Mendota Elementary School

Address:	4002 School Road, Madison, WI 53704
Telephone:	(608) 204-7840
Fax:	(608) 204-0471
Principal:	Dennis Pauli
Mendota Elementary School Web Site
Handbook \| en español
Online Staff Directory
Attendance Area Map \| HS attendance area: East
School Data Profile
School Supply List

Parent/Teacher Group President:

Ginger Seery, (608) 819-0188

Parent Contact:

Michelle Braithwait, (608) 245-1655

Students — Click Here!

Mendota Elementary School is governed by a parent and community Steering Committee which guides our mission, vision and beliefs about meeting individual student needs within a diverse learning community. Our long range planning encompasses eight themes: teaching and learning systems, learning environment, resources and facilities, unified community, parent involvement, partnerships, school climate, equity and anti-racism through the district framework of learning, relationships and engagement.

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. Safe Haven PLUS serves an additional 45 students for after-school academic support.

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 five new computers. Integration of technology throughout the curriculum is evident in all subject areas. Teachers are highly qualified to provide direct instruction in our state-of-the-art computer lab or within their classrooms. Mendota recently purchased a SMART board.

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 fifth graders.

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. 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. Three potluck dinner meetings per year are scheduled and Leadership 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," 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, the Overture Center, St. Peter's Parish, RSVP, Kiwanis Club, the North Side Planning Council, Troy Gardens and numerous neighborhood associations.

University Partnerships

Mendota has a long history of collaboration with UW-Madison, one of the nation's topteacher training schools. We provide quality training for future teachers and our staff. The UW Center for Biology Education and the UW-Extension Nutrition Project also support our classrooms.

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.

Quotes

"This year I've been in the school on various occasions and the atmosphere is inviting, artistic, appealing and, yes, even peaceful!"
-- Mendota Parent

"Mendota is a great school because we have great students, teachers, and a great principal. They give us the help and strength we need to succeed."
-- Mendota Student

"When I tell my friends about the exciting field trips we have they get jealous."
-- Mendota Student

"I like seeing the principal in hallways, at special events, outside after school - she is always there for everybody and she looks like she enjoys her job!"
-- Mendota Parent

"The teachers and principal are great and the mix of student racial and economic backgrounds is a big plus!"
-- Mendota Parent

"I loved going to the new Overture Center. Mendota has the best teachers!! Mendota is #1 in the nation!"
-- Mendota Student

"What I like best about Mendota are the teachers. They are always there to talk to and help with anything that our children or parents need."
-- Mendota Parent

Remember, you're "At Home At Mendota Elementary School!"