To the Point
Prairie Point Staff Newsletter
Issue #5: Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Nice Bike, Prairie Point!
Like so many of us, I found the Convocation speaker, Mike Scharenbroich, to be an inspiring part of the presentation. I have to be honest, I was not looking forward to convocation this year as much as I typically do. I was pleasantly surprised, then, to feel so inspired and moved by the messages of the day. Just what I needed to hear!
Themes from the presentation have continued to resonate in my mind as we conclude the first 2 days of the new year.
While I was listening to the philosophy of teamwork, Acknowledge – Honor – Connect, I couldn't help but think of all of you. Prairie Point is the place that we all belong. We know there’s something special about our school – we have worked hard to build a place that stands above all others. You can see it in the smiles, hear it in the laughter, and feel it in the air. One reason I love the beginning of the school year is to see this come to life in the eyes of our students. They, too, know that they are someplace special and unique. Our new mission statement, Committed to Learning & Growing Together, is meant to encompass that sentiment and be the unified voice that acknowledges and honors who and what we are to our kids and to each other.
Thank you for a fantastic first week. I look forward to learning and growing with you this year! Nice Bike, Prairie Point Staff. Nice Bike.
News & Info
Reading Assessment - Fluency in Grades 2-5
As a building, we are going to go back to assessing oral reading fluency three times per year in all students, Grades 2-5. We will be utilizing Easy CBM. Easy CBM is administered very similarly to AimsWeb. The website then provides you automatically with reports and information about your students. We will use this information at data days in the fall to plan for instruction and student support.
Maureen and Katie have put together everything you need to administer the assessment. The folders with reading passages and administration instructions will be in your mailboxes. Please ask either of them if you need help or support. Assessments should be completed by September 19, 2014. If you need someone to watch your class while you administer assessments, our instructional TA's are there to assist you. Please see Maureen and Katie to coordinate.
Thank you so much for your support as we go back to this assessment. Please come see me if you have any concerns or questions about this decision. I want to be able to support you as we move forward.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!
On Friday, Heidi, Kim, Laurel and Jen will be participating in the ALS ice bucket challenge here at Prairie Point and we would like to call you out to join us. This phenomenon sweeping the country is a great example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things - something that truly reflects our theme for the year and sends a message that we hope students of Prairie Point will carry with them for a lifetime. The ALS Foundation has far exceeded their previous donations for the year (currently they have raised $31.5 million!), and more importantly, has brought awareness of the disease to new heights. It's the stuff that heroes are made of.:)
You are welcome to participate in the cause and we will make a $10 donation from our 308 Cares fund for each staff member who accepts the challenge. Students will also be welcome to witness our participation at 3 o'clock on Friday on the playground blacktop. We will complete this challenge in memory of Kerry Anne Engdahl, who stole many hearts and lost her battle with ALS last year, as well as those who continue their fight against the disease. We will be calling out Prairie Point staff, students, and parents to complete the challenge. We will not make mention of Kerry Anne Engdahl specifically at the actual challenge out of respect and concern for her children who still attend Prairie Point, but will donate in memory of Kerry Anne and share on our Prairie Point Facebook page.
If you are interested in participating in the challenge, please let me know by noon tomorrow so that we know how many buckets and bags of ice we will need to complete the challenge. We ask that you not share with students or parents until that day as we work to organize the event and share with all parties involved. We will send out a connect ed to parents so that they are aware and can answer any questions for their child.
We hope you'll join us!!
Friday, Aug 22, 2014, 03:00 PM
Prairie Point Blacktop
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Teacher Evaluation Presentation
You will receive notification regarding who will evaluate you by the end of the week.
Student Handbook
Tech Talk
Mastery Connect
IMPORTANT - E-School Attendance Changes
Also, the district PD Website has several short training videos and documentation on the use of eschool. The link below the video will take you where you need to go.
Coming Events!
A Girl with a Cape Assembly - August 28th
Curriculum Night
Writer's Workshop
1) What do mini-lessons look like? Video Presentation
2) What have you done to start the year? - Information and Idea Sharing
3) Determine topic for next meeting
4) Team Collaboration