First Friday Update of the School Year

This is the first official Friday Update of the 2025-2026 school year! We will be putting out regular updates starting today and are looking forward to seeing you all back on campus on Monday, August 25.

New Rainbow Wall

Big thanks for this beautiful new addition to our campus! "Leisure Technique Rainbow Wall" is located in the breezeway by the school office. All of the labor an materials for it were donated by Kyle Alexander with Gold Hill Clay Plaster - www.goldhillclayplaster.com and Lydia Doleman & Friends from Earth Dragon Natural Building www.earthdragonnaturalbuilding.com.

Lunch Program Update

Hello, Madrone Trail families!

The Dragon Café kitchen crew is so excited to welcome everyone back on August 25! We’ve had some exciting projects happening over the summer—and to say we’ve received upgrades would be an understatement. Consider this your teaser—we’ll keep the details a surprise until the first day of school. What we can promise is a smooth, seamless start to breakfast and lunch service this year!

We’ll be announcing our fall menu in next week’s Friday pdate (we’re waiting on the arrival of some new equipment that will impact the menu.) Stay tuned!

👩‍🍳 Kitchen Volunteer Shifts

To support our hardworking kitchen staff, we’re inviting parents to join us by committing to a weekly volunteer shift—one day per week from 1:15–3:15 PM. More details are coming soon, but if you’re interested, please reach out and I’ll send you additional information as soon as possible.

🌱 Gardening & Farm-to-School Update

Ms. Carrie and her helpers have been busy all summer tending our garden spaces, and—WOW! The greenhouse and gardens look incredible. I encourage everyone to take a stroll through the grounds to see the progress for yourself.

A huge THANK YOU to the volunteers who braved the sun and heat to keep our school grounds thriving. The vision and energy that Ms. Carrie brings are truly in full bloom. We are so grateful for you, Ms. Carrie!

🏫 Local Wellness Policy

As a sponsor of the National School Lunch Program, we are required to develop and implement a Local Wellness Policy (LWP)—a set of school guidelines that promote student health and well-being. This policy covers nutrition, physical activity, and the food served at school, ensuring that healthy habits are supported throughout the school day.

We are currently developing our LWP for board approval in September. All community stakeholders—faculty, parents, and students—are invited to provide input and are welcome to join our Wellness Committee.

I will be hosting an informational Q&A session via Zoom next week (date & time TBA). If you’re interested in attending, please email me and I’ll share the Zoom link.

Here’s to a fantastic school year!

Chef Evan

evan.wilson@madronetrail.org

From the Athletic Director

Welcome to another year of sports and clubs here at Madrone Trail! A special welcome to our incoming 6th graders who are now eligible to play on our competitive sports teams including Cross Country and Girls’ Volleyball in the fall, Boys’ and Girls’ basketball in the winter, and Track & Field in the spring. It’s going to be a great school year!

Fall Sports

This fall we will participate in Cross Country and Girls' Volleyball. If your student would like to participate in either one of these please email me next week. If you are able to fill out the attached participation form and send it to me or turn in to Ms. Sherrie that would be fantastic.

Cross Country (Coed) & Girls' Volleyball

Who: 6th-8th graders

Cost: $100. Scholarship and payment request forms are in the office.

(Please don’t ever let money be the reason your child does not participate)

When: First practices 8/26. Competition schedules hopefully out by next Friday

Before signing up please consider that our sports teams require a big commitment during the week. No competitions or practices on weekends.

Parent Drivers

One of the things that comes with being a small charter school is that we often need parent help with transportation. This is especially true for volleyball because we partner with Sacred Heart and practices will be there starting 8/26. If you are willing and able to help even one time, we will need the attached vehicle transportation form returned to office and a copy of your license and insurance forms. Thanks in advance for your help!

Clubs

We currently do not have a club opportunity for the fall. If you have a skill or passion that you would like to teach here at Madrone during after school hours, please email me for more information about what that would entail.

Welcome Back and Go Dragons!

Jeff Roberson

jeff.roberson@madronetrail.org

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. Our teachers and school administration will be consistently upholding the dress code policy this year. We kindly ask that you review the policy in advance and ensure your child arrives each day in proper attire.

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.)
• 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 err 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. These typically take a few weeks to process, so now is the time to fill it out so you are ready to go for the beginning of the school year. Thanks!

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 $48.86 from 35 families, the more families we can get to do this the better!

Community Offering

More information here: https://elementsnatureschool.com/wilderness-wednesdays and https://elementsnatureschool.com/forest-fridays

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.