School Tour

School opens at 7:20am for morning recess and an optional breakfast. Families can drop students off until our first bell at 7:40. Teachers will meet students at the playground and walk them to class at 7:40. Our day ends for grades 1-4 at 2:30, with kindergarten dismissal at 2:20.

School starts at 7:45. Students begin in reading, followed by recess and then math. Students have lunch at 10:40 with a 20 minute recess. In the afternoon students have writing, social studies, science, special area classes, and INVEST time.

INVEST is a time where students are grouped homogeneously and move to a specific classroom in kindergarten to have their needs met. Teachers review academic data every 6 weeks to rearrange the groups based on student needs.

Students in grades 1-4 have Guided Study. This is a time of day where we provide intervention or extension to students based on academic need. Groups are composed of between 6 and 8 students for intervention, and up to 30 students for extension.

We strongly recommend the full day kindergarten program. Students in the half day program go home at 10:30 and only recess reading and math instruction. Students who stay for the full day are typically more prepared to enter 1st grade. Madison Camelview and Madison Rose Lane offer free full day program.

We have 3-6 adults for every grade recess supervising students. At lunch our parent group generously funds two noon duty aides so that our teachers can have a duty free lunch. We are fortunate to use tax credit funds for recess coaches who help students with structured activities at recess.

Students have 20 minutes for lunch and 20 minutes for recess. Students attend lunch with their grade-level and sit with their homeroom during lunch. We offer hot lunch and two cold lunch options daily. Students may bring lunch from home. We offer an allergy aware table or families concerned about student health needs. Families can visit at lunch by signing up online prior to that day’s lunch. We have a designated visitor table for lunch time guests to sit with their students.

Students have 20 minutes for lunch and 20 minutes for recess. Students attend lunch with their grade-level and sit with their homeroom during lunch. We offer hot lunch and two cold lunch options daily. Students may bring lunch from home. We offer an allergy aware table or families concerned about student health needs. Families can visit at lunch by signing up online prior to that day’s lunch. We have a designated visitor table for lunch time guests to sit with their students. If students are not finished with lunch in the designated time, they may stay in the cafeteria until they finish.

We offer optional homework daily. Homework is practice of already learned skills. Homework is not graded, but will be collected by the teacher. If a parent would like more homework, they can request resources from the teacher.

Teachers communicate through weekly newsletters that share the updates for their classrooms. The school principal, Mrs. Murray, sends a school newsletter every other week with information about school happenings and updates about how the school is implementing its plan to meet school goals. PATS sends a weekly newsletter to all families about community events and important dates to remember. Emails are expected to be responded to within 1 school day. Teachers are focused on students during the school day and will not check email before school dismissal.

Students do NOT nap in kindergarten. 

We use the Arizona state standards and the Madison District adopted curriculum for each subject area K-4.

•  Phonics: UFLI
• Phonology Awareness: Heggerty<
• Reading: McGraw Hill Wonders
• Math: HMH IntoMath
• Science: McGraw Hill Inspire
• Social Studies: McGraw Hill Impact
• SEL: RULER

We use universal screening three times a year to assess academic competencies in reading and mathematics. Our district uses fastbridge reading and nwea map to provide teachers with specific information on the academic needs of their students. Teachers review this data with our assistant principal and school We use universal screening three times a year to assess academic competencies in reading and mathematics. Our district uses fastbridge reading and nwea map to provide teachers with specific information on the academic needs of their students. Teachers review this data with our assistant principal and school

We offer PE, Spanish, Art, Music, and Technology. Students travel to each special with their homeroom once a week. Teachers will communicate which day your student goes to each special so they can wear appropriate footwear. Our Spanish program is not an immersion program. Students sing, dance, and play games to gain an appreciation for the language, along with knowledge of key words and phrases. Madison Heights offers the Spanish immersion program.

Students visit the library once a week with their class. They are read a story from our library associate that connects to their IB unit. They then can check out books for the week.

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) is an educational approach designed for elementary age students. It focuses on developing students' curiosity, critical thinking, and ability to work with others. Instead of just memorizing facts, IBPYP encourages children to ask questions, explore topics deeply, and make connections between what they learn and the world around them. The program emphasizes global awareness, teaching students to appreciate different cultures and think about how they can contribute to making the world a better place. It also includes a focus on personal growth, helping children become responsible, thoughtful, and active learners. In an IBPYP school, students learn in a supportive environment that helps them grow academically and socially. Students who attend an IB school will gain the skills necessary to be a successful student and learner in their life.

Teachers create IB units of study that align with 6 key themes. These themes are transdisciplinary and cover all subjects. Teachers help students draw connections between the theme and a central idea through each subject. Teachers work as a grade- level team to develop the lessons in alignment with state standards and district curriculum.

Play Based instruction is a key component of the IB kindergarten experience. Students will respond to their learning through play. For example, if students are learning about force in science, the teacher may bring out hot wheels to have students explore and reflect on the learning objective. Teachers may present a provocation to the students to set up the play experience, and then will have students reflect on the play as a class. We know< learning is best when contextualized for students, and play is an integral method of the style of instruction for our school.

Students will sit in groups to practice their collaboration and cooperative learning skills. There is a space in the classroom for direct instruction on the carpet. Some classrooms will set up center based learning. All classrooms will include a self-regulation area where students can visit as needed.

6 of our 8 kindergarten classrooms are in a building with bathrooms connecting the classrooms. Teachers in those classrooms use signals for students to communicate when the bathroom is needed. Our remaining classrooms have bathrooms in the hallways. Teachers in kindergarten take structured breaks at the start of the year to help students safely get to the bathroom without accidents.

Simis currently has over 900 students in grades K-4. Our district recommended class capacity is listed below:

• K: 26
• 1: 29
• 2: 29
• 3: 32
• 4: 32

Madison Simis employs 2 aides that support all kindergarten classrooms. We also have 3 instructional aides that support grades 1 through 4. Our parent organization funds two five-hour aides, and the district funds one eight hour aide. Our school interventionist and assistant principal work closely to ensure that the instructional aides are used strategically in order to maximize their impact on student achievement.

We have academic programs that students can access for reading and math differentiated practice. We use Zearn math, Waggle math, and Lexia Reading. Students also have access to SeeSaw which is a student portfolio where they will post pictures and videos of their class work. These portfolios will travel with them, digitally, through their academic career at Simis. In kindergarten students spend 10-30 minutes a day on the computer. As students get older, more time is spent, typically up to 1 hour a day, as students learn researching skills and how to produce assignments in different formats.

We have academic programs that students can access for reading and math differentiated practice. We use Zearn math, Waggle math, and Lexia Reading. Students also have access to SeeSaw which is a student portfolio where they will post pictures and videos of their class work. These portfolios will travel with them, digitally, through their academic career at Simis. In kindergarten students spend 10-30 minutes a day on the computer. As students get older, more time is spent, typically up to 1 hour a day, as students learn researching skills and how to produce assignments in different formats.

One benefit of attending a K-4 is that our 4th graders get to be leaders on campus! Our leadership roles for 4th grade include being student ambassadors (leaders at recess), reading buddies, technology buddies, and play pals. Any student interested in a leadership role is given support from the classroom teacher or our IB coordinator to learn about the responsibilities of the role, and then is given the opportunity to help others.

At Simis, community is everything! While families are not required to volunteer at the school, there are many opportunities to volunteer in some capacity. Our parent group, PATS (Parents and Teachers at Simis) make this school the wonderful place it is! They also include a subgroup, PATS Dad’s Club, to make sure everyone feels welcome. We have a Trunk or Treat event, a Turkey Trot, a Fun Run, our International Day, book fairs, movie nights, and much more! From helping with CopyCats (helping copy resources), to working in our garden beds with DIGGS (discovery is growing gardens at Simis), to teaching an art masterpiece lesson, there are so many ways to get involved! We highly encourage you to find a way to get connected and to be part of our wonderful community.

Aftercare is offered through Madison with Community Ed: MAC. We also have many daycares that will pick up students from our school if the MAC on campus is full. Vendors offer classes after school as well. This year we have seen Lego Club, Young Rembrandts, Yoga Club, Mad Scientists, Athletes in Training, and many more. There is truly something for everyone!

We do offer bussing in Madison. There is a satellite bus for open- enrollment families that picks up and drops off at the North Phoenix Baptist Church (7th St and Bethany Home). Kindergarteners sit at the front of the bus for easy entry and exit. All students wear badges on the bus that connect to an app< where families can monitor student locations.

Madison Simis uses PBIS (positive behavior intervention and support). This means that we explicitly teach students the expected behaviors for all areas of campus, and then reinforce those behaviors when we see them. Students can earn loops for demonstrating positive behavior. These loops go into a loop jar in the classroom, that when full, will result in a classroom celebration. If discipline is needed, we follow the Madison handbook for discipline and bullying. This handbook includes interventions that should be given to a student to reteach the expected behavior, along with a response (consequence) for the behavior. Anytime bullying is reported to the school, it is investigated. Safety plans will be put in place if determined appropriate following the conclusion of the investigation.

Madison Simis has a RAPTOR system that checks the IDs and runs quick background checks for all visitors and volunteers on campus. Our front office includes bullet resistant glass, and individuals must be buzzed through to access the campus. Our school practices fire drills, bus evacuation drills, and lockdown/lockout drills throughout the year. Staff are trained in Options Focused Emergency Operations Preparedness. This means that all staff members are aware of school safety drills, procedures, and have received explicit instruction on how to respond fluidly in a crisis situation. Families are informed whenever there is an emergency on campus.

Madison Simis Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)