Falcon Flyer
April 6, 2015
Riverview Elementary
Website: http://re.usd232.org/pages/re
Location: 21550 West 47th Street, Shawnee, KS, United States
Phone: 913-441-0808
Twitter: @riverviewfalcon
Greetings from the Principal
Dear Riverview Families,
April brings with it one of the last opportunities for staff to receive a full day of professional development on April 24. Professional development for staff this year has focused on our four building goals, and teachers have done an amazing job at helping the building meet its goals through their dedication to continuous improvement and desire to provide our students with the highest quality instruction and learning outcomes possible.
Building goals:
1. Implement the building-wide literacy plan. Riverview's literacy plan encourages teachers to have students writing daily in the classroom with a range of informative, opinion, or narrative pieces.
2. Regularly monitor student growth in the areas of reading, math, and behavior. Teachers gather informal and formal measures of growth for students, and then use this information to ensure that all students are getting instruction at the appropriate level. This may be through differentiated lessons and assignments, intervention time each day to re-teach or extend skills, or working with students on their behavior/social skill development.
3. Teachers will help students be able to use close reading strategies. By now, you may have heard students talk about 'reading the text closely' during their studies. Each teacher helps students learn how to analyze text and think critically about it in order to develop a deeper understanding of its meaning. This is considered an essential skill for college and career readiness.
4. Teachers will integrate technology into high quality instructional strategies. As we anticipate getting new devices in the classroom at the elementary level next year as a part of the district technology plan, and recognizing the important role of tapping into technology to be highly effective teachers for preparing students for the future, teachers have worked hard to incorporate some components of 'blended learning' into their existing instruction. Expect to see more information on this initiative in the coming weeks!
Next school year (2015-16), Riverivew, along with all elementary schools in the district, will implement a new grade card format, which will be based on standards in each content area. Grades K-2 will be using a 4-3-2-1 rating system for student achievement, and grades 3-5 will be using a more traditional A-B-C-D rating scale. This spring and into the fall, we will be spending time as a district and building, on understanding the new format and how to adapt our current grading practices accordingly in order to make this a very smooth transition for teachers, students, and parents. Thank you in advance for your support in this process.
Make it a great week!
Beth Mildren
Upcoming Dates...
- Tuesday, 14th - All Pro Dad's Breakfast 7:30 AM
- Friday, 17th - Walk-A-Thon
- Friday, 24th - No School | Professional In-Service Day
- Monday, 27th - PTA General Meeting 7 PM
May
- Friday, 8th - Variety Show | Time to be determined
- Monday, 18th - 5th Grade Farewell 12 PM - 3 PM
- Tuesday, 19th - Field Day
Exploratory Schedule
Wednesday, April 8 - B Day
Thursday, April 9 - C Day
Friday, April 10 - D Day
Monday, April 13 - E Day
Counselor Corner
"Trustworthiness is made up of four major qualities: integrity, honesty, reliability and loyalty. Integrity means moral wholeness as demonstrated by a consistency of thoughts, words and deeds. (Often, this is described as “walking the talk.”) The honesty aspect of trustworthiness involves both what we say (our words) and what we do (our conduct). Honest people always try to convey the truth. Reliability means keeping promises and following through on commitments. The last quality is loyalty – standing up with and for someone in need. When you are loyal to someone or something, you’re constant and dependable.
So how do we teach kids about trust? One way is by being a positive role model. Don’t lie when talking with kids or other adults, and follow through when promises are made. Another way, teach kids that lies hurt and affect other people. Kids need to understand that cheating and stealing are major acts of untrustworthiness. Kids need to know that it feels good to be trusted and awful to be distrusted."*
Trustworthy people keep their word, honor their commitments, pay their debts and return what they borrow. Let’s help our kids know the importance of trust in life in all that they do.
*Trustworthiness is the first pillar in the Six Pillars of Character®, from the framework called CHARACTER COUNTS! created by the Josephson Institute of Ethics.
Toni Munsey, Counselor
Variety Show Screenings...
The screenings will be on Thursday, April 16th beginning at 4:00 or as soon as teachers are finished with duty.
Class Placement Input to Mrs. Mildren Due by April 12th
Ready to Go Time-- State Assessments
New Standards; More Rigor
All Kansas school districts are required by the State Department of Education to fully implement the new standards with the 2014-2015 school year.
- Standards for success. The new standards in Math and English Language Arts work to ensure our students are ready for college, career training, and the workplace.
- Consistent and shared. Kansas, 44 other states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Schools have adopted the new standards.
- Providing opportunities for meaningful information and feedback. The assessments will measure the standards and provide meaningful feedback to teachers and principals to help more students succeed.
Beginning this spring, the Kansas State Department of Education will test students on the standards through a brand new State Assessment program. While this implementation is a significant shift for the State of Kansas, we are confident that our students, over time, will succeed in meeting the new KCCRS. Our schools have updated curricula and resources to support individual students in achieving academic excellence.
Sample Assessment Questions
There is no better way to see how Kansas is changing the state assessment program than by comparing previous questions to the new questions aligned to the rigor of the Kansas College & Career Ready Standards. Continue to the next page for the example. Learn more! We have much more information about the new state standards, the Kansas Assessment Program, and how we have prepared. Visit the district website >> HERE.
Riverview Elementary PTA