TES Family News
Thursday October 14, 2022
Principals Message
October 14, 2022
The first quarter of school is almost in the books! Students have worked hard at developing both their foundational skills as they review content as well as critical thinking skills when faced with new learning. Students are using our Lexia and iReady programs to support areas of reading and math. It has been so great to see them meet or exceed their goals. We are looking forward to our Q1 ROAR awards.
As we prepare for quarter two, we are looking to increase expectations in all grades. A natural thing of course, but talking with your student(s) about goal setting, what they wish to be more focused on, or better at, can be a great way to discuss strengths and areas of growth.
There are a few key dates for you to know so please review the “KEY DATES TO KNOW” section of the newsletter!
A R.O.A.R. Reminder for TES!
At TPS and TES, we will continue to talk with students about the characteristics of R.O.A.R and the role they play in making sure they live those characteristics every day.
R.O.A.R stands for Responsibility – Organized – Academic - Respectful. Can you #HearUsROAR ?
To help further our work in developing our R.O.A.R characteristics, we also discuss the Habits of Work with our students. You will see a lot of information come home to you about these habits. The Habits of Work include: Perseverance, Self-Advocacy, Social Responsibility and Learner Agency. We will be working with students to help them understand the role they play in developing their skills and how they can demonstrate those habits. We ask them to think about how they persevered through a challenge? (Perseverance) Did they advocate for themselves to get help with something they did not fully understand (Self Advocacy)? Were they Socially responsible and communicated and cooperated with others (Social Responsibility) and did they demonstrate learner agency by being organized, staying focused and fixing their mistakes after they received feedback from teachers. (Learner Agency). Be sure to see the chart below. This will be what all students and staff use to discuss ROAR and the Habits of Work!
The high expectations for the students and families of this amazing school, will help us continue our goals to accomplish incredible things. The Every Student Every Day focus will help our cougars grow as life-long learners and focus on all that make them such strong individuals. We will be committed to help students focus their learning, and grow as a reader, mathematician, writer, artist, musician, and so much more. Below, we are sharing our goals for this school year. With your help, we can certainly meet or exceed those goals!
TES School Improvement Goals.
Math: Goals based off of previous year performance.
- Goal: More than 60% of students will show a score of 70% or higher on the math benchmark assessment.
- Goal: More than 60% of students will meet their annual target growth and and more than 30% of students will meet their annual stretch growth on math iReady assessment.
ELA: Goals Based of previous year performance.
- Goal: Based on students grade 3-5 BOY fluency data, more than 70% of students will meet/exceed grade level expectations on ORF (WCPM and ACC). (To decrease the % of at risk students)
- Goal: More than 60% of students will meet/exceed grade level expectations on HMH Reading Module Assessments.
- Goal: More than 60% students will meet stretch/typical goals on ELA iReady. assessment.
TES Theory Of Action!
If the TES learning community creates a teaching and learning community environment that develops collective Teacher Efficacy, provides opportunities for students to develop a mindset that builds resilience, self-management, and self-regulation, as well as promotes the use of strategies that allow for application and transfer of knowledge...
Then the TES learning community will be present and engaged in ownership of their learning, They will apply knowledge to demonstrate an understanding of learning. They will acquire and transfer the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond!
TES FAMILY HANDBOOK
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xDcMltzfpq0ujXdXmyBrBINofDxP-UUW8-bPrnPPySI/edit?usp=sharing
Yours in education,
Karl Williams
Principal
Thurmont Elementary
COUGARS ROAR!
TES and TPS would like to thank the Thurmont Community and Weis Market for their continued support. Dr. Baisey and I are so very appreciative and out students will immediately benefit from this gift! WOW Thurmont, this is an amazing gift to our students for sure.
KEY DATES TO KNOW!
- Thursday, October 20th - No School
- Friday, October 21st - No School
- Tuesday, October 25th - Catoctin Feeder Community Resource Dinner at TMS 6:00pm
- Friday, October 28th -TES ROAR Assembly
- Friday, October 28th - TEPS PTA Trunk or Treat at TES Parking Lot 7-8pm
- Tuesday November 8th - No School - Election Day
ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT!
Being successful in school begins with being present and available to learn. Attending school regularly also helps children feel better about school and themselves. Families play a critical role in establishing routines so children arrive at school on time and are consistently present.
Here are a few ways you can support your child by establishing positive attendance habits.
- Follow a regular bedtime and morning routine
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks/lunches the night before
- Send your child to school unless they are too sick to attend (fever, vomiting, diarrhea and contagious illness are reasons to stay home from school)
- Talk to school staff if your child appears anxious about going to school
- Develop back up plans in case of a change to your child's transportation
- Schedule appointments and extended trips so they do not interfere with the school day
If/when your child will be absent please send a note to tes.attendance@fcps.org.
Information about attendance in FCPS is available at: https://www.fcps.org/student-services/general-info-for-parents
LEXIA Core 5 - Phonics and Literacy Practice.
Students can access Lexia Core 5 at home to practice needed literacy skills. Lexia provides opportunities for students to work at their own pace through foundational skills, comprehension skills and vocabulary skills. Please be sure your child works independently to ensure the program adapts their individual skill level.
How can your child access Lexia Core5 at home?
- Log into a computer with the student’s FCPS username and password (student MUST be logged in as themselves): laptop, chromebook, desktop.
- Click student’s “FCPS Bookmarks tab” in left upper corner on toolbar
- Click “Clever portal” (Blue C)
- Click “Log in with Active Directory”
- Click the “Lexia Core 5” icon (Blue world)
- Students will begin with a warm-up.
Other ELA Websites:
TEPS PTA NEWS
TEPS PTA News and Updates.
There are many exciting things happening with our TEPS PTA...
- Yeti Raffle - tickets are $10
- Membership Drive
On Friday, October 28th families are invited to a Trunk or Treat Event at the TES parking lot from 7-8pm sponsored by our TEPS PTA.
Please check out the TEPS PTA October Newsletter for additional opportunities to support your child, our school and our TEPS PTA community.
PTA Feedback Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdk-z6hTO2inWuLbhNahQTPZ1YqGaFmLm5SlA-732_EVpLwVw/viewform?usp=sf_link
For questions, to become a member or to volunteer please contact tepsptacougars@gmail.com.
Enrolling a student, Moving or Change of Address.
Required enrollment documents:
- Immunization Record
- Proof of Date of Birth
- Proof of Residency
- Parent Photo ID
The required enrollment documentation may be easily uploaded as part of the online enrollment process. Parents who are not able to upload the required enrollment documentation may return those items via US mail to your student’s enrollment building.
Address Change: Please provide a new proof of residency ( a copy of a property tax bill, gas bill, electric bill, water/sewer bill or a signed current lease/rental agreement, or cable bill).
Change in School: Please notify the front office as soon as you can if you are moving and changing schools for next year.
School Supply List.
Contact Information
Email: karl.williams@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/tes/
Location: 805 East Main Street, Thurmont, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-0900
Twitter: @KWilliams_fcps