Reflections from Last Week

We had such a wonderful, exciting last week.  It really seems like we have been in school for weeks.  The students have been well behaved and I have seen so many be helpful to their classmates.  It has been good to see all of the students who are former WM students.  I have loved meeting our new students as well.   It truly made my day Friday when one of our new students came up to me and gave me a big hug and said "Have a great weekend, Dr. Jah!"   We have some really sweet students. 

As I walked around the building last week, it was so great to see students working in groups and collaborating with each other, first graders were reviewing high frequency words, determining how they can make the number 4 and telling everyone special things about themselves.  In fourth grade the students were reviewing multiplication facts.  A third grade class has set realistic goals for themselves for the year.  A 5th grade class was learning about how our brain functions.  They learned about the 2 different lobes of the brain, right and left and what is the function of each side.  They determined how they learn best. Are they more right brain or left brain.  They base this on the seat in the room they feel they are going to learn best.  The students  had me participate in  an activity to determine where I would sit and I am slightly more right brain.  I chose to sit in the front row and slightly to the left side.  It was facinating. 

Last Thursday night we had the 5th grade Curriculum Night.  I was so pleased to see so many parents present.  The teachers did an excellent job talking about their curriculum and their classroom procedures. 

This week we have K, 1, 2, 4 and 6th grade Curriculum Nights.  Please make plans to attend.  You will be able to ask questions and find out about AR, the curriculum and the grade level procedures.
Kindergarten Curriculum Night is tonight, Monday, August 27 at 5:00 in the Library.
Grade 1:  Tuesday, August 28 at 5:00 in the Library.
Grade 2:  Tuesday, August 28 at 5:30 in the gym.
Grade 4:  Thursday, August 30 at 5:30 in the gym
Grade 6:  Thursday, August 30 at 5:00 in the Library

Grade 3:  Thursday, September 6 at 5:00 in the Library

I look forward to seeing you at Curriculum Nights. 
I pray everyone enjoyed their weekend.  I so look forward to another exciting week.  Thank you for all your support. 

Music Class

Setting Goals

Working Together

 

First Day

First Day of School!

We had a great first day.    It was so exciting to see the students get off the bus this morning.  They  were so helpful to our new students. The highlight of my day was at lunch when I over heard a Kindergartener tell another K student, "Wait we can't eat yet, we have to say the blessing!" Once she said the blessing, to herself, she looked at the other K student and said, "Ok, now we can eat."  It was so cute. 

I so look forward to the next days with your children.  Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to teach your children. 

Goal Setting

In December of 2011, I began to do some soul searching.  I started to look at the way things are here at West Madison.  I listened the sounds and things I heard about West Madison.  One of the things I heard and continually here is "West Madison is the best kept secret in Madison City."  That statement sounds good, but is it truly a good statement about us.  I once heard my pastor say, if we continue to do the things we always do, we will have the things we always have.  We have to constantly be looking to the future.  A secret, is that what we want for West Madison?  I don't think so.  I don't want us to remain a secret.  I want everyone to know about West Madison.  If we don't promote ourselves, no one else will. 

We do some really good things at West Madison, but I have a desire for us to do great things. I once read, the enemy to great is good.  If you are good, you don't have to be any better.  That is an apathetic statement.  We are not out for good.  We want great.  We have great teachers.  We have great students and we have great parents and community leaders. 

In order to be great, I realized that we had to set goals and start working hard to reach those goals.  In January when we returned from Winter Break our teachers set out on a journey to look at our realities.  We looked at what our current realities were for students, teachers and administration.  After listing our realities, then we determined what we wanted for our students.  Our teachers came up with some excellent goals for West Madison students. 

The process we went through took several months.  At each meeting we had,  we dwindled our goals down to a manageable list.  We ended the year with goals for students and goals for teachers on two separate pages. 

On Wednesday, we set out to come up with a one page set of goals for teachers and students.  The teachers worked really hard to make the goals students, parent and teacher friendly.  We do not want goals that are just on a piece of paper.   We want goals that will make us great.  The  time has passed  for good, we want great.  At the end of the day, Wednesday, I was so proud of our teachers.  I was smiling like a proud parent.  I am so excited about the beginning of this school year.  I can't wait to see what is in store for us.  We are on an exciting journey towards greatness.  One of the themes that you will hear through out the year is that you matter.  I want our kids to know, they matter.  I want our teachers and staff to know, they matter.  I want you to know, you matter.  As we realize that we all matter in this process and work our plan, our goals, West Madison will not be a "well kept secret,"  West Madison, will not just be good.  WEST MADISON WILL BE GREAT!

Very soon, you will be able to view a copy of the goals we have set for ourselves and for our students.  I challenge you to partner with us as we move towards greatness.

Are you new to West Madison or returning and need a reminder. Below is important information you need to know.

Class Lists will be posted on the Cafeteria doors, located in the back of the school at 1:00 on August 15. They will also be posted at Open House inside the cafeteria and upstairs on the wall outside the office. If you do not see your child’s name listed, please come to the front office for assistance.



Open House will be August 15. Below are places you need to plan to visit:

• Media Center -- Bus Drivers will be there to go over the bus routes and times for pick up and drop off

• Lunchroom--Find out what Clubs West Madison has to offer, Pay for your child's lunches, Sign up for Extended Day, Sign up for the Scouts and visit the Bob Jones Cheerleaders

The following information is intended to assist you in helping your child have a great start to the 2012-2013 school year.

INFORMATION PACKET

Each child will receive an information packet from your child's teacher. This packet will be filled with papers we will need you to complete. Two very important items in the packet will be the Student Information Card and the Health Assessment Record. Please complete the two forms and return them to your child's teacher. There are several other items located in the packet for your information. The Student Information card will help us have the necessary contact information in the case of an emergency at school. Please list names of individual who are authorized to pick up your child. To assure the safety of your child/ren, we will only release your child to the authorized adults listed on the card without exception. Since this is critical information that our staff takes seriously, this card should be returned to your child’s teacher the first day of school. If the card is not returned we will only release the student to the enrolling parent when the proper identification has been provided. Please do not be offended if we ask to see identification when you pick up your child early from school. Your child’s safety is our top priority.


WEST MADISON HANDBOOK

Our Handbook is located in two locations; on our website. There is a link on the left side of the page and in the front of your child’s Pawpad (assignment notebook). Please take the time to read it in its entirety. There is important information found there. You can also access it from our website:

wmes.madisoncity.k12.al.us

SCHOOL HOURS

The first bell rings at 7:25. The instructional day will begin at 7:40 am each day and end at 2:40 pm. All students must be in their classrooms ready to begin at 7:40 am. Students are counted tardy after 7:40 am. If your child arrives after the tardy bell, you must drive around to the front of the building and walk your child to the office to sign them in.

CAR LINE PROCEDURES

Our teachers are on duty beginning at 7: 10 in the morning. It is at that time that students may be dropped off in the car line. That is also when our first buses arrive on campus. When students are dropped off by the bus drivers or from cars, they go to the Lunchroom until the 7:25 bell. At 7:25, they are dismissed to go to class. All students must be in their classrooms by 7:40 or they are counted as tardy.



If you are driving your child to school, please make sure as you enter Liberty Drive that you pull into the right lane to drop off your children. The left lane is for those who will be parking in the parking lot. It is important to keep the drop off lane moving. In order to do this, I need to stress: parents please make sure your children are ready to exit the car promptly from the passenger side. Please do not park and exit your vehicle in the line. We have teachers on duty to assist your children out of the car.


In the afternoons, it is just as important for all cars to pull into the right lane in order for the daycare vans to go through the parking lot and be able to pick up their students on the side of the building. The daycare vans are on a schedule and have students from other schools to pick up.


In the mornings or afternoons, please do not try to avoid the car line by pulling into the parking lot to let your child walk across the cross walk. We want to assure that all children are kept safe. Delivery trucks and employees are driving into the parking lot to park and may not see small children.


Parents who are walking their children from the apartments MUST walk their children down to the cross walk, cross with them and allow them to enter the building. If a child is walking alone the child MUST walk to the front of the building where a teacher and the Crossing Guard will be there to lead them across.

CAR AND BUS TRANSPORTATION

School bus transportation is provided for all students. Please take the time to stop by and visit the bus drivers in the Media Center at Open House or view the bus routes online at the link below: http://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/?DivisionID=7841&DepartmentID=7752&ToggleSideNav=

Children may not change how they are transported home, without a written note from the child’s parents/guardian. The note must be taken to the office and approved by the principal or assistant principal.

Staff members are on duty in the carline and bus areas to greet children and direct them into the building. Parents are asked to remain in the car line to collect children at the end of the day. Bus riders are dismissed out the front doors and walkers and car riders are dismissed out the cafeteria doors. Van riders are dismissed through the side exit. For safety and security reasons, parents are not to come to your child’s classroom to drop off children. After the first week of school, Kindergarten parents are discouraged from walking children to their classes. We encourage our students to develop their independence and leadership early.

All parents will be provided a car line number by your child’s teacher. When you pick your child up, the school issued carline tag should be displayed in the visor of your car. The staff member on duty will view your carline number and radio the staff member in the cafeteria, who in turn calls your child/ren to come into the car line. For safety and security reasons, your school issued carline number tag must be displayed each time you pick up your child in the afternoon. The children will walk out to the designated spot where your car will stop. After your car comes to a stop your child will be released to your car. It is important that your child learn his/her assigned car line number. Your support with this systematic means of car identification will help us assure your child’s safety.

It is important to note, we will not release any student to anyone in the car line who does not have a number displayed. If you are in a car pool on a regular basis, please ask your child’s teacher for additional car line number tags to give to the other parents picking up your child. If your child will occasionally be picked up by another parent, grandparent or friend etc, you will need to write a note informing us that he/she will be picked up by another individual before we allow him/her to go with that adult. If the child does not have a note, the driver will have to pull around to the front of the school and go to the front office. The ladies in the front office will call the parent, before we release the child to the adult. Our number one goal here at West Madison is safety of our students.

All car line students must be picked up no later than 3:00. In case of emergency, please call the office to let us know that you are running late. We must insist that you do not pass cars in the car line unless you are directed to do so by a staff member. We also ask that you refrain from talking on your cell phone while you are moving through the car line. After your child gets into the car if he/she is unable to buckle themselves, please pull off into the parking lot to help. We want to keep the line moving as smoothly as possible. We must insist that everyone cooperate and abide by our safety rules.

At Open House, your child will receive a car, bus, and van or walker tag. Each student should wear the tag the first two weeks of school. This is our way of assuring that your child is on the right bus or car.

OFFICE HOURS

The school office hours are from 7:00-3:30 Monday – Friday. We are available via email or phone call. We will attempt to return all phone calls and emails within 24 hours. We look forward to working with you and getting to know you as the school year unfolds.

SCHOOL VISITS AND MEDICATION

All visitors and volunteers to our campus must report to the school office upon entering the building. All doors, except for the front entrance to the school, will be locked. All visitors must sign in by logging into the Lobby guard Kiosk with your driver’s license. All visitors must wear the badge that is printed from the Lobby guard Kiosk. If the Lobbyguard does not print you a badge or if your badge says void, please see a office staff member. For safety purposes we must insist that these rules be enforced. The badge indicates to all staff members who may not know you that you are authorized to be in the school. Regardless of whether we know you or not, everyone must report to the office, sign in and wear a visitor badge.

If you child is to receive medication at school, a physician and parent must complete the form located at the following link. This form will allow the nurse to administer medication. No medication whether prescription or non-prescription can be administered without this form.

COMMUNICATION

Effective communication is one of the keys to any organizations success. If you need to reach your child’s teacher, you may do so by calling and leaving a voice mail or by emailing them directly. Teachers are happy to schedule conferences whenever you feel a need to meet with them. Please do not ask teachers to talk with you at length before or immediately after the school day or at lunch. Teachers have many responsibilities during this time. The best way to have these discussions is by scheduling an appointment.

SCHOOL MEALS

Our school provides delicious and nutritious meals on a daily basis. We encourage you to come and eat lunch with your child as often as you can. Our only request is that if you bring lunch for your child that you do not bring lunch for other children in the class. You may prepay for your child’s lunch on a monthly, weekly or daily basis. Please write your child’s name, teacher’s name on the check. Please include your drivers license number, otherwise your check will be returned to you. If you have any questions regarding lunch or breakfast, please call our school lunchroom manager, Mrs. Beverly Harbin at 256-837-1189, ext. 22300.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENTS

DIBELS

Students in grades K-2 will participate in the DIBELS assessment three times per year. DIBELS stands for Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills. The testing windows will be August 23-September 7, December 12-Jan. 4 and April 25-May 8. The students will be tested individually. The assessment will only take a few minutes per student. Since we have a small number of students at West Madison, we should be completed with the test in two days. Grade 3 will take the DIBELS assessment, but only the first of the year.

STAR

All students will take the STAR Reading and Math test. This is a computerized assessment to help guide the most accurate instruction for each student. The students will be tested 4 times during the year. The first testing window will be August 8-September 21. The second window is October 8-November 9. The third window is January 21-February 18. The fourth window is April 22-May 17.

ARMT+

All students in grades 3-6 will take the ARMT+ (Alabama Reading and Math Test). The testing window will be May 6-14. This window includes test days as well as make up dates.


A new year always offers lots of new opportunities for our young leaders of tomorrow. This is an exciting time to be a student at West Madison Elementary and to be in Madison City Schools. We are glad that you and your family have become apart of our family and community. The staff and I look forward to helping your child learn and grow in the caring, loving, and challenging environment at West Madison. Please feel free to call us at 256-837-1189 if you have any questions or concerns.