Murphy Team Update
For the Week of February 3-7
Our Mission
Lapeer Community Schools is a dynamic community organization embracing our students with a quality learning environment, developing independent and confident learners for the future.
Nuts and Bolts for the Week
Monday, Feb 3 -
- Assessment PD - 3rd AM and 4/5 PM
- K PLC
- PTC Penny Wars starts (Day 1 of 3)
- District PAC meeting tonight
Tuesday, Feb 4 -
- Assessment PD - 2nd AM and 3rd PM
- PTC Penny Wars continues (Day 2 of 3)
- Kindergarten LEAF Deposit Day 2 of 3 in the Music Room ( 12:30-1:15 -- Martin; 1:15-2:00 -- Blanchette; 2:00-2:45 -- Chouinard)
Wednesday, Feb 5 -
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade PLC
- World Read Aloud Day (remember to pre-plan some questions for the author)
- PTC Penny Wars Day 3 of 3
Thursday, Feb 6 -
- Staff Meeting at 7:30
- First Grade Bake Sale
Friday, Feb 7 -
- 5th grade PLC
- Assessment PD - K AM
Murphy Minute (the Weekly Parent Update):
Weekly Sign Up Sheets
WIDA Testing
STAFF - please provide students additional time to complete the work they missed (please do not penalize them). Also, if EL students have a test on the same day they are pulled, to give them additional time to make the test up without penalty.
The elementary schedule is currently being revised/completed, and Michelle Nowak will be administering those assessments other than Kindergarten which will be administered by Tami Hoganson. This will be done this week.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
From the Desk of Mr. Baginski...
Dear Teachers –
I’m excited to share with you that Kids Heart Challenge has coming to our school. In this email, you’ll find some great heart healthy educational resources to share with your students, helpful information about Kids Heart Challenge, and answers to questions that your students might ask.
We kicked off Kids Heart Challenge on January 31 with a special presentation from the American Heart Association and I placed an envelope, parent letter and sticker in your mailbox prior to this date for each student. Can you please send them home on the day of our Kick Off. Our KHC activity will be on February 27th during regular special time. Donations can be turned in during there normal PE time.
This year, we will also be participating in a Classroom Challenge competition and the winning class will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and playground pack for your class. Classroom teachers were provided with t-shirts to be worn during our kickoff presentation. Our American Heart Association representative will keep us updated on the classroom standings. The teacher with most students registered (at least 10) win a $25 gift certificate!
You can help by encouraging students to go online at heart.org/khc where they can join our school team, earn donations, make a pledge to be more heart healthy, and earn a free wristband. Our goal is to have 100% of our students taking their heart healthy challenge online!
This year, we have an added bonus. When 50% of our total enrollment goes online and takes a heart healthy challenge, we will receive up to $500 in new PE equipment. Please remind your students and families to take their challenge and become a Heart Hero. An email has been provided below for you to cut and paste.
Lastly, I wanted to give you access to this fantastic link. Quick Educational Link It will provide you with several materials that you can share in your class. If you click on the heart facts section there are many tips to share while we are doing our program. Thank you in advance for sharing our facts and tips with our students.
Thank you for your support!
Before/After School Intervention
MONEY is available through the Early Literacy Grant to pay teachers for literacy tutoring before or after school for students in grades E5-3. I am hoping some teachers might be willing to do this in the new year! Please let me know.
M-STEP Readiness:
MSTEP Calendar:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Testing_Schedule_for_Summative_Assessments_635008_7.pdf
NEW! 3rd grade will need to test before 4th grade, so that the district and the state can alert parents regarding the 3rd Grade Reading Law, ASAP.
M-Step Building Timeline of Events
1. Jerri will roster the students in the BAA site. This is basically making sure that all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students have been assigned to the correct classroom teacher.
2. Once students are rostered in BAA, Tami and I will work with classroom and special education teachers using the E-Direct site to set up all M-Step accommodations for students.
3. We will use PLC time to create an M-STEP testing schedule, locations and proctors by the end of February.
4. I will print the classroom testing tickets from E-Direct and then have Barb organize them. These tickets will go in a labeled folder that is handed to the test proctor the morning on the testing session. We will have an “absent” sheet that is filled out at the end of each testing session to make sure we know what students need to make up the test at the end of the day.
5. Throughout the testing window you can use the E-Direct site to check on student testing progress and make sure that you have all students tested by the end of the window.
What’s New in 2020?
Students will read one passage, either literary or informational, from a variety of genres as prescribed by the standards. Students will then answer five multiple-choice questions and respond to a writing prompt, which includes a bulleted list of components found in a well-written essay. See released items below for your grade.
Specials teachers check this out too! (How could you support this during your instruction?)
This is very important to understand how they will be scored.
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/M-STEP_Grade_3_Student_Response_Sampler_612034_7.pdf
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/M-STEP_Grade4_Student_Response_Sampler_611392_7.pdf
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/M-Step_Grade_5_Student_Response_Sampler_609191_7.pdf
Linked below is a list of MSTEP vocabulary.
These are words that students will encounter when taking the test. This is not intended to be taught as a “vocabulary list.” However, try to include this terminology as part of your instructional language. This way, students get used to hearing/seeing these terms and will better understand what is being asked of them on the test. Please read the introduction for more details.
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/M-STEP_ELA-Construct-Relevant-Vocabulary_526868_7.pdf
Mid-Year Data Days
MLPP and DRA Windows
MAP Testing Windows
Illuminate Deadlines
- Baseline DRA (grades 1-5) AND Baseline/Sound ID (E5/K) data must be in Illuminate by 10/4
- Tri 2 DRA Data must be in Illuminate by 2/14 for traditional calendar
- Tri 3 writing scores must be in by 6/5 for K-3 teachers and teachers without an SGP from MSTEP
- All data points other than those specified above must be in Illuminate by the end of Records Day each trimester include Math & Writing
- Science and Social Studies data does NOT have to be put in Illuminate. If you link your assignments to standards then Beth will be able to export from PS into Illuminate automatically.