Intermediate Staff Newsletter
For the Week of April 23, 2018
Dear Staff,
Thanks for all you do! Let's have a great week-
Katie, Kate and Barry
*Throughout the month of testing, we will include testing information (from last week's newsletter) at the bottom of our newsletters for quick and easy review.
Supporting our Students
News to Share
2. At the April 10 staff meeting we shared the news that a 1-1 initiative will be presented for approval at April 23rd's Board Meeting. If you were not able to attend the meeting, you can click here to see the presentation. At the conclusion of the meeting, we showed a video about Apple Classroom. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to view the whole video. You can click here to be taken to the video if you'd like to watch it in its entirety.
3. We will be reviewing linkage and roster verification procedures at our staff meeting this week on Tuesday, April 24th. Jessica Mamais will be present to answer any questions and help us start the Teacher Verification window. Please bring a device to the meeting.
4. Congratulations to Sandy Reed on her new position as E3 Solar House Coordinator. Equally exciting is her opportunity to serve Ohio at the 2018 National Geographic Society Geo-Inquiry Summer Institute in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This is a huge honor and will lead to her culmination as a National Geographic Certified Educator by the end of the summer. Please join us in congratulating Sandy!
5. Reminder that the OST schedule was modified slightly due to the statewide testing issue this past week. Please see the attached Revised Testing Calendar.
6. Amy Warren, Assistant Principal at NAHS is organizing an initiative for younger students to write a letter to HS students as they get ready for prom, to make safe choices and use their E+R=O. We thought some of our Intermediate students, perhaps 5th grade students with the DARE program or others might be interested in writing a letter to a sibling, relative, neighbor, or just any high school student encouraging them to make good choices. Please see this link to the Prom Letter Project, if you are interested in having your students write a letter, they are needed by Friday, April 27. The most creative letters will be presented at a special high school “Prom Promise” assembly on May 1. These selected student-authors will also be filmed reading their letter for the school website.
7. MAP testing results should go home in backpacks on Tuesday. For printing directions and additional information, click here. Fourth grade math teachers will receive a list on Monday of students who qualified for math acceleration. Those parents will receive an email on Tuesday with information about math acceleration into Pre-Algebra A next year. Fifth-grade parents whose children are eligible for a Pre-Algebra A placement in sixth grade received an email message last week.
Ribbon Cutting of the E3 Learning Lab
Week at a Glance
Announcements: Pledge Schedule- We will not do pledge on testing dates so that testing can start as soon as possible
Monday, April 23rd- Building Leadership Team Meeting 8:30, 6th Grade OST-ELA Part 1-See schedule
Tuesday, April 24th- Staff Meeting 8:30; 6th Grade OST-ELA Part 2-See schedule
Wednesday, April 25th- 5th and 6th Grade ELA Meetings; 4th Grade Team Meeting; Pre Alg. A Meeting 8:30; 4th Grade OST-ELA Part 2-See schedule
Thursday, April 26th- Science, Math 6, Math 5, Social Studies 6 Meetings 8:30; 4th Grade OST-Math Part 1-See schedule; 5th Grade DARE graduation at 9:30am
Friday, April 27th- 5th Grade OST-Science-See schedule
OST Reminders (Repeat from Last Week)
2. Please make sure that things are covered or taken off of the walls in your classroom if students can use something to help them on the test. When in doubt, take it down. Let us know if you have any questions.
3. Student teachers and extra adults in the room other than necessary staff need to leave the room during testing time. They could certainly help monitor hallways/common space areas and restrooms for noise level during testing.
4. All identified ELL students have extended time to complete their test
5. Testing tickets will be printed by homeroom classroom. Testing ticket's along with mints will be available the first day of testing in room 137. You will find an envelope with your name on it. Inside the envelope will be your testing tickets (by homeroom) and a bag of mints. This will be ready to go by 7:30 am on your first day of testing. It will be YOUR responsibility to keep your testing tickets until the final day of testing is completed. Teachers that are pulling students from a homeroom should plan to pick up their testing tickets from the students' homeroom teacher. If you lose a testing ticket or need them reprinted, please email Donna.
6. Review the Script and Test Administration Manual. The paper copy of the script will be delivered to your mailbox on Monday. If you are not a homeroom teacher, you can find additional copies by the copier in the office.
7. If you are giving the assessment, these two documents must be on file:
New Albany Testing Administrative Guidelines
New Albany Annual Notice*You likely turned them in prior to our first round of MAP testing.
8. An email will be sent to you the morning of your test. This will contain any last minute information as well as links to everything you will need.
9. Make sure you have our phone numbers in your phone. Text or call with any issues that arise. Katie 614-746-3888, Kate 419-308-8364 or the office 3000 (they will radio us).
10. If you need a refresher or haven't reset your password see below: Recommended Test Administrator Certification Course (Recommended for all new teachers and anyone who needs a refresher). As promised here is a direct link to reset your TIDE password. Simply click the bottom red line of text in the sign in box and reset your password. **** You must reset your password each year, and must do this prior to administering testing.
Testing Accomodations and Information (Repeat from last week)
Students that are on a 504 may have testing accommodations as well. It is the classroom teachers job to make sure that students receive the correct accommodation. While we've double checked our work, we could use your help by making sure your students on a 504 receive the correct accommodations for testing.
Students who are on an IEP may have testing accommodations as well. Their case manager's along with Jodie Faller and Amy Smith have determined how these students will be grouped.
Please also check the accommodations spreadsheet under the tab called Quillin ELL to look for ELL students who will be receiving small group testing and/or translator services.
It is very important that we ALL review documents regarding testing accommodations (including all 504's and IEP's ) just to make sure we have an appropriate plan prior to the first day of testing.
YOU CAN REVIEW ALL TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS AND SMALL GROUPS HERE. REMINDER...THIS IS A CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT AND SHOULD BE VIEWED/SHARED ACCORDINGLY.