The Defender
September 2, 2022
Important Upcoming Dates
- Sept. 5 - No School - Labor Day
- Sept. 6 - No School - Professional Development
- Sept. 8 - Chess Club
- Sept. 13 - Penance Service 3rd-8th (9:00)
- Sept. 15 - Individual Student Picture Day
Message from Mrs. Tate
I want to send a BIG shout out to our kids and families this week for an awesome week of learning and loving! As I visit classrooms, it is obvious that our students and teachers and settling into the routines of the school year. In kindergarten this week, the kids were playing a number game, and even though it was SO EXCITING to roll the right number to win the game, they practiced their manners and school behaviors while having fun…and learning! I got so caught up in watching the wonder on their faces and listening to them encourage and cheer for each other. I could have stayed all day! I’m thrilled that I felt that kindergarten joy all through the school in many classes.
After Labor Day weekend, we will begin our MAP testing for grades 3-8. MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress. The test does just that…measures student progress toward curricular standards. It is NOT an achievement test that measures the end goal. It is a diagnostic assessment that gives teachers, families, and students a snapshot of their current instructional level on the day of the test.
MAP is a diagnostic test. It’s designed to measure the student’s instructional level in math and reading. The test starts with a leveled question based upon the student’s last known MAP score or instructional age. If the student gets that question correct, there will be a more difficult question next. If the student gets that question incorrect, there will be an easier question. The system “deals” the student questions until it finds the level where the student gets half of the questions wrong. This indicates the student’s current instructional level.
The biggest misconception among kids is that they believe they can or want to get all the questions right. This is impossible on a diagnostic test like MAP. Because it deals kids questions based upon the instructional level, the test is designed to get half of the questions correct and half incorrect. That’s hard for kids to understand because most of the assessing we do in school is geared toward getting all the questions correct.
In an achievement test like the ACT, the SAT, the Kansas State Assessment tests, the goal is to get as many questions correct, but MAP is different!
There is no way to get a 100% on the test because it’s not an achievement test. This sometimes causes confusion with parents/guardians, too, because when they get results in the mail, the results may show a decrease in the RIT score, but that does not mean that their instructional level is lower because the test is normed at the student’s current grade level.
We want to know what students know, not what they can figure out over time. In my experience, I’ve had students sit for long periods of time trying to figure out a math problem on the test by plugging in the answers provided to see if they can work it backward. This is a great strategy for an achievement test, but it’s not the right test taking strategy for a diagnostic test. A diagnostic test measures what the student truly understands and can answer within minutes, not what they can figure out by process of elimination.
Taking the MAP test should be something that our students take seriously but not stress over. Our job is to analyze the data from the test to determine instructional level and then provide the proper quality instruction to move students forward in the curriculum. All we ask from all our kids is that they try their best. Whether a 3rd grader taking it for the first time or an 8th grader taking it for the 10th time, giving their best effort is the only expectation. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
The MAP is not intended to rank students top to bottom like an ACT or PSAT, and that’s why we discourage students and families from comparing scores to each other. Every student can learn, but every student learns at a different rate and in different ways. Comparing my 213 RIT score to my friend’s 233 RIT score is poor practice because my 213 could jump to a 230 with a strong unit designed to help students understand inferences in reading passages.
My friend’s 233 may not change because she already understands inferences, but her score may change when we study the unit on literary analysis. When we study literary analysis, I may understand it quicker than my friend, so my score may jump to a 245 and my friend’s may jump to a 240. It doesn’t mean either one of us is smarter than the other…it means that we’re learning at different rates. Most importantly, we are both learning and progressing. THAT is the point.
I hope to offer an adult session around conference time (October) to help parents/guardians read and interpret their students’ MAP scores. It will be an informational session for anyone interested in digging a little deeper into the data, what a RIT score means, and how to look for improvement. Watch the newsletter for more information.
As we enter our final year of the accreditation cycle, it’s important for us to use these assessments as a data point aligned to our standards that will help us target skills and standards needed for instruction. We are looking forward to digging into the data as a staff once the window closes and norms are set. Our teachers work hard to meet the needs of our kids, and this provides us one more tool in our toolbox to continue our work.
I hope you all have a wonderful, restful Labor Day weekend!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Diana Tate
School Lunch Orders
Labor Day Weekend
Mr. Huber entertains 1st graders
From the School Nurse
- Please turn in family emergency form and the non-prescription/over-the-counter medication permission forms to the school office ASAP.
- Kindergarten parents please send in current immunization records and health forms to school nurse ASAP.
Library News
Confirmation Date
8th Grade Families mark your calendar! Confirmation will be on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Battle of the Books 2022-2023
Registration Deadline September 9, 2022
Catechesis Level I and Level II
The level 2 children (grades 2 and 3) continued our discussion about the History of the Kingdom of God. We reviewed the 3 moments in the story (Creation, Redemption and Parousia). Ask your child what they will write on their blank page (the work they will need to do to get to heaven)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level III After-School Opportunity
Dear Parents,
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level III (for children in 4th, 5th, and 6th ) grade is being offered as an after-school opportunity on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 PM. Please complete this brief FORM if you would like more information or to register.
The fee for the year is $60 per child. Classes meet once per week beginning Monday, September 12 or Thursday, September 15 and follow the SMA School Year Calendar. Space is limited.
Thanks and Blessings,
Shawna
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
2022-2023 Calendar
AHG Daddy Daughter Stampede, September 9th, 6pm till 8pm.
Join the Fun
Open to all girls grades K thru 5. RSVP due by September 4th
Click here to sign up to register for the event
Service opportunity - girls grades 6th, 7th, 8th. Friday, September 9th. The American heritage girl Daddy Daughter Stampede.
At SMA 5.30 till 8.30 (or anywhere in between)
Eligible for service hours. Guaranteed free food and fun :)
Email- traceylisch@gmail.com
VSL Information
Sign up today to be a Guardian Angel
A Guardian Angel volunteer has the unique opportunity to serve the school during the time children are in Mass or attending other religious activities within the church. This is a person who volunteers to be in the Narthex during these times to keep an extra eye on the doors of the church looking for suspicious behavior.
Please consider signing up for multiple shifts. The children love to see familiar faces! Thank you for volunteering your time to ensure our children are safe!
Grades 5-8 Mass is on Tuesday. Kindergarten- 4th grade Mass is Wednesday. All school Mass is Friday.
Living the Liturgical Calendar in Your Home
September 8th is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are many ways to celebrate the birthday of our Blessed Mother.
Quick: Get out those leftover birthday decorations and throw Mary a birthday party. You can make this as complicated or as easy as you want. Have everyone wear blue -- the color of Mary’s blue mantle. Make (or buy) a white cake to symbolize Mary’s purity and sing Happy Birthday before you cut it.
Easy: Learn/recite/memorize prayers to Mary, such as: the Angelus, Litany of Loreto, Memorare, Hail Mary, and Hail Holy Queen. Learn/sing a Marian hymn together as a family. “Regina Coeli”, “Ave Maria”, “Salve Regina”, “Immaculate Mary” and “Hail, Holy Queen”.
Super Fun: Mary’s special color is blue and with a little planning you can have a blue themed meal. Blueberry pancakes would be a popular choice, but be adventurous and try blue potatoes or carrots (available at Sprouts), or try blue corn chips.
Parish Picnic
Click on the link below to volunteer at the Parish Picnic
https://stmichaelcp.org/parish-picnicE-Waste Recycling Drive: Sept. 6
- Do you have old computers, TVs, phones, cable boxes, cords, etc. that you need to get rid of? Bring them to the E-Waste Recycling Drive on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 4-8 pm at Adams Cable Equipment, 9700 Widmer Road in Lenexa.
- This event is being organized by Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in Kansas City, KS. Holy Name recently replaced ancient computers from 2010 with new Chromebooks and is working on an overhaul of their internal IT network. Because they have old equipment to recycle, they are sharing this opportunity to recycle electronics for FREE with all parishes in the archdiocese.
- During this E-Waste Drive, Holy Name will accept donations (cash or via website) to help install a new phone/intercom/security system at the school. Usually you have to pay to recycle large electronics, and since this event is FREE, we are asking for donations to benefit this project at Holy Name School.
Living the Liturgical Calendar in Your Home
Living the Liturgical calendar is a fun way to stay in touch with the Church and create some ecclesiastical traditions for your family. We will feature a new saint each week.
This week we celebrate the Feasts of St. Monica (8/27), and her son St. Augustine (8/28). It is fitting these two great saints be celebrated together. St. Monica, the patron Saint of mothers, prayed for years for the conversion of her husband and sons. This is a great day to have some special mother/son time.
As a patron of mothers, we can call on St. Monica to intercede on behalf of our children. All her prayers paid off. St. Augustine was recognized as a Doctor of the Church in 1298. He is known as one of the most significant and influential thinkers in the history of the Catholic Church. His teachings were the foundation of Christian doctrine for a millennium.
How can your family celebrate these two feasts? Do something nice for your mother or a mother figure in your life -- send a card or call her. If she has passed, spend some time in prayer or make a sacrifice in her honor.
You can also read a famous story of St. Augustine at the seashore. Then discuss it with your family. Older children can discuss what mysteries of our faith are difficult to comprehend and younger children can ponder just who was this child.
Fun Fact: St. Augustine is the patron saint of brewers. Grab a beer and spend some time with your spouse. St. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Sit together and rest in God.
Serve Saturdays
Saturday, September 10 from 9-11 AM
We need 15 volunteers to help at the Turnstyles on 135th Street
Volunteers will be sorting donations, stocking shelves, and folding clothes.
For more information and to signup, visit: https://www.stmichaelcp.org/volunteer