Charlestown School Updates
For members of our learning community - Nov. 22nd, 2018
Happy Thanksgiving
Here's a sampling of what we are thankful for at Charlestown School
J-Line performs at Charlestown School!
The artist J-Line and his dancers came and performed for us on Tuesday.
Students were mesmerized by the dancing, singing and overall "concert" experience!
As if that wasn't enough, at the end of the performance, each performer spoke to the students about their experiences in school.
J-Line was bullied by peers and tried to be "invisible" and didn't speak to anyone for years. HIs parents signed him up for Taekwondo and his teacher made him participate. He quickly progressed in skills and belts, started teaching others and made friends.
Christina was popular in school but some of her friends began talking about others and she needed to find friends who would treat all others with kindness.
Carrie struggled in school and had a learning disability that wasn't diagnosed until the 5th grade. She finally got the right support and learned strategies so that she could be successful at school and in life.
Our students listened attentively as each performer told their story. While we try to teach these same messages about kindness and perseverance, students respond better to hearing from others! Please help re-affirm these messages during today's holiday and discussions about thankfulness!
To hear some of J-Line's music and read about his background, click this link:
Dreambox Math Morning Program
We use student math performance data to help determine which students to invite to this program. In September, all students in grades 1-4 took an online math assessment called STAR. We looked closely at STAR data and Mr. Spears invited students who may need additional math support and practice.
If your child currently attends Dreambox, we encourage you to make sure that your student uses the program 60 or more minutes each week. Students can use the program at home as well as during the before school sessions.
Please contact Mr. Spears if you feel that your child would benefit in participating in this program. Sessions are held daily from 8:00-8:35 in the library. Students work at their own pace on the library computers with support and guidance from Mr. Spears.
We will be inviting more students over the next few weeks when we review student performance on the end of trimester Math Assessments.
School Lunch Orders
Our Chartwells Staff members, Miss Sam and Miss Peggy, are very accommodating to our students. They typically make 5-7 extra meals each day in anticipation that some students might forget to order or will want a different food choice when they see what they originally ordered. In the rare instances when students can't get what they prefer or when their order was recorded incorrectly, students are offered an array of available alternatives. Sam and Peggy want our students to be happy with their meal choice.
Please make sure that your child orders lunch in the morning if they are getting hot lunch.
It is also helpful for parents to have a conversation with their child each morning regarding which choice they are ordering, such as pizza or nachos.
If your child comes home upset regarding a lunch order mix up, please contact me directly.
We can't make our school even better without your important feedback!!!
REMIND
Click this private link (you can't search for this group on Remind) to sign up to receive short text message reminders about school events, cancellations etc.
Signing up is free, easy and private.
If you are already signed up for a teacher's group, go back into the app or website and add another group using this code below. Remember, you can't search and find this.
Our code is 2bga2e
Bus Routes and Sign up For Safe Stop Bus Tracking App
https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/busses
SafeStop Bus App
https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/sites/default/files/safestop.pdf
Charlestown School PTO
http://www.charlestownschoolpto.com/home.html
The 1st PTO Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 11th at 6:00 pm in the Art Room.
Childcare is Provided and the meetings are relaxing, social and fun!
Sex Offender Registry
RIDE School Ratings: Use of a new Accountability System
Only 28 public schools in RI were Commended in 2017.
Last Spring, our 3rd and 4th graders participated in the new RICAS testing. The new assessment was to be modeled after the Massachusetts Common Assessment System. (MCAS). We were impressed with the effort demonstrated by our students.
RICAS results have been shared with Principals and district leaders, but are still embargoed until next week. I hope to share our results with you next Friday.
Rhode Island will be using new formulas for rating each school. It is difficult to determine what our "rating" will be. Mrs. Lyons, our School Testing Coordinator, and I will attend a training early next week.
The following additional data points will factor into overall school ratings:
- Student Chronic Absenteeism (students who miss 10% or more of school days, regardless of the reason for their absences).
- Teacher Attendance
- Suspensions
RIDE has created an Attendance Leaderboard that is updated daily based on school attendance data.
We currently have one of the lowest chronic attendance rates in the state. I appreciate parent support with having your child present at school as much as possible, and don't want children at school when they are sick!
https://www3.ride.ri.gov/attendance/public
Below are some screenshots of the new system that will be used.
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, November 21st - Friday, November 23rd - No School - Thanksgiving
Friday, November 30th - Grades close for 1st Trimester
Friday, December 7th - Report Cards Distributed to all students
SAVE THE DATE: PTO SPAGHETTI SUPPER - FRIDAY JANUARY 25TH, 2019
There will be no February Vacation week in 2019.