February Newsletter
Hoping this newsletter finds you well.
Spring Semester Assessments and State Testing
At SDCCS we are very intentional in our curriculum planning to provide engaging and thoughtful learning experiences for our students. We are lucky to be able to "think outside the box" when planning for your children. As a public school, we are mandated to show our students' achievement, progress, and well being. Below you will find an overview of the spring semester assessments:
· ELPAC (English Language Proficiency Assessments for California) – February 4 – 22, students identified as English Learners will be assessed to determine their proficiency in English. Students will be given an overall score, and scores in the areas of Oral Language (Listening and Speaking) and Written Language (Reading and Writing). For more information please visit: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ep/elpacparentresource.asp
· Hearing and Vision Screening – February 25, A qualified school nurse has been contracted to provide mandated student health screenings. Students in grades TK, K, 1, 2, 5, and 8 will be screened for vision and/or hearing. If for some reason you do not want the school to screen your child, email kathy@sdccs.org.
- TK/K: Vision ONLY
- 1: Hearing ONLY (& Color Vision for boys)
- 2, 5, & 8: Hearing & Vision
· Physical Fitness Testing – February 19 – March 15, students in grades 5 & 7 will be tested during their PE classes. Each year, students in grades five, seven, and nine participate in the California Physical Fitness Test, also called the PFT. California has chosen the FITNESSGRAM® as the annual physical fitness test for students in California public schools. The PFT results provide one measure that students and their families can use, along with other information, to monitor overall fitness. Schools may also use these results for the purpose of evaluating their physical education program.
o To learn more about the PFT, go to the California Department of Education Parent Guides to Understanding Web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp.
· CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) – April 8 – 26, students in grades 3 – 8 will be assessed in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments are online tests that measure what your child knows and is able to do. The tests include many different types of questions that allow students to interact with the test questions. Results help identify gaps in knowledge or skills early on so your child can get the support he or she needs to be successful in school.
- California is in the process of implementing the California Next Generation Science Standards. As part of that implementation, students in grades five, eight and high school will take the California Science Test, or CAST.
- To learn more about either the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments or the CAST, go to the California Department of Education Parent Guides to Understanding Web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp.
- You can look at sample test questions on the practice tests, which can be found on the CAASPP Web Portal at http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html.
For more specific times please ask your child’s teacher or refer to your child’s weekly newsletter. If your child has headphones they prefer to use at home, please send them in for your child to use during testing.
- If you have any questions regarding your child’s participation or would like to exempt your child from testing please contact Kathy Osterhout (kathy@sdccs.org) and provide your child’s full name and grade.
Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change. Brené Brown
The Importance of Creativity
Our staff works hard to stay up to date on the latest research around this generation and how the world today has a significant impact on them. Studies have shown that there is a dramatic decline in creativity. In the business world as well as in academia and the arts and elsewhere, creativity is our number one asset. In a recent IBM poll, 1,500 CEOs acknowledged this when they identified creativity as the best predictor of future success.
It is sobering, therefore, to read Kyung Hee Kim’s recent research report documenting a continuous decline in creativity among American schoolchildren over the last two or three decades.
Dr. Peter Gray has written extensively about creativity and how we as parents can either squash or encourage creativity in our children.
Creativity is nurtured by freedom and stifled by the continuous monitoring, evaluation, adult-direction, and pressure to conform that restrict children’s lives today. In the real world few questions have one right answer, few problems have one right solution; that’s why creativity is crucial to success in the real world.We are also increasingly depriving children of free time outside of school to play, explore, be bored, overcome boredom, fail, overcome failure—that is, to do all that they must do in order to develop their full creative potential.
Education is changing dramatically right now and SDCCS is doing all that it can to prepare your students for their next steps. It is clear that we are on the right path with our social emotional education and fostering a love of learning through creative and thoughtful curriculum. I would encourage you to consider ways and times that you and your family can increase creativity and play.
Construction Updates
off for summer break and we can work out some of the construction kinks before their return. We will keep you updated with any new or important information.
Have You Purchased Your Tickets For The Gala?
Our CoOp Gala is just around the corner. Have you purchased your ticket yet? No worries if not there is still time.
The Gala was created for two reasons. First, it was created to be an amazing evening out with teachers, staff and parents. In a community where adults put children first it is rare that we have a night without them. The Gala is our one night of adult fun together with dancing, drinks, great food and amazing company.
Second, it is our biggest fundraiser of the year. There are a lot of different ways this evening supports the school beyond having a fun time out together. The tickets raise money so if just attending works for your budget that is super. If you would like to support further, there are all kinds of silent auction offerings ranging in price and variety. If you have been saving up for a big ticket item, our raise the paddle or live auction will be just right for you.
We really hope you can attend and support the school that supports your family in so many ways.
Who: SDCCS staff and families
What: Annual CoOp Gala
When: March 9th, 4:30pm - 11pm
Where: Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (same place as last year)
404 Euclid Avenue
San Diego, CA 92114
Tickets are on sale now at a reduced price. You can find all of the information you need at http://gala.sdccs.org/ or you can find that page through our website. We are greatly looking forward to our night out together.