April 10th - 13th
In our school-wide Building School Improvement Plan, we thought having “good” scores was a far flung dream!
Math Goal: We will increase our Advanced and Proficient population from 17% to 34%.
ELA Goal: We will increase our Advanced and Proficient population from 35% to 50%.
Science Goal: We will increase our Advanced and Proficient population from 30% to 50%.
March eValuate
These eVaulate scores put that dream nearly into focus! Our Math sits at 38% and our ELA is at 53%. If this test really is more challenging than the MAP test, our expected results look promising! Stay focused on the prize!
Last year these goals seemed so far out of reach. Hard work, singular focus, feedback, data, good teaching, pedagogy, parent support, student goals, thinking about thinking and ALL the little things we do along the way have brought us to the cusp of our quest. We stand here making final preparations for the MAP test, our final race, the ultimate contest and benchmarking event, poised to win, ready to succeed and actually get ourselves #onthemap. As caring adults, we can stay strong, intervene, connect and share with our students. They might want to self-sabotage their own success. Let’s not let them. Don’t allow them to quit. Don’t let them opt out. Skipping assignments and zeros does not teach accountability. “You get what you deserve” degrades the learner. If they had determination, they would have already done the work. In fact, trying to teach accountability only teaches them to hate school even more. Together, we ALL have worked these eValuate Scores into new territory. Our discipline has improved and our attendance is getting better. We are just about #ontheMAP.
For instance, here is how we compare to the past five years in Discipline:
Good Discipline does NOT Diminish Hope!
Daily discipline counts are also below years’ past. This chart shows the average number of Office Discipline Referrals per day. We can attribute this to our best efforts at keeping students in classrooms, class discussions, guiding and redirecting excited students, immediate interventions and improved consistency between classrooms. Well Done!
From Hardwork to Hardware
Building on good success last year, our Spring Track Team is developing depth and talent to bring home hardware throughout the meets. Relays and individual events both produce metal!
Well done, coaches and athletes.
Practice makes Perfect
Students practice being nice. They don’t automatically know empathy, how to connect, what it means to be a friend and how to accept the diversity in others. That’s where we all fit it. Family discussions during a stressful event often pull a family together even closer.
Really?
For the week of April 10th - 13th
Monday - April 10
- Track Practice continuing
- 7th grade participating in #ThatTalk
Tuesday - April 11
- Track Practice continuing
Wednesday - April 12
- 7th grade participating in #ThatTalk
- Pizza Party/Awards Ceremony for VFW Essay Contestants in Ms Guiles Room at 11:00
- Early Release Day
- Red / Black Card Movie
- MAP Rosters
- Summer Academy Candidates - Behavior, Grades, Attendance
Thursday - April 13
- Chess Club - Mr. Utlaut’s room
- City Museum Field Trip for Readers Club
- 7th grade participating in #ThatTalk
Friday - April 14
- Easter Break
#ThatTalk might be embarrassing but it is vital for our future!
Here's the outline of the talks and opt-out form for ANY parents who would rather give #ThatTalk themselves. We sent it home with students on Thursday and IT IS ON FACEBOOK too.
Opt out here:
Print and send this in or call school Monday
Upcoming/Ongoing
- Block Scheduling begins April 18th - 28
- Step Up Days for the 5th Graders
- We have worked these days into a different type event this year. We are working on a plan to maximize our learning as well as set the minds at ease of the incoming 5th graders.
- TBD: May 15th or 16th
- All 5th grade students will visit the building together.
- They will travel, tour, explore lockers & lunch in small groups.
- Details will follow.
- Summer School Registration until April 26th - ALL STUDENTS WELCOME
- Semi-Formal Student Dance - April 21st
- BOGO Book Fair - April 24 - 28
- NJHS Induction - April 25 at 6:30 pm in MS Gym
- Spring Choir Concert - May 2nd
- Middle School MAP Testing - May 4th - 11th
- SIX FLAGS TRIP - MAY 12
- Senior Clap Out - May 12th
- Field Day - May 15th - The Consummate Ac Lab Challenge
- Spring Band Concert - May 16th
- Six Flags - Due, Tuesday, April 18th
- Best when accessed through Students google account, for example: Name@Winfieldriv.us
- Last Day of School - May 17th
- High School Graduation - May 21st at 2:00 PM
- 2017-18 6th Grade Back to School Night - Thursday, August 10, 2017 (We will be looking for Concierges to help guide the incoming 6th graders!)
Conclusion
Wrapping up all our details and loose ends sometimes adds extra pressure to everyone. Students don’t want to disappoint those closest to them. Teachers are looking for ALL the missing assignments. Principals are guiding and redirecting behaviors, NOT wanting to carry over any discipline. Counselors are dealing with personal matters solving issues at home or school. And STUDENTS JUST WANT TO BE DONE.
Yet, some students are a bit melancholy that summer is approaching. They might be a bit hesitant to go to the next grade or next building. They will miss their friends over the summer. Meal situations may changes. A secret longing for the daily routine might fester below the bravado surface that “everything will be fine,” but many students like school. Many appreciate the company of their friends, their teachers and the safety they find in their classroom. Finally, some students like the independance of traveling from class to class.
Whatever your student’s preferences, encourage them to stay strong until the end. Saying things like, “You CAN do it,” “Don’t stop now,” and “You are almost there!” actually helps others persist until the very end. Another favorite, “Anyone can start strong, but very few finish strong!”
“You can do it, REALLY!
Tom McCracken
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