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October 4, 2024

Dear Madison Community,

Fall is my favorite time of year.  The changing colors, the activities, and all things pumpkin make for a colorful season. 

October also brings School Safety Awareness Month, and to kick-off the month we present this year’s theme, “Safety Begins with Teamwork.”  School Safety month was enacted by the 134th General Assembly to increase public awareness of school safety programs and to encourage Ohioans to identify their role in keeping Ohio schools a safe place for students to learn and grow.  Safety is more than just physical safety; it encompasses online and emotional safety, as well.  As a community, we all play a part in helping to keep our students safe.  “See Something, Say Something” is a critical part of our plan, and letting our students know to go to a trusted adult is key.  All of us are a part of our team to keep students safe.  

Fall sports are beginning to wind down both at the high school and middle school.  Our students have had many successes: some highlights as of today include both our boys and girls soccer teams are currently in first place in the CVC Lake division, with one game to go against Perry next week. Our Football team is tied for first with Geneva, and they take on Edgewood at home tonight, with our Homecoming against Geneva next week.  Both boys and girls Cross Country teams have been consistently in the top half finish of each meet so far this fall. Madison will once again host the Cross Country Meet on Saturday October 19.  Our girls Volleyball team has had more wins this year than last season.  They are at Perry next Wednesday for Volley for the Cure and battle of the little pink jug.  

In more exciting news, congratulations go to Gabby Montez who has qualified for the district tennis tournament!!!  She is our first district qualifier in six years.  The boys golf teams finished second in the Lake Division and girls golf  finished fifth.  This wraps up the high school news – look for a middle school update in my next newsletter.  

Congratulations to our 2024 Homecoming Court: Liz Bailey, Addy Behm, Zoey Brown, Charli LaRiche, Carlina Zappitelli, Knolan Albert, Ben Amos, Braylon Finch, Kaleb Meister, and Brandon Reidl.  The court will be featured in the annual Homecoming Assembly on Tuesday.  The Court will also be on full display at next Thursday’s football game against Geneva,  and they will be celebrated at the Homecoming Dance next Friday at MHS.  
I again want to remind you, that if you have ever had a desire to work in the schools, we are always looking for substitutes for all positions in our districts.  We also have some full-time custodial positions available; contact Dave Bull at david.bull@madisonschools.net if you are interested.  If you would like to drive a bus, contact Kim Boggs at Community Bus Service at kboggs@com-bus.com.  We appreciate those who have reached out to help during these unprecedented times.   
Finally, as of today, the chickenpox has not spread further.  I will continue to update you as I get information.  

Please check out the Good News Newsletter – this week, we are featuring our Elementary PTOs;  our band on Fox 8 News; the high school’s distracted driving activities, and our alumni feature with Jean Sency.  

Have a wonderful weekend.  #MadisonStrong!

Sincerely,

Angela Smith 
Superintendent 
 

The famous saying, “It takes a village,” is an apt motto for any and all school districts – and is something that we at Madison Local Schools are proud to embrace. Our village not only encompasses our students, but the village, or community that it takes to ensure they are receiving a quality education, support, resources, and experiences throughout their time at MLS. A large piece of the MLS village is our Parent Teacher Organizations, or PTOs, which are a group of parents, teachers, and school staff members that come together to support their local school, assisting in building strong relationships for the betterment of our students’ experience. 

We would like to spotlight our Elementary PTOs, which go above and beyond to support our students. Through collaboration, each PTO can host unique events to raise funds that help offset the cost of classroom learning experiences, support the music program, upgrade books in the library, and more. 

Shana Bonnema, PTO President at South Elementary, states, “Having a PTO is crucial to fostering a sense of community and partnership between parents and the school; encouraging parental involvement has been shown to positively impact student achievement and school morale.” 

The South Elementary PTO recently held their annual Walk-a-thon fundraiser, raising over $24,000, the most successful they’ve seen the event raise to date. With Madison businesses and generous parents donating 25 individual prizes for students and six themed class parties up for grabs, the outstanding results of the fundraiser will be able to finance a few higher-expense projects that will benefit SES and students. 

“We cover the costs of classroom learning experiences such as butterfly and ladybug hatching, Science Day, and support for our music program,” adds Ms. Bonnema. “We also fund many family-focused events throughout the year, including Santa Shop, Carnival, and the Art Show – we also oversee Teacher Grants, which allows teachers a $100 grant for classroom supplies, and we offer a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from MHS.”

Similarly, the North Elementary PTO has seen incredible success with its newest event, the Fall Mum Fundraiser – which went so well, they plan on bringing it back next year. In addition, they host events such as Santa Shop, which features 30 local vendors and crafters, and a VIP or Mother-Son Dance that allows kids and families to boogie the night away, both being huge hits within the community. 

“PTOs create a bridge between parents and schools, helping to improve the quality of education by addressing concerns and sharing ideas,” says Amanda Hruska, PTO President at NES. “They bring families, teachers, and staff together through events, meetings, and volunteer work as we raise funds for school programs, classroom needs, and field trips.” 

The current projects are focused on raising money for new equipment for students’ Physical Education classes as well as bringing love to the library with upgraded books and continuous new selections of upcoming books for students. 

Ms. Hruska shares, “We believe hosting outside-the-classroom events, such as dances, field trips, field day, book fair, etc., encourage parents to be more involved in their child’s education, which can lead to better student outcomes.” 

Thank you to our PTOs for their continued support and efforts toward curating environments that allow our students to learn to the best of their ability. Thank you for being a part of our MLS “Village!”

 

Photo below features Josh Dean from Madison Combined Martial Arts doing warm-ups with some students at SES: 

 

MLS prioritizes the safety of our students above all else, and a part of this priority means continuously working to improve the safety education resources in relevant areas that impact our community. Recently, we have had reports of two separate car crashes where MHS students rear-ended school buses. 

“While no one was hurt, the need to do something was apparent,” states Officer Ralf Caswell, School Resource Officer at MHS. To address this issue, Madison brought in educational resources and experiences to raise awareness around distracted and impaired driving. 

Through contacts with the Lake County Safe Communities Coalition and an Ohio Traffic Safety Officer, Officer Caswell procured an educational video produced by the State of Ohio to show students. The video educated viewers on distractions from phones, radios, and other people while driving, and under the organization of Principal Brady, was shown to all of MHS on September 30.

“I appreciate our partners who helped to support this programming. The safety of our student drivers is so important, and I am glad our high school team was able to coordinate this,” says Angela Smith, superintendent.  

In addition, the Lake County Safe Communities Coalition – which targets reducing the number of traffic-related motor vehicle deaths in Lake County by increasing seat belt usage, increasing motorcycle safety awareness, and reducing distracted and impaired driving – visited the school on October 2 with activities to increase awareness around these issues. The presenters included a State Trooper, two mentor PD officers, a safety officer from the State of Ohio Department of Traffic, and two individuals from the Lake County General Health District. Students viewed footage of crashes from distracted drivers in the Lake County area and were presented with instructional information as they participated in activities with impairment goggles. This was an especially impactful exercise as students experienced first-hand (but safely!) how impairment can affect them as they try to navigate a 2,000+ pound vehicle.

MLS would like to extend our gratitude to the individuals throughout Lake County who take the safety of our students seriously and support areas where additional education is needed. Raising awareness about issues such as distracted and impaired driving is pertinent in ensuring students have the resources they need to make conscious and informed decisions in regard to transportation. 

 

With the school year in full swing, MLS is thrilled to see a fun tradition take on a new wave – the Madison Blue Streaks Marching Band was honored to perform this morning on Fox 8 News’ Kickin It With Kenny, a fantastic opportunity that allows our students to showcase their talents and represent our school with pride. What’s unique about this tradition is that we typically see our band join this segment every other year; but when Fox 8 reached out to Director Brett Tomko to bring the band on for the second year in a row, Mr. Tomko knew he couldn’t say no. 

“This is the fifth time we have been on Fox 8, and normally we reach out to ask if we can join them every other year – but this year, the producer reached out to us!” Mr. Tomko says. “I played on Fox 8 when I was in high school, and when I came to Madison, I wanted to continue that tradition with the kids. We have a great relationship with Fox 8!” 

The band was welcomed to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Plaza to perform several musical numbers. “It’s fun for the band to be on TV! There is nothing like a live performance,” he adds. “It’s also fun because the band room opens at 4:15 am, and it’s the earliest they ever have to be at school. We are always tired as we end the day with a game, but it is definitely worth it!”

The Blue Streaks Band will also perform at tonight’s game – so if you didn’t catch them this morning, you can catch them live tonight as they cheer on our team! 

 

 

Madison Local Schools is fortunate to have many dedicated and skilled alumni who graduated from MLS and knew what they wanted to do: rejoin our School community and support the district in a new way. We are constantly impressed with and thankful for the love they pour back into our buildings. This is why we’d like to introduce our new column, “The Alumni Spotlight,” where we will regularly feature just a few of the incredible alumni who spend their time giving back to our students. All of our alumni and staff deserve recognition for their efforts, and we are honored to be able to share a few of these individuals. 

This week, the spotlight is on Jean Sency, who is a member of the MLS Board of Education. Jean graduated from MHS in 1979 and has lived in Madison her whole life, always as an active participant in the community. Through her years as a student of MLS, Mrs. Sency gained a sense of community and belonging; “I am totally guilty of having an enormous hometown pride about myself,” she says. “I have friends that I have literally known since grade school!”

Mrs. Sency comes from a family that has been rooted in Madison for years, with her father graduating from MHS, spanning to herself and her brothers, and most recently, her daughter. “It’s my turn to give back and to be a part of an institution that has been such a large part of who I am. I want to represent our community and their needs,” she adds. 

In her efforts to give back, Mrs. Sency has become an integral part of the Madison community. One of her favorite memories from MLS dates back to her high school days, when MHS held a mock Political Convention that took over the gym: “I truly believe it was that experience that made me fall in love with the political system. It was a lot of work but so much fun!” In addition to serving on the School Board, working to ensure our students are provided with environments that uplift them to their full potential, she has been a donor to many local health and human services in Lake County over the years, and donates to the Madison Food Bank. 

“The thought that something I may have been involved in could possibly impact a student's life or help create memories for our kids – that’s what it’s all about. Working with our administration has made my role as a School Board member completely joyful,” Mrs. Sency raves. “We are lucky here at MLS to have such a dedicated team working and teaching our kids. I love being around a group of people who truly care and want the best for everyone.”