Monday Morning Motivation
Central Elementary Staff News----February 27-March 3, 2017
Our Mission
Providing engaging academic experiences, the Central Elementary Community will inspire and support students to become caring, confident, lifelong learners.
Go Team Central!
Dear Staff,
This is the week our school takes ISTEP. Whether we are a grade level taking the test or a grade level supporting those taking the test, we are in this together. You ALL have been working hard to prepare our students and we've discussed every rule and guideline surrounding the test. We are ready!
Please pay attention to some reminders below as we head into this week. For our parents, this is one of their favorites because we do not give homework. Families can just enjoy being together at the end of each day. As a mom, it is a great week around our house :). Hope it is for you, too!
It's going to be an awesome week!
Julie
Two Weeks at a Glance
Central Calendar
MONDAY, February 27
- New IA training with Dr. DelVecchio 1:00 (45 min)at Central LGI(Amy and Courtney)
- PTO meeting 7:00
TUESDAY, February 28
- ISTEP begins--Please follow schedule and be aware of testing in the morning
- Brag Tags Third grade LGI
WEDNESDAY, March 1
- Day 2 of ISTEP
- Math textbook committee meeting 4:10 in the board room at the Central Office
- Brag Tags Fourth and Fifth grade LGI
THURSDAY, March 2
- Day 3 of ISTEP
- Show CCC video
- Brag Tags Kindergarten and First grade LGI
FRIDAY, March 3
- Day 4 of ISTEP
- Brag Tags Second grade LGI
MONDAY, March 6
TUESDAY, March 7
WEDNESDAY, March 8
THURSDAY, March 9
- Faculty meeting 7:30 a.m.
FRIDAY, March 10
- Principal's meeting
Announcements and Reminders
- If you are not a grade level that is testing, please still talk to your students about moving even more quietly through the halls than usual this week. Please do not use the restrooms upstairs during testing times (morning). Patty P. is testing several students from 1:00-3:00 in Nicole McClathey's room so please do not have Team Time in the hallway. We want to give our kids the very best environment to "show what they know"! Thanks for your help!
- Active Proctoring--If you are one of those administering or proctoring ISTEP be sure to wear comfy shoes!
- Announcements Tuesday-Friday this week will be at 3:30 p.m.
- Team Time this week-We have many employees helping in different areas with proctoring and so forth. Third and fifth grades will be ISTEP testing during their normal time time. First grade classes will not have as many assistants due to testing. I believe teachers and assistants have been communicating, but let me know if you have any questions about who will be available. Thanks to everyone for your flexibility as we work to provide students with the best possible testing environment and the adult support that can make that a reality
- The PTO is supplying snacks for ISTEP. These will be available after school on Monday, but maybe sooner. I will email you as soon as PTO let's me know they are ready.
- ISTEP Materials are being stored in the conference room for better security. Please note that you can use the LGI for conferences.
- Math Common Assessment for Third Quarter is scheduled for the week of March 6-10th and results must be uploaded by Monday March 13th. In PowerSchool
CAQ3
March 10 end of third quarter. Please be sure you are updating grades in PowerSchool each week.
March 1 April field trip requests due
- Please continue to take still photos for the yearbook. For example, we did not include bus buddies in the yearbook as a club, but it would be very good to have photos of students doing this important job for us.
- IREAD Test Window March 13-March 17, 2017 We will be testing on Tuesday, March 14th. With make-ups the following day(s).
Don’t forget to put March 12 on your calendar as we welcome Daylight Savings Time and “springing forward” on your clocks by one hour.
Substitutes Please reach out to Nicole Crum if you need a sub several months away. It will only be to your benefit to secure a substitute teacher early. FYI, the 8th grade breakfast will be held on May 12th. Thank you.
Legacy Foundation Grants-begin thinking about the next grant cycle which will be due early April
Central Celebration will be March 23rd
Maker Boxes will be at Central Elementary April 3, 2017-April 21, 2017
Teachers, continue to work on collecting evidence for Domains 1 and 3. When you come to your observation conference, please bring your lesson plans.
Please share with students that the reward for completing the Math Facts Challenges in your grade level this year will be an "out of this world" experience! A dome planetarium will be in our gymnasium on May 17th to allow every student who has met the challenges to attend a 1/2 hour to 45 minute program, depending on the number of students. As we get closer, I will ask for an estimated number to begin creating a grade-level schedule for the experience. This "reward" goes along well with our math facts initiative since many are trying out the Rocket Math program this year.
ISTEP-- Display of Reference Materials
Display of Reference Materials
Please note that guidelines are in effect regarding the display of reference materials during testing at all grades. Testing spaces must be appropriately prepared for the administration of standardized assessments.
The following kinds of materials MUST be covered or removed from walls or bulletin boards during testing in all rooms or areas in which students will be assessed:
1. All posted materials, such as wall charts, visual aids, posters, graphic organizers, and instructional materials that relate specifically to the content being assessed. This includes, but is not limited to, the following items:
i. Multiplication tables
ii. Tables of mathematical facts or formulas
iii. Fraction equivalents
iv. Number lines and coordinate planes
v. Writing aids
vi. Punctuation charts vii. Spelling or vocabulary lists
viii. Phonics charts
2. All reference materials that a reasonable person might conclude offers students in that classroom or space an unfair advantage over other students.
3. All support materials that teachers might remove if they were giving their own unit tests in those subject areas.
Onsite Visits FYI
Onsite Monitoring: As described in the Fall 2016 Test Security Training and Chapter 10 of the Assessment Program Manual (Section 2), the Office of Student Assessment will be conducting unannounced onsite monitoring visits during the Spring 2017 ISTEP+ Part 1 Testing Window. Please ensure that school administrators and staff are aware that these onsite visits will be conducted. This memo notes additional details about the upcoming monitoring visits.
Curriculum and Instruction
This forwarded site came across the science educators group this morning. It is a GREAT RESOURCE for STEM related activities. Each lesson is well thought out with great plans for teachers. The activities are categorized into career paths, grade spans and difficulty levels. Additionally, each lesson is broken down into the NGSS Three-Dimensions: Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas and Crosscutting Concepts.
The three-dimensions is a new concept for teachers who are not on the elementary science committee and for teachers who are not writing science curriculum maps.
Staff Celebrations!
- Our fastest fire drill, yet! We evacuated the building in 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Great job!
- Congratulations to our Math Bowl Team (see below)
- We had a very successful Art Show! Thank you Mrs. Loudermilk for all your hard work and creativity.
- Awesome attendance to finish February 96.46 percent
Happy February Birthdays
- Julie Smith (5)
- Nicole McClatchey (15)
- Rhianda Szepski (15)
- Elizabeth Boles-Manuel (23)