Spry Newsletter
March 23, 2018
Spry Events
March 25-29 - Foreign Language Week
March 30 - April 6 Spring Recess
April 9 - Second Deposit Due (8th Grade Washington DC Trip)
April 11-12 - NYS ELA Assessment (6-8 Grade)
April 13 - End of the 3rd Marking Period
April 20 - Superintendent Conference No School K-8, 9-12 in session
Open PTSA Positions
One NEW EVENT THIS YEAR - SAVE THE DATE
Spry Family Night (Food Trucks, Fun, and Family Connections)
Friday, May 4th
Open to all Spry Families Grades 6-8 and our New 5th Grade (soon to be 6th Grade) Families
We have OPEN POSITIONS for the 2018-19 school year. Please consider volunteering your time or applying for one of the open positions. We have been meeting this year together (Jim and PTSA) monthly to support our Spry Students and School Community.
Link to Sign to Volunteer for a Position: http://www.websterptsa.org/forms.cfm?myForm=151
Link to sign up for PTSA News and Emails: http://www.websterptsa.org/emailsignup.cfm
Spry Breakfast
Chromebooks
Chromebooks allow our students' instructional access and opportunities that were not traditionally available. With their use also comes responsibility and management skills that they should be developing in our fast-paced and ever-changing world.
- If a Chromebook is not working properly or damaged, please make sure to get it in asap to Room 121 to be repaired.
- Chromebooks are the property of WCSD. They are for instructional purposes. Game websites should be carefully monitored. During the school day, game websites should not be accessed. If you have a game website that your child is accessing regularly and has become a distraction, let us know and we will work to get the site blocked from the network. Netflix and Fortnite have been recently blocked.
- The student ID sticker needs to remain on the computer.
- Make sure the device is charged each day and the charger is brought to school.
Lunch Break Volunteers Needed
Lunch Break is here at Spry this Spring, and parent volunteers are always needed. We have dates in April and May. Lunch Break is a PTSA led program where students come out into the hallway after they eat their lunch, and they do a craft while visiting with wonderful senior citizen volunteers.
There are two ways to volunteer during any of the program's four Tuesday dates. You can come to school and volunteer your time, or send in a homemade baked good. Your job as a parent volunteer at Spry during Lunch Break would simply be to help with set up (or clean up), hand out crafts and guide students to available seats at craft tables, and to help the senior citizens if they need any replacement supplies, etc. To send in a homemade baked good you can sign up and then send it in with your child to be dropped off at the main office at the beginning of the school day.
Below our names is a link to a Google Doc. Click on the link to see the dates and times, and to sign up. The information you type in will be saved automatically. Or simply send us an email with the date you want.
Please contact one of the Listening Post co-chairs with any questions. Thank you!
Shannan Monrad
sswallowmonrad@hotmail.com
585-451-2800
Callie Galbraith
585-733-8948
Sign up:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoNQUAraxy9IdEhweDVRT3c2NXZJakV0RU1xdXN2VEE&usp=sharing
Lost and Found
NYS ELA and Math Assessments
Dear Webster CSD Families,
As New York State’s annual English Language Arts (ELA) and math assessments approach for students in grades 3-8, I thought it was important to reach out to you regarding the most commonly asked question about the tests -- whether or not your children are required to take them. The ELA assessment will be given Wednesday, April 11, and Thursday, April 12, and the math assessment is scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, and Wednesday, May 2.
Personally, I continue to join with the New York State PTSA in “reaffirming our support for a parent’s right to make informed educational decisions for their children.” As parents, you know what is best for your child, including any decisions made about state assessments. WCSD educates the whole child, and it will always be my belief that one or two tests cannot fully capture all that a student has learned over the course of a year, but can be an important indicator of academic growth and a valuable data point as we plan and provide future supports for each student.
Due to tremendous input from students, parents, and teachers, I would like to share some significant changes this year in the New York State testing program that have made these tests for third through eighth graders much more student-centered and meaningful. This year’s ELA and math test administration period has been shortened by a day, (from three to two days) and the number of questions has also been reduced. Additionally, I’m pleased to report that this year’s tests were developed exclusively by classroom teachers. Therefore, they will much more closely reflect what students are actually learning in their respective grade levels.
You may also recall that last year, the ELA and math tests were no longer timed and students did not have to worry about rushing to finish. As a result, we observed that students took their time and were very thoughtful in their work. Finally, the vast majority of the questions will be released to teachers, much like the State Regents exams. Teachers will tell you that having access to these questions is of immense help.
Please know that students who participate in these assessments will be supported and encouraged by our staff to do their best. The results serve as a minor part of our district’s portfolio of metrics, providing information that will ultimately help us strengthen teaching and learning.
As in years past, if you determine that you do not want your child to participate in the assessments, the following guidelines have been established by WCSD:
1. A letter or e-mail stating your intention to opt out should be addressed and sent to your child’s principal by Monday, March 26. Please indicate which NYS assessment (i.e. ELA and/or math) you are requesting your child not take.
2. On the day of the test, an alternate location (library, cafeteria, or other similar location) will be provided in order to permit students who refuse the assessments to read or do other work.
The following are responses to your frequently asked questions:
1. Refusal to take the assessments will not exclude a child from special programs such as enriched classes, accelerated classes, or remediation.
2. The district has an array of measurements to determine student readiness and/or skills and talents.
3. These assessments will not have an impact as students move on to high school.
4. This year’s assessment data will not be tied to teacher/principal evaluations and will not
negatively impact a child.
Teaching the whole child is the unwavering Core Belief for all of us fortunate enough to be part of your child’s educational journey in WCSD. Our district’s vision is “Compassionately Connected, Joyfully Engaged, Always Learning,” and there are many ways to fulfill this vision, particularly when planning for the state’s annual assessment program. Working together as a One Webster community, we are ready to answer any additional questions or concerns you may have regarding these assessments or any other facet of your child’s educational experience.
Sincerely,
Carmen Gumina
Superintendent of Schools
Charity Basketball Game Update
Student Council would like to thank everyone who brought in money for our "Coins for Cancer" day, signed up to play in the basketball game or bought tickets for the game. Unfortunately, we are not able to reschedule the game. We did raise over $1400 for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, which is amazing!
Here are the steps to follow for anyone that would like a refund for their tickets:
1. On the back of each ticket, please write the name & address of the ADULT that will be reimbursed. You can also put your tickets in an envelope, with the name & address of the ADULT on the outside.
2. Tickets much be turned into Mrs. Gillen in room W10 by FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd AT 2:30 in order to receive a refund.
3. Reimbursements will be made in the form of a check within 2 weeks of the above date. We can NOT provide cash refunds.
We will have a pep rally sometime in April, and the Spirit Stick will be awarded to the winning house at that time.
Ridge Runners
Spry Yearbook
Don't miss out on the memories! Get yours today.
P.S. Not sure if you already ordered a yearbook? Have your child check the list outside office 217.