Mesa, The Place to Be!!!
We have had a tremendous number of activities and events since our last newsletter. Please take the time to scroll though everything to see the exciting things taking place at Mesa. In addition in April, we will start state testing. Mesa is in a situation where we have to improve in this area. We will continue to hold informational sessions to share information about what we need to do as a school and as a community so stay tuned. Also, we are always available to have conversations with parents, guardians, and community members.
Sincerely,
Tony Jackowski
Principal
State Assessment: The Why, The How, and The What
Why?
We can see how a child is performing relative to other students at Mesa Middle School, within the district, and state.
It prepares students for standardized assessments that they will take in high school, college (SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) or other vocational programs.
We can make informed decisions and choices for our students. Test data is used by administration and staff to drive instruction/curriculum and professional development choices.
Test data may identify learning gaps that can be addressed.
Identification of districts and schools that have struggling students, so help can be provided.
We want to provide a Balanced Assessment System that includes a variety of formative, interim, and summative assessments.
How are the results used?
As part of a BODY of EVIDENCE, state assessments are used to:
drive instruction for a student,
identify targeted interventions,
place students in appropriate classes at the middle school level as well as high school,
identify gifted and talented students during the identification process, and
determine effectiveness in regards to instruction and determine whether Mesa’s instructional practices are effective.
What happens with the data?
CDE is committed to ensuring that data on individual students are secure. CDE does not report individual student data to the federal government; the department has strict policies and procedures in place to maintain data security. For more information on data privacy and security please go to: http://www.cde.state.co.us/dataprivacyandsecurity
The results of PARCC are the backbone of the state’s accountability system. The state uses PARCC data to populate the annual school and district performance frameworks which is the result in accreditation ratings for each school and district. If schools do poorly on the state exam there is an impact to the building.
Excerpts taken from this CDE link: http://www.cde.state.co.us/communications/stateassessmentsandacademicachievement
December Students of the Month: The IB Profile Trait for December was Caring
Atlas-7: Caity Clancy, Andrew Horwith
Polar-7: Evey Goodnow, Carter Holvick
Grizzly-7: Jayda Bowers, Max Clausen
Grizzly-8: Shea Corken, Colin Cadwallader
Sun-8: Kendall Kobbe, Tabari Smith,
Panda-8: Kensie Pago, Braedyn Vildibill
Hoops for Heart Event
Girls & Women In Sports Luncheon
Middle School Honor Band and Orchestra
Wish Week
Every year Mesa joins Douglas County High School in their annual Wish Week fundraiser.
Wish Week supports the Make-a-Wish foundation to grant a wish for a specific child. This year's child is Caleb, a 5 year old Castle Rock boy diagnosed with T-Cell Leukemia, a rare type of blood cancer. Caleb is a huge superhero fan, so his wish is to go on a Marvel Cruise. The feeder raised over $40,000 for Make a Wish foundation.
WISH WEEK ASSEMBLY
Mesa's Apple Award Representatives
Mrs. Niki Brock
Mr. Michael Osborne
Nice Work 7th and 8th Graders on your Academics!!!
Mesa and DCHS Basketball Teams Supporting One Another!
Mesa and Microsoft Sharing Virtual Reality with Students!!!
Mesa's Dodgeball Competition!!!
Passport to Mesa!
Message from the Mesa PTO
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
2/12/18-SAC Meeting-DCHS South Building/Commons 5:00 - 6:30 pm
2/15/18-PTO Meeting at the Astro Tap House 7:00 pm
2/15/18-End of First 6 Week Grading Period for Second Semester
2/15/18-Sweetheart Dance 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
2/16/18-NO SCHOOL - (Professional Development-Teachers)
2/19/18-NO SCHOOL (Holiday)
2/22/18- Spirit Night Texas Roadhouse in Parker from 4pm to 10pm
2/28/18- Costa Rica Spring Break Trip-Mandatory Meeting 6:00 pm Mesa Library
3/1/18- Talent show try outs 3pm
3/2/18- Read Across America
3/5/18-SAC Meeting- Mesa Library 5:00 - 7:00 pm
3/9/18- Talent Show 3 pm
3/13/18- NJHS Induction Ceremony- 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
3/14/18- Music Choir Showcase 6:30 pm
3/19- 3/23/18- Spring Break- No School
3/30/18- 3 on 3 Hoops for Hope 3:00 pm- 5:00 pm