From the Director

Dear Families,

We have officially completed our second week of school, and I am so encouraged by the energy and spirit that fills our classrooms and hallways each day. The students continue to bring joy, curiosity, and enthusiasm, and it has been a gift to watch them settle into routines while also forming new friendships and reconnecting with old ones.

As a school, we are continuing to grow and make improvements to ensure our campus feels as welcoming and beautiful as the community it serves. From adding touches that brighten our walking and learning spaces to refining our daily rhythms, every step we take is with your children in mind. It’s exciting to see these changes come together and to know we are building something truly special.

Thank you for the encouragement, patience, and partnership you have shown as we move through these early weeks of the year. Your support is felt and appreciated, and it is a joy to work alongside such a caring and committed community.

Here’s to carrying this positive momentum into week three and beyond!

Warmly,

Kelly Ruse

Interim Director

kelly.ruse@madronetrail.org

From the Office

Registration Packets went home this week for returning students. Please fill them out and return them to Ms. Sherrie along with your Supply and Field Trip fee. If you have any questions you can contact Ms. Sherrie at sherrie.gasper@madronetrail.org or 541-842-3657.

Parent Square

We are excited to announce that this school year we will begin using a new communication tool called Parent Square. Please use the link below to register if you have never logged in. Use the email we have on file to register. You can access Parent Square via desktop or through the Parent Square App. We highly recommend all parents/guardians download the app to receive important news from the school. Parents can opt to get their news via email, text, or app notification. We will use this platform to quickly notify families about school closures due to snow amongst other things. The Friday Update itself will be sent via Parent Square soon. We are very excited about streamlining communication to and from school and families.

From the Pedagogical Committee Chair

Something like the sun, the eye must be

Else glint of light it could never see.

Surely God's own powers in us unite,

Else godlike things should not compel delight. 

-- The ancient philosopher Plotinus, translated by JW von Goethe

Madrone Trail has gotten its very own rainbow bridge! Among the many efforts to beautify our campus, one of the most conspicuous is our new rainbow-colored crosswalk leading from the parking lot to our front entrance. Our staff have talked for years about making this happen, and we are grateful that we were finally able to liven up the asphalt with some color. 

We live at a time when the rainbow is commonly seen as a symbol of diversity and acceptance, and this is certainly appropriate -- its vibrancy is an apt display of the manyfold expressions of life in one luminous harmony. But as a public Waldorf school, our associations with the rainbow go even deeper.

The rainbow is what we might call an archetypal symbol, or a symbol that is as old as humanity itself. It appears in many of the great stories of antiquity, from Noah and the flood in the Hebrew scriptures to the threshold of Midgard in the old Norse myths. In the book of Revelation at the end of the New Testament, God is described as being enthroned in the midst of a great rainbow, and there is also a tradition in some expressions of Buddhism that certain sages who have attained enlightenment take on a new, radiant rainbow body. For those of us living in the modern age, we tend also to associate the rainbow with the timeless physical laws of the universe as we recall Isaac Newton's work in optics and his theory of light refracting through a denser medium like a prism. 

Rudolf Steiner, the founder of the Waldorf education movement, is renown for many things, but one of his real breakthroughs as a philosopher and humanist polymath lies in his contributions to color theory as developed by the German scientist and artist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). By his mid-twenties, Steiner was regarded by the academics of his time as one of the foremost experts on Goethe's scientific writings, and this expertise comes through powerfully in the way Steiner later encourages Waldorf teachers to work with color in their pedagogy. During his lifetime, Steiner wrote and lectured extensively on color theory, telling us that color is "the soul of the world," and drawing compelling connections between color and the deepest experiences of the human spirit. For Steiner, colors have personalities, are intimately woven into our sympathies and antipathies, and even our experiences of growth and decay, rest and activity, joy and sorrow, among other things. 

This is why each classroom in our school has a distinct color associated with the age and grade of the child, corresponding to the inner mood and developmental themes of that year. For the children in our care, through the aesthetic experience of dwelling with the colors, working with the colors in painting and drawing, or in their play both in and out of doors, the rainbow thus becomes a kind of inner journey as they moved through life's many experiences and phenomena and develop a deeper connection to them beyond just mere cognition. In a world without color, we might still have form and definition, but the experience would feel fundamentally abstract. Color, for those of us able to experience it through the medium of sight, helps us to make more of a 'heart' connection to our experiences, in this way engaging more of our humanity than would be possible in a colorless world. 

And for those who for various reasons are unable to see color? We must recall that color is as much about sight as it is about inner experience. Because colors are not *merely* physical things out there for us to see, but are also inner states or 'moods' of the soul, they are here for everyone, and the experience of color can be as varied and diverse as the rainbow itself. The colors don't just live outside of us, but also well up from deep within us. It is through these inner experiences that one might truly come to know the blueness of the blue sky, the redness of the rosy apple, and the yellowness of the golden sun. 

Waldorf education teaches us that the laws of nature are also laws of the soul, since our connection to Nature - even in these modern times when it is all too easy to become abstracted from Nature - is just that strong. So the next time you walk on campus with the rainbow bridge under your feet, please take a moment to give thanks for all the ways the universe chooses to disclose herself to us, in sight and sound, sensation, smell, taste, and the whole intricate web of sense experience that is available to each of us in our own way. 

Daniel Nicholas

3rd grade teacher and Pedagogical Committee Chair

daniel.nicholas@madronetrail.org

From the Parent Council

Family Night was a success! We now have parent representatives for every class. Thank you to all who signed up and to those still considering. Remember, the more representatives we have, the stronger our Parent Council will be.

If you haven’t signed up yet but would like to, you can do so here. Not sure if you’re ready to commit? Come see what the Parent Council is all about at our next meeting on Monday, September 8, at 6:00 pm in the 4th grade classroom.

From the Volunteer Coordinator

Hello wonderful Madrone Trail families! 

I hope that you had a rejuvenating and joyful summer break. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as the volunteer coordinator for our school! I have been part of the Madrone Trail community for the last four years, and have been very involved with volunteering during that time. I am truly looking forward to this opportunity of coordinating the volunteer needs of our school so that it can run successfully.

As you may already know, Madrone Trail requires all families to participate in 25 volunteering hours, per family, during the school year.

Before you can volunteer, you must complete an application/background check. Background checks are valid for two years. If you have received an email that yours has expired or you have yet to complete one, click the link below to complete the Medford School District Volunteer Application!

Here are a few of the current volunteer needs! If you would like to get involved please reach out to me!

• Library volunteers
• Dragon Cafe volunteers
• Groundskeeping volunteers

My goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to get your volunteer hours in and will be communicating many different opportunities to you throughout the year. Our school relies on volunteers to run smoothly, so allow me to help find the perfect opportunity for you! Feel free to reach out to me via email with any questions whatsoever.

Thank you so much,

Stephanie Booker

Volunteer Coordinator

stephanie.booker@madronetrail.org

From the Dragon Café

Thank you to everyone who came to Family Night and said hello! It was really nice to see so many parents gather in support of our school. I look forward to seeing some of you on the farm-to-school and middle school committees as well as helping out in the kitchen!

Kitchen Volunteer Shifts

Thank you so much to our first volunteers in the kitchen this week, Cheyanne and Xochitl! You were immensely helpful! We could still really use some helping hands! With more students joining us for lunch and the same small (but mighty!) kitchen crew, we’re stretched thinner than ever. Shifts are ideally from 1:15–3:15 pm, but please reach out if you are also able to help in the mornings!

A Reminder About Snacks

We offer goldfish, sweet potato crackers, raisins, string cheese, and milk for $0.50 each. Every student can also grab one apple for free.

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program

This week we served snap peas and grapes and lemon cucumbers from campus. Next week, students will enjoy kiwis, mangos, more snap peas, and grapefruit. These items along with apples are completely free to students!

Snack Payment Info

For any paid snack items, students must have a positive balance on their EZ app account.

New to Madrone Trail? No problem! Each student already has a profile—you’ll just need to create a parent account and link it to your child. You can load funds using a debit/credit card on the EZ app, or make payments directly in the school office (cash, card, and checks accepted)

Need help? Reach out to Chef Evan anytime.

Chef Evan

evan.wilson@madronetrail.org

Farm to School Committee Update

Our very first farm-to-school meeting will be next Tuesday, September 9th at 3:30 pm in the Handwork classroom (Ms. Nancy). We have a lot of exciting things to talk about and will be planting the seeds (figuratively speaking) for the entire school year. Please join us and help us grow!

From the Site Committee

Mark your calendars! The Madrone Trail Site Committee has been reborn and has big things planned for this school year. Kick-off Committee meeting is Thursday, Sept 25th 5-6:30PM in the woodworking classroom. Please join us to help plan and implement the future of our school's site and facilities. 

The Site Committee has four Stewardship Days planned for the year. Childcare and food included! Come one! Come all! Get those volunteer hours in! September 27th, October 18th, Jan 24th and April 18th. Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Stay tuned for more details coming soon. 

From the Athletic Director

Fall clubs start next week and fall sport competitions! More info below.

Girls Volleyball Games next week

(Home games are at Sacred Heart)

9/8 @ Rogue Christian Academy JV @ 4, Varsity @ 5:00

9/10 Home vs Applegate JV only @ 4:30

Cross Country Meet next week

9/9 Expo center Central Point Girls run @ 3:00, boys @ 3:30

Fall Clubs!

OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books)

Mrs. Richardson will be once again running our OBOB club.

When: Wednesdays 1:15-2:15 pm, Starting September 10th, ending in March.

Who: 6th-8th graders (No cap)

Where: In the Library

Cost: Free! (This one is free folks)

There is a link to our new clubs form below (It is very similar to the sports form, but we are now separating the 2 forms)

Watercolor Club

Carole Whitridge will be teaching a watercolor painting class!

Watercolor painting registration is full.

We are still asking for volunteers from any of the Wednesday class to switch to the Monday class at 3:30-4:30 pm. Please email me ASAP if you are willing to switch.

When: Starting September 8th ending October 22nd

Mondays 3:30-4:30 pm

Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 pm

Where: In the 6th grade classroom

Cost: $75

Basketball Club

Mark Stegall is returning to offer Basketball Club this year. Basketball Club is not the same as our school basketball team, which will be signed up for separately and will need a current sports physical.

When: Starting September 9th ending October 16th, Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:45

Who: 6th-8th grade (Coed) (Capped at 14 participants) 6 spots left!

Where: Madrone Trail gym

Cost: $75

Community Sport Opportunity

A note about community sports: I only advertise community sports through our Madrone newsletter that tend to lean more towards the values of athletic growth, fair play, and sportsmanship such as Junior Comets and the Medford YMCA leagues. I tend to stay away from ultra-competitive leagues such as AAU for the purposes of recommending leagues to our students here at Madrone. However, I do have more information on sport specific competitive opportunities if that is something you want to email me about.

Junior Comets Boys Basketball (Look for Girls basketball info in November)

Who: Boys 1st grade-7th grade (Various league levels)

Cost: $50

Skills evaluation day: At Scenic Middle School Sunday, Oct 5th, 12-4 or Tuesday October 7th, 5:30-7:30 (Attend one of them, you are not there the whole time)

Registration open: now-September 26th

Season dates: November 3rd-January 17th

For more info and to register visit:

https://www.juniorcometsports.com/registration-information1.html

Go Dragons!



Jeff Roberson

jeff.roberson@madronetrail.org

Cans & Bottles Fundraiser

Got cans! Or bottles! 

The 8th grade class is raising money for their end of the year trip and we can use your help! Throughout the year we will be accepting cans and bottles that can be returned for a deposit. So, if you have bags of cans and bottles lying around the house, or work somewhere that has a can bin, we will be happy to take them off your hands. 

2 Easy ways to do it!

#1: Drop off your bags of cans at the can drop-off location between the school dumpster and garden. We will take it from there.

#2: Pick up blue bags from the office (the blue bags indicate non-profit fundraiser), then fill up the blue bags at home or at work and bring them to the drop-off location at the school. 

Thanks everyone! Our hope is to raise a ton of $ with the recycle fundraiser this year.

-Mr. Barbee and the Blackberry Class

Meet Ms. Greer, 5th Grade Teacher

Breonna Greer is a dedicated Waldorf educator with extensive experience teaching grades 1 through 5 in Waldorf charter schools across California, Oregon, and Alaska. She has a deep love for the holistic nature of Waldorf education, which nurtures the head, heart, and hands of each child. This integrative approach allows her to guide students not only in academic achievement but also in their emotional growth, creativity, and hands-on learning experiences. Her belief in making Waldorf education accessible to all children is central to her work, and she is passionate about supporting the public charter school movement.

Ms. Greer holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Master’s degree in Teaching. She completed her Waldorf teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California, where she cultivated a strong foundation in the developmental approach and creative methodologies that define Waldorf education. Beyond the classroom, she has shared her expertise by teaching Art of Teaching courses for the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, supporting new and aspiring educators in the movement.

As she prepares to begin the new school year, Ms. Greer is excited to join the Madrone Trail community and to guide the Otter Class. She looks forward to building meaningful relationships with students, families, and colleagues, and is eager to become an active part of the school’s vibrant culture. With a nurturing and student-centered approach, she aims to provide a learning environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Greer enjoys a fulfilling personal life. She loves spending time with her son and extended family, and she finds peace and inspiration in nature, whether hiking through the woods, traveling to new destinations, or simply enjoying the outdoors. Her hobbies include reading, creating art, and listening to music—activities that constantly renew her spirit and enrich her work as an educator.

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.