INCOMING/6TH-GRADE INFORMATION


Did you miss our 3/21 Incoming 6th-Grade Family Info Night?
Click Here To View Our Presentation (Japanese | Spanish | Korean)

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABSENCES, TARDIES & LEAVING EARLY | ACADEMIC SUPPORT | ANNUAL REGISTRATION | ATHLETICS | CALENDAR OF EVENTS | CAMPUS SAFETY | CLASSES & ELECTIVES | CLUBS | DROPPING OFF / PICKING UP YOUR STUDENT & AFTER-SCHOOL CARE | ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY & DRESS CODE | EVENTS & STUDENT RECOGNITION | FOOD, SNACK, LUNCH & CELEBRATIONS | HEALTH OFFICE | LOCKERS | MADRONA MASCOT & COLORS | POWERSCHOOL | PLANNERS, TEXTBOOKS, & CHROMEBOOKS | SCHOOL COMMUNICATION | REPORT CARDS & HOMEWORK | SCHOOL SUPPLIES / SPIRITWEAR / PE CLOTHES | VOLUNTEERING |  MORE QUESTIONS?

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle school is a time of rapid growth and change for students as they transition from children to teenagers. At Madrona, we understand those developmental years and have many ways of supporting students and their families.

Changes your students will encounter as they matriculate to middle school:

  • Six periods in different classrooms Instead of one teacher and classroom.
  • A bell will sound when each class period is over and when the class period begins. Each period is approximately 50 minutes long.
  • Mastering time management as they learn to retrieve items from their lockers and attend class on time. There is a 3-minute passing period between classes, ample time for students to get to their next class.

Your student will be issued a locker with combination lock to store their backpack, notebooks, books, and other personal items. They will also be issued a PE gym locker. Every student will be issued a Student ID Card with their picture. They must be responsible for this card and always keep it with them. They will use it to check out books from the Library.

ABSENCES - TARDIES - LEAVING EARLY

 If my student is going to be absent, late, or needs to be picked up early - what should I do?

  • Email: madronaattend@tusd.org
  • Call our Attendance Office at (310) 533-4562 ext 8791  (messages are checked frequently).

If you need to pick your student up early, PLEASE CALL THE SCHOOL early in the day so we can pull your student from class at the appropriate time. If it's an emergency, we can only pull students from class after 3:00 pm.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT CLASSES

What if my student needs extra support in Math, English, Science or Social Studies?

  • Madrona offers Tutorial, a 25 minutes period of academic support four days a week (right after 4th-Period/before Lunch).
    Mondays = SOCIAL STUDIES, Wednesdays = MATH, Thursdays = ELA, Fridays = SCIENCE
    • Teachers will reach out to students who need support, but it is strongly recommended that students also learn to respectfully communicate with their teachers directly when they need extra support.
  • On Late Start Tuesdays, our CJSF Honors students are available at 8:15 am for peer tutoring in the Cafeteria.
     

ANNUAL STUDENT REGISTRATION

 Do I have to register my students if they come from a feeder elementary school (Fern or Hickory)?

  • YES, every parent/guardian MUST register each summer to show intent on having their student attend Madrona. Registration is required of all enrolled students through the PowerSchool (Parent/Student Portal) before the beginning of the school year.

We are new to Torrance Unified School District and just enrolled our student at the Family Welcome Enrollment Center. Do I still need to register?


ATHLETICS

What athletic programs or sports teams do you have at Madrona?

  • Madrona supports a robust boys/girls athletic program, competing against other TUSD Middle Schools. All communication about sports teams, tryouts, game dates, etc., are given directly to the student.
    • Soccer
    • Volleyball
    • Basketball
    • Flag Football
    • Cross Country


CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Is there a master school calendar for campus events or no-school days?


CAMPUS SAFETY

What security and safety measures are in place at Madrona?

  • Madrona is a closed campus; once the bell rings for school to begin, all gates are locked for the day. Any entrance or exit from campus must be from the front gate.
    • The back gate (off Opal Street) is open only before school in the morning and for 15 minutes after school ends and then locked. 
  • Any person coming onto campus FOR ANY REASON must present a government-issued identification card and pass through our TUSD Raptor Security Screening before being issued a visitor’s pass, which must be visible at all times while on campus.
    • Every adult must show their driver's license and be listed on the ‘Student’s Release’ information before releasing a student to them. There are NO exceptions.
  • Our security staff routinely monitoring the campus and perimeter of our campus throughout the school day. 
  • In alignment with school district expectations, we periodically practice fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills.
  • Never pass anything to your student over the gate or fence as this appears on our security cameras as a safety breach.


CLASSES & ELECTIVES

Who do I contact if I have a concern/question about a specific class?

  • We strongly encourage you to email the teacher if you have questions about a specific class. Teacher email addresses are available on our website and PowerSchool.
  • If you have a more confidential concern, contact Assistant Principal Stuckey at stuckey.royce@tusd.org.

How do I get my student’s class(es) switched?

  • Switching a class often means changing the entire schedule, which depends on class size and availability.
  • NO CLASSES may be changed during the first four weeks of school due to Enrollment Reports unique to this period (unless there is an obvious error).
  • To begin the request process to switch classes, email Assistant Principal Stuckey at stuckey.royce@tusd.org to explain why the change is necessary.

What Elective classes are available for my incoming 6th grader?

  • Here is our reference list of core and elective classes. This year, 6th-graders will choose their courses through a Google Form.
    • Your student may be placed in an intervention class instead of an elective (if test scores and/or grades indicate a need) to give them the extra support they need to excel in that subject. Space is limited in elective classes, we recommend that students keep an open mind and select alternative options for their electives.

6th-grade Elective classes include:

  • Elective Wheel (Quarterly experience: PLTW Design & Modeling, Speech, Art and Music)
  • Music - Vocal (year-long)
  • Music - Beginning/Advanced Band (year-long)
  • Music - Guitar
  • Sports Management (limited to 10 students per grade level)
  • Digital Media/Journalism Class
  • Science Olympiad (limited to 10 students per grade level)


CLUBS ON CAMPUS

What clubs do you have at Madrona that my student may join?

  • The clubs we offer will differ from year to year because the students decide what clubs they want to have. Currently, we offer the following:
    • Art Club
    • Cinema Club
    • E-Sports
    • Gardening Club
    • Math Club


DROPPING OFF / PICKING UP YOUR STUDENT & AFTER-SCHOOL CARE

Does Madrona offer before or after-school care?

How early may I drop my student off at school?

  • On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we open our school gates at 8:15 a.m.
  • On Late Start Tuesdays, we open the school gates from 8:15 - 8:30 am and close them until 9:00 am. Students must remain in the designated Cafeteria Study Hall area and are supervised by a certificated staff member.
  • .After school care is available on site and through the City of Torrance After School Club. There is a monthly fee for the after school care. 


ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY & DRESS CODE

The electronic device (including cell phones) is the same throughout the TUSD school District

  • The Madrona campus is a learning environment that should be distraction-free throughout the school day. All cell phones, while permitted on campus, must be turned off during school hours unless used under the direct supervision of a staff member.
  • Students will have their electronic devices confiscated if they use them without permission, with progressive means of discipline for each offense. Repeated cellphone violations require a parent/guardian to sign the phone out from Assistant Principal Stuckey.
  • In accordance with the Board of Education’s policy and administrative regulation on search and seizure, a school official may search a student’s mobile communication device, including but not limited to reviewing messages or viewing pictures (cf. 5145.12 - Search and Seizure). A student who violates this policy may be prohibited from possessing a personal electronic device at school or school-related events and/or may be subject to further discipline in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulation.
  • Students are not allowed to possess laser beam pointers on school grounds (California Penal Code 417.27 (a), (b), (c), and (d).

What is the expectation of student attire (dress code) at Madrona?

  • Please refer to the Madrona Student Handbook posted on our website (www.madrona.tusd.org) for our school dress code.
  • Students must always wear close-toed shoes on campus (Crocs, sandals, flip-flops, slippers, etc. are not permitted at any time). Any garment that carries offensive or inappropriate drawings, descriptions, or codes is prohibited.


EVENTS & STUDENT RECOGNITION

Events - We have many different events on campus throughout the year, including:

  • School dances
  • Carnival Night (for families and our community)
  • Movie Night (for families and our community)
  • Mid-Day Mingle (for families to enjoy lunch with their students)
  • Adventures in Art
  • Assemblies / Spirit Assemblies
  • Music Concerts (Holiday, Winter and Spring)
  • Drama plays
  • Invention Convention


Recognition - We have programs at Madrona designed to reward students’ best efforts and behavior!

  • Gotcha Tickets (redeemable for prizes in the library)
  • PBIS Incentive Card (Reward System)
  • Honor Roll
  • Merit awards - student recognition at school assemblies


FOOD, SNACK, LUNCH & CELEBRATIONS

Are school lunches and snacks free?

  • For the school year 2024-25, they are free. Annually, TUSD Nutrition Services notifies us on whether meals are free 
  • Please complete the TUSD Nutrition Services ‘Free and Reduced Meals’ Application - the completion of the application assist our district with the identification of families who qualify for free/reduced meals and other benefits.

Does Madrona have breakfasts available for students?

  • We offer nutritional snacks after the 2nd period during our Nutrition Break. We do not provide before-school breakfasts.

May I bring lunch to my student, or will DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc. be accepted?

  • Families may bring a home-cooked lunch for their students.
  • NO—we do not allow outside food vendors on campus due to safety concerns. That includes McDonald's, Starbucks, or any other off-campus restaurant.

It’s my student’s birthday - may I bring balloons, cupcakes, cake, or pizza to school?

HEALTH OFFICE - SICKNESS OR INJURY

If my student gets sick/hurt at school, what happens?

  • Your student will be sent to our Health Office, where they will be assessed and treated (if possible). You will receive a call from the Health Office if the situation warrants it.
    • Health Office Hours 8:30 am-3:30 pm  
    • madronahealthoffice@tusd.org
    • 310-533-4562 (Ext 8782, 8783 or 8710)
  • The information on your contact list must be updated every year during the registration process. If a student is injured, we will call the parent or guardian listed in PowerSchool, and if warranted, 911 will be called.
  • If your student texted you that they are not feeling well, they MUST go through the Health Office before they are released to you.
  • Every adult picking up a student must show a Driver's License and be on the student’s Contact List as a ‘Release’ person.  We will NOT release your student to anyone not on your contact List.
  • Regarding medication on campus, all medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription, are treated the same.
  • Parents must submit a physician-signed ‘Medication Authorization Form’ for all medications, including over-the-counter medications, brought to school.
  • Medications will be kept in the Health Office and administered to the student under the supervision of the Health Services Assistant/Technician.
  • USE OF INHALERS: Inhalers may be carried by the student if authorized by the doctor, and a backup inhaler must be kept in the Health Office. The student must complete a ‘Contract To Carry’ form. This form is a contract between the student, doctor, and the school that states that the student will use the medication properly and not share, etc.
  • End Of School Year:  All medications must be picked up at the end of the school year. Any medication remaining after the last day of school will be given to the District Nurse to discard.

 

LOCKERS

  • Every student is issued a locker with a combination specific to that locker. We strongly urge students to never share their locker combination with any other person.
    • Switching lockers is complex. There must be a compelling reason to switch a student’s locker. To begin the process, please email Assistant Principal Stuckey (stuckey.royce@tusd.org) with your request and the reason.
  • Every student is also issued a PE Locker/lock. Students will change their clothes in the boys/girls' locker room and store their belongings in their PE locker.
     

MADRONA SCHOOL MASCOT & COLORS

  •  Madrona's mascot is the Wildcat and the school colors are Red and White.
     

POWERSCHOOL - MONITOR YOUR STUDENT’S GRADES & ATTENDANCE

What exactly is PowerSchool?

  • PowerSchool is an online web student data portal that lets you see your student’s Academic Progress, Missing Assignments, Attendance, Health Office visits, etc. TUSD sends a report card at the end of each quarter.
  • PowerSchool has a cellphone app (iPhone/AppStore | Android/Google Play); however, back-to-school registration can only be completed through the website.
  • Your student’s teacher’s email addresses are listed in PowerSchool (and on our school website).

How do I set up my PowerSchool Parent/Student account?

  • Full instructions will be sent to every family by the first week in August.
  • Please contact the main school office at (310) 533-4562 if you require assistance.
     

PLANNERS, TEXTBOOKS, & CHROMEBOOKS

  • Textbooks for each class will be distributed within the first week of the school year. Students are 100% responsible for the care and safekeeping of these books. Families will be charged a replacement fee if a book is lost or damaged.
  • Library books will be checked out to students using their student ID cards.
  • Chromebooks are assigned one-to-one to every student. Students are responsible for charging their devices every evening.
    • Please contact Cynthia Osejo, Madrona Librarian/Media Techician at osejo.cynthia@tusd.org for assistance with Chromebook questions and issues.


REPORT CARDS - PROGRESS REPORTS - MISSING CLASSWORK - HOMEWORK

What are Progress Reports?

  • Report cards are sent via email by TUSD at the end of each quarter and your student's Quarter grades are also posted on your PowerSchool (Parent/Student) account.
  • Progress Reports report your student’s progress midway through the report card term/quarter, alerting you to potential problems or issues.

Missing Classwork - how do I know if my student is turning in their work?

 

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

How does the school communicate with families?  Do you send home weekly packets? Are there parent/teacher conferences like there were in elementary school?

  • Most school communication will be sent to parents via email, including a weekly newsletter from the Principal. Teachers often instruct students to communicate something directly to their parents. Please include a working email address in your student’s PowerSchool profile.
    • Communication between school and home continues, but students are encouraged to communicate with their teachers. We also encourage parents to email their student’s teachers with any concerns. Communication between parents and teachers always motivates students to do their best.
  • Teachers share homework assignments with students in class and through Schoology, an online learning management system. You can log in to your student Schoology account using their username and password. This TUSD Schoology resource shares how to access your student’s account. 
  • Parent conferences are available at the parent or guardian's request but are not scheduled for the whole school, like in elementary school.
    • If you would like to, for instance, meet with all your student’s teachers at the same time (a roundtable), this can be arranged on an as-needed basis.
  • If you feel your student is having issues in a particular class, or behavior warrants it, and you would like to ‘shadow’ your student or visit one of their classrooms, please contact madronainfo@tusd.org or email the teacher directly (all email addresses are on PowerSchool or our website)
    • If you have a family matter and wish to speak to our Counseling staff, please email Counselor Emily Lujan at lujan.emily@tusd.org.
       

SCHOOL SUPPLIES / SPIRITWEAR / PE CLOTHES

Does the school provide school supplies?

  • No. The school doesn’t provide supplies for every student, but teachers provide handouts and supplies for whole-class instructional lessons.
  • At the start of the school year, teachers will share their suggested supply list (pencils, pens, glue sticks, notebooks, etc) during the first days of school.

What is spiritwear and how do I order it?

  • Madrona Student Council will be offering spiritwear consists of items designed for Madrona Wildcats, including hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, etc. These items will be available for optional purchase at the start of the school year.

Madrona students must dress for PE.  

  • Madrona PE clothes (with Madrona logo) can be purchased through the Madrona CalPro Sports Shopping cart link. Orders are processed at the end of each week and shipped directly to families. Students are expected to wear PE clothes consisting of a red t-shirt and black shorts (or a red sweatshirt and black sweats). Purchase of the Madrona PE clothes is not required, but similar clothes in colors are required for identification during PE class activities. Ensure the student’s name is written on the garments for easy identification.

 

VOLUNTEERING 

Do you have classroom volunteers (like they do in elementary school)?

  • No—Madrona does not have classroom volunteers. We do, however, have lots of other volunteer opportunities!
  • Volunteers are vitally important to student life at Madrona.  To apply as a volunteer - complete this TUSD VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.
  • Once you have uploaded your ID and other current information, we will process it quickly and get you into our database. You only need to give us your first and last name when you come onto campus (so we can log into our TUSD Raptor Security System).
  • Volunteers are always needed for our Registration Day event, chaperoning school dances and other activities, Adventures in Art, etc.
    • Our Madrona PTSA President will welcome you - madronapresptsa@gmail.com

 

WHO DO I CONTACT IF I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

  • Contact our main office at (310) 533-4562.
  • For Health issues, contact the Health Office email: madronahealthoffice@tusd.org  310-533-4562 (Ext 8782, 8783 or 8710). Hours 8:30 am-3:30 pm 
  • For Absences, Tardies, Withdrawals, Student Records, and Independent Study Contracts, contact our Office Assistant at ext. 8791