Mustang Minute- Summer Edition
Happy Summer!!! We are just under 6 weeks away from the start of the 2022-2023 school year. Still plenty of time to enjoy the summer, but we wanted to provide you with some information as we get closer to the 1st day of school. Weekly newsletters will begin August 5th.
Upcoming Dates
- August 1-2: Kindergarten Screening
- August 8- New to the District Family Orientation (9AM or 5PM)
- August 12: PowerSchool Goes Live (To Access Homeroom Teacher Placement)
- August 22- Kindergarten Parent Night (Parents only)
August 23: Supply Drop Off Night, Student Pictures 3-6 PM
August 25: First Day of School, 11:00 Dismissal
August 26: First Full Day of School
****Back to school event: Please save the date for our District 24 Welcome Back to School Event on Friday, September 9th. More information to follow.
Topics
- New to the District Orientation
- PowerSchool Going LIVE
- Standards-Based Grading
- PE and STEM
- Lunch Program
- Remote Learning
- Student Attendance
- Helpful Links
- EPIC News
New to the District Orientation
- School Information
- Schedule
- Assessments
- Arrival/ Dismissal Procedures
- Lunch
- iPads
- Extra-Curricular activities
- Building Tour
Monday, August 8, 2022
MES Welcome- 9:00AM or 5:00PM
MMS Welcome- 10:30AM or 6:30PM
**This is designed for families that are NEW to the district
August 12- PowerSchool Goes LIVE
In order to access Powerschool, you need to make sure you can log into your parent account. New families to the district will get their account details at New Family Orientation on August 8. If you are unable to come that day, you can contact the main office to get your information.
If you forgot your information, contact the main office so that you are ready prior to August 12th.
Standards-Based Grading
What does this mean? Well, Traditional Grading will not be used (percentages, ABC). Instead, we will be reporting on key learning standards each trimester. Each standard will be reported on a 3-point scale:
3 = Meeting: Meets or exceeds the standard of the grade
2 = Approaching: Approaching the standard of the grade
1 = Attempting: Does not yet meet the standard of the grade; needs support
Within each skill, we will be using proficiency scales to guide teachers in grading.
As we approach the new school year, we will be sharing with you what the report cards will look like and how you can access the proficiency scales.
PE and STEM Classes
What about STEM?
Not to worry, our STEM program is being restructured. Our STEM curriculum will begin to connect with each grade level's science standards. Engineering standards are a big component to our science standards. Because of this connection, STEM will be a part of our Science block.
There will be four sessions of STEM for students throughout the year. Each session will be 7-8 straight days of STEM during their science time. During these days, students will be doing a combination of STEM and technology activities in the STEM lab with Mrs. Dajka.
Session 1 = 8 days (Aug 26- Nov 3)
Session 2 = 7 days (Nov. 9- Jan 27)
Session 3 = 7 days (Jan 30- Apr 6)
Session 4 = 7 days (Apr 7- June 6)
Lunch Program
This also means we are returning to paid lunches. Lunch prices next year will be $3.50. Please make sure you keep up with your lunch balances in PushCoin throughout the year.
Each day students will have three options to choose from for lunch: Hot lunch entree, cold sandwich, or salad. Of course, students will always have the option to bring in their lunch as well. Students will inform their teacher of the choice each day.
OPTIONAL: In order to take an additional entree choice, the student will need to be charged for the extra entree AND parents need to give permission for the child to take a 2nd entree. If you wish to give your child permission to take a 2nd entree, please click the link below.
Remote Learning- 22/23
In the event the student is absent from school, parents are required to contact the school office (not the teacher) stating the reason for the absence before the start of school. Failure on the part of the parent to report the student's absence requires the school to investigate the absence by a phone call beginning at 10:00 A.M. It is the student's responsibility to make up any work missed due to absence. Valid causes for absence are illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and includes such other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the Board of Education, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or the health of the student. In case of absence due to a communicable disease, a doctor's release may be necessary upon the student’s return.
Make-Up Assignments
Due to an excused absence, if a student is unable to attend school for three or fewer days, he/she will receive make-up assignments upon return to school and be given an appropriate due date. For short-term assignments, students may make arrangements to have homework picked up. For extended emergencies/illness, a parent may call the office to request assignments and pick up the work the following day. As a general rule, one day extra time is allotted for each day’s absence when scheduling make-up work.
Example: Miss 3 days of school= 6 days to complete make-up work
Student Attendance
Last school year, we had over 125 students who missed 17 or more days of school. We of course know we were in the midst of the pandemic, which is contributing to higher numbers last year.
When you do the math, our teachers have only 13% of a calendar year to teach your child. Yes, only 13%!
- 177 days of school x 6.5 Hours of School/Day = 1,150 hours of teaching
- 365 days in a year x 24 hours a day = 8,760 hours
- 1,150 / 8,760 = .13 x 100= 13%
If you are chronically absent, we now have significantly less time to teach.
As we look ahead to this coming school year, please keep this in mind. Of course, if your child is sick, it is best to keep them at home. Sending a child to school who is sick will not be the best environment for them to maximize their learning experience. Yet, do your best to avoid vacations, doctor's appointments, or other activities that may require missed learning days.
Missing days effects learning:
5 missed days = 1 week of school
15 missed days = 3 weeks of school
25 missed days = 5 weeks of school
Our challenge to students and families next year... try not to miss more than five days. We know...not everyone can do that and things may come up. All we can ask is do your best!
STRIVE 4 FIVE!
Bring Attendance Home
Do you want to volunteer at school?
We encourage parents/guardians and other members of the community to share their time, knowledge and abilities with our students. Community volunteers in our schools enrich the educational program and strengthen our school.
The education of today’s youth takes a whole community. Caring members of our community bring new energies and resources into our schools. All over the country schools are drawing support from their communities through the efforts of volunteers who work in our schools, contribute goods and supplies, and support our schools financially.
Volunteering includes:
- Mystery Readers
- Guest Speakers
- Lunch Help
- Chaperoning Field Trips
- Helping small groups
- Assisting teachers
- So much more!!!
In order to volunteer, you must complete the application and have a background check done through our Raptor system here at school.
A master list of approved volunteers will be kept in the main office for staff to access when volunteers are needed.
We encourage parents to start the process now so that you can join us next year in volunteering.
Click the link below to complete the application.