NBS Principal Newsletter
January 29, 2021
#NBSColtPride
We are headed to February as January was somewhat of a blur! The first two weeks of Hybrid 2.0 are in our rearview mirror and we are settling into our new routine. Overall, the past 9 days have gone as smoothly as I would have expected. The students continue to be excited to be in school and in their new classes. Students that have new teachers have settled nicely into their classes and showed resiliency with the transition (in-person and remote). We endured our first eLearning day on a snow day, Tuesday when the 6-8 inches of snow arrived. Our teachers did a great job of maintaining the same schedules for our students and instruction moved forward.
Thank you for adjusting along with us, your support means a lot to me and to our staff.
Please remember that each day your child is in attendance that you will need to fill out the Daily Self-Certification App at health.barrington220.org. Having this completed every morning is critical to making the transition times efficient and safe for everyone.
A continual reminder that Wednesday has a different schedule for our PM students. The PM students come to school at 11:35 am and get out at 2:10 pm. The schedule is listed below.
Have a wonderful weekend and feel free to reach out to me if you need anything or have any questions!
#NBSColtPride
#WeAreOne
Kindergarten Roundup
Do you have a child that is starting Kindergarten next year? Do you know someone that has a child starting Kindergarten next year? If you answered yes to either of these questions make sure you attend our Kindergarten Round-up on February 1, 2021, @ 6:30 pm via Zoom.
Chinese Immersion; Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Spanish Dual Language (in English); Thursday, February 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Spanish Dual Language (in Spanish); Tuesday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m.
If you did not receive the Zoom links please contact the main office at North Barrington at 847-381-4340.
Valentine's Day for North Barrington Students
At North Barrington, we have always celebrated Valentine's Day with the classroom teacher taking the lead and getting support from room coordinators. This has never been the large class parties that we have at other times of the year. Therefore, we will continue this year with a teacher-driven activity with the students. Students can bring in paper valentines and put them into individual containers for each student on February 8th. There will be no food or candy permitted at all. The valentine cards will stay in quarantine for 3 days and come home with the students on February 11th. Teachers will have the autonomy to have some fun in the classroom on February 11th with their students. Remote classroom teachers will do the same but their valentines will take more of a virtual format. Be on the lookout for information from your child's homeroom teacher. We cannot accept valentines after February 8th. See the bullet points below for clarification:
- Paper valentines brought to school by Feb. 8
- Teachers will use a bag to collect valentines for each student (Have enough for both AM and PM)
- NO CANDY OR FOOD
- Pencils, play tattoos, etc. are ok to have attached to the valentine
- Exchange cards with just current AM or PM classmates
- Teacher choice for valentine Activities/Projects
Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project Resources
The Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP), creators of our reading and writing programs, have developed numerous videos for families and caregivers to bring more joy into literacy learning. They draw on numerous years of experience and research in providing ideas for supporting reading and writing at home. We will highlight a few videos each week in upcoming newsletters, and encourage parents and caregivers to listen or watch these short videos. To access all videos created by TCRWP and additional resources, please refer to this link.
K-2: Help Children Fall in Love With Reading - Rituals to Set Up at Home: In this video, Valerie describes a few at-home routines or habits parents can establish to help children engage (or re-engage) in reading, including side-by-side reading, reading the world and performing readings to friends and family.
3-5: How to Have Natural Conversations With Your Kids About Books: In this video, Lizzie shares tips for talking with a child about their reading in ways that reinforce comprehension, while preventing the parent from becoming the teacher.
PreKinder - 1st Grade: Help Your Child Think Before, During, and After Reading: Amanda offers parents ways to support a child’s reading comprehension by emphasizing the value of rereading, suggesting conversations that can help before, during, and after rereading. This includes an example of Amanda reading with a child.
2nd - 5th Grade: How to Help Your Child Stay Focused While Reading: Hannah shares parent tips for increasing their kids' reading volume and stamina at home.
Daily Schedule for In-Person Classes
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. Schedule
8:00 - 10:35 AM Classes10:35 - 12:05 Lunch/Recess/Transportation
12:05 - 2:40 PM Classes
Wednesday Schedule
8:00 - 10:35 AM Classes
10:35 - 11:35 Lunch/Recess/Transportation
11:35 - 2:10 PM Classes
Distance Learning Classes
Please refer to your teachers for the daily schedule. It will be very similar to the current schedule we have with the exception that the lunch/recess times will be the same as the students that attend in-person (10:35-12:05).
MAP Assessment Information (Exact Dates by Grade Level TBD)
It is time for the NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) to be administered. Students in second through eighth grade will be assessed between February 2 and February 19th.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
MAP tests are standards-aligned computerized adaptive assessments that provide useful data and information about student achievement and growth. These assessments are unique in that they adapt to each student’s ability, more accurately measuring what a child knows and needs to learn. Although MAP tests are not timed, MAP is designed to be completed in about 45 minutes, most students are done in about an hour. We allocate two hours for testing to ensure that students have enough time to complete the test keeping in mind that we do not want to interrupt more instruction than necessary. Students will have no more than 2 hours to complete this test. MAP tests measure academic growth over time, independent of grade level or age. MAP test results provide educators with timely information that guides instructional planning and school improvement. The results assist teachers in the following areas:
· Identifying the skills and concepts individual students have learned
· Diagnosing instructional needs
· Determining if academic interventions are warranted
· Guiding the selection of academic interventions
· Monitoring academic growth over time
· Making data-driven decisions at the classroom, school, and district levels
· Placing new students into appropriate instructional programs
Students will be using their iPads for this test. Please make sure they are fully charged and ready to go.
Students who are present for in-person instruction will test in school. If your student is attending school remotely, the school will make arrangements to assess remotely. In order to be considered for extended placement, only scores from in-person testing will be considered. Please note, there will also be a spring test that can be considered. If you would prefer your student test in person, please contact the school to make arrangements.
These assessments give us critical information that can help us help your child. Please make every effort to have your child be in attendance on testing days unless they are ill.
Thanks for all your support.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Ditkowsky, Ph.D.
Director of Data, Assessment and Program Evaluation
Important Dates
January 28th - Report Cards are available via Infinite Campus
February 1st - Kindergarten Roundup via Zoom 6:30 pm
February 3rd - Chinese Immersion Kindergarten Roundup via Zoom 6:30 pm
February 11th - Virtual STEM Night (Look for an email from Becky Gill)
February 12th - No School
February 15th - No School
April 21st - May 5th - Virtual Art Fair
Austin Johnson - Principal North Barrington Elementary
Email: ajohnson@barrington220.org
Website: https://www.barrington220.org/north
Phone: 847-381-4340
Twitter: @NBarringtonColt