Titan Times 2022-2023
May Newsletter
Kindergarten Registration is NOW OPEN
Important Health Information - Nurse Melina
Dear Parents and Guardians,
There has been an uptick in viral illness, most notably strep throat, since returning from spring break. I want to remind everyone when to keep your child home from school and how to prevent the spread of germs. If your child has a fever, they cannot return to school until they have been fever free for a full 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine (Tylenol/Motrin, etc.). If you have any questions about whether or not you should send your child to school, please feel free to visit my page on the Terramar website (https://www.dvusd.org/Page/23997), call me, or email me @ 623-445-7610 or melina.mirabal@dvusd.org
Upcoming Important Dates
May 1st-5th-Spirit Week- See Flyer below
May 4th-Spring Band Concert 5th to 8th-6:30pm
May 5th-Early Release at K-1st: 1:20pm/2nd-8th: 1:30pm
May 5th-7th/8th Luau Dance 6pm-8pm- Must be present at school for the day and in school dress code for the dance
May 10th-Choir Concert K-6th at 6:30pm
May 11th-Choir Concert 7th/8th at 6:30pm
May 12th-Early Release at K-1st: 1:20pm/2nd-8th: 1:30pm
May 17th: 8th Grade Promotion/MRHS Gym at 3:45pm
May 19th: Last Day for Students 11:35am release
8th grade Promotion Information and link for details
FRY'S Rewards
Frys Community Rewards
Sign up for Fry's Community Rewards. Money from your purchases gets donated to Terramar. You’ll need a Fry’s digital account:
https://www.frysfood.com/i/community/community-rewards
May is SPEECH AND HEARING MONTH
Bullying or Peer Conflict?
WHAT IS NOT BULLYING? Adults must realize that not every unkind thing a child does constitutes bullying. For example:
Being left out is not always bullying. It’s natural for kids to have a select group of friends. Although they should be kind towards everyone, it’s unrealistic to expect them to be close friends with every child they know, and be invited to every function or event.
Experiencing conflict is not bullying. Learning to deal with conflict is a normal part of growing up. The key is for children to learn how to solve their problems peacefully and respectfully.
Not playing fair is not bullying. Wanting a game to be played a certain way is not bullying. Children understand the concept of sharing, and should take turns being in charge of the game.
When observing the unkind behaviors your child experiences, be sure to label them correctly. This will help you know how to handle the situation appropriately so that your child can learn and grow from it.
(Ref. Policy JICK, JICK-R, JICK-EA, JICK-EB)
Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engages in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that:
has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property,
is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment,
occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength, or
may constitute a violation of law
SRR handbook 2022-2023 (pages 2-4)
Cafeteria----Procedures if you plan to eat with your student
NO FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES WILL BE ACCEPTED- DRIVER WILL BE TURNED AROUND
1) Food deliveries to students from delivery services or restaurants are not allowed during the school day. Any food items delivered will be sent back to the restaurant.
2) Neither students nor parents are allowed to share food with other students due to student food allergies and to prevent the spread of illness.
***Must be on emergency contact form and/or have parent/guardian inform office via phone call that student will have a visitor not on Powerschools list***
** Must present ID**
2. For safety/security reasons, no additional friends can sit at the table.
3. Food is for you and your student, not for others.
4. Lunch with loved ones is only in the cafe and not during recess time.
5. If you have students in multiple grade levels, for safety/security reasons, you must return to the office between lunch times.
Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program- TOP 20
What is TOP 20?- Dinner Discussion Questions
What is TOP 20?
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Top 20 Training provides effective strategies and practices to develop potential, eliminate negativity, address challenges, and enhance the culture in schools, at home, and in the workplace through one-of-a-kind, live and on-line trainings, books, journals, and curriculum.
May Top 20!
This month in Top20 we are reviewing all topics we have learned throughout the year. The students are continuing to grow their knowledge for Top20 and applying the skills they have learned to help them be successful in and out of school.
Middle school dinner discussion questions:
What has been the most impactful lesson you have learned this year in Top20? What skills do you use everyday from Top20?
Kindergarten-6th grade dinner discussion questions:
What is your favorite thing about Top20? What has been the most helpful?
Trouble with the Powerschools APP?
Please be aware that the mobile app does not display the details of tagged standards like the web-based program displays. In the web-based view, if you don't see a number or letter progress, click the drop down menu with the bar graph icon to see the details. Thank you for continued patience and support.
The district is working with the PowerSchools company to see if they can fix the app view to show those details of the standards. We will continue to communicate and provide updates with pertinent information.
Terramar PTSA Information
Titan Store Volunteers Needed, May 3rd-5th One of the last opportunities to help out this year is coming up this week at the Titan Store! We are in need of district trained volunteers this Wednesday through Friday. Please click here to sign up to volunteer
Titan Appreciation: It takes a lot of fantastic education professionals to run a successful school. As we wrap up the year, the PTSA is diligently appreciating each of our teachers, administrators, and support staff. If you want to contribute to Titan Appreciation, click on our donation page or just donate directly, here.
Two local businesses are contributing to Terramar staff appreciation week. A big thank you to these two Terramar community businesses:
- Fiona at Whisked Away Bakery for providing Terramar staff with 100 fresh baked cookies. Need cookies, bars, tarts, and recipes, let Fiona handle your baking needs. Text or call 949-573-8196.
- Mesquite Fresh Street Mex for providing Terramar staff with 100 off their best in Phoenix street tacos. Stop by any of their 10 locations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You won't regret it.
Peter Piper Pizza - Come and be part of our End of Year Celebration on May 24th from 4-8pm! 15% of all food, drink, and funpass game credit purchases is given back to Terramar PTSA! See Flier attached.
School Supply Fundraiser - Get ready for the 23/24 school year ahead of time by ordering school supplies from EPI directly through the PTSA. Reasonably priced, separated out by grade level, and the best part - delivered right to your child's classroom by the first day of school. This will happen in May, tbd. Stay posted for more information.
Your 2022-2023 Terramar PTSA Executive Board
Woody Mason, President
Miranda Woodward-Duran, Vice President
Stephanie Walaszek, Treasurer
Morgan Gaertner, Secretary
Visit our webpage: https://www.terramarptsa.org/
Follow us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/terramaracademyoftheartsPTSA/
Please reach out with any questions, and thank you for your dedication to the Terramar Academy of the Arts!
Your 2022-2023 Terramar PTSA Executive Board
Woody Mason, President
Miranda Woodward-Duran, Vice President
Stephanie Walaszek, Treasurer
Morgan Gaertner, Secretary
Library Corner
The end of the year is approaching!
Please encourage your student to return their library books. All books are due back in the library by May 8th so that the inventory process can begin. If you are not sure if your student has a book out, please have them come to the library to check.
All chromebooks and chargers will be turned in starting on May 11th. Please take a moment to look at your child's device for any damage and have them remove any stickers. Any chromebooks that are damaged should be brought to the Media Center as soon as possible.
Thank you to our awesome Terramar families that donated books, came to our book fairs and volunteered in the library this year! We are so lucky to have your support!
Tina Figgins
Library Clerk
Terramar Academy of the Arts
(623) 445-7613
.
Crossing Guard/Dismissal Procedures-- Safety First
Parents: If the crossing guard is in the crosswalk YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE THROUGH IT.
Parents/Guardians please remind your student to use the crosswalk at Happy Valley or at 67th Ave. Running across traffic on Happy Valley is very dangerous and against the law.
Happy Valley Crosswalk- Use the WEST side of the intersection with the two crossing guards available 7:50am-8:10am and 1:20pm-1:45pm and 2:50pm-3:15pm
For Desert Moon- If your student rides a bike or walks from Terramar to the crosswalk/neighborhood, they must ride/walk on the sidewalk (because it is opposite traffic and safest to be out of the street). Wait for the crossing guard to cross students from 7:30pm-8:10pm and 1:30pm-1:55pm and 3:00pm-3:25pm.
Morning Drop Off/Late Drop Off
Every minute of learning is important. Please make every effort to have students arrive at school on time. Learning starts at 8:15am for our 180 days of school. Did you know that if your student is just 3 minutes late to school for 30 of the 180 days, they would have missed 90 minutes of learning? When a student arrives late to learning, anxiety builds for them as they hurry to be engaged in learning. This can easily take other students off task and could stop the teacher from teaching. Being late for school is difficult for students and teachers. Please make every effort to have students at school before 8:15am. Excessive tardiness can result in disciplinary action.
NOW ACCEPTING TAX CREDIT!! $400 MARRIED OR $200 SINGLE!!!
DID YOU KNOW???
special provision (until June 30, 2024) where tax credit monies can support capital expenditures!
Now is the perfect time to make an Extracurricular Activity Tax Credit to Terramar and receive a dollar for dollar reduction on your State of Arizona 2022 tax liability. Your school tax credit donations can provide Terramar students with opportunities to participate in after school programs, field trips, music and athletic programs or any other extracurricular activity. The Arizona tax credit program (A.R.S. 43-1089.01) allows a tax credit of up to $200 for individuals and up to $400 for married couples, filing jointly, in support of extracurricular activities. More information and links to donate online are available on the DVUSD website.
Donations made between January 1 and April 15 may be applied to the prior tax year. Payments made from January 1, 2022, through April 15, 2023, can be applied to an individual's 2022 Arizona Taxes.
If you have any questions and/or would like to donation in person, please stop by between 7:30am-4:00pm.
To make a tax credit donation online click here https://az-deervalley.intouchreceipting.com/
OPEN POSITIONS! In search of...
1 paraprofessional positions 6.75 hours a day
Crossing Guard AM/PM on Happy Valley
Crossing Guard AM/PM on Happy Valley
Technology Challenges 4th-8th grade students
Parents, please partner with us in reminding your students to charge their chromebook daily at home. Think about proving a location in your home that is centrally located to help remind students of their responsibility to come to school with a fully charged chromebook ready for learning.
To purchase the device protection plan:
Friday Early Release (Professional Learning Community PLC time)- Why do we have it? What do the teachers do once the students leave?
School ends early on most Fridays so that Terramar teachers can collaborate with other teachers at other schools who teach the same subject/grade on best teaching practices to meet the needs of all learners. Our teachers will compare student data with teachers at other schools to discuss best teaching practices.
A Professional Learning Community AKA PLC is the formal name for teachers meeting to share/compare data to make sure that all students receive the best teaching practices to master the standards.
There are four guiding questions that are answered in each PLC as standards are taught. They are:
1. What do you we want students to know and be able to do?
2. How will we know students have learned?
2a. What instructional practices will produce our best results?
3. What do we do if students have not learned?
4. What do we do when students have already shown mastery?
Please visit this website for more information on what is a PLC https://www.dvusd.org/Page/76959
Watch this video for more information:
Link for District Calendar
PLC Success Story Featuring the Kindergarten grade team
PLC Success Story - First Grade 22-23
Kindergarten teachers have been working hard during PLC time to analyze reading skills data and plan new learning opportunities. We are thankful to have this collaborative time to problem solve and share strategies. Students have gained automaticity in producing the sounds of letters, and are now able to blend these sounds as they read words. This also carries over into writing, where they use these sounds to spell. First grade here we come!
Only WATER allowed in the Academic Building
Communication- Who should I call when....
Front Parking Lot- Please park at CCV
In the afternoon the long RIGHT hand turn line is preventing our BUSES from entering the BUS BAY. If you are able...Please park at CCV so that our school buses can make the RIGHT into the bus bay in the afternoon.
Late buses into the bus bay equals students waiting, which equals families panicked at home because of late arrivals to bus stops, which equals late busses to other schools for pick up. The dominos that fall are many. Please please park at CCV and use our Crossing Guards on the WEST side of the intersection.
Buses- Strict District Guidelines
Early Student Pick Up
If it is necessary to pick up your student during school hours, please report to the school office to sign him or her out. The office will then call your student to the office. The student will not be called to the office prior to your arrival. For the safety and protection of all students: No student will be released to anyone except his/her parents/guardians or the responsible party indicated on the Emergency Card Picture I.D. will be required every time
Birthday Treats
Birthday celebrations occur the last 10 minutes of the school day and must be pre-arranged with the teacher to avoid any student allergy concerns. Birthday treats are to be a cookie/cupcake/treat that is a small snack for students. Drinks are not permitted (only water in the classroom) Pizza is not appropriate.
There are two options for treats.
Option 1- Purchase the "Birthday Bucket" (TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE) from the cafe using the following link https://www.dvusd.org/Page/65635
Option 2- Bring in small store bought peanut free items.
Birthday Items are not allowed to be shared during lunch time.
Cell Phone Policy K8
Parents, as a reminder.
Cell phones for all students are to remain off and in backpacks.
7th and 8th grade students may take them out at lunch ONLY.
No earbuds/headphones are to be worn during the school day.
Smart Watches can only be used for telling time during the school day. No APP or Internet usage during the day.
If you need to reach your student, please call the office at 623-445-7600
If a student uses their cell phone during the school day they will receive discipline according to the SRR handbook for defiance/insubordination.
Students who are not feeling well must report to the Nurse's office for treatment.
Titan Passport- Positive Behavior Intervention System- PBIS
Titan Passport
The Titan Passport was designed to represent a structured behavior program designed for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The Titan Passport is a communication tool between school and home that shares positive interactions and infractions on students’ behavior while on campus. Students have the opportunity to earn monthly rewards based on their positive behavior at school.
The TItan passport will be utilized during all classes, to give students the reinforcement of positive behaviors and reminders of school expectations. The passports are designed to travel between home and school, to give parents an idea on how students are performing behaviorally. Each teacher/administrator has the right to use his/her professional judgment to modify this plan for individual students as needed.
Titan Passports are utilized on a monthly basis, students will have the opportunity to restart each month earning positives and infractions. For the first few months students will be given grace and patience with lost and/or damaged cards. After the 1st quarter, students will be charged $0.50 for each replacement card and will also receive an infraction for not being prepared. For every 3 infractions students will receive a lunch detention. If teachers are seeing that students are earning more infractions than positives, they will work with administration to determine if the Passport is right for the student.
At the end of every month, students will have the opportunity to turn their passports points into prizes at the Titan Store. Identifiable points are Positives - Infractions = Final Points. In addition to the Titan Store, some grade levels have identified “extra rewards” for those students who meet a specific point value. The school will also hold random days to celebrate students’ positive achievements.
The Passports will be collected by the school to review any trends, analyze the data, and determine outcomes that can help identify necessary positive interventions for the campus.
Physical/verbal aggression, theft, vandalism, threatening acts, fighting, or any other major infraction listed in the DVUSD Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook will warrant bypassing the Titan Passport guidelines and will result in immediate consequences.
Titan Weekly/Monthly Winner for showing great character
Titan Monthly Winners: At the end of each month the teachers will meet to discuss which student has exemplified TITAN (trustworthy, integrity, tenderhearted, accountability, noble) character for the entire month. These students are brought to the office to receive a backpack filled with goodies that has been "earned... not given". We post the names of these kids on our website and on the marquee.
Volunteering Information
We are always looking for parents/guardians to come and share their time and knowledge with our Terramar community. Anyone who volunteers at our school must attend a one-time volunteer training.
Link for calendar for volunteer training dates: https://www.dvusd.org/cms/lib/AZ01901092/Centricity/Domain/5182/Monthly-Calendar-62e991a26c186.pdf
Standards Based Mindset in Grading
Trouble with the Powerschools APP?
Please be aware that the mobile app does not display the details of tagged standards like the web-based program displays. We are working with the PowerSchools company to see if they can fix the app view to show those details of the standards. We will continue to communicate and provide updates with pertinent information. In the web-based view, if you don't see a number or letter progress, click the drop down menu with the bar graph icon to see the details. Thank you for continued patience and support.
Terramar embraces a comprehensive standards-based mindset and grading system that reports what students know and can do relative to standards by facilitating clearer, more targeted feedback.
This work is accomplished by reporting academic achievement separate from behaviors, tying assessment and grading exclusively to standards, prioritizing the most recent evidence of learning, and allowing for editing and resubmission of work.
Please visit our website https://www.dvusd.org/Domain/12421
and view our Reassessment, Late Work, and Cheating policies