 Principal’s Note: Dear parents, As happens every year, within the first weeks of May, we will be assessing student learning in the elementary school using standardized assessments. I want to share some information about the new literacy assessment we will be using to assess reading in the elementary school this year. The Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System, Third Edition is a one-on-one assessment that helps us identify your child’s specific reading strengths and appropriate instructional reading level for small-group instruction as determined by the F&P Text Level Gradient™. The data gained from this standardized assessment helps us identify goals and plan instruction that supports your child’s reading progress. Within each level are easier and harder books, and a range of topics and book types. The text levels are not intended for students or for families to categorize readers, but in the hands of teachers, they inform instruction. The Benchmark Assessment System provides a snapshot in time of your child’s literacy development and will be given across the ES from May to 8-23, 2017. (Your child’s teacher will provide more exact dates on classroom blogs.) Because this is a new assessment for our school community, we have designed a testing protocol which allows multiple teachers to administer the assessment across the school. This method ensures the assessment is delivered with fidelity across the grades, and provides the teachers an opportunity, to discuss what we are learning as we launch into a new tool. In all, each grade level will have 6-10 testers, including myself, over the next few weeks. The test is very similar to the DRA2 assessment used in the Fall. However, this new kit provides a more detailed look at student comprehension, which is often the area we need to focus our instruction around. (Students can sometimes read the words, but do not adequately understand what they read. Reading is understanding.) It is important to note, your child already experiences a wide variety of book levels across the day in read-aloud, shared reading, book clubs, and independent reading. When selecting books for enjoyment, your child should be selecting from a wide range of books that appeal to his/her interests; not only selected based on reading level. By the end of May, teachers will be communicating the areas of focus for your reader. (We will also ensure next-year’s teacher has this information to begin the year with). In the meantime, here are some of the best ways you can support your child’s literacy learning at home:
We are excited about this new assessment and the information it will provide us as we work to best serve our readers at ASW. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Warmly, Jen Munnerlyn esoffice@aswarsaw.org Important Upcoming Dates to Note: (more detailed information below)
 ASW “Project Nest” ! Last week a varied group from across the school worked with our consultant Ewan McIntosh of NoTosh to begin gathering our stories around “What is ASW all about?” This information is collected and displayed for all to read, question, and curate in the ASW “Project Nest”. Over the next several weeks, these stories will be used to create a set of Core Values for our school. Please come in and read what people across our community are thinking, wondering, hoping and dreaming. We need your voice too! Grade 5 Transition Meeting for Parents- Wednesday, April 26 8:45 in the MPR All Grade 5 parents are invited to attend the “Grade 5 Transition to MS and the MYP Meeting”. The MS team will share with parents what MS will be like for your children, how the process begins this spring, and offer a change for questions if you have them. If you can’t make it, information will be sent home the following day via Grade 5 Homeroom teachers. This is a joint effort! Please see Ms. McGuire MS Vice Principal (cmcguire@aswarsaw.org) or Mrs. Munnerlyn (jmunnerlyn@aswarsaw.org) if you have any questions. From the ES Music Department- CHANGE OF DATE The 3rd and 4th Grade Students are happy to invite their parents, families and friends to their music concert. Please join us on Thursday, June 8th at 9:00am in the ASW Theatre to see your children sing, play instruments and dance. Student concert clothing: white top with dark bottom. Questions? Please email Mr. Minasz our music teacher (pminasz@aswarsaw.org) A Note from the ES Art Studios Every year in art your students build and create with numerous found objects and recyclable materials. They love building and designing so much we have almost gone through our entire collection of supplies. We need to rebuild our stock for the remaining school year (and beyond) and NEED YOUR HELP!! We regularly collect the following materials:
Collection boxes for these materials can be found in the ES foyer next to the lost and found and outside of Studio 47 room E 147 on the first floor. Thank you in advance for your support and donations! (Questions? Contact Jenn Jordan- ES Art Teacher: jjordan@aswarsaw.org) Yearbook Photos Due to a fast approaching deadline, replacement photos for yearbook portraits will no longer be accepted. However, if you are a student or you are a parent of a student who has not taken a photo with the school photographer nor have one from last year, please submit the photo as soon as possible to Mr. Stephen Miele: smiele@aswarsaw.org. Call for Makers- ASW’S FIRST MAKER FAIRE!- April 27, 2017 Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, scientists, authors, artists, students, and community makers. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Click HERE for more information. We invite you to set up a station at the Maker Faire to showcase your unique creative skills and demonstrate to small groups of students how to do it themselves. Please spread the word and sign up here: Maker Activity/Demonstration or Event Volunteer. (Questions? Contact HS Design Technology Teacher Mr. Campbell acampbell@aswarsaw.org) Math Kangaroo Update: There are still no student scores available for the Math Kangaroo test. But answers are available! You can find the answers here. Hopefully, you still have the test your child brought home. Unfortunately, there are no copies of the test questions available now. Questions? Contact Ann-Marie Cetlinska - Elementary Math Coach acetlinska@aswarsaw.org Other Links of Interest ES Office Weebly Counselor’s Corner PYP Implementation ASW Library Website
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 Principal’s Note:
Dear parents, Teacher Appreciation Day at ASW is an amazing event. The flowers, the heartfelt sentiments from students, and the amazing food provided by our parents… it really is one of my favorite days! Thank you for making us feel truly appreciated. This short week- promises to be busy! I hope to see you at Family Reading Night on Thursday! Warmly, Jen Munnerlyn esoffice@aswarsaw.org Important Upcoming Dates to Note: (more detailed information below)
ASW Board of Trustees Election Dear ASW Parents and Guardians, We are pleased to remind you that three ASW community members presented themselves as candidates for the 2017-2018 Board of Trustees election. The first Meet the Candidates session took place last week. You are warmly invited to attend the second meeting on Thursday April 20, at 5:30pm in the Multipurpose Room (Arts and Athletics Building) right before the ES Family Reading Night. At this meeting, you will be given the opportunity not only to listen to the three BoT candidates’ perspectives on the current school climate, but also to ask them questions about their vision for ASW in the future. The electronic voting for ASW’s Board of Trustees will open on Friday April 21. Board of Trustees HPAC (Homeroom Parent Advisory Council) Meeting - Cancelled (Wednesday, April 19) Due to a consultant on campus, Jen is unable to host this meeting. Homeroom parents, please be on the lookout for an email regarding our test of the new Parent Conference Sign-Up System “Scholastico” tomorrow. Questions? Please email ES Principal: Jen Munnerlyn (jmunnerlyn@aswarsaw.org) Grade 5 Transition Meeting for Parents- Wednesday, April 26 8:45 in the MPR All Grade 5 parents are invited to attend the “Grade 5 Transition to MS and the MYP Meeting”. The MS team will share with parents what MS will be like for your children, how the process begins this spring, and offer a change for questions if you have them. If you can’t make it, information will be sent home the following day via Grade 5 Homeroom teachers. This is a joint effort! Please see Ms. McGuire MS Vice Principal (cmcguire@aswarsaw.org) or Mrs. Munnerlyn (jmunnerlyn@aswarsaw.org) if you have any questions. Library Notes Family Reading Night - April 20, 18:00 - 19:30 Join us for a cozy evening of stories and activities! Family Reading Night is a wonderful way to connect as a community around the importance of reading to our children, talking about books, and spending good time together. Who: All ES students and parents. Students are welcome to wear pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. Where: Opening session and light refreshments will take place in the Atrium of the "new" building, followed by sessions in the Library and classrooms. RSVP: Please sign up on this short online form or on the sign-up sheet in the Library. Questions: Please e-mail ES Librarian, Miriam James (mjames@aswarsaw.org) or Literacy Coach, Heidi Laffay (hlaffay@aswarsaw.org). From the ES Music Department- CHANGE OF DATE The 3rd and 4th Grade Students are happy to invite their parents, families and friends to their music concert. Please join us on Thursday, June 8th at 9:00am in the ASW Theatre to see your children sing, play instruments and dance. Student concert clothing: white top with dark bottom. Questions? Please email Mr. Minasz our music teacher (pminasz@aswarsaw.org) A Note from the ES Art Studios Every year in art your students build and create with numerous found objects and recyclable materials. They love building and designing so much we have almost gone through our entire collection of supplies. We need to rebuild our stock for the remaining school year (and beyond) and NEED YOUR HELP!! We regularly collect the following materials:
Collection boxes for these materials can be found in the ES foyer next to the lost and found and outside of Studio 47 room E 147 on the first floor. Thank you in advance for your support and donations! (Questions? Contact Jenn Jordan- ES Art Teacher: jjordan@aswarsaw.org) Yearbook Photos Due to a fast approaching deadline, replacement photos for yearbook portraits will no longer be accepted. However, if you are a student or you are a parent of a student who has not taken a photo with the school photographer nor have one from last year, please submit the photo as soon as possible to Mr. Stephen Miele: smiele@aswarsaw.org. Call for Makers- ASW’S FIRST MAKER FAIRE!- April 27, 2017 Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, scientists, authors, artists, students, and community makers. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Click HERE for more information. We invite you to set up a station at the Maker Faire to showcase your unique creative skills and demonstrate to small groups of students how to do it themselves. Please spread the word and sign up here: Maker Activity/Demonstration or Event Volunteer. (Questions? Contact HS Design Technology Teacher Mr. Campbell acampbell@aswarsaw.org) Rock'n'Rota concert Come to this year's second Rock'n'Rota concert which will take place in the ASW Theater on Friday, April 21 at 6:30 PM. MS and HS bands will be playing a wide repertoire of music including a tribute to the recently departed Chuck Berry. Tickets are 10 pln at the door. All proceeds will be used to buy music-related items for the District Group of Family Assistance Facilities in Konstancin-Jeziorna. Come support the rockin' music at ASW! (Questions? Contact Chris Celinski MS & HS Music Teacher: ccelinski@aswarsaw.org ) Other Links of Interest ES Office Weebly Counselor’s Corner PYP Implementation ASW Library Website  Principal’s Note:
Dear parents, This week, Miranda Rose, our PYP Coordinator will host a Parent Partnership Meeting about the PYP. This meeting will detail how our launch into this work has gone, as well as provide feedback to the community on our recent visit by the PYP Consultant. (This was a mandatory visit on our path to authorization in the Fall of 2018.) If you are free, please plan to join us in the MPR at 08:45. Thank you for your continued support was we become an IB World School! Finally, did you know our ES Counselors have a blog? Click here to access. Warmly, Jen Munnerlyn esoffice@aswarsaw.org Important Upcoming Dates to Note: (more detailed information below)
From the PTO: Teacher Staff and Appreciation Day, Thursday April 13 The annual Teacher and Staff Appreciation is around the corner. On Thursday, April 13th, we want to thank all the wonderful people at ASW that do so much every day for our children. Since many years, we celebrate this special day for teachers and staff members combining both, the American and the Polish tradition. Flowers are given to teachers and staff members (Polish) and a luncheon is provided by ASW parents for all of them (American). The PTO organizes a flower sale in the morning. Students can purchase flowers from 7:45 am to 8:30 am at all three school entrances (Elementary, Main, and High school). The cost of each flower will be 5 pln. The luncheon for all faculty and staff is served in the multipurpose room later that day. In order for this event to be a success, we need your support! Dear parents, we kindly ask you to consider donating food for our lunch. We are grateful for any sized portion you can bring. All information (when and where to bring food) can be found in the documents that are listed below. Additionally, some helping hands are greatly appreciated for selling flowers and collecting food in the morning. Sign-up sheets are displayed outside the PTO store or please use one of the following links to sign-up online: Volunteering for selling flowers: Flower sale sign-up Volunteering for collecting food: Food collection sign-up Elementary: ES Food sign-up main sheet Middle School: MS Grade 6 Food sign-up MS Grade 7 Food sign-up MS Grade 8 Food sign-up High School: HS Food sign-up For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Katrin Bartelt at katrininpolen@gmail.com. Parent Partnership Meeting: PYP Update Wednesday, April 12 (08:45-09:45- MPR) We had a very successful PYP Consultant Visit to mark the midpoint of our candidacy phase. I will share out some of the positive feedback and feedforward for Implementation at ASW. Students will share learning reflections in the context of the PYP work we have been doing. Questions? Please email PYP Coordinator: Miranda Rose (mrose@aswarsaw.org) ASW Board of Trustees Election - Meet the Candidates session Dear ASW Parents and Guardians, We are pleased to inform you that three ASW community members presented themselves as candidates for the 2017-2018 Board of Trustees election. You are warmly invited to attend the first Meet the Candidates session this Wednesday April 12 at 8:30am in the Multipurpose Room (Arts and Athletics Building). At this meeting, you will be given the opportunity not only to listen to the three BoT candidates’ perspectives on the current school climate, but also to ask them questions about their vision for ASW in the future. You will have another chance to meet the candidates on April 20 at 5:30pm in MPR right before the ES Family Reading Night. The electronic voting for ASW’s Board of Trustees will open on Friday April 21. ASW Board of Trustees HPAC (Homeroom Parent Advisory Council) Meeting - Cancelled (Wednesday, April 19) Due to a consultant on campus, Jen is unable to host this meeting. Homeroom parents, please be on the lookout for an email regarding our test of the new Parent Conference Sign-Up System “Scholastico” tomorrow. Questions? Please email ES Principal: Jen Munnerlyn (jmunnerlyn@aswarsaw.org) Linin Refugee Center Clothes Drive The Chechen refugee club is organising a clothing drive from Monday, April 3 through Friday, April 17. We encourage you to bring clothes, any type of clothes - long and short, large and small, summer and winter - any clothes of decent quality are welcomed. The clothes will go to the families in Linin Refugee Center. Boxes will be placed at the in the High, Middle and Elementary schools for collection. Please feel free to stop by and drop off your items to support these families! Questions? Please email HS Math Teacher: Suzanne Doering (sdoering@aswarsaw.org) Library Notes Family Reading Night - April 20, 18:00 - 19:30 Join us for a cozy evening of stories and activities! Family Reading Night is a wonderful way to connect as a community around the importance of reading to our children, talking about books, and spending good time together. Who: All ES students and parents. Students are welcome to wear pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. Where: Opening session and light refreshments will take place in the Atrium of the "new" building, followed by sessions in the Library and classrooms. RSVP: Please sign up on this short online form or on the sign-up sheet in the Library. Questions: Please e-mail ES Librarian, Miriam James (mjames@aswarsaw.org) or Literacy Coach, Heidi Laffay (hlaffay@aswarsaw.org). Also, from our Literacy Coach, a Ted Talk on the importance of reading aloud to children (even when your kids can read to themselves). Thank you for the LEGO donations! Thanks to the generosity of so many families, we now have an abundance of bricks! A huge thank you to everyone who donated Lego for the Maker Faire and Lego after-school activity. From the ES Music Department The 3rd and 4th Grade Students are happy to invite their parents, families and friends to their music concert. Please join us on Thursday, April 27th at 2:00pm in the ASW Theatre to see your children sing, play instruments and dance. Student concert clothing: white top with dark bottom. Questions? Please email Mr. Minasz our music teacher (pminasz@aswarsaw.org) A Note from the ES Art Studios Every year in art your students build and create with numerous found objects and recyclable materials. They love building and designing so much we have almost gone through our entire collection of supplies. We need to rebuild our stock for the remaining school year (and beyond) and NEED YOUR HELP!! We regularly collect the following materials:
Collection boxes for these materials can be found in the ES foyer next to the lost and found and outside of Studio 47 room E 147 on the first floor. Thank you in advance for your support and donations! (Questions? Contact Jenn Jordan- ES Art Teacher: jjordan@aswarsaw.org) Yearbook Photos Due to a fast approaching deadline, replacement photos for yearbook portraits will no longer be accepted. However, if you are a student or you are a parent of a student who has not taken a photo with the school photographer nor have one from last year, please submit the photo as soon as possible to Mr. Stephen Miele: smiele@aswarsaw.org. Call for Makers- ASW’S FIRST MAKER FAIRE!- April 27, 2017 Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, scientists, authors, artists, students, and community makers. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Click HERE for more information. We invite you to set up a station at the Maker Faire to showcase your unique creative skills and demonstrate to small groups of students how to do it themselves. Please spread the word and sign up here: Maker Activity/Demonstration or Event Volunteer. Questions? Contact HS Design Technology Teacher Mr. Campbell acampbell@aswarsaw.org) Rock'n'Rota concert Come to this year's second Rock'n'Rota concert which will take place in the ASW Theater on Friday, April 21 at 6:30 PM. MS and HS bands will be playing a wide repertoire of music including a tribute to the recently departed Chuck Berry. Tickets are 10 pln at the door. All proceeds will be used to buy music-related items for the District Group of Family Assistance Facilities in Konstancin-Jeziorna. Come support the rockin' music at ASW! (Questions? Contact Chris Celinski MS & HS Music Teacher: ccelinski@aswarsaw.org ) Other Links of Interest ES Office Weebly Counselor’s Corner PYP Implementation ASW Library Website  Principal’s Note: Dear parents, Oh this weather! What a wonderful opportunity for us all to get out to play this weekend. I hope you enjoyed some outside time with your family. On that note, please remember that our playgrounds are open for you to use. All students need to be actively supervised when they are playing (parents must be able to view them) and we ask that school materials, especially on the PK/K playground are treated with care. We use those items for learning and miss them if they are lost or destroyed after school. Reminder: This week is a short week for students. No School on Friday! (All staff will be here for a Professional Development day.) Warmly, Jen Munnerlyn esoffice@aswarsaw.org Important Upcoming Dates to Note: (more detailed information below)
Parent Partnership Meeting with the Literacy and Math Coaches: (Wednesday, April 5 (08:45-09:45- MPR) From the Literacy Coach:
200 students participated in Math Kangaroo on March 16, 2017! Thank you to the students, parents and teachers who helped make this event possible. When will the students receive Math Kangaroo results?
Questions? Please email our coaches: Heidi Laffay (hlaffay@aswarsaw.org) and Ann-Marie Cetlinska (acetlinska@aswarsaw.org ) Parent Partnership Meeting: PYP Update (Wednesday, April 12 (08:45-09:45- MPR) We will inquire into the current and future state of the PYP Implementation at ASW in conjunction with the feedback from our PYP consultant. Some students will be involved, by sharing reflections on their learning in the context of the PYP work we have been doing. Questions? Please email PYP Coordinator: Miranda Rose (mrose@aswarsaw.org) HPAC (Homeroom Parent Advisory Council) Meeting - Cancelled (Wednesday, April 19) Due to a consultant on campus, Jen is unable to host this meeting. Homeroom parents, please be on the lookout for an email from regarding our test of the new Parent Conference Sign-Up System “Scholastico” early next week. Questions? Please email ES Principal: Jen Munnerlyn (jmunnerlyn@aswarsaw.org) Library Notes Library Closure - Thursday, April 6 The library will be closed all day on Thursday, April 6, for the Learning2 Europe conference which ASW is hosting and many teachers are attending. The library will not be available to students, parents or tutors. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Thank you for the LEGO donations! Thanks to the generosity of so many families, we now have an abundance of bricks! A huge thank you to everyone who donated Lego for the Maker Faire and Lego after-school activity. Family Reading Night - April 20, 18:00 - 19:30 Mark your calendars for a fun and cozy evening of stories and activities for ES families. Questions? Please email ES Librarian: Miriam James (mjames@aswarsaw.org) A Note from the ES Art Studios: Every year in art your students build and create with numerous found objects and recyclable materials. They love building and designing so much we have almost gone through our entire collection of supplies. We need to rebuild our stock for the remaining school year (and beyond) and NEED YOUR HELP!! We regularly collect the following materials:
Collection boxes for these materials can be found in the ES foyer next to the lost and found and outside of Studio 47 room E 147 on the first floor. Thank you in advance for your support and donations! (Questions? Contact Jenn Jordan- ES Art Teacher: jjordan@aswarsaw.org) Yearbook Photos Due to a fast approaching deadline, replacement photos for yearbook portraits will no longer be accepted. However, if you are a student or you are a parent of a student who has not taken a photo with the school photographer nor have one from last year, please submit the photo as soon as possible to Mr. Stephen Miele: smiele@aswarsaw.org. Thank you Call for Makers- ASW’S FIRST MAKER FAIRE!- April 27, 2017 Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, scientists, authors, artists, students, and community makers. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. Click HERE for more information. We invite you to set up a station at the Maker Faire to showcase your unique creative skills and demonstrate to small groups of students how to do it themselves. Please spread the word and sign up here: Maker Activity/Demonstration or Event Volunteer. (Questions? Contact HS Design Technology Teacher Mr. Campbell acampbell@aswarsaw.org) Middle School Theatre Production- April 3 and 4, 2017  Advance ticket sales for this year's dazzling and fun middle school production of Shrek, The Musical Jr. are now sold out! Thank you for supporting The Arts at ASW!
Shrek Dates and Times: Monday, April 3rd 5:00pm to 7:00pm Tuesday, April 4th 6:00pm to 8:00pm Questions? Please email MS Drama teacher: David Stein (dstein@aswarsaw.org) Other Links of Interest: ES Office Weebly Counselor’s Corner PYP Implementation ASW Library Website |
