Weekly Penguin News
Park Village Elementary - A 2018 CA Distinguished School
Upcoming Events
04/15 to 04/19 - Spring Break | NO SCHOOL
04/22 - First Day of Scholastic BOGO Book Fair
04/24 - Student Store | Flagpole @ 8:30am
04/24 - Xploration
04/26 - Picnic with Penguins
04/26 - Spirit Day | Heritage Day
04/26 - Ice Cream Social | Lunch Area @ 3:20pm
04/26 - Last Day of Scholastic BOGO Book Fair
04/27 - Family Heritage Festival & Variety Show | MPR & Outdoor Stage @ 12:00pm - 4:00pm
04/29 to 05/02 - Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Go to http://parkvillagefoundation.com/pves-calendar/ for additional calendar events
Go to https://app.peachjar.com/flyers/all/schools/52513 for PVES digital flyers
A Message from Principal Mosgrove
Dear Parents/Guardians (grades 3-5 only),
An important part of your student’s academic program is measuring progress through the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessments.
Smarter Balanced English Language Arts and Mathematics Assessments – grades 3 -8 and 11.
Students across California will take assessments each spring to gauge each student’s performance in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. This year your child will take the following test(s), depending on his or her grade level:
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment in English language arts/literacy and mathematics in grades three to eight and eleven
These tests measure the skills called for by the California academic standards, which focus on a student’s ability to write clearly, think critically, and solve problems.
Because CAASPP tests are given statewide, they provide an opportunity to measure the skills of all students against the same academic standards. Given online, the tests are computer-adaptive, allowing more precise measurement of individual skills. Parents can use their student’s ELA or mathematics results as one of many indicators of their child’s performance. Our teachers and principals also use these results to compare their schools’ performance toward achieving our state standards.
California Science Test (CAST) – grades 5, 8, and 12
California’s state standards for science call for students to think and work like scientists and engineers—asking questions and learning through hands-on investigation and discovery. Working with science teachers, California has developed a new assessment that emphasizes scientific thinking and reasoning. This year students in grade 5, 8 and 12 will take the CAST assessment. This test is designed to measure how students are performing in relationship to the California science standards.
California Alternative Assessments – grades 3 – 8, and 11
California Alternative Assessment in Science (Field Test) grades 5, 8, and 12
The goal of the California Alternative Assessments (CAAs) is to ensure that students with the most significant needs in special education can attain increasingly higher achievement levels and leave high school ready for academic or career options. Students in grades three through eight and grade eleven are eligible to take the CAAs in ELA and mathematics as determined in their annual Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting. This year, in grades 5, 8 and 12, special education students will have the opportunity to take the science alternative pilot assessment.
Participation
Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents have the right to opt out of any state assessment. It is recommended parents meet with their child’s school principal if they are considering this option. Our teachers and principals have found many benefits in having our students participate in this assessment, and we want to assure parents that student results from any assessment will not be shared beyond the use of school staff directly involved in your child’s education. Section 852 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations further provides that parents or guardians may annually submit a written request to the school to excuse their child from any or all parts of the CAASPP for the school year. Therefore, if you wish to exempt your student from testing, notification in writing to your school’s principal is required.
How can I help my child get ready for the CAASPP?
You are an important part of your child’s education. Some things you can do to help your child are:
- Talk about the test with your child. Make sure they are not scared or anxious.
- Tell your child that you and his or her teacher have high expectations and that you are both there to help, every step of the way.
- Take a practice test with your child which can be found at www.caaspp.org
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast before testing.
Thank you!
Jog-a-thon Incentive Assembly
Be a Volunteer at the Book Fair
We are still in need of volunteers to help with the upcoming Spring Book Fair from April 22 to April 26. No experience needed! Click on the link to sign up and enjoy a rewarding volunteer experience: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4cada92cabf58-spring
Spirit Day | Heritage Day
Heritage day is Friday, April 26. Dress up to show your heritage. You may wear a shirt with your country’s flag on it.
2019 Family Heritage Festival & Multicultural Variety Show
- Cultural Performances
- Heritage Tables
- Fashion Show
- Food and Photo Booths
Please contact the Heritage Fair and Variety Show Coordinators: Nita Jha and Lucy Lazo-Isleta at Events.PVPTA@gmail.com for more information.
Save the Date for DADS Sponsored Events
Volunteer Corner
*** Reminders ***
Yearbook Custom Pages
REMINDER: For those who have purchased a yearbook, the two free, personalized pages are due April 29.
It's not too late to order a yearbook. The cost is $34.65.
To purchase, go to:
https://tr5.treering.com/createAccount/101471725840797
FAQS: https://app.peachjar.com/flyers/559307/schools/52513
Questions? Contact parkvillageyearbook@gmail.com
No Place for Hate - Walk Against Hate
Hello Park Village Families! As you know, our school is completing activities to become an official No Place For Hate School this year. As an additional activity, we're choosing to participate in the Walk Against Hate!
Please join PV teachers, staff, and students for the Walk Against Hate on May 19, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Ingram Plaza, Liberty Station! At this event, Park Village Elementary will be honored for becoming a No Place For Hate School with a banner to display in our MPR! This is a non-political walk to celebrate making all of San Diego No Place For Hate. Thank you for your support! We hope to have a great showing representing our school at the Walk Against Hate on May 19!
To register for the walk, please follow the steps below:
1. Click the link: https://support.adl.org/team/215108 (or copy/paste it into your browser)
2. Click the blue "Join Team" button and select how many adults and children will be attending. Children will be FREE with the promo code which you'll enter in on the payment page (see step 3)
3. Click "Register," enter attendee information and the PROMO CODE: npfh2019
You can help support this important program by making a donation on our fundraising page at the link shared above. Our goal is to raise $500 + for No Place For Hate!
Counselor’s Corner
Chapter 8 of Unselfie …..is about promoting moral courage (“Empathetic Children Stick Their Necks Out”). We have come a long way in our journey to understand empathy and how to make sure our children have this vital skill.
Bullying is a widespread concern and has only gotten worse with technology. We all want solutions to stop the peer cruelty. The research shows that the most effective anti-bullying strategy is mobilizing the empathy of bystanders to care for each other. Bullying is reduced dramatically when kids who witness it stand up for the victim.
Moral courage is a special inner strength that motivates children to act on their empathic urges and help others despite the consequences. It’s not always easy; sometimes there are risks, and it may not rate as “cool” to other kids, but these children stick their necks out and stand up for justice and compassion.
Ways to grow your child’s moral courage include:
- Expect social responsibility. Expect them to care for others. It’s what you do.
- Set an example. Model taking a risk to help others.
- Offer heroes. Real life heroes might include: Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Abe Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Huck Finn, Harry Potter, or The Little Engine That Could, etc.
- Stop rescuing your children. It teaches your children they aren’t able to deal with life on their own. Kids need to believe in their capabilities and have opportunities to prove themselves.
- Allow them to be brave in smaller situations.
Sometimes kids need a gentle nudge to step out of their comfort zones and discover their inner strength. Our job, as parents, is to help children find their courage so they can do the right thing when their empathy and moral identities urge them to step in and help.
Jackie Cardinale, School Counselor
Contact the Penguin News Editors:
Email: parkvillagenews@outlook.com