Mendota Elementary School

PTA/O President(s): Mary Ann Roelke, (608) 249-6109; Lauri Larson, (608) 249-9761; Allison Maida, (608) 240-2883
Parent Contact(s): Michelle Braithwait, (608) 245-1655; Ginger Seery, (608) 819-0188
High School Attendance Area: East
School Web Site: http://www.madison.k12.wi.us//web/mendota/lmc/

Site Characteristics

Location

Located one block off Northport Drive and near Lake Mendota and Warner Park on the northeast side, Mendota is a neighborhood school representing a broad range of social, economic, cultural and racial diversity. Stable families, diversity, three neighborhood centers with excellent after school activities and a growing northeast business community are key reasons why the Mendota area is a great place to raise a family.

Class Size

Mendota is one of Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction's SAGE (Student Achievement Guarantee in Education) schools, which is a state grant that ensures that class sizes of kindergarten through third grade will have a maximum number of 15 students. This allows for small group and individual attention for reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Mendota offers multi-age classes at the 2/3 and 4/5 grade levels.

Neighborhood Bus Service

Although most students are within walking distance to Mendota, three school buses serve students in the morning and afternoon. Special buses are available for students with disabilities.

Community Breakfast, Hot Lunch and After School Care

Mendota offers both a hot breakfast and hot lunch program. We feature a daily community breakfast program with all students and staff participating. A nationally recognized after school program, Safe Haven, administered by MSCR serves 60 students beyond the school day, including an all day summer camp. "Kids Day Out" are scheduled during school breaks providing all day care.

Academic Programming

Achievement Scores

In the fall of 2005 Mendota was named a Wisconsin School of Promise due to consistently high academic achievement. The school was honored at a ceremony sponsored by the Department of Public Education at the State Capitol. On the March 2005 Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test, 87.1% of Mendota's third grade students scored in the advanced or proficient range. On the 2004-05 fourth grade WKCE exams, 93% of Mendota's students were proficient or advanced in reading compared to the State's annual measurable objective of 67.5%. Mendota's fourth graders were 86% proficient or advanced in mathematics compared to the State's annual measurable objective of 47.5%. Third grade writing tests are consistently higher than the district average. Mendota is a study site for two major research projects at the UW Madison being funded through the National Science Foundation. The first project, "Data-Driven Instructional Systems — Assessing How School Leaders Develop Local Capacity to Influence Instruction" is being conducted at Mendota for the next four years. Due to consistently high science, math and reading scores, Mendota is also a study site for SCALE: System-Wide Change for All Learners and Educators, a National Science Foundation Math and Science Partnership Program through the UW Madison.

Technology

Mendota students exceed state standards for formal and informal technology instructions. Students use computers in the regular classrooms, each of which has four or more computers, and in the 4/5 REACH Program (Reinforcement and Enrichment for All Children). Integration of technology throughout the curriculum is evident in all subject areas. Teachers are highly qualified to provide direct instruction in our computer lab or within their classrooms. Mendota teachers and students have been served by a Technology Consultant through our Comprehensive School Reform Grant.

Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program

The goal of Talented and Gifted (TAG) programming is to make certain K-12 students consistently have learning opportunities that are challenging, systematic and continuous based on learning profile, readiness and student interest.

Student learning experiences include a broad range of opportunities that pushes a student to their next level of challenge and allows them to develop their talents. TAG programming may occur in the classroom, or in other settings. TAG programming is determined by ongoing evaluation and assessment of individual student needs. Each school has TAG resource support for ongoing consultation.

Unified Allied Arts Classes

highly qualified teachers provide one hour of visual arts, one hour of music and one and one-half hours of physical education classes each week. Optional Strings classes including violin, viola and cello are offered for fourth and fifth graders. REACH offers integrated arts and literacy programming one hour per week for K-3 grades.

Other Programs

Mendota offers all-day SAGE kindergarten classrooms with balanced literacy instruction emphasized and supported by Rock 'n Read individual support. Reading Recovery provides individual reading for first graders and School wide Title I reading services are available K-5. Programs are provided to students with exceptional educational needs, including learning disabilities, cognitive disabilities, emotional, speech and language, physical and occupational disabilities. A full range of services are available for our students.

Support Services are provided by a school psychologist, social worker, nurse and a Title I School wide facilitator.

School Climate

Safety Is Always A Priority

Staff supervision 15 minutes before school and throughout recesses is available. School safety patrols learn leadership skills and support children before and after school. A City crossing guard assists children on School Road in front of the school. Students who live more than 1.5 miles from school are provided free transportation.

Peaceful Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution

Mendota uses the Tribes Learning Community Model which is a democratic group process to develop a positive environment that promotes human growth and learning. It requires learning how to build community through three stages of group development using four agreements among the students and adults within the school. Through this process students learn to use specific collaborative skills, and to reflect both on the interaction and learning that is taking place. We also provide a K-5 Life Skills curriculum developed by Mendota teachers using funds from our Comprehensive School Reform grant which focuses on social skills. Mendota also offers a Respect and Responsibility (R&R) intervention program. Professional Support staff meets with students to assist with problem solving. The district Student Anti-Victim Education (SAVE) program is offered K-5. Anti-harassment and anti-bullying curriculum is also taught throughout the year.

Special Programs

Mendota offers many multicultural programs in the visual and performing arts, including choral and instrumental music, theater, opera, poetry and dance and an artists in residence program. Each year we feature one or more Artists in Residence programs. Artists for 2004-05 included Jo Jean Retrum for ballet, FABU for poetry, and Dadaweh African Drummers. Our students attend cultural activities at the Madison Overture Center, the Madison Children's Museum, and the UW-Madison campus. We support field trips throughout the year that align with our curriculum.

Partnerships

Family Partnerships

The Mendota Learning Community enjoys positive partnerships with our Parent Teacher Organization. This active parent group was reorganized in 2004 with a Steering Committee and subcommittees representing grades K-1, 2-3 and 4-5. Each classroom has parent representatives. Three potluck dinner meetings per year are scheduled and committees meet more often. The PTO sponsors our Carnival, the Grandparents Thanksgiving Celebration, Student Olympics, Talent Show and numerous fun activities for our school. Mendota staff and families took first place in the "Walk for Literacy" in the fall of 2004, earning $1,000 in books for our library. The PTO supported by volunteers and employees of Kraft Foods sponsors Market Days as a primary fund raiser each month.

Title I Parent Involvement Funds support K-1 Literacy Dinner meetings throughout the year and "First Book" program. Parents participate on our governance Steering Committee. Parents are always welcome at our school and serve as friends and volunteers in the classrooms.

Community Partnerships

Mendota enjoys and values our collaborative relationships with three Neighborhood Community Centers that serve our school. The Centers provide excellent after-school and summer programming and promote technology and academic success with our students. Mendota also receives support from numerous community sponsors, especially: Webcrafters, Inc., AT&T, Marshall Fields, Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Overture Center, St. Peter's parish, RSVP, Kiwanis Club, the North Side Planning Council and numerous neighborhood associations, and Troy Gardens.

University Partnerships

Mendota has a long history of collaboration with UW-Madison, one of the nation's top teacher training schools. We provide quality training for future teachers and our staff. The UW Center for Biology Education assists teachers with science education and they support our after-school science club which provides numerous hands-on science projects for kids.

You Are Always Welcome At Mendota Elementary School!

Mendota is a child-centered educational community. We believe in partnerships within the school and community to set high, yet attainable academic and behavioral goals in a joyful, safe environment.

School Tours are offered every Tuesday morning upon request. Drop in visits by all present and potential families are welcomed.

We encourage you to talk with parents of our students to learn more about our school. Please see the Principal/Parent Contact information on this web site for current names and phone numbers.

For answers to any question, or to request materials such as curriculum standards, handbooks, lunch menus, bus schedules or newsletters, call the Mendota Elementary School office at 204-7840.