Mesa Middle School
Principal's Message
Dear Mesa Families,
Happy New Year!!! We hope all is well and that you had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends over the winter holiday break. During the month of December, our Mesa students participated in a number of fundraiser events to support those in need.
In addition, I wanted to reshare information included in my last communication:
The Colorado Department of Education released the Preliminary 2019 School Performance Framework (SPF) to school districts. These ratings are intended to hold districts and schools accountable for performance on the same single set of academic achievement and growth indicators and measures.
Mesa Middle School will be on a Performance Plan for the 2019-2020 school year (the highest rating possible). To be identified as a Performance school the overall SPF needs to be at or above 53.0. Mesa's score was at 71.0. While we recognize there are various opinions and views regarding state testing we thank everyone for their support around this rating.
We believe that Mesa is an amazing school and we look to create an environment where students feel safe and cared for, and as a result, can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. In addition, we have a supportive community where parents/guardians recognize the positive school experience their students receive at Mesa Middle School.
We will need everyone's help with our upcoming testing season as well. Below is more information about state testing.
Sincerely,
Tony Jackowski
Principal
State Assessment: The Why, The How, and The What
Why?
We can see how a child is performing relative to other students at Mesa Middle School, within the district, and state.
It prepares students for standardized assessments that they will take in high school, college (SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) or other vocational programs.
We can make informed decisions and choices for our students. Test data is used by administration and staff to drive instruction/curriculum and professional development choices.
Test data may identify learning gaps that can be addressed.
Identification of districts and schools that have struggling students, so help can be provided.
There is a correlation of state test scores and property value.
How are the results used?
As part of a BODY of EVIDENCE, state assessments are used to:
drive instruction for a student,
identify targeted interventions,
place students in appropriate classes at the middle school level as well as high school,
identify gifted and talented students during the identification process, and
determine effectiveness in regards to instruction and determine whether Mesa’s instructional practices are effective.
What happens with the data?
CDE is committed to ensuring that data on individual students are secure. CDE does not report individual student data to the federal government; the department has strict policies and procedures in place to maintain data security. For more information on data privacy and security please go to: http://www.cde.state.co.us/dataprivacyandsecurity
The results of CMAS are the backbone of the state’s accountability system. The state uses CMAS data to populate the annual school and district performance frameworks which is the result in accreditation ratings for each school and district. If schools do poorly on the state exam there is an impact to the building.
Excerpts taken from this CDE link: http://www.cde.state.co.us/communications/stateassessmentsandacademicachievement
Counseling Corner
Hello all, from the Counseling Office at Mesa Middle School. It has certainly been a busy first semester and we hope you have enjoyed the Winter Break with your child(ren). We are very grateful to be able to provide social/emotional support services to all MMS students. We implemented an electronic check-in/out process in our office starting this past October. We are delighted to say, since October, we have had at least 1,621 student visits to our offices as of Wednesday, December 18, 2019.
When a student signs into our office, they check one of the following options: Issue with Student; Issue with Teacher; Family Concerns; Drugs/Alcohol/Vape; Weapons/Safety; Career/College/High School; Gender/Sexuality; Naviance Help; Anxiety/Stress; Grades; Organization/Study Skills/Test Prep; Group Counseling Session; Other; I am feeling unsafe; Someone else is unsafe/or might be unsafe. From their check in/out responses, we see every student that indicates they need support and customize the services we provide accordingly.
We surveyed (and visited with) all of our 7th grade students and our new 8th grade students through this first semester. Through those surveys and conversations we developed specific support groups, provided individual counseling, made schedule adjustments, completed suicide and threat assessments, and helped to support the overall safety and well being of Mesa’s students. Our group counseling sessions included lessons in: anti-bullying, student management skills (via an Academic Bootcamp), anxiety management, mindfulness, stress management, building friendships, healthy relationships, self-regulation, connections and executive functioning during this first semester. We will continue to form groups throughout this school year that are customized to students’ needs.
We are getting ready to start the pre-registration process for the 2020-2021 school year now that we've returned from the Holiday Break. Can you believe it! The link to registration forms and class information will be on the MMS website later this week.
If you are interested in attending a “Get Educated: Youth Mental Health and Wellness” evening, please see the attached flyer for an event on January 14. Please consider joining our counseling friends at Cresthill Middle School. Flyer for Cresthill MS Wellness Jan 14 2020.pdf
Mesa Middle School Counselors are currently planning a “Healthy Activities Night” for students and families (stay tuned for additional information).
Please know that we are honored to serve your child(ren) and give us a call or send an email if we can be of service to you.
Your Mesa Middle School Counseling Department
8th Grade Last Names A-K Ann Halcromb 303-387-4771 ann.halcromb@dcsdk12.org
8th Grade Last Names L-Z Andrea Kovach 303-387-4766 andrea.kovach@dcsdk12.org
7th Grade Last Names A-J Christy Graham 303-387-4765 cgraham1@dcsdk12.org
7th Grade Last Names K-Z Jessica Zimmerman 303-387-4869 jzimmerman1@dcsdk12.org
Counselor for PREvention Glenn (GT) Thompson 303-387-4764 gthompson1@dcsdk12.org
Counseling Administrative Asst. Jennifer Welcom 303-387-4772 jwelcom@dcsdk12.org
Student built remote control robot & student built replica of the TSA regulation course/challenge course.
Revolutionary War Reenactment
India Skype Call: Getting to Know the World Outside of Colorado!!!
Students in India teaching Mesa students about Yoga and other cultural elements during a
Skype call.
Kits for Kids
Denver Nuggets
Mr. Underwood is ALL HEART!!!
Mesa December Students of the Month
Holocaust Survivor Jack Alder Shares His Experiences
The Mesa Band and Mr. VanAlphen
Student Faculty Basketball Game
Other Mesa Pictures from December and January
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
1/14/20-ESL Access Testing Window
1/14/20-Passport to Mesa (5-6pm & 6:15-7:15pm) Flyer Link
1/14/20-Spirit Night at Chick-fil-a
1/15/20- 7th Grade Informational MTG - 2021 NYC/DC Trip Room C201
3:00 pm
1/15/20- DCHS Freshman Orientation Night 6-8pm @DCHS Link
1/15/20- ESL Access Testing Window
1/15/20- TSA Parent Meeting: @ 5:30 pm Room M206
1/16/20- ESL Access Testing Window
1/16/20- Passport to Mesa (4-5 pm) Flyer Link
1/17/20- ESL Access Testing Window
1/20/20- NO SCHOOL - Holiday
1/21/20- TSA Parent Meeting- @ 3:30 pm Room M206
1/22/20- PTO Meeting- 5:30 pm at Mesa MS in the Library
1/22/20- Information Mtg about Peru/Machu Picchu at 3:15, 4:30 & 5:30
1/24/20- Assembly Schedule-Wish Week Kick Off
1/27/20 - 1/31/20- Wish Week
1/29/20-Talent Show Rehearsals 3-4:30 pm
1/31/20- Mesa Talent Show 7 pm
1/31/20- Club Friday (Assembly Schedule)
2/1/20- DCSD Middle School Honor Ensemble Concert-5:30pm
2/4/20 - 8th Grade Honor Roll Celebration (Me Time)
2/5/20- Spirit Night at Papa Murphy's (both locations)
2/6/20 - 7th Grade Honor Roll Celebration (Me Time)
2/11/20- Spirit Night at Chili's
2/12/20- Assembly Schedule Bully Prevention Speaker/Author Justin
Mattot
2/12/20- Bully Prevention Speaker/Author Justin Mattot 6-7:30 pm
2/13/20-End of First 6 Week Grading Period for Second Semester
2/14/20-NO SCHOOL - Teacher PD Day
2/17/20-NO SCHOOL - Holiday
2/20/20-Student Led Conferences 4:45-7:00pm
2/25/20- Mandatory Costa Rica Mtg 6:00-8:00 p.m. Library
2/26/20- PTO Meeting- 5:30 pm at Mesa MS in the Library
2/28/20- Club Friday (Assembly Schedule)
SCREENAGERS NEXT CHAPTER - Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience
When: Thursday February 27, 2020
6:00-6:30pm ResourceFair
6:30-7:30pm Screening
7:30-8:00pm Q&A Panel Discussion
Organized By: DCSD Counselors for Prevention