Deer Families
Deer Hill School News . May 7, 2021
Dear Deer Hill Families,
On Monday we'll begin MCAS for all students. Please see specific dates in the Need to Knows section of this newsletter. I can't stress enough that this should not be a stressful experience. I'd like to share with you an email that I sent staff in preparation for the assessment window. In a nutshell: We've got this!
- Since I arrived at Deer Hill, I have made my position on MCAs very clear: it is one of many data points that we use to measure student progress. It is far from the end-all-be-all. This year in particular, students are not taking the whole test, but will be randomly assigned to one of two sessions. This means that the data will best serve us on a grade, school, and state level -- it will have less value when it comes to individual students and will not be used in isolation (as it never should be) to define student performance.
- We prepare for MCAS by teaching and learning every day in a standards-based, rigorous, and engaging learning environment. We do not conduct "test-prep" that is geared toward success on the MCAS. We've had our infrastructure trial where students had a chance to familiarize themselves with the format, and Mr. Saluti has continued that exposure in computer class. Beyond that and a feel-good Morning Meeting or two, the expectation is that it is business as usual.
- The kids are alright (and you should be, too). MCAS should never be something that stresses out students, teachers, or parents, and it really starts with us. If we project a low-stress vibe, the students will pick up on that and share it. This is not to be confused with not doing our best -- we want students to do their best and recognize that their best is all that we expect. They will see things that they haven't been taught, and that is OK. Remember, they are computer savvy, smart kids. If we continue to teach them to the best of our ability, the rest will take care of itself.
As I told the staff, my door is open for any conversations you might like to have about MCAS.
All the best,
Alexandra L. Sullivan
Principal, Deer Hill School
P.S. Our next newsletter will be published approximately May 21.
P.P.S. Follow me on Twitter @DeerHillSchool for ongoing info and joy throughout the week.
Need to Knows
- Our MCAS dates have been established for May as follows. This year there is one session for each subject area. Thank you for prioritizing your child's attendance on these days.
4th grade: ELA, 5/11; Math, 5/18
3rd grade: ELA, 5/12; Math, 5/19
- As shared in a letter earlier this week, the class placement process will begin next week. Thank you for taking the time to read it and for adhering to the parameters and expectations that are outlined.
- Principal Mills of Cohasset Middle School is hosting an information night for families and caregivers of incoming 6th graders on Tuesday, May 11 at 6:00. He shared the Zoom link in a direct communication. Please email him at jmills@cohassetk12.org if you have any questions.
Keeping the Joy (happenings at Deer Hill)
- Our May the 4th Be With You Spirit Day was a HUGE success! Students completed chores at home and raised over $800 for the Cohasset Food Pantry which was donated in the form of grocery gift cards. I hope that families enjoyed having dogs walked, dishwashers emptied, and laundry put away as part of this effort!
- At our last School Committee meeting, 4th grade students from Mrs. Parrell's class and 5th grade students from Mrs. Johnston's class spoke about two school projects that focused on Women in History: our school-wide March Madness Women Warriors book brackets and a 5th grade biography project on women who represent STEM or Global Citizens. Both of these were highlighted in earlier newsletters. Not only were their projects impressive, but the School Committee noted what articulate speakers Deer Hill students were!
- Several 4th and 5th grade classrooms participated in an Author Event with Gregory Mone through Buttonwood Books. He talked about the importance of prewriting and revising during the writing process. His new book, Atlantis: Accidental Invasion sounds amazing!
- April was National Poetry Month, and Deer Hill's halls are lined with work from our talented poets. Take a peek at a few color poems from Mrs. Holland's 3rd grade class.
- The PSO sponsored a virtual assembly with Techsploration on April 28th. If you'd like to see what all of the fun was about, they have a website and a YouTube channel. For me, the best part was the wonderful feedback we received about Deer Hill students: "We really enjoyed presenting our Forces and Motion program to Deer Hill. Bob and I were both very impressed with the student questions. They were all great questions related to the topics covered."
- Common Planning Time (CPT) is an opportunity for teachers to collaborate each week, and it also provides students a chance for a bonus special. Last week Mr. Saluti shared that "during CPT time, Ms. Hillson’s class coded their own video games, then shared their game so their classmates could play, using hyperlinks in Google Slides. It was an unplanned and organic lesson and they had so much fun doing it."
- Many thanks to CHS National Honor Society students Lilla Khan and Rita Hart for their independent service project that promotes our goals of culturally responsive teaching. Lilla and Rita shared three resources with teachers: an anti-bias presentation to use in their planning and presentations on Cinco de Mayo and Eid-Al-Fitr that can be used directly with students. We appreciate their partnership and the thoughtful work they contributed to Deer Hill students' learning!
Deer Hill Dates
National Prevention Week (Safe Harbor Cohasset Coalition): 5.9.21-5.15.21
Early release, professional development: 5.14.21, 1:15
Buttonwood Books Virtual Book Fair: 5.24.21-5.30-21
Memorial Day, no school: 5.31.21
Last Day of School: 6.23.21
Flyers of Interest
Deer Hill School
Alexandra L. Sullivan, Principal
Email: alsullivan@cohassetk12.org
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/
Location: 208 Sohier St., Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781-383-6115
Twitter: @DeerHillSchool