March Information 2016
Ogden Preparatory Academy
Information
Enrollment
Enrollment in OPA for 2016-17 School year: The lottery system has been transferred to a new software. The timing was not desired but required. We are back up and running however, there may still be some bugs to work out. If you are concerned or have any questions about your students enrollment in the next school year, please contact Gin Watson at (801) 627-3066. *Siblings of current OPA students who are entering OPA or moving from another school, have PRIORITY in the lottery for selection but not an automatic enrollment. Employee Parents or Grandparents and Board Member’s students have automatic enrollment into OPA.
OPA Spanish Program
The history of Spanish Language education is part of the founding mission and vision of OPA. The Spanish Program has changed several times over the years based on enrollment requests, qualified teacher availability, immigration issues, and Utah state academic requirements. The goal of the last three years is to build a rigorous, language acquisition program that is sustainable from Kindergarten to 9th grade, builds fluency, embraces the cultural aspects of Spanish speaking countries and has a consistent scope and sequence of curriculum. The Spanish Program has never been eliminated and all students at OPA receive at least 2.5 hours of Spanish instruction a week. First to fourth grade Intensive students receive 6.25 hours of Spanish instruction each week. Next year we are adding an Intensive Spanish course in the 5th and 6th grade curriculum that will meet daily (350 minutes a week), for 70 minutes. 5th and 6th grade Exposure Spanish classes will receive an average of 175 minutes of instruction a week as well. The 1st through 4th grade and 7th through 9th grade Intensive and Exposure programs will continue with their current curriculum and instruction models.
Spanish Program Enrollment
If you would like to enroll your rising 1st grader, or 2nd Grader into the Intensive Program watch for the “Intensive Spanish Enrollment Form.” Right after Spring Break a form will be sent home to start enrolling 1st and 2nd graders into the Intensive Spanish program. These forms are used to indicate INTENT and DESIRE only, they do not automatically enroll you into the Intensive Spanish program. We take these Intent forms and determine the number of spots we can provide and randomly select students for enrollment in the Intensive Spanish Program. 1st and 2nd grade are the only levels where addition of students into the Intensive Program is available for new enrollment. If your student is currently in Intensive Spanish at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grade level they will automatically roll into the Intensive Class at the next grade level.
Leader in Me
OPA’s Board of Directors and Administration adopted a character education and leadership curriculum two years ago. OPA was awarded a Leader Foundation grant to participate in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Kids curriculum for 5 years. In the first year, which was last year (14-15), the curriculum was highly promoted to the entire community and taught in all elementary classrooms at OPA. In the second year, the intent of the program is to integrate leadership opportunities for all children with academic programs. An example of these opportunities are the tracking devices in the elementary relating to homework return rates and reading minutes. Another tool of Leader in Me are the data notebooks that each student possesses at the elementary and should be showing off at Parent Teacher Conferences. Students are asked to internalize the habits by setting personal and academic goals, then track their progress. In addition there is now a Leadership class in the secondary building that provides students the opportunity to lead in areas of community service, peer education and personal goal setting. In the recent parent survey, I noticed a great deal of confusion and concern about the loss of Leader in Me, or the replacement of Spanish with the Leader in Me. So, I assure you Spanish is alive and growing stronger, and Leader in Me focus has simply been more focused on independent student progress and less promotion to the community.
SAGE Testing in April
SAGE Testing at OPA will begin on April 18 and end on April 29th. We have reduced the testing window with the hope of reducing all parties level of stress. Students have been preparing both on academic content and the skill of taking a test. It is our hope that students and teachers see this test as an opportunity to show all they know! The interim data for every grade shows growth in concept understanding. That is the goal of all education to increase student understanding and that is the only goal. Please consider that the only way we can have a short testing window is if the students are present for testing. Please avoid vacation or absences in these two weeks. Ninth grade students going to SPAIN must be here everyday in that window to ensure their completion before departure. Remember it is a celebration of understanding, TRULY THAT IS THE GOAL!!
Aguilas of Excellence
Aguilas of Excellence: At the end of the first quarter, 5th-9th grade teachers developed a reward system to support academic expectation, improve attendance and promote appropriate classroom behavior. We call it Aguilas of Excellence. Student’s grades, attendance, and number of detentions is monitored every two weeks to determine eligibility in attending a “reward room” the following Friday. In addition at the end of the quarter, students who have made the Aguilas of Excellence reward rooms go into a drawing for rewards. We have seen several benefits especially student awareness and attention to grades. In order to fund reward rooms and quarterly prizes, the money spent on yearly buses to Lagoon in the spring was utilized. Teachers and administration determined the quarterly recognition was more motivational than a one time event. The number of opportunities for reward also allows students the ability to refocus and try again every two weeks. Another great skill that students have exhibited is the art of negotiation. Students have prepared presentations and problem-solved plans to provide the Lagoon opportunity as the final reward opportunity in the 4th quarter. So, if your student has complained about no Lagoon trip this year, let them know that the way to Lagoon is Aguilas of Excellence. Third quarter rewards will be drawn in the next few weeks.
Important Dates
- March 18: $1 for Uniform Free Dress and SPRING PICTURES
- March 21-25: T.A. Appreciation Week
- March 25: $1 for Uniform Free Dress
- March 31: 5:00, 4th Grade Literacy Night
- March 31-April 11: Dominican Republic Trip
- April 1: 1/2 Day, Early Release, $1 for Uniform Free Dress
- April 4-8: Spring Break, No School
- April 12: OPAPO Meeting
- April 16: 9:00 OPA Spring Fun Run, Watch for the Flyer!
- April 16: 5:00 OPAPO Dinner and Auction at The Ben Lomond Hotel
- April 18-April 29: SAGE Testing
- April 22: $1 for Uniform-Free Dress, Earth Day
- April 28-May 8: Spain Trip
- April 29: Viva la Espanol, More information to come.(30th is Children’s Day)
It is never a dull moment at OPA! We love it! Enjoy the springtime weather and we hope to see you at any of these activities.
Amie Campbell
Principal Ogden Preparatory Academy
(801)627-3066