Don't count the days, but make the days count!

The SEMI?

Yep. It was fun!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the Western Theme!

Combat that Summer Slide

Grades for the last Progress Report

of the year are due to be emailed home April 24th!

Keep it up!

2016-17 in Green

2015-16 in Red

The formative feedback, adjusting instruction to students know what the question is asking, how the question is framed and how the negative is really the positive.

The week of April 24th - 28th

BLOCK SCHEDULING Continues, with adjustments

Our block schedule will need midstream adjusting as we align every day to have the same bell schedule!

PLEASE: NOTE THE NEW TIMES ABOVE ON BLACK DAYS!

Monday - April 24

• RED/Odd Day
• BOGO Book Fair - April 24 - 28 (Buy One, Get One)

Tuesday - April 25

• BLACK/Even Day
• BOGO Book Fair
• Books due to the Library this week
• NJHS Induction - April 25 at 6:30 pm in Middle School Gym
• BestChoicestl.org for 6th graders*

Wednesday - April 26

• BOGO Book Fair
• LAST DAY FOR SUMMER JOURNEY REGISTRATION

• RED/Odd Day
• BestChoicestl.org for 6th graders*

Thursday - April 27

• BOGO Book Fair
• BLACK/Even Day
• Chess Club - Mr. Utlaut’s room
• BestChoicestl.org for 6th graders*

Friday - April 28

• BOGO Book Fair
• BestChoicestl.org for 6th graders*
• RED/Odd Day
• Special Olympics
• Monday, May 1st will be a BLACK (Even) day!
• Regular Bell Schedule resumes on Tuesday, May 2nd.

THE NEXT WEEK, IT BEGINS!

Middle School MAP Testing - May 4th - 11th

Please follow Test Taking Suggestions

Plenty of rest, exercise and stress-free activities

Upcoming/Ongoing

• Block Scheduling in operation April 18th through May 1st
• Step Up Days for the 5th Graders
• We have worked these days into a different type of 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 (Not the Field Day)
• All 5th grade students will visit the building together
• They will travel, tour, explore lockers and eat lunch in small groups
• Details will follow
• Summer School Registration until Wednesday, April 26th - ALL STUDENTS WELCOME
• Bestchoicestl.org gives #thattalk to our 6th graders April 24th -28th*
• Spring Choir Concert - May 2nd
• Middle School MAP Testing - May 4th - 11th
• Please follow Test Taking Suggestions
• Plenty of rest, exercise and stress-free activities
• SIX FLAGS TRIP - MAY 12th - 250 + students and staff will take 5 buses to the Park for a concrete celebration of abstract mathematical and scientific principles!
• Senior Clap Out - May 12th
• Field Day - May 15th - The Consummate Ac Lab Challenge
• Spring Band Concert - May 16th
• 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

Six Flags

We have had over 250 students sign up for the Six Flags Trip. It is great to have such a huge response. We will be shuttling 5 buses throughout the day.

#ThatTalk might be embarrassing but it is vital for our future! *

Here's the outline of the 6th grade BESTCHOICESTL.ORG talks and an opt-out form for ANY parents who would rather give #ThatTalk themselves. These forms are also ON FACEBOOK too. The 6th graders this week (April 24-28) get their age appropriate version. Students or families wishing to opt out will received an alternative book assignment covering the same content.

Opt out here:

Print and send this in or call the school to opt out.

An alternate assignment also aligning with DESE curriculum will be assigned for the student to complete from a text book.

Attendance Comparison:  Making the turn!

Inching back higher!

We can do this!

Don’t count the days, but make the days count!

We really hear it now that school is winding down. Kids start asking “How many days do we have left?”  Interestingly, we hear a tinge of remorse or regret in their voices. They seem sad to know they will be gone for an entire summer. Gone will be the days of lunch, one-way hall walking, laps, and homework. In fact, some students might not read at all over the summer. To overcome this challenge, try some of these ways below to make the days count!

To combat that summer learning loss, try making the DAYS COUNT by organizing these things:

1. Sign 6th and 7th graders up for Summer Journey.
2. Sign up the 8th graders for SUMMER ACADEMY. This research-based program is designed to strengthen the connection between students and school, develop relationships with peer mentors from the high school and increase the likelihood that students find success in their quest for a high school diploma!
1. It is also a blast, working in the AM and playing in the afternoon!
2. We WILL be using the same buses as the Summer Journey for all students
3. Meals will be served at the Primary, Intermediate and the High School.
3. Take lots of trips to the library to check out books for them to read. Is it worth it? Some research says students with 25 books in the home will complete two more years of education than students lacking the printed material! Even a few dollars at the thrift store will glean great adventures, in the mind's eye following the characters in the books from one adventure to another!
4. Take in a local tourist trap and read about why everybody thinks it is so interesting! For example, The Gateway Arch did not fit together on the last day. Lemp Mansion has an intriguing history. Route 66 used to go all the way to Santa Monica California, from Chicago!

But whatever you do, don’t count days! Make the days COUNT!

Sincerely,

Mr McCracken