News from RStar
Week of August 27th
NWEA MAP Testing
We know that children learn better—and faster—when teachers have a clear picture of what each student knows and what they are ready to learn next.
That’s why our assessments react to each student’s answers. In the testing world, this makes our tests “adaptive,” or personalized to measure the needs of every student.
- If your child answers a question correctly, the test follows up with a more challenging question.
- If your child answers incorrectly, the test follows up with an easier question.
Adaptive tests make it possible for teachers to pinpoint what each child needs in order to learn best. At NWEA™ we help teachers understand your student’s unique learning needs—because every student matters.
What are DIBELS?
The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) are a set of procedures and measures for assessing the acquisition of early literacy skills from kindergarten through sixth grade. They are designed to be short (one minute) fluency measures used to regularly monitor the development of early literacy and early reading skills.
DIBELS are comprised of seven measures to function as indicators of phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, accuracy and fluency with connected text, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. DIBELS were designed for use in identifying children experiencing difficulty in acquisition of basic early literacy skills in order to provide support early and prevent the occurrence of later reading difficulties.
A Change to Volunteer Support
MVP (My Volunteer Pal) program is the volunteer program for all Shawnee Mission Schools. MVP connects adult volunteers with students ages Pre-kindergarten to age 18. Volunteer Pals choose from a range of in- school activities, including:
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Mentoring
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Serving as a lunch buddy
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Classroom or school volunteer
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Sharing special talents or career interests
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Tutoring
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Being a friend who listens
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Overnight chaperones for USD approved field trips
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Chat ‘n Chew
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Watch Dogs
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
Steps to Become an MVP Volunteer (please do these steps in order):
- Complete an online MVP application.
- Attend a MVP training session. Combined training and fingerprint screening dates are offered on Tuesdays (see schedule below)
- Drop-in fingerprint screening is available at the Center for Academic Achievement, 8200 W. 71st St., on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30a.m. to 12p.m. and from 1p.m. to 4p.m. Finger prints can only be done AFTER attending a training session.
E-mail volunteer@smsd.org or call (913) 993-8750 for more information.
Want to Recognize A Staff Member?!
Library/MakerSpace Support
Help/Volunteering Wanted
Need a Car Pick-Up Sign?
Join Our PTA Family!
Want to Help with Chat-N-Chew?
PTA sponsors Chat & Chew 4 times each school year for grades 2-6. Students read a preselected book and spend lunch discussing with their classmates.
Adult volunteers are needed to host each Chat & Chew session. Sign up for one or all sessions.
All materials are provided.
- October 16(2nd), 17(3rd), 18(4th), 19(5th/6th)
- December 11(2nd), 12(3rd), 13(4th), 14(5th/6th)
- February 26(2nd), 27(3rd), 28(4th), March 1(5th/6th)
- April 9(2nd), 10(3rd), 11(4th), 12(5th/6th)
Want to be a Room Parent??
Room parents are needed to plan, organize and run 2 class parties each year: Halloween & Valentines Day.
Room parties are organized by grade and planning time is allotted after the PTA general meeting on September 11 at 7:00pm (Halloween planning) and January 15 at 7:00pm (Valentine planning). These are suggested planning times, however planning can be done at other times.
Please sign up to be a room parent coordinator or a room helper:
- Parent Coordinator: Be the contact for your student's classroom regarding all party planning and supplies. Attend the 2 planning sessions & each room party. Organize parents in your student's classroom to assist during each party. Communicate party plans with your student's teacher.
West is Best Scholarship Fund
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Website: https://risingstar.smsd.org/
Location: 8600 Candlelight Lane, Lenexa, KS 66215
Phone: (913) 993-4500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RStar512/
Twitter: @RStar512