Park School News
March 2018
Why Do We Give Assessments
Assessment plays an important role in student learning. Assessment is no longer something we do only after students are taught information. A quality assessment system assesses students during the learning to help teachers make educational decisions. Classroom assessments we call formative assessments support our staff with instruction. Teachers can swifty make immediate changes to the instructional delivery based on formative assessments while students are learning. Other assessments, like our universal screener called STAR, help teachers make educational decisions such as student placement, advancement, and instructional intervention/enrichment needs. STAR helps teachers determine: “Are we students mastering the standards? Are students learning what we expect them to learn? Is there another method we need to try to achieve better results?” We use the information from the universal screener (STAR), and other assessments given during the school year to support student learning at their level. Students also take the Wisconsin Forward Exam in the Spring. This is an assessment mandated by the state to ensure all school districts are meeting a level of expectation. Should you have any questions in regards to assessments, or how the data is used to drive instruction, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office.
Next Year
Important Dates to Remember
March 30 NO SCHOOL
April 9 End of Third Quarter
April 10 1st and 2nd Grade Reading Event
April 12 4th Grade "The Talk"
April 16 NO SCHOOL
April 17 3rd & 4th Grade Genius Game Night
April 20 Family Fun Night @ Marinette High School
April 26 & 27 DAR Closed
May 11 Early Release 11:30
May 16 1st Grade Lambeau Field Field Trip
May 16 4th Grade Heritage Hill Field Trip
May 17th 2nd Grade New Zoo Field Trip
May 23 3rd & 4th Grade Jr Olympics
May 25 Last Day DAR
May 28 NO SCHOOL
June 1 3rd Grade National Railroad Museum Field Trip
June 5 Picnic with a Pal
June 8 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
CHART YOUR COURSE!
Marinette Summer Learning takes place June 18th through July 18th, no school July 4th-6th. Summer Learning is available for students in 4K-8th grade and takes place at Marinette High School. The summer learning day runs from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A few highlights of Summer Learning
-Held at Marinette High School
-Free Bussing with pick up and drop off locations (register through Westlund Bus Lines)
-Free Breakfast and Lunch
-After School Program from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Register through YMCA)
-Cruisin' into 5K program for students entering Kindergarten in the Fall
**Registration closes on March 29th. Please sign up before then!
Character Word of the Month - GRIT
For the month of March we are talking about GRIT. Please take the time in March to discuss grit as a family.
Why does grit matter?
One way to think about grit is to consider what grit isn’t. Grit isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t how intensely, for the moment, you want something.
Instead, grit is about having a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do. And grit is holding steadfast to that goal over time. Even when you fall down. Even when you screw up. Even when progress toward that goal is halting or slow.
Talent and luck matter to success. But talent and luck are no guarantee of grit. And in the very long run, grit may matter as least as much, if not more, to what you achieve.
Students with grit might
- develop and deepen their interests
- stick with commitments, even when it’s difficult
- not quit a sport in the middle of the season
- revise an essay repeatedly
- ask other people for feedback about how they can improve