emergency contacts. If you have any questions or concerns about our plans, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Tim Callahan
Madison School Principal
Madison chess club returns
Calling all new and returning chess players. Madison chess club meets on Thursdays, beginning Oct. 25, from 6:30 - 7:30p.m. in the art room. Madison chess club is for all grades, kindergarten through fifth.
We have two coaches who will teach your kids how to play chess if your child is a beginner, or build on their skills if they already know how to play.On Oct. 25, we will have a short informational meeting for parents, so please plan to stay.
We look forward to seeing all your smiling faces. If you have any questions, please contact yourMadison chess coordinators:Julie Leonard, , (630) 690-2194, or Sue Adkins,, (630) 752-1267.
Donations still needed for Madison in Motion fundraiser
Do you have an item or service you are able to donate for Madison in Motion's auction? Do you have a friend, neighbor or family member that does? If you can help, please contact Colleen Bergner, r BeccaHary,.
Here are some items you can bid on during the silent auction:
Family day pass for four to the Museum of Science and Industry, GameTruck birthday party, Kenneth Cole luggage, restaurant gift certificates and so much more.
Here’s a sneak peak at the live auction:
Weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge, Chicago Bulls tickets,grade level art projects and more.
We are still collecting bottles of wine for the wine pull. If you are able to donate a $20 bottle or two of wine, please contact Amy Stout, .
Please complete the response form to reserve your spot at Madison in Motion on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Golf Club. Music, silent auction/live auction, wine pull, cash bar—it’s a fun night benefiting our school.Contact Tracy Osborne, , with any questions or to volunteer. You can also view the Madison PTA section of for more information.
Join Mr. Cortesi on Madison beautification day
Mr. Cortesi will host the Madison family “get field ready day” during the Madison beautification day on Oct. 20 from 9 a.m.-noon.
Please bring the entire family, sand buckets and gloves for picking up rocks, and any leftover grass seed that may be collecting dust in the garage. See you then!
Enjoy Butter Braid® pastries, and help Madison
Just in time for the holidays, Madison PTA will be takingorders for delicious Butter Braid® frozen pastry dough. Made with 100 percent real butter and filled with a variety of fruits and flavors, Butter Braid® pastries come frozen, allowing you the choice of when to thaw, rise, bake and eat. Easy to make, rich homemade taste, and Butter Braid® pastries contain zero grams trans fat. Great for holiday gatherings, gifts, entertaining, brunch, lunch or dinner.
Order forms were sent home with your child.All orders are due by Nov. 6. Convenient pick up will be at Madison School on Nov. 13 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Other arrangements can be made if you are unavailable to pick up at that time. Special incentive willbe awarded to the class with the highest percentage of sales per student. Please contactDawn Draus at (630) 221-1514 or f you have any questions.
Yearbook committee needs your digital photos
The Yearbook Committee would appreciate you sharing any digital photos that you have taken of the first day of school and/or the Ice Cream Social. Blank CD's are available for your use in the Madison office ontop of the PTA mailbox. If you have one or two photos only, please email them to Dawn Draus .
Spread fun. Not flu.
The DuPage County Health Department offers the flu vaccine for children who have no insurance, have insurance that does not cover immunizations or are recipients of Medicaid and All Kids Health Insurance. Call (630) 682-7400.
Innisbrook fundraiser results are in
Congratulations to Madison students for raising more than $8000 for our school this year. Mr. Jewell's 4th grade class had the highest percentage of student participation and has earned the popsicle party. The top sellers in each classroom will receive a pizza lunch with Mr. Callahan. The winners are:
Kindergarten: Samantha Valente, Marco Dorn, Ashley Caprini, Mackenzie Armstrong
1st grade: Brooke Struebing, Ella Gosain, Joy Hoglund
2nd grade: Emma Fasano, Sophia St. Louis, Nicholas Bergner
3rd grade: Frances Phanthavong, Valentina Mosca, Kylie Caprini
4th grade: Andrew de Leon, Anna Buttell, Allyson Maher
5th grade: Rachel Bridges, Ceaira West-Hooper, Gabriella Cyza
More information about order pick up will be sent home with the students later this month. Thank you so much to all the students and families who helped make this fundraiser a success.
Save the dates
Click on the calendar on the Madison section of to view upcoming dates. See below for some highlights:
Oct. 12 Madison basketball registration deadline
Oct. 15 Reflections entries due
Oct. 15-18 Book fair
Oct. 20 Madison beautification day, 9 a.m. – noon
Oct. 22 Memos deadline
Oct. 25 Madison chess club begins, 6:30-7:30 p.m., art room
Oct. 26 Madison in Motion at Arrowhead Golf Club, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 31 Halloween parties, parade at 1:45 p.m.
Nov. 6 Butter Braid® orders due
Nov. 7 Market Day pickup, 3:30-4 p.m.
Nov. 8 PTA meeting, noon, music room
Nov. 9 Multicultural day
Nov. 13 Butter Braid® pickup, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
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