Madison Elementary School

Parent Handbook

2026-2027

Mrs. Leticia Hernandez, Principal

Mrs. Sylvia Garza, Instructional Coach 

Mrs. Libby Valentino, Project Teacher

Mrs. Gaby Flores, ELD/Intervention Coach

Mrs. Rosa Castillo, School Counselor

WELCOME MADISON FAMILIES!

Dear Madison Elementary Families,

Welcome to another exciting school year at Madison Elementary! As I begin my second year serving as your principal, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the trust, support, and partnership you have shown our school community. It has been a privilege to work alongside our students, families, and staff, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

At Madison Elementary, we believe that every child deserves a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Together, we will continue to build a school culture that celebrates growth, encourages perseverance, and inspires every student to reach their full potential.

This year, we will continue to embrace our PROUD Values, which guide our actions and decisions each day:

• P – Positive: We choose optimism, encourage one another, and focus on solutions.
• R – Respectful: We treat ourselves and others with kindness, empathy, and dignity.
• O – Outstanding: We strive for excellence and take pride in doing our very best.
• U – United: We work together as a team, valuing the strength of our diverse community.
• D – Determined: We persevere through challenges and remain committed to achieving our goals.

When students, families, and staff live out these values, we create a school environment where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Family partnerships are essential to student success. We encourage you to stay connected, participate in school events, communicate regularly with your child's teacher, and become actively involved in your child's educational journey.

Thank you for being an important part of the Madison Elementary family. I look forward to another year of learning, growth, and celebration as we continue to make our school a place where every child is known, supported, and inspired to achieve great things.  Here's to a wonderful school year ahead.

With Gratitude,

Leticia Hernandez

Principal-Madison Elementary

Patriotism begins in our school — proud of our classroom, proud of our learning, proud of our future

OFFICE HOURS 

7:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF/OFFICE/SUPPORT STAFF 

Instructional Coach: Sylvia Garza

Project Teacher: Elizabeth Valentino

Counselor: Rosa Castillo 

ELD/Intervention Coach: Gaby Flores

Administrative Assistant: Claudia Lopez

Office Specialist Bilingual: Esther Montes

Office Tech Bilingual: Verenice Figueroa

Security Agent: Ernesto Hernandez

OFFICE HOURS

7:15-3:30 Monday-Friday

Registrations till 3:15 pm Monday-Friday

SCHOOL HOURS (Gates Open at 7:45 a.m.) 

Grades TK/K (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.,) 8:15 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. Grades TK/K (Wed.) Minimum Day 8:15 a.m. - 1:20 p.m.

Grades 1st-3rd (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.) 8:15 a.m. - 2:33 p.m. Grades 1st – 3rd (Wed.) Minimum Day 8:15 a.m. - 1:33 p.m.

Grades 4th-5th (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.) 8:05 a.m. - 2:33 p.m. Grades 4th - 5th (Wed.) Minimum Day 8:05 a.m. - 1:26 p.m.

BEFORE SCHOOL 

In order to maintain a safe and orderly campus, we ask that students in grades TK-5th not be dropped off earlier than 7:45 a.m. as there is no student supervision prior to 7:45 a.m. The following supervision procedures are for students who are on campus before school begins:

• TK & Kindergarten students will enter the campus through the kindergarten gate if they arrive between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. Please walk your child to the kindergarten gate for safety reasons.
• To improve traffic flow and ensure student safety, 1st–5th grade students arriving between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. will no longer enter the campus through the blue doors next to the MPR. Instead, please use the blue doors located on the east side of the school.
• Breakfast will start at 7:45 a.m. Students who arrive after class starts will have the opportunity to eat during Second Chance Breakfast during their regularly scheduled recess.
• Students who don’t eat breakfast on campus and arrive between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. will be supervised by our school site monitors and support staff.

TARDIES

● School begins promptly at 8:05 a.m. for students in 4th and 5th grades.

● School begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. for students in TK-3rd grades.

● Any student arriving at school after class starts must be accompanied by an adult and

report to the office to sign them in electronically. Cell phones are required to sign in students through our QR code system.

● Please help us reduce our chronic absenteeism, students learn when they are at school.

NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCE 

• School attendance is compulsory in California. It is required!
• Children are excused from attending school only for: illness, medical or dental appointments, a court appearance (for the child), or the death of an immediate family member.
• After 10 excused absences, ALL other absences become documented as Personal, regardless of the reason for absence.
• All absences should be reported to the school office. If your family is to be away from school for 10 days or more, contact the school office one to two weeks before your scheduled departure for information regarding Independent Study.  
• We have a “report an absence link” to help report an absence.  You can access the link from our school website.  Simply click on the link and report the absence. https://dsusdmadison.ss18.sharpschool.com/

EARLY PICK-UP 

• When picking up students early, students will be called out of the classroom when parent/guardian is present and have signed their student out at the office.
• Students will not be called out of the classroom after 2:15 p.m., unless the office was notified earlier in the day.
• Please notify the office whenever you allow your child to be picked up by anyone other than parents.

END OF THE SCHOOL DAY 

• 1st - 5th Grade teachers will walk students out to the front of the school parking lot. Kindergarten parents will be let in by our school supervisors. Parents will walk through the gates to pick up their kindergarten child at their classroom door.  Please note, play structure will be off limits.  Our supervisors need to lock the gate to promptly support the dismissal of other grade levels;

• TK-K Parents will go  through the kinder gates and walk to the Kindergarten and TK classroom doors to pick up their child. The teacher will dismiss your child once they see you at the door. 1st -2nd Students will be dismissed at the blue gates near the library, the east side of the school. As parents/guardians arrive, students will be dismissed from the class line from their teacher.
• 3rd-5th Students will be dismissed at the blue gates near the MPR as parents/guardians arrive. Teachers will dismiss students to their parents/guardians.

• Please make the drop off and pick up as calm and safe as possible for everyone by:

• Parking in appropriate areas and walking to meet your child. For the security of all students, please do not park in the red zones or block the access of other vehicles.
• Picking up your child at the curb (do not allow your child to cross in front of any vehicles). Please have your child enter your vehicle from the side closest to the curb to avoid entering the flow of traffic.
• Keeping crossing areas clear at all times.
• Demonstrating courtesy, patience, and safe driving while on or near our school grounds. Reduce your speed and heed all traffic signs.
• Students who are not picked up on time (within 15 minutes from dismissal) will be taken to the office. Parents need to pick up the student from the office.

VISITORS AT SCHOOL 

Please know that we want our school to be a welcoming environment to parents; however, the students’ safety on campus is our utmost priority. The following information outlines our school procedures:

• Only registered school volunteers will be allowed on campus during the instructional day. These volunteers are cleared through the district, have made prior arrangements with the teacher, must sign in and out in the office, and wear a visitor’s badge.
• If you are an approved volunteer, please make prior arrangements with the teacher to identify the date and times you will volunteer and be on campus.  
• If your child is tardy, please bring them to the office for a tardy pass; however, parents will not be allowed to walk their child to the classroom.
• Parents are allowed to send their student with lunch; however, they are not allowed to eat with their child on campus during the school day. Please make sure that your child comes prepared with their lunch, homework, backpack, etc.
• If you would like to meet with a teacher before or after school, please go to the office and they can assist you with contacting the teacher to arrange a meeting. Parents may also contact teachers via email and ClassDojo as well.
• All parents must wait outside for their children at dismissal near the child’s exit area. Parents will not be allowed on campus early to wait outside their child’s classroom.
• During special events that occur during the school day such as Awards Assemblies, parents and guests must enter through the blue doors next to the MPR, unless otherwise notified through a parent notice. Parents and guests are to exit immediately following the event as we are still a closed campus.
• Please be ready to show ID when signing in at the front office. All visitors will need to sign in using the Raptor system.

Modes of Communication with the School

• Parents can contact the school for any questions, 760-775-3850.
• You can contact staff by email.  Please reference the school website to view staff emails: https://dsusdmadison.ss18.sharpschool.com/
• Madison also uses an online third party dashboard for home school connection. The dashboard is to communicate school events, activities and classroom reminders.  All personal information or concerns should be communicated through synergy, a call to school or email to the staff.

SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM and DISTRICT WELLNESS POLICY 

• Breakfast, Second Chance Breakfast and Lunch is served daily.
• FREE breakfast and lunch programs are available throughout Desert Sands Unified School District.
• Food is not to be shared at the lunch tables as some students may have food allergies. Please send personal lunch size portions ie. no large bags of chips.
• For food-safety reasons, all items brought from home for class celebrations must be prepared in an approved commercial facility and pre-wrapped. Food prepared at home shall not be served in the class. Please refer to your child’s teacher for classroom guidelines when it comes to celebrations including birthdays.

INCLEMENT WEATHER 

The Heat Illness Prevention policy and administrative regulation is intended to promote student safety when local weather may be detrimental to their health. Administration and School Site Monitors pay close attention to the Heat Index and adjust accordingly for the health safety of all staff and students.

Here at Madison, we have a Heat Mitigation Plan which includes our students having their recess in their classrooms and eating lunch inside the MPR at the lunch tables. We have an outdoor misting system at the lunch tables to keep them cool, as well as Portacoolers that can be used at the tables and recesses. All classrooms (teachers) have site radios for safety reasons.

During school dismissal, students will be released from the following areas due to rain or extreme heat:

• TK-K Parents will walk up to the Kindergarten and TK classroom doors to pick up their child.
• 1st-2nd Students will be under the shaded structure near the library. Parents can come up to the structure to pick up their child.
• 3rd-5th Students will be dismissed at their regular blue gates by the MPR as parents/guardians arrive, they will be let into the cafeteria area to pick their children up.
• ASES and ELOP students will be dismissed from the shaded tables or from the MPR.

CHILD CUSTODY/ACCESS TO SCHOOL RECORDS

● By law, if parents are legally divorced and/or not living in the same household, each biological parent has equal rights to the custody and access to educational records of the child/children, upon establishing legal identification.

● The school must have a copy of the most recent court order on file that indicates custody and signed by a judge, otherwise each parent may check the child/children out of school, with legal identification. As a courtesy, the school would first make an attempt to contact the parent/guardian of residence.

MULTI-TIER SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT 

STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM (SST)

The Student Success Team is made up of counselor, teacher, parent, resource specialist, and two advisory teachers. When a child is having difficulties progressing in school, a teacher or parent can submit a Request For Assistance form (RFA). Links to the form can be found at dsusd.us or in the counseling page on the Madison Elementary School website. The Tier II Team will review the request and determine the appropriate intervention support for the student, monitor the progress and may recommend an SST meeting to discuss the needs further. An Action Plan will be developed in the SST meeting to assist students.

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST 

• The primary job of the psychologist is to conduct psychoeducational evaluations which identify if a student qualifies for special education services.
• Madison has a Resource Specialist Program. This program is for special education students who qualify. The Student Success Team recommends testing for this program after all other interventions have been tried.
• The Psychologist and the Resource Specialist do the testing.

SPEECH THERAPY 

The Speech Therapist is here every week to work with students who qualify for speech or language services. The classroom teacher or a parent can request screening for the program.

COUNSELING

We have a full-time counselor for our students. For information regarding the counseling support available for students, please visit Madison School’s Counseling webpage at https://sites.google.com/desertsands.us/counseling-at-madison/home.

MADISON SCHOOL-WIDE BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS 

We believe that children should be taught to be responsible citizens. Good citizenship is the responsibility of all adults and children at the school. Citizenship and academic performance are closely related.

During the first week of school, students will be informed via grade level assemblies of the school-wide behavior expectations and be responsible for meeting them in and out of the classroom. In addition, students will be reminded of and recite the Madison Character Traits every morning PROUD-Positive, Respectful, Outstanding, United, Determined. Staff may assign ‘think-sheets’ to students when they do not meet the school’s expectations. Think sheets are non-punitive but rather offer an opportunity to reflect on what positive choices the students can make. After completion, students take the ‘think sheet’ home for a signature from parent or guardian. Schoolwide behavior expectations extend to our after school programs (ASES and ELO-P)

Guidance for Student Attire

While Madison Elementary does not have a formal dress code policy, we encourage families  to help students make mindful and respectful clothing choices that support a positive  school climate. Appropriate attire contributes to a learning environment that is  comfortable, inclusive, and safe for all students.

We ask families to consider the following guidelines when preparing students for school  each day:

• Clothing should support full participation in all school activities, including classroom learning, physical education, recess, and other active tasks.
• Clothing with inappropriate or offensive language, imagery, or messages is not appropriate in a school setting.
• To support a respectful and inclusive environment, students are required and expected to: avoid wearing short shorts,ripped jeans, cropped tops that show midriff, and spaghetti strap shirts.
• Footwear should be secure and appropriate for physical activity. For safety reasons, plastic shoes with sling backs, slide on sandals and similar loose-fitting  shoes are not allowed, especially during active play. Closed-toe and closed heel  shoes are required (sneakers with velcro or shoe lace).
• Hats may be worn outdoors for sun protection, but we ask that students remove  hats and hoodies from their head, while indoors during instructional time as a sign  of respect for the learning environment.
• To build school pride and unity, we encourage students to wear school colors— red, white, and blue—whenever possible, especially on spirit days (Friday) or during school events. Tan bottoms are also a good choice.  
• We also have mindful Monday, when students can wear a shirt that shows kindness.

These guidelines are not intended to limit students’ personal expression, but rather to  promote awareness of how clothing choices can impact comfort, safety, and the overall  school experience for themselves and others.

We appreciate our families' support in helping create a welcoming, respectful, and  engaging school environment for all.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM HOME 

• Personal belongings such as; toys, balls, games, etc., from home are not allowed at school. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items. 
• Toys and personal belongings that are a distraction will be taken to the office and parents will be asked to pick them up.
• We discourage students from bringing personal electronic devices to school. The school is not responsible if one of these items is lost or stolen. 
• Cell phones are to remain turned off and must stay in the student’s backpack the entire day. If not, the phone will be confiscated and kept in the office until the parent picks it up.
• Students' cell phones are not permitted on field trips.

Cell Phone, Smart Watch, and Electronic Device Policy

All cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic communication devices must be turned off and stored in backpacks upon  school entry, and remain off and away for the entire school day, including instructional time, unless specifically authorized by  school staff.

Phones or smart watches used without permission during school hours will be confiscated and stored in the office. Confiscated  devices may only be retrieved by a parent or guardian from the principal or designated staff member.

Students are solely responsible for the security of their personal devices. James Madison Elementary School and Desert  Sands Unified School District do not assume responsibility for the theft, loss, or damage of any cell phone, smart watch, or  electronic device, nor for any disciplinary consequences resulting from misuse.

Recording or taking pictures of any person without explicit permission is strictly prohibited.

This policy is in accordance with Board Policy 5131.8.  Please note the district Letter:

Dear DSUSD Parents and Families,

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! As we embark on the start of a new school year, we want to ask for your assistance with an important aspect of our learning environment: student cell phone use during instructional time. While cell phones, smart watches, and other mobile communication devices are an integral part of modern life, their presence in the classroom can pose a significant distraction. Research consistently shows that excessive phone use can lead to lower academic performance, reduced in-person social interaction, and increased anxiety among students. In a setting where focus and engagement are crucial, these distractions can prevent students from reaching their full potential. The misuse of these devices can also contribute to serious issues such as cyberbullying, cheating, and exposure to inappropriate content. Our top priority is to keep our schools safe, supportive, and focused on learning for every student.

To maintain an optimal learning environment, our district has clear guidelines regarding cell phone use. DSUSD Board Policy 5131.8 requires cell phones, smart watches, and other mobile communication devices to be turned off and put away during instructional time. Students are expected to follow their teacher's specific guidelines on phone use within the classroom. It is important to note that California Education Code 48901.7 allows students to use cell phones in emergencies or when there is a perceived threat of danger. At DSUSD, students must put their cell phones, smart watches, and other mobile communication devices away during instruction but will be allowed to access them in case of an emergency. We strongly encourage students to focus on their studies, interact directly with their peers, and fully engage in their learning experiences without digital interruptions.

As our world becomes increasingly connected through technology, cultivating healthy habits around cell phone use in schools is essential for student success. We kindly ask for your support in reinforcing these habits at home. Together, we can create an environment where our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We look forward to working together to ensure our schools continue to be places of learning, growth, and positive interaction for all.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Updated DSUSD Board Policy: Hate-Motivated Behavior

In an effort to keep you informed, we wanted to share that the Governing Board has updated Board Policy 5145.9 Hate-Motivated Behavior. This policy underscores our commitment to providing a respectful, welcoming and safe learning environment for every student.

Hate-motivated behavior is defined as any conduct intended to cause emotional suffering or harm through intimidation, harassment or bigoted slurs that is motivated by bias toward a person’s race, ethnicity, religion or other protected characteristic. Such language and behavior have no place in our schools. Examples include the use of the N word, antisemitic remarks targeting people of Jewish heritage, or derogatory comments about Hispanic culture or Spanish-speaking communities. Even if uttered casually, these words carry painful histories and can create a hostile climate for students and families.

The updated policy calls on us to promote positive relationships and prevent incidents of hate-motivated behavior. To support this, we provide students with age-appropriate instruction that teaches respect for human rights and offers strategies for managing conflicts constructively. Our staff receive ongoing training to deepen their understanding of fairness, belonging and the varied backgrounds represented in our classrooms and to help them recognize and address concerns. We also collaborate with community organizations to celebrate the many cultural identities represented in our schools.

If your child experiences or witnesses hate-motivated behavior, we encourage them to tell a trusted adult.  Complaints will be investigated and resolved in accordance with our uniform complaint procedures. We also offer counseling, guidance and support to students who are affected. Our priority is to educate and heal while reinforcing expectations for kindness and respect.

By working together as a school community and family partners, we can build a culture where every child feels valued, safe and empowered to learn. Thank you for discussing this topic at home and for helping us model the compassion and courage we want to see in our students.

PARENT HANDBOOK NOTIFICATION-EARLY SCREENER

Early Screening

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, DSUSD will administer the state approved and board adopted early reading screener, mCLASS DIBELS, for all students in kindergarten through second grade, as required by California Education Code §53008. This screener will be administered three times a year.  (September, January and April) In addition, DSUSD will also utilize mCLASS DIBELS to assess 3rd-5th grade students.   

The screener is designed to identify students who may be at risk for reading difficulties so that appropriate, evidence-based interventions can be provided as early as possible. The assessment may be administered in a student’s primary language when available.  Per California Education Code §53008, parents or guardians will be notified of the results within 45 calendar days of administration and parents have the right to opt their child out of the screener by submitting a written request to the school site principal by September 1.  

If the assessment results indicate that your child is at risk, it does not mean they have a reading disability. It simply shows that they are not yet meeting the expected literacy skills for their age. This assessment helps our educators understand each child's learning needs and adjust their instruction accordingly.

Here are some ways we will support students who are at risk of reading difficulties:

• In the General Education Classroom: Your child may receive additional support in a small group setting with their classroom teacher, focusing on targeted literacy skills.
• In the Intervention Classroom: Your child may work in a small group with a qualified and trained interventionist, receiving more intensive instruction.

The results of the screeners will not be used to determine eligibility for special education services or for high-stakes decisions, but will help guide instructional support to ensure that all students have the opportunity to become proficient readers.

RECOGNITION OF DAILY ATTENDANCE, GOOD BEHAVIOR AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Attendance 

The district goal for each elementary school is to have a minimum of a 96% attendance rate. Students receive recognition for Daily Attendance. Classes with the best attendance, for the month, will receive the Attendance Trophy during the Student of the Month Assembly. As classes complete the PERFECT ATTENDANCE Posters they will receive prizes such as: attendance pencils, attendance bracelets, and attendance award tags. Students with Perfect Attendance for the month will be entered into a raffle at each Student of the Month Assembly.

Patriot Proud 

As part of our goal to maintain high academic and social expectations for our students, we have chosen to utilize the “Patriot Proud” positive behavior program. This program provides the opportunity for students to demonstrate positive character traits, be leaders in the decision making process, have control over their own behavior, and be responsible to learn, achieve, and succeed in our school community. The staff on our campus is committed to modeling the character traits; Positive, Respectful, Outstanding, United and Determined by identifying and rewarding students who demonstrate being PATRIOT PROUD.

Academic Achievement

Monthly awards assemblies take place throughout the school year. Awards include the following:

• Student of the Month
• Top i-Ready Reading Classes per grade level
• Top i-Ready Math Classes per grade level
• Top PE Classes per grade level
• Top STEM classes per grade level
• Highest class attendance per grade level
• Monthly perfect attendance raffle

Parents will be notified by the teacher when their child will receive an award. Parents and family members are welcome and encouraged to attend the assembly.

ParentVUE 

1. First go to the District website-www.dsusd.us, Go to FOR PARENTS, scroll down to and click on ParentVUE.
2. Click “I am a parent”, choose activate account (call 760-775-3850 for activation key), accept the policy and you will receive the message “parent account activation”.Enter your first name, last name and activation key. This will take you to “Create your ParentVUE Account”.
3. Once you have created your account, download the ParentVUE app from your APP store.
4. This will give you access to your students grades, attendance, teacher communication and report card information. 
5. Annual Online Registration is completed through Parent VUE

Important Dates

• August 26th - “Back to School Night”-5:30pm - 7:00 pm for 1st-5th
• Parent Conferences (Minimum Days) - October 12th-15th & February 9th - 12th.

Grades TK-K:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays  

8:15 AM – 2:20 PM

Wednesdays 8:15 AM – 1:20 PM 

Grades 1ST-3RD:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays  

8:15 AM – 2:33 PM

Wednesdays 8:15 AM – 1:33 PM 

Grades 4TH-5TH:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

8:05 AM – 2:33 PM

Wednesdays 8:05 AM – 1:26 PM