 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
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
