From the Interim Director

Dear Madrone Trail Families,

Thank you everyone who came out to support the dinner & auction fundraiser Saturday night. The event was a huge success and it was very impressive to see the Madrone Trail community come together to support our children. There was also enormous work that happened behind the scenes and lots of folks who contributed financially or in other ways that deserve our gratitude. Truly amazing!

You will likely hear lots this month about “media mindfulness,” and I encourage you and your family to spend some time considering the role that media plays in your lives and acting with intention.

Hopefully everyone saw the Special Announcement about our free parent/faculty Eurythmy workshops running for the next two Thursdays from 12:30-1:15 pm on campus at Madrone Trail. Thank you Mrs. Spratt for offering this opportunity.

Next week, Erik Johnsen and Gesine Abraham will participate in their last Board meeting as voting members, as their terms will expire. Thank you both for your many years of volunteer service!

Thank you for making Madrone Trail Public Charter your school of choice, we are fortunate to have you and your students as a part of the community.  As always, if you ever have any questions or concerns, or would just like to say hello, please call or stop by any time. 

With gratitude,

Andy Bracco

andy.bracco@madronetrail.org

From the Board

Greetings Madrone Trail Community!

Your school board is moving forward quickly with our Executive Director search. As we’ve been telling various stakeholders this week, we think Mr. Bracco is doing a fantastic job, and have heard nothing but good things from those who have interacted with him. But given the emergency nature of our Interim search, we committed early on to performing an exhaustive and thorough search for the permanent position. We have been very fortunate to receive a surprising amount of interest, including a wide breadth of experiences. Our hiring committee conducted six interviews, and recommended moving forward with four of our candidates.

Next week will be exciting and busy! On Wednesday from 1:45 – 4:15 pm, our candidates will be on campus for interviews with our faculty, and a select group of parents. If you would be like to be among the parents for this interview, please contact board@madronetrail.org. On Thursday, during our regularly scheduled board meeting starting at 4:30 pm, the board will be interviewing each candidate in turn during an open session. You may come observe in person, or watch on zoom (see agenda to be posted to our school calendar on the website). You are welcome to share any thoughts you have using the board email above. The board will consider all the interview rounds and any feedback we’ve received, and we expect to deliberate and decide our preferred direction sometime the week of March 18th. Hopefully we can make an announcement before or during Spring Break!

For the good of the school,

The Madrone Trail Board

board@madronetrail.org

Auction Recap

Under the shimmering neon, Madrone Trail’s raddest parents, faculty, staff, and supporters gathered at the Ashland Armory on March 2. There were leg warmers, side-ponies, sequins, glitter, spandex, and at least two teen wolves.

The night’s mission: raise $25,000 to help make up the 20% budget deficit we incur when our annual state funds are given back to the district. 

Softly-lit tables rimmed the room, featuring over 50 baskets and silent auction items. Crafts made by the classes and the faculty perched along the balloon-festooned stage, where the night’s emcee, Mike the Temp, sat behind a giant audio cassette with blinking lights. Madonna’s cheeky ode to capital blared over the speakers, kicking off the night with a splashy, choreographed dance by Hanya Zwick and Rachel Durling. Not to be outdone, board member Jo Ferneau performed an original Madrone-Trail-themed shout out rap, decked out as Southern Oregon’s own Slim Shady. Faculty member Joe Stogsdill’s heartfelt speech mentioned many students by name while parent rep Megan Swann noted Madrone Trail’s tenacity of spirit. The costume contest winner? Collin Ficcadenti as Randy Savage, of course! Around steaming plates of Chinese takeout-style fare, attendees celebrated the character and community of our school.

Click here to watch our slideshow about the impact of Madrone Trail’s public Waldorf-inspired education on the lives of students.

On everyone’s mind was the empty chair in the room where Director Kendall Roberts would have surely laughed and celebrated with us throughout the night, maybe even sporting a replica of the jaw-droppingly beautiful mullet he had when he first began teaching. Each speaker mentioned him by name, cherishing his leadership: as steady and assuring as his presence outside the school gate every morning.

Energy skyrocketed as the silent auction tables closed and the live auction items came to the fore. Presided over by birthday boy Evan Wilson, the battle to take home each beautiful handmade item sent pulses racing, duels escalating, cash flying, and more than one teen wolf sweating.

Then, as if compelled to the disco-sparkling center of the room, the auction attendees embodied the immortal words of this famous 80s song: “if they don’t dance, then they ain’t no friends of mine.” Fortunately, the night proved us all to be friends, if not by acquaintance yet then at least by a shared delight in giving back to the school that’s given so much to our children.

While final numbers are still in process, the auction committee can confirm that we exceeded our $25,000 fundraising goal!

Whether you joined us at the auction or plan on attending next year now that you’ve heard tell of its fabulosity, please join us in thanking the auction committee:

• Co-chairs: Kelly Ruse and Amy Botillier
• Secretary: Evan Wilson
• Decor: Kylie Swenson and Liz Combs
• Poster Art: Kylie Swenson
• Food: Nick Williams
• Music: Jo Ferneau
• Media/PR: Allie Hymas

Also, we would love to hear from you about what you loved (and think could improve) about the Auction. Please fill out the Survey linked below. Even if you did not attend the Auction, we would love to know why!

Thank you to our Auction Sponsors! You helped make it a success!

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 2024-2025 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, 2024 to be eligible to enroll for the 2024-2025 school year. The form is due March 22.

From the Athletic Director

Spring is in the air!

Spring is an exciting time as the world is awakening from its winter slumber and nature is coming alive with color, sound, and energy. Our Madrone Trail spring sports programs are mirroring this excitement as we have 60 students signed up to play a spring sport between track and soccer club! This is truly awesome.

Madrone Track and Field

Reminder: Practices will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 3:30-5:00 pm at Madrone. (Please pick your student up promptly at 5 pm).

Note: On especially rainy days, practice will take place in the gym.

Meet Schedule

(FYI: Times are typically anywhere between 3:30-8:30 pm)

March 21st- (Location TBA)

April 8th- (Grants Pass High)

April 11th- (White Mountain Middle School)

April 15th- (Spiegelberg Stadium, Oakdale Middle School)

April 24th- (Ashland High) (6th graders only, 6th grade districts)

May 2nd- (Eagle Point High School) (7th and 8th graders only, 7th-8th districts)

Soccer Club

Reminder: Soccer club is Wednesdays 1:30-3:00 pm. Please pick your student up promptly at 3:00 pm. Due to the popularity of Soccer Club, we are looking to get a couple of volunteer parents to help coach. Please let Mr. Roberson know if you can help out.

Meet our new soccer coach- Jonathan Hillis

For the last three years Jonathan has led the girls soccer program at Cascade Christian High School as head coach. His first year at CCHS he was awarded the League Coach of The Year. He has helped with the Rogue Valley Soccer Club (formerly Rogue Valley Timbers) U10 Boys & Girls Soccer Academy for the last four years. This last year he was able to lead the Academy himself, running all the sessions with 20 girls and 60 boys! Previous to this he coached a U12 Boys recreational soccer team for three seasons with the Rogue Valley Soccer Club. He began playing soccer when he was six years old and played into high school. After graduating he began to play Ultimate Frisbee competitively in a few different cities, including Portland where he attended Warner Pacific University. There he started an Ultimate Frisbee club that won club of the year at WPU. He graduated with an honors in Social Entrepreneurship, that has continued to influence in him a desire to be connected to his local community in socially conscious ways.

These days, he spends most of his time at home with his family. He has a wife of 13 years named Rachael, and two kids: Leonora (2) and Willem (6 months). Their property, The Greenwood Estate, hosts an AirBnB as well as several ventures in farming and a ceramic studio where his wife runs classes and workshops. They have two milking cows, two goats, a guard dog and flock of chickens, ducks, and geese.

Over the last four years he also ran his own business life coaching practice, attended council meetings with his family business that he serves as a member, and grew the farming estate his family lives at.

Mayor’s Cup Fun Run

The Pear Blossom (Southern Oregon’s largest community running event) is April 13th. Part of that day, there is something called a Mayor’s Cup Fun Run. This is a 1-mile or 2-mile run that involves tracking each school’s participation for schools to possibly win various prizes. Attached is the flyer for this event. Also, here is a registration link.

https://rvymca.org/pearblossomrun-mayorscup/

Rogue Valley YMCA Volleyball and Track

The Rogue Valley YMCA is offering both spring volleyball and track. Please do not confuse signing up through them as signing up for a Madrone Trail sport. Signing up with the YMCA is completely separate from Madrone Trail. However, I do appreciate the YMCA’s sport offerings and desire to “emphasize teamwork and cooperation over winning and help youth develop the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.”

Both Track and Field and Volleyball have the same dates, grades, and cost, but different registration links.

Who: 3rd-6th Grade

Cost: $85  

When: April 15th-June 1st

Practices: Two 1-hour practices on weekdays

Registration: March 1st-April 15th

Links to register:

(Volleyball) https://rvymca.org/programs/120020/volleyball/

(Track) https://rvymca.org/programs/120037/track-field/?locations=13

Go Dragons!

Jeff Roberson

jeff.roberson@madronetrail.org

Library Committee Looking for Volunteers

We want to give a big thank you to everyone who has donated books to our library! We have hundreds of books waiting to be logged into our system and shelved. The Library Committee is looking for volunteers to help in this process. Hours are very flexible! Please click the sign-up link below and Megan Shaw will contact you to set up a time to come in.

Sprouts Program 2024-2025

We will begin accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Sprouts Preschool Program after we return from Spring Break beginning April 8th. Interested families who have not yet filled out the Sprouts Preschool 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 June 1st, 2024 to be considered for the 24-25 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 the program manager: taurie.michele@madronetrail.org

Media Mindfulness March

March is Media Mindfulness Month at Madrone Trail! 

This month, we will be sharing some interesting info on the topic of screentime and how it impacts our students.

From Parent Council Chair Megan Shaw:

I was recently eating lunch with a mother that I had met earlier in the month. This was the first time we got to sit and get to know one another and of course schooling came up. I mentioned how our school encourages the students not to watch TV, with exception of non-school nights. I also mentioned that there are no media references at our school, including in what the children wear. Her response was, ‘So they are completely cut off from society?’ Even a week later I think about this comment. Are our children the ones cut off from society? Or is it the ‘modern’ screen centered world that is cut off from society? I like to think the latter. It is not the fact that we don’t indulge in daily screen activities that defines us, rather, it is what we choose to do with those added hours of time each day. Did you know the average American spends 7 hours and 4 minutes looking at a screen each day. Worldwide, the average user spends 2 hours and 51 minutes looking at their computer screens and 3 hours and 46 minutes looking at their mobiles. (https://tinyurl.com/yc4stcu2). Another statistic shows on average, children 8-18 spend 7.5 hours a day in front of screens half of that being television time — which amounts to 114 days a year. To break that down further, children ages 8-10 spend around 6 hours per day in front of a screen (https://tinyurl.com/4kc3tp52). What are the children of today missing out on with one-third of their time being absorbed by the media?

Below are a few links (Yes, one movie! Please considering watching it over your favorite binge worthy show/movie). I encourage you to check them out. Talk with others about them. Challenge not only your children to think more consciously about the media they are consuming, but also challenge yourself. Let’s face it, no one is perfect. For many of us, completely cutting screen time out of our lives is either an impossibility (especially due to jobs) or a huge strain on our family. But I ask you this, check in with yourself and your body when consuming media and encourage your children to do the same. Be mindful about how the media you consume affects your thoughts, your mood, and your body. And whenever possible, choose a conversation, craft, or even boredom over immediately turning your attention to a screen.

Podcast Episode:

https://waldorfy.com/media-screen-time-whats-the-waldorf-approach/

Movie:

https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/

(Also streaming on Netflix)

Chipotle Fundraiser-- NEXT MONDAY

Madrone Trail is hosting another fundraiser, this time at Chipotle! It will be on Monday, March 11, from 4-8 pm.

In order for your purchase to count, you will need to either:

• verbally tell the cashier you are there to support Madrone Trail
• show a physical fundraiser flyer
• show a digital flyer on a smartphone or other mobile device (the picture below on your phone will work!)
• use the fundraiser’s online ordering code TYQ44F7 to place an order for pickup through the Chipotle app or website. (More instructions below.)

Delivery orders or orders placed at a different time/location than the scheduled event will not count towards the fundraiser.

Spirit Week

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.

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.