River Heights Elementary
November 2018 News
River Heights School
River Heights Elementary School provides an instructional program that supports the development of the competencies of Engaged Thinkers and Ethical Citizens with an Entrepreneurial Spirit as outlined in the Ministerial Order on Student Learning.
At River Heights Elementary School, the delivery of the Alberta Education curriculum is achieved through student-centred integrated learning. We teach critical and creative thinking skills. We facilitate student independence and interdependence. We implement technology in ways are meaningfully connected to the curriculum. It is important to us that we provide a safe and caring environment for every student.
Our school motto is: Explore, Create, Reflect.
The 8 Cross-Curricular Competencies
In a Framework for Student Learning Alberta Education describes a cross-curricular competency as an interrelated set of attitudes, skills and knowledge that are drawn upon and applied to a particular context for successful learning and living. They are developed by every students, in every grade and across every subject/discipline area.
A. Critical Thinking
B. Problem Solving
C. Managing Information
D. Creativity and Innovation
E. Communication
F. Collaboration
G. Cultural and Global Citizenship
H. Personal Growth and Well-Being
Grade 4 Pumpkin Racers
Halloween costume parade
Grade 4 Pumpkin Racers on display for peer voting
ENGAGED COMMUNITY
School Events
Sat. Nov. 3 - Paint Afternoon at RH (2-4pm)
Wed. Nov. 7 - Parent Council Meeting at 7:30pm (Gr. 2 teachers will be presenting)
Fri. Nov. 9 - Remembrance Day Assembly at 11am (please be seated quietly in the gym by 10:50am if you are joining us)
Mon. Nov. 12 - No school
Fri. Nov. 16 - Report Cards sent home
Fri. Nov. 16 - RH Movie night (doors open at 6pm and movie starts at 6:30pm)
Sat. Nov. 17 - Gr. 6 volleyball tournament
Mon. Nov. 19 - Hats off to Leadership at CHHS (Student Leadership group)
Wed. Nov. 21 - Student Led Conferences
-- ELP & K 3:30 - 6:00
-- grades 1-6 5:00-7:00
-- Scholastic Book Fair open 5:00-7:00
Thur. Nov 22 - Student-Led Conferences
-- ELP & K 3:30 - 6:00
-- grades 1-6 3:30-6:30pm
-- Scholastic Book Fair open 3:30 - 6:30
Mon. Nov 26 - Explore Session of the Explore-Create-Reflect Options Program
River Heights Community Book Club!
Our first Book Club title:
Kids Are Worth It!: Raising Resilient, Responsible, Compassionate Kids by Barbara Coloroso
Barbara Coloroso's international bestseller delivers a powerful message that good parenting begins with treating kids with dignity and respect. It means giving them a sense of power in their own lives and offering them opportunities to make decisions, take responsibility for their actions and learn from their own successes and mistakes. Rejecting the "quick fix" solutions of punishment and reward, Barbara uses everyday family situations-from sibling rivalry to teenage rebellion-to demonstrate sound strategies for giving children the inner discipline and self confidence that will help them grow into responsible, resourceful, resilient and compassionate adults.
Upwards of 30 copies have been gathered for us from across Alberta by the Medicine Hat Public Library via interlibrary loans. Feel free to pop by their circulation desk to borrow a copy! A big thank-you to Keith McLean with MHPL for his support!
Kids Are Worth It! has been published many times since its first release in 1994. The small differences between the publications will not impact your experience. Whichever version you find will work!
Our book club meeting date for this title will be Wednesday, Dec. 5th, 8:30 pm at River Heights School in the Learning Commons. Please feel free to join us for some good conversation and some snacks, whether you had a chance to read the book or not (there will not be a quiz!).
Please connect with Mrs. Gale or Laura Underschute if you have any questions!
RH Gear Online Store
Our online store will again be open from Nov. 9 through Nov. 25th. Ordered items will be ready for pick-up before the Christmas break begins.
We are working with Sports Connection to add a few new items in addition to the t-shirts, baseball tees, and hoodies. As soon as the store is built we will receive the link and will email it out to families.
Assessment
Reporting Student Achievement
Teachers in River Heights School are focused on supporting our students to be independent and successful learners. As part of this work, teachers across the District are engaged in developing and using assessment practices that assess students based on outcomes. Outcomes describe what your child is expected to know and do according to the Alberta Education Programs of Study.
Students need to know and understand the outcomes they need to achieve, what they are doing to achieve them, and what they will do once they have achieved them. This is the work teachers do together with students in the classroom. As students demonstrate their learning and achievement, teachers assess progress and, at key points during the year, formally assess student achievement on those outcomes. There should be regular communication with students and parents about the learning and levels of achievement throughout the year. One of the communication tools parents are used to is a progress report or report card. In elementary schools, these are printed documents sent home to parents. In grades 7 through 12, these are often reflected online on PowerSchool and/or printed as formal reports and sent home.
MHPSD elementary schools will all have the same report card format starting September 2019. This year, our school is using the district template. The new report card format will be sent home on November 16.
To support this work, as a staff we are working with some district Optimal Learning Coaches to further improve our assessment practices in our classrooms.
Each of our schools with middle school grades (7 - 9) are working to assess students based on outcomes and the criteria that reflect levels of quality in meeting the outcomes. By September 2019, all middle schools will be using PowerSchool to track and communicate student achievement using Achievement Indicators (see Achievement Indicators Scale below) on specific Report Card Learner Outcomes.
WHY ARE WE CHANGING?
Our common goal is to best prepare students for future education and career opportunities. Using an outcomes informed assessment and grading system will more accurately monitor, measure and communicate the learning and achievement of students. This system allows teachers to provide clearer and more meaningful feedback for students based on their individual needs and next steps in learning. High expectations and goals are not clearly represented in a percentage mark that is averaged, but when they can be connected to specific skills, knowledge and application, our students and their teachers will know what it is they need to do next.
Percentage grades have been around a long time; however, we know that we can do better in clearly communicating the success and challenges a student demonstrates as it relates to an outcome rather than a percentage average. Our work will be to continually communicate with both students and parents/guardians regarding learning and achievement based on the grade level curricular expectations.
HOW WILL PROVINCIAL ACHIEVEMENT TESTS BE REPORTED?
Provincial Achievement Tests (grade 9) will still be reported as a single percentage and included for parent information.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT USING AN ACHIEVEMENT INDICATOR SCALE?
As parents/guardians, you might be used to:
One percentage or A,B,C,D,F on a subject (an average)
Seeing one percentage or A,B,C,D,F scale on a test, assignment, or project
This method of grading is often believed to reflect what a student knows. After all if you have 80% or higher you must be okay. What we’ve learned is students can receive a mark/grade on an assessment and if for example they see 85%, they think they’ve done well; however, what we know is there may be key outcomes within the assessment that they did not perform well on, but when averaged, this information is hidden and may be missed entirely.
When we assess using descriptive criteria related to an assignment or as a grade in specific areas on a report card, you know to what degree the student has achieved in that specific area at that point in time.
What students will see:
WHAT ARE THE ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS?
Achievement Indicators describe the level to which your child is achieving in each of the categories on the report card.
If your child receives an M for MEETING, they have achieved the grade-level outcome to an ACCEPTABLE standard. If your child receives an E for EXCELLING, this demonstrates a DEEPER LEVEL of mastery within the grade-level outcome(s).
If your child receives an M for MEETING, they have achieved the grade-level outcome to an ACCEPTABLE standard. If your child receives an E for EXCELLING, this demonstrates a DEEPER LEVEL of mastery within the grade-level outcome(s).
WHAT ABOUT BEHAVIOUR AND EFFORT?
Teachers do not include behaviour and effort as part of the mark connected to the outcomes. Teachers report on these components in the Learner Attributes section as well as in comments. A grade in a report card should reflect the level of achievement based on the Alberta Programs of Study. The Learner Attributes allow you to see how your child is developing the learning skills and abilities needed to succeed in their own learning as part of the classroom community. These Learner Attributes focus on participation, cooperation, quality work, and respect for self and others. Teachers use observations to identify how often these attributes are demonstrated using the scale below:
HOW WILL TEACHERS DETERMINE MY CHILD’S ACHIEVEMENT?
Over the course of the term, teachers gather examples of your child demonstrating their understanding of the learning outlined in the curriculum. These may include class assignments, tests, presentations, projects, and performances. Teachers may also make notes on observations of your child in class and talk with your child about their learning to gather as much information as possible before assigning a level of achievement in specific areas.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMMING INDICATORS?
Teachers, based on the needs of a student, may need to add additional information about the type of programming that affects the way your child’s achievement is recorded. Your child’s teacher may still reflect a level of achievement next to the outcomes on the report card, but they may be based on adaptations or in the case of some students, the level of achievement and growth may be reflected in an Individual Support Plan (ISP). Parents should always be aware prior to the report card if ELL, ISP, Adapted, or Modified indicators are used.
HOW DO I SUPPORT MY CHILD?
Talking with your child about what they are learning and how well they are doing builds understanding that talking about learning is important. Consider what questions you might ask your child on a regular basis:
What are you looking forward to in school tomorrow?
What was the most difficult thing you did in school today? What was easiest for you? What did you enjoy?
How do you think you have improved over the last week/month/etc.?
What would you like to improve on? How do you plan to improve?
Questions to ask your child’s teacher to find out how they are doing in school:
How is my child doing in class?
What do you see as my child’s strengths?
Where can my child improve?
What can we do at home to support my child’s learning?
Grade 3 Numeracy
PARENT COUNCIL
Parent Council News
Our next meeting is Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 7:30pm in the Library Learning Commons. Grade 2 teachers, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Hunt, will be presenting. This is a great way to stay informed and be involved in your child's education. We have a great group of parents volunteering their time to help make our school a better place for staff and students. All parents/ guardians are welcome and invited to Parent Council meetings!
We are starting to plan Winter Village. If you are interested in helping out please text Taneill on the Remind app. There will be another meeting mid-November. There will be a family movie night Friday November 16th. Doors open at 6pm with the movie starting at 6:30pm. Information will be on our Facebook page.
Note to ALL PARENTS: please sign up for our Parent Council Remind App. If you have the app search for @rivheipc and if you do not have the text (587) 409-2952 and put @rivheipc in the message. We will send messages communicating with hot lunch volunteers, calling out for more volunteers, informing of meetings, etc.
Also, we want to remind parents to support our hot lunch program which runs every week during the school year. We have hot lunch every Friday unless there is a PD day or holiday and then it runs on Thursday. We are super fortunate to have such an amazing hot lunch program but need your support for it to be a success. Purchase as many as you can for your children and volunteer as much as you can. Starting in November we will have the parents of 2 grades/month scheduled to volunteer to run a hot lunch and you will need to message on Remind to fill those spots. The other hot lunches will be open to all parents to volunteer. There will also always be someone to oversee. *see below list + school bulletin board*
Lastly make sure you check out our Facebook Group: RIVER HEIGHTS SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL)
November HOT LUNCHES:
Friday, November 2 - Hot dogs + chips
Friday, November 9 - Taco in a bag + popsicle
Friday, November 16 - Dairy Queen combo (reminder that Kindergarten parents helping)
Friday, November 23 - Pizza 73 + smoothie
Friday, November 30 - Tacotime + frozen treat (reminder that grade 1 parents helping)
Your Parent Council Team:
Co-chairs: Katie Albers + Taneill Selinger
Treasurer: Kristin Cassell
Secretary: Tara Betts
*Please feel free to contact us by leaving a message at the school office*
Hot Lunch-a paper copy of this letter will be sent home for each family
Hello River Heights Parents!
We would like to update you on some hot lunch information:
1. We would like ALL PARENTS to join in the Parent Council group in the Remind app. We prefer to communicate with you through it for volunteering, deadlines, and reminding you of your hot lunch choices. If you have the Remind App already then search for @rivheipc and join it. If you do not have the app, then text (587) 409-2952 and type @rivheipc to join.
2. Please support our hot lunch program. It runs EVERY Friday unless it is a PD Day, then it will be Thursday. To order hot lunch you need your child's last name and student id#. (It is on their report card or you can call the office (403-527-3730)). Then go to the school website: http://riverheights.mhpsd.ca and select FOR PARENTS, then SCHOOL CASH ONLINE, and "get started today" and follow the instructions to register. After you receive the confirmation email click the link. Log in and add each of your children to your account, find your school and enter their info. Check the "receive email notifications" box. Select the item tab and view the lunch items, select your choices for each child, check out and pay. All hot lunch orders are due one week before. No late orders will be accepted.
3. Hot lunch is our ONLY fundraiser and we will not be doing any other ones at this point. Fundraising provides our school and students with much needed programs, equipment, and covers a good portion of their field trips and community classrooms as well as a few fun family events that Parent Council coordinates. Your support (financially and by volunteering) is VERY appreciated and we THANK YOU!! If you do not want to participate in Hot Lunch, you are more than welcome to give a donation instead. Cheques payable to RHSCA.
4. We are planning for the parents of TWO GRADES per month volunteer to make/serve hot lunch as well have TWO to THREE OPEN hot lunches where anyone can sign up. If every parent volunteered a couple times this year we would have enough help! Here is the Hot Lunch schedule for the next couple months and what grades are helping out on specific dates. To confirm that you CAN VOLUNTEER for that date, please message through the remind app and say which date (and what grade if appropriate) that you can volunteer at. We need 5 volunteers for each hot lunch. (Unless it's Taco in a Bag, then we need 7) Or sign up on the Parent Council bulletin board across from the office in the School.
Nov. 2 -Hot dogs +chips - OPEN TO ALL PARENTS (NEED 5)
Nov. 9 - Taco in a bag + popsicle - OPEN TO ALL PARENTS (NEED 7)
Nov. 16 - Dairy Queen - KINDERGARTEN PARENTS (NEED 5)
Nov. 23 - Pizza 73 + smoothie - OPEN TO ALL PARENTS (NEED 5) *smoothies take all morning (1 volunteer @9am, 1@10am, 3@11:30)
Nov. 30 - Taco Time + Ice cream cup - GRADE 1 PARENTS (NEED 5)
Dec. 6 - Pizza 73 + frozen treat - GRADE 2 PARENTS (NEED 5)
Dec. 14 - Hot dog + frozen treat - GRADE 3 PARENTS (NEED 5)
Dec. 21 - Hot pasta + vegetable + dip - OPEN TO ALL PARENTS (NEED 5)
Jan. 12 - Taco in a bag + frozen treat - OPEN TO ALL PARENTS (NEED 7)
Thank you,
River Heights Parent Council
Grade One Community Classroom
1) Science -senses, colours, plants and animals, the seasons
2) The arts - visual journaling, collaging and photography, videography, music
3) Health - getting along, safety and respecting nature, dressing for the weather
4) Language Arts - speaking, listening, viewing, reading, writing/drawing, representing, researching, reflecting
5) Physical Activity - hiking and games
6) Social Studies - landmarks and histroy of Medicine Hat
7) Mathematics - estimating, measuring with non-standard units, comparing
Thank you to Mrs. Willock and Mrs. Blyth for planning the Community Classroom activities and to our parent volunteers to help to make the event a success.
Thank you to Parent Council for financially supporting this through fundraising efforts (hot lunch). A huge thank you to all the parents who purchase hot lunch so these learning experiences can take place..
Let's Talk about Cannabis
#MHPSDfamily #healthyschools #allinforkids #medhat #RiverHeights