Culver Elementary February 2016
From the Desk of Mrs. Proskey
Together WE DID IT!!!!!
Important Dates...
- (2/3) Our 1st Pre-K Day :)
- (2/4) PTO Meeting- Thursday @ 5:30 in the CES Library
- (2/4) Kindergarten Round Up- Thursday @ 6:00PM
- (2/5) NO SCHOOL- Friday (STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY)
- (2/1-2/12) Pennies for Patients
- (2/8-2/12) Week of Feb 8-12- Dress up Week to fund-raise for Dance for Paws
- (2/11) Logo Reveal PepRally
- (2/12) Dance for Paws Fundraiser- Friday @ 6:00
- (2/15) School is in Session- Monday, President's Day
- (2/17) Kindergarten Field Trip to IUSB
- (2/22) School Board Meeting
- (2/24) World Read Aloud Day
- (2/25) Ag Day- Elementary Students to visit the HS AG Program.
- (2/29-3/12) ISTEP Testing
Deb Stevens- Citizen of the Year Award
Melissa's Minions Fundraiser
Superintendent Ritz's Video Message to Parents
TESTING
- Feb. 29th through March 12th
- Get a good night's sleep
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Remember... Do your best....It's just another test! :)
ISTEP+ Experience
You may have heard of recent changes to the format and expectations of the state-wide assessment for students 3rd grade through 8th grade on the new ISTEP this year. I would like to welcome you to practice a sample test with your child and family. You may choose to turn it into a game like "Are you smarter than a 3rd grader?" and have some family fun. Practicing the format and encouraging problem solving will help your child do their best.
Click HERE to begin.
The practice doesn't give you the answers so feel free to take a picture of each response with your computer or smart phone and then check it HERE later. DON'T PEEK! If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the Indiana Department of Education website at http://www.doe.in.gov/assessment.
Bill to end ISTEP testing moves forward- Let's Hope this is True!!!
INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) — A bill in the statehouse could put an end to the current form of the ISTEP exam. If the bill becomes law, local legislators and school administrators think it could make a drastic difference in the education of Indiana children.
“There simply has to be a better way out there, and this is an opportunity to go find that way,” said Lafayette School Superintendent Les Huddle.
The opportunity Huddle is referring to is a bill called ISTEP matters, but its goal is to get rid of the controversial standardized test.
“People are finally recognizing that we have made some errors in our assessment process through the state, and that we have put too much credibility in a test that really was not credible and had some failures,” said Democratic State Rep. Sheila Klinker.
The bill would end the ISTEP exam as of July 1, 2017. That’s when the contract is up with the test’s current administrator, Pearson.
The state would also establish a “Committee on Success,” and the 24 members would create a new system for assessing K-12 performance in the state.
“The only thing that should be predetermined by a committee that’s going to study this is what’s best for kids, and what type of assessment can we use to continually improve our classroom instruction,” said Huddle. “If that’s not part of the discussion, then it’s a waste of time.”
Huddle said he supports the bill, and said he would like to see several short assessments throughout the year rather than a one-time test. Klinker agrees.
“That doesn’t have a one-time situation where a child might be sick,” said Klinker. “It doesn’t scare them. It’s part of the curriculum, and it tests the things that teachers are actually teaching in the classroom.”
However, Klinker said there is one area of the bill she hopes is amended. The legislation states the State Board of Education may require the Department of Education to hire a third party to rescore the results of the 2015 ISTEP exam.
Klinker said the process would be expensive. Because the exam would no longer be used, she said rescoring isn’t necessary.
“The dollars that someone might use in rescoring, might be better used in choosing the new test or also using it for preschool and for learning purposes,” said Klinker.
Huddle said less time prepping for tests means bringing back curriculum that creates a more well-rounded student.
“They need to be exposed to more than what we have the time to do now,” said Huddle. “So I think cutting back on some of this testing time and prepping for the test time will give us a little more free time.”
The bill would also get rid of current accountability standards used to measure success of schools that provide an education for students with developmental, intellectual or behavioral challenges.
It was passed by the House Education Committee Tuesday and now moves on to the full House Monday.
This Month's CES Girl's Basketball Practice/Game Schedule
All girls who participate will need a physical on file with the school before practicing. Physical forms are available in the office. if they plan to play basketball. If you played 6th grade volleyball, that physical will work for basketball. If you have any questions call Chris Stevens at 574-216-5007.
K-5 Girls Basketball Coach: Andrea Berndt 574-842-3389
Mondays
- 3:15-4:15 K-3 Girls BBall
- 4:15-5:15 4-5 Girls BBall
- (2/1) & (2/22) 5:30-7:00 6th Girls BBall
- (2/8) & (2/15) 3:15-4:45 6th Girls BBall
- (2/28) 6th grade girls game @Knox @ 5:30
- (2/2) & (2/9) 3:15-4:45 6th Girls BBall
- (2/23) 5:30-7:00 6th Girls BBall
- (2/16) 6th grade girls game @ home vs. Tippy Valley @ 5:00
- 3:15-4:45 6th Girls BBall
- (2/3) 3:15-4:45 6th Girls BBall
- (2/10) 6th grade girls game @ home vs. Triton @ 5:00
- (2/17) 5:30-7:00 6th Girls BBall
- (2/24) 6th grade girls game @ Argos @ 4:30
- 3:15-4:15 K-3 Girls BBall
- 4:15-5:15 4-5 Girls BBall
- (2/11) & (2/18) 3:15-4:45 6th Girls BBall
- (2/4) & (2/25) 5:30-7:00 6th Girls BBall
- (2/5) & (2/12) & (2/26) 3:00-4:30 6th Girls BBall
- (2/19) 5:30-7:00 6th Girls BBall
- 9:00-9:45am K-1 Girls BBall
- 10:00-11:00 2-3 Girls BBall
- 11:00-12:00 4-5 Girls BBall
Culver Soccer 2016 Registration EXTENDED
Soccer registration has been extended with no late fees!
Even if they didn't play before, the league can use more players! Recruit to help our youth programs thrive!! ;)
How Much: $25 for preschool and kindergarten, $30.00 for grades 1-8, $20 for the third child and each additional child from a single family. Anyone registering after Jan. 31 will be assessed an extra $10.00 fee for late registration.
If paying by check, please make out to: Culver Soccer
If you need a form, you can pick one up in the elementary office.
Mail forms to: Bruce Snyder, 20262 Queen Road, Culver, IN 46511
2016 CULVER JR. HIGH WRESTLING
First day of practice is February 1st!
--All practices will be held from 3:30-5:00pm in the HS wrestling room. Students will be bused over to the HS from the Elementary after school.
--If school is closed due to weather, practice is optional. This means you may send your child to practice if you feel the conditions are safe for your travel to and from the school.
--All wrestlers should wear athletic clothing and wrestling shoes to practice. Singlets (uniforms) are provided by the school for meets and tournaments. Shoes should be purchased individually. If you need assistance with purchasing shoes, or cannot afford shoes, please contact a coach.
--Wrestler are expected to be present and sit with the team for all tournaments and meets. Please make every effort to schedule family trips, dentist/doctor visits, and other appointments outside of practice and meet times.
Contact the coaches if you have any questions....
Chris Prendergast, Head Coach
(574) 310-2255
Kyle Klinge, Assistant Coach
(812) 528-1120
Recycling Club
- February 9th & 25th
- March 10th & 22nd
- April 12th & 21st
- April 28th -- Final Party
6th Grade Future City Competition
Future City Engages Kids in Engineering and so Much More....
The Future City Competition is a national, project-based learning experience where students in 6th grade imagine, design, and build cities of the future. Students work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using SimCity software: research and write solutions to an engineering problem; build tabletop scale models with recycled materials; and present their ideas before judges.
If your student is interested in joining, the teams will be competing against eachother in April. To prepare for the competition, the teams will meet on Tuesdays from 3:05 to 4:15 in the Science Lab with Mr. Daugherty.
Dates of the Meetings will be 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15 & 3/22.
Shakespeare Play Practice
If you have any questions about "The Taming of the Shrew" or play practice please contact Mr. Shafer at 574-842-3389.
- Thursday, February 4th- Need to have parts memorized by February.
- Thursday, February 11th- Practice
- Thursday, February 18th- Practice
- Thursday, February 25th- Practice
Culver Elementary Student Council
Mrs. Ahlenius is the Student Council Facilitator and Mrs. Sarah Youvan volunteering to assist. Our first meeting was January 19th. Their meetings are 30 minutes long, from 7:45 -8:15 in the Library Pit on the 3rd Tuesday on every month.
Our first year will be a learning process, but Mrs. Ahlenius really wants to give the kids an opportunity to experience some leadership roles in our building. The students will be aiding us in making some decisions that will affect their grade level. We will be discussing, community service, how to get more kids involved in our fund raising, and school beautification.
CES Community Volunteer Program
CES Loves it's Volunteers!!!!
We would like to thank all those who attended our volunteer meeting on Monday, February 1st after school. The teachers are very excited for you to start working in their classrooms!
Yearbook Order Forms
Yearbooks are $14.00 Each and in Color.
Don't Miss Out!!!
February is Dental Health Month!
Culver Boys and Girls Club
Director- Mrs. Jessye Gilley
Asst. Director- Mrs. Criston Zehner
Phone Number- 574-250-0103
Fee- $25.00 Per Year (After School) / Field Trips Extra / Daily Rate
Open- 3:00-7:00 after school / Summer (Other days as determined by Director)