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Absences / Homework Information   

REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCES

State Statute 118.15 (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/118/15) requires that all children of school age be in school during all days and hours that school is in session.  Students who must be out of school due to reasons of health or family emergency must return to school with a statement from parents, guardians, or physician to the attendance office.  Parents or guardians are expected to call the attendance office if their child is going to be out of school.  Students who skip a class or a school day or who exceed the 10 day/80 hours of parentally excused days are subject to disciplinary action.  Every time a student reaches the equivalent of 5 unexcused absences (40 hours), a referral to the school resource officer will be made and a truancy ticket (fine) will be issued.  Attendance records transfer with the student to any School District of Janesville middle school.

When a student is absent, it is important that the parent call as early as possible to report an absence. Our Attendance line is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week 608-743-6830. If a parent forgets to call, the school attendance clerk will make a telephone call to follow-up on the absence. You can also send a message through Dojo to Mrs. Wright. There is also a new feature on Infinate Campus to report your student absent. 

• The Board of Education policy states that parents must contact the school office when their child is absent. 
• Please give the following information: student’s name, homeroom teacher’s name, reason for absence and if you are requesting homework be gathered.
• Homework requested is not guaranteed to be ready until 3:15pm.
• In addition, parents may provide a written excuse for each absence when the child returns to school.
• After 10 unexcused absences, a student is considered Habitually Truant and a parent / guardian will be required to meet with the school principal and/or social worker to discuss the situation.

When a student is to be excused before the end of the school day for any reason (example: doctor or dentist appointment) Please let the office know. The office will then issue a yellow passport slip, which must be signed by the doctor or dentist and returned to the school office when the child returns. Your student will be waiting with office staff. Please ring the bell and your student will be released to you. A passport DOES NOT take the place of a written note from parents regarding illness or other absences. 

Community Connections &  Family Resource Center 

MADISON SCHOOL PTA INFORMATION

The Madison Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is an organization developed to support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the school, in the community, before governmental bodies, and other organizations that make decisions affecting children.  It is also here to assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children.  Lastly, PTA is here to encourage parent and public involvement in our public schools. 

Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center encourages parent-school partnerships and helps strengthen parent-child interactions. Family Resource Centers promote choice, responsibility and independence.

The Family Resource Center is a special place within the school where all parents can stop by, relax, browse, meet other parents, and check out family games, videos, toys, books, community information, and parenting information. Students may also check out items during the school day. We have something for every family to enjoy!

Family Resource Center Guidelines:

• Help find a safe place at home to store and play with checked-out materials
• Depending on the child's age, play/work with him or her so they know how to use these items.
• Due Date: All materials may be kept for 1 week
• Please return materials promptly to the FRC
• Check-out Limit: 1 game &/or 3 books per child
• If books or pieces of a game or toy are lost or broken. please list what is missing on a piece or paper and put it inside the bag or box.

Throughout the district, parenting workshops and family nights are offered. Watch your school newsletter for these events.

Emergency Drills/Evacuation Location

Fire drills are held at least once a month. We are able to evacuate the building in less than 2 minutes during these drills. Disaster drills (tornado) are held in the fall and spring and classes are assigned a safe place in the basement of the school. “Lockdown” drills are also scheduled twice during the year.

LOST AND FOUND

PLEASE, PLEASE mark your children’s clothing, boots, lunch boxes, etc., with tape or a marker. If they lose any article, please have them check the LOST AND FOUND cart by the office. Unclaimed items are donated throughout the school year. 

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS

Our school now qualifies for free breakfast for all students under the Community Eligibility Provision. This means that all students will be able to participate in our breakfast at no cost.  We will be taking part in the "Breakfast After the Bell" program. This insures that every student is offered a breakfast after the school day begins. This will also replace the daily snack and milk break, so you no longer need to supply a snack or send money for snack milk. Due to these changes, we will no longer have a "Breakfast Club" before school.

The daily lunch menu is published in the Janesville Gazette, can be found on the school district site or will be uploaded to DOJO at the beginning of each month. We do not print lunch menus to send home.

The instructional day for children in grades K-5 is from 8:15 – 3:08 with a 30-minute LUNCH/recess and a 15-minute recess in the daily schedule.

Messages During the School Day

We get many requests to give children messages during the school day. With each message request, we  are interrupting your child's entire classroom. Please do our best to have an after school plan in place. However, we do understand at times there are emergencies and are happy to assist. Please help us by keeping message requests to a minimum. 

• Madison School opened its doors to its first eager students on August 30, 1965. 634 students, grades K-6, attended the brand new school on that first day. The largest enrollment was in the first grade where six classes were needed. Mrs. Cynthia Keene, Madison School’s first principal, had the honor of greeting these students.
• President James Madison contributed much to the development and stabilization of our country’s young, struggling government. His policies encouraged national growth. It is fitting that Madison School (named in his honor) was built at a time of rapid growth for Janesville and its school population.
• Madison and its "twin", Jackson School, were built at a combined cost of $1.7 million. Madison School was considered the residential school and Jackson School was the rural twin. The general contractor for this building project was T. S. Willis, Janesville. Madison was planned as a modern, well-equipped, functional school, flexible enough to meet the demands of the 1960’s and future years.
• Madison School was designed to accommodate a wide variety of educational activities. Its 24 classrooms, gymnasium, multipurpose room, library, and administrative offices were filled with new innovations and conveniences. The classrooms were designed for team-teaching as Janesville was one of the first in the state to develop this method of teaching. All classrooms faced outside. There were water fountains in each classroom. The multipurpose room served as an auditorium and cafeteria. It has fold out cafeteria tables built into the walls. The gym had a built-in record player. The library was even carpeted. The 6 acres of playground were divided into 3 separate areas. Each area was for a different age group.
• To accommodate changing needs, the school has had some minor renovations. The largest being the expansion of the library to include two adjoining classrooms. This area became the I.M.C. (Instructional Media Center). 
• When Madison School opened, Mrs. Cynthia Keen, stated that “Our school lives, and has its being. Children have brought it life and here they live, learning and playing, in this new school provided for them by their community.” Madison School lives and children will learn and play here for many more years!

Medications at School / Student Illness/Injury/Emergency Care

MEDICATION POLICY

All medication prescribed by a physician that is to be given at school, requires a permission form giving instructions, dosage, etc., signed by both physician and parent. This form is kept in the office along with the medication.

ILLNESS / INJURY/ EMERGENCY CARE DURING SCHOOL

If a child becomes "too sick for school" during the school day, the parent will be contacted. If the parent cannot be reached, the emergency contact number will be called about picking up the child. If no one can be reached by phone, the child will remain at school until dismissal time. It is important that you notify the school of any phone number changes.

A. If your child has a minor accident, the following action will be taken:

• First Aid will be administered according to school approved procedures.
• Your child will be returned to class if he/she is all right.

B. If your child is unable to return to class because of illness or minor injury, the following steps will be taken:

• You will be contacted, and when arrangements have been made with you, your child be allowed to leave the school premises.
• If you are not available, the emergency contact number will be called. 
• Once contacted, you or the emergency contact will have the responsibility for providing transportation for your child to leave school in a timely manner.
• If we are unable to reach you or the emergency contact, your child will be kept at school and continued attempts will be made to reach you or the emergency contact.

C. If your child is in need of immediate medical attention, the following steps will be taken:

• First aid will be rendered immediately according to District approved procedures.
• Transportation to a medical facility will be arranged for your child.
• You will be called. If you cannot be reached, the emergency contact will be called.
• When necessary, if you or your designated emergency contact cannot be reached, your child will be taken to a local emergency room.

D. If your child receives a head injury during the school day, the following steps will be taken:

• First aid will be rendered immediately according to District approved procedures.
• A letter will be sent home with your child to inform you of the head bump/ injury and a call home will be placed to inform you of the head bump/injury.
• If your child is unable to return to class because of the head bump/injury or if school personnel feel that the head bump/ injury is serious, you will be contacted.

E. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device is available when the need arises.  An AED is a device that delivers an electric shock to the heart. For a person who has just experienced a sudden cardiac arrest, the electrical shock from an AED may help save the person's life. Persons on the Emergency Response Team in each school have received CPR and AED training through the American Red cross. These responders will bring the AED to emergency calls in the building.

We need your cooperation in putting this plan in effect for each child. Please insure that the emergency contact information on your child's Student Information Card and emergency contact information on Infinite Campus is accurate. Failure to provide the school with emergency contact information or with any other necessary up-to-date information will give the school district authority to provide emergency care as needed according to school approved procedures.

Emergency Procedures

Fire drills are held once a month.  We are able to evacuate the building in less than 2 minutes during these drills. Disaster drills (tornado) and lockdown drills are held in the fall and spring. Students are assigned a place in the building with their classmates and are taught how to assume a safe position in the event of such an emergency. Lockdowns are practiced twice a year with the staff and students. In a case of a lockdown, students will be kept at school and released when the "all clear" has been given by the municipal authorities.

Campus Messenger will service as our primary means of notification to let parents know when students will be released. 

Parent Information for Dropping-off / Picking-up Children at School:
 

Arrival

"DO NOT ENTER" signs have been placed at the end of Ravine Street. For the safety of our children, Please do not drive past this sign - coming or going  - before school starts (7:30 am- 8:30 am) or at dismissal time (2:30 pm - 3:30 pm)

Playground supervision will begin at 8:05 am.  Students should not arrive at school before then.

We do ask all drivers to observe the following guidelines.

• Whenever students are present, the maximum speed limit on school grounds is 5 Miles Per Hour.
• Do carpool - this will help reduce the quantity of cars in the front and rear of the School.
• Do teach your children to cross the street only at the crosswalks.
• Do drive carefully when approaching a crosswalk. If the crosswalk has safety patrols, they cannot go into the street to direct traffic.
• Do observe the one-way signs when entering and exiting the parking lot.
• Do not park in the crosswalk at any time.
• Do not double park or pick up a child in the passing lane of the driveway
• Do remember to Stop - Drop / Pick-Up - Go
• Do not park in the drive and leave your vehicle. Use the parking stalls or park in the street.

Dropping Off Children

• We do not have a drop-off/pick -up lane. Please make sure when dropping in the street. You park your car on the side of the road so your student can safely exit the vehicle. 
• Please make sure that your vehicle is not blocking our neighbors driveways. 

All Janesville residents are required by law to follow these and other Janesville City Ordinances:

• 6.04.110 Pets are prohibited on leash or not
• 10.32.030 Obedience to crossing guards - violation with penalty
• 10.36.010 Prohibited acts: It is unlawful to block hinder or retard any street traffic, whether it is vehicular or otherwise including by receiving or discharging passengers from a vehicle in a lane designated for the movement of traffic.
• 10.40.025 No parking, stopping or standing contrary to official traffic or parking sign or marker - No Exceptions.
• 10.40.140 Vehicle left with motor running is prohibited. 

DISMISSAL DURING SCHOOL HOURS

If a student needs to leave the school during school hours, please call the attendance line 608-743-6830 and leave a message. This line is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can also send a Dojo to Mrs. Wright in the office. If you send the teacher a Dojo, you still need to let the office know. A passport will be issued. This passport goes with the student to the appointment and must be signed by the doctor, or dentist. It must be returned to the office when the student returns to school. Parents can pull up to the front door from 8:30am-2:30pm to pick up students. Your student will be waiting with office staff. Please ring the doorbell and office staff will send your student out to you. Before or after this time you will need to park in the street and walk up to the front door to pick up your student. 

Late Pick Up

If a parent is to be detained from picking a child up at dismissal time, the office should be notified so the child is not left standing outside the doors or at the curb. (The office is open from 7:30 A.M. until 4:00 P.M.) Late pickups should be rare. If late pick ups become frequent, Madison staff will work with the family to address the issue. There is no supervision for students after 3:15. Pick up for students is 3:08 please help us keep your student save by making arrangements to have them picked up on time everyday. 

Picking Students up After School

Parents, guardians and others authorized to pick up students may walk up to the sidewalk in front of the building (on the east side) to wait for them outside their grade level exit doors, or may wait on Bond Street, or at the bottom of the hill by the crosswalk.

Bike and Skateboard Riding

Children who bring bicycles to school do so at their own risk.The school does not provide special supervision for the bike rack and will not be responsible for bikes that are damaged or stolen.

Bikes are to be parked and locked (students need to provide their own bike lock) in the bike racks provided. Bikes and skateboards are not to be ridden on school grounds. Once a student enters Madison property, they must walk their bike or carry their skateboards on school grounds.

Visitors / Volunteers/ Chaperones

VISITORS

The experience of watching your child interact with others in a learning environment is something we encourage. We also know that when parents visit the classroom they give a child a feeling of cooperation between parents and teachers.  Parents are requested to contact their child's teacher in advance to seek approval to schedule a classroom visit.  All visitors must sign in with the school office and were a visible visitor's Badge during their stay.

For safety reasons, visitors who are participating in classroom activities or chaperones on field trips, etc. must complete a volunteer form for approval. Approval is good for the current school year, with a background check each following year.  Approved visitors must stop into the office to sign in and receive a visitor's badge.   

The final decision to accept or deny a visitor to the school, a classroom or on a field trip rests with the designated building or district administrator. 

Parents wishing to have lunch with their children must sign in with the school office and wear a visible visitor's badge during their stay, proceed directly to the lunch area, and sign out in the office after the lunch period.

Student visitors are allowed only with prior district approval, and teacher and principal permission.

For additional information on visiting or volunteering at your child's school, please refer to

• Board Policy 1230 and Administrative Regulation 1230.1 - Volunteers in Schools;]
• Board Policy 1240 and Administrative Regulation 1241.1 - Visitors to Schools
• Board Policy 1241 and Administrative Regulation 1241.1 Registered Sex
  • Offenders. The school District of Janesville recognizes its responsibility for the health and safety of all students and will take appropriate precautionary measures in situations where the District has been notified that a registered sex offender wishes to visit a school building or persons on school premises. 

For a volunteer/visitor form please visit our Community Page 

Field Trip Chaperone Guidelines

Thank you so much for volunteering to chaperone for Jefferson Elementary School field trip. Please read and follow the guidelines below to help ensure a safe and successful experience.

• Chaperones are required to follow current District and Rock County Health Department mandates; including the wearing of face masks 
• If you find out that you cannot be a chaperone, please contact the teacher immediately so other arrangements can be made.
• Stay alert to the whereabouts / activities of your group.  "Count heads" FREQUENTLY.
• Avoid being distracted by conversations with other adults.
• Remember that you are setting an example for the children, so please be respectful to the visited area and enforce school rules.
• Follow the directions of the teacher in charge.
• Refrain from drinking, smoking, bringing weapons or using profane language during the field trip. 
• Verbally correct students in a calm manner who are not following the rules (Please walk. Please do not talk during the performance, etc.) If the behavior continues, advise the classroom teacher of the problem.
• Follow the bus rules.
• Wear appropriate attire. Be sure all slogans on clothing and hats are suitable for the elementary school environment.  (NO adds for liquor, smoking materials or inappropriate language.)
• Smoking at a school activity is prohibited by law.
• For safety reasons and due to liability concerns, no siblings or other children will be allowed to accompany a chaperone.
• Supervise public bathrooms very carefully.
• Because this is a school sponsored trip, all students must stay with their assigned group and chaperone.
• If possible, please bring a cell phone with you for emergencies. Please provide that number to your child's teacher prior to the trip.