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Principal's Message - Parents as Partners

Parents as Partners

During the first days of April we have important state-wide tests for our upper grade-level students. We plan backwards the weeks leading up to these tests to ensure we maximize our teaching efforts. Areas of need are targeted and concepts are clarified to ensure students can do their best. In February, we make extra time to work with our teaching partners. You, our students’ families, are these key educational partners. When we are all on the same learning page, students do their best.

We schedule family events to share fun family educational activities and to provide time for staff and families to connect. During the year, much of our parent communication is informative and we need time to bond for deeper connections. Real educational challenges can take real relationships to make significant changes. The goal is for our Family Events to provide such time. Please join us for our Parent Engagement Evening on February 8th, 5:30-7:00pm.

Parent/ Teacher Conferences are another time for parents to get clarity on students’ educational goals. We are lucky to have full conference days to schedule time with you, our families. Please connect with your teachers and use your conference times to make those connections to your child’s learning. Parent/ Teacher Conferences are February 22nd-23rd.

The week before Parent/ Teacher Conferences, I’ll have a “Pastries and Principal Morning” for those who want some insights into conferences and how best to use your conference time. Join us for some conference tips and maybe make a new acquaintance at the same time. The Pastries and Principal Morning is February 15th. You can drop-off your child and come inside. Of course, we’ll have some coffee to go with those pastries.

February has a lot of Parent - School Opportunities because when we are on the same page students are more successful. Please join us as much as you can this month and of course contact us when you have a question or idea.

Stay warm,

Do Good Work, Be a Friend, Every Day.

Principal Keener

Coaching Corner - Hannah Wright

The Science of Reading in a Nutshell:

Decoding x Language Comprehension = Reading Comprehension

Reading is a complex process that does not happen naturally or automatically, it has to be explicitly taught.

Scarborough's Reading Rope (depicted above) shows that the elements of Word Recognition and the elements of Language Comprehension all weave together into the rope of Reading Comprehension. Just like a true rope, the more strands present and the stronger each strand is, the stronger the rope is. If a student is weaker in one strand, the strength of the other strands can help the student comprehend.

The strands of Word Recognition include Decoding, Phonological Awareness, and Sight Word Recognition.

The strands of Language Comprehension include background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge.

When we target our instruction with these aspects in mind, it will help students lead to stronger reading comprehension.

If you have questions or need resources on any of these strands, please reach out to me.

Counselor Corner - Kathryn Lasota

This February, Life Skills lessons are focusing on the Hero’s Journey, how we all are learning new skills to help other people, and how there are mentors or people along the way who can help us practice these skills as we face challenges.

Older students are encouraged to examine their values when making decisions, and to look for sources of information or help when they are unsure as to what to do next. I am hoping they will be looking to name their current mentors in different areas such as math, sports, music, or friendships.

Older and younger students are hearing stories about characters learning new skills for dealing with anger. Skills include recognizing when they are angry and might need to give themselves a time-out to calm down, and finding something healthy to do to help themselves feel better.

Thank you for extending these topics when you can. Common language might include learning new skills to be a hero to help people, including learning how to handle anger to adventure on.