Magee School News
February 26th, 2021
Thursday, March 4th- "Students are Superheroes" Wear your Purple and Gold!
RIF week on its way!
Below is a calendar of dress up days along with the theme for each day.
New this year, families can submit photos of guest readers during our celebration week to be compiled in a slideshow. Since we will not have guest readers in the building, you can email a picture of your student reading with a special someone at home!
Please email guest reader pictures to chad.bauknecht@trschools.k12.wi.us.
Weather alerts and school closures
We have an APP for that! go to: https://cmsapp.4schools.net/html5/26/newsfeed or search for Two Rivers Public Schools App in the app store.
Winter donations
Lunch pick up
Monday and Wednesday from 10:30-11:00 and Friday from 11:00-1:00 at the parent pick up lane on 36th St.
8 Tips for Parents to Help Your Child Prepare for High-Stakes Tests
As we get into late winter and early spring, we approach “testing season”. No matter what your personal feelings on high-stakes testing are, there is no escaping the reality that these assessments will be an important part of your child’s academic experience. Here are eight simple tips for parents to help your child perform his or her best on testing days.
1. Prioritize attendance and homework
Tests are ultimately intended to be a measure of how well students have learned the material being taught in class. With that in mind, the best piece of test-prep advice for parents is to help ensure that your child is fully engaged with his or her classwork throughout the year. Set aside dedicated homework time each night to make sure that your child is completing their assignments consistently. In addition, regular attendance is key. Make sure your child arrives at school on time and, of course, only allow your child to stay home when it’s truly necessary.
2. Communicate with your child’s teacher
Consistent communication with your child’s instructor can help you gain insight into your child’s progress. Make a point of meeting or talking with your child’s teacher regularly. Your child’s teacher is also a great resource for test-preparation activities or strategies you can use with your child at home. Plus, they can keep you up to date on group study sessions or other opportunities for additional review that your child may benefit from.
3. Talk to your child about test taking
Sometimes, the purpose and goals of testing are difficult for children to understand. Without that foundation, it’s easier for children to be intimidated by testing or simply feel unmotivated to put forth their best effort. Have open, ongoing conversations with your child to explain the benefits of testing, focusing on how it helps them, their teacher, and their school. Knowing the “why” behind testing can help instill a drive to succeed in your child.
4. Offer positive reinforcement
A little encouragement can go a long way in helping students walk into testing days feeling confident—which, in turn, can have a huge effect on their performance. Praise your child for the work that he or she does to prepare for testing, and share in his or her excitement when he or she has success with a new concept or skill. Similarly, when he or she is struggling with a topic, point out the progress that he or she has made and encourage him or her to continue working. Having already experienced success with the material that he or she will be tested on will help your child avoid test anxiety and perform to the best of his or her ability on testing day.
5. Support healthy habits
Sleep and nutrition can have a huge impact on your child’s ability to focus and retain information. One of the most helpful things that you can do as a parent is focus on supporting these basic needs. Well-rounded meals and a regular sleep schedule will help your child succeed in the classroom on a daily basis. On testing days, it’s especially important to make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep, starts the day with a filling breakfast, and goes to school with a water bottle to help stay hydrated.
6. Give your child a study space
A comfortable, dedicated space for homework and studying can work wonders for your child’s productivity. Make sure that your child’s space is quiet, well lit, and stocked with the right materials.
7. Keep testing in perspective
Avoid putting too much emphasis on your child’s test scores—doing so can make your child feel pressure that will ultimately only affect his or her performance negatively. Simply encourage your child to be prepared and do their best!
8. Debrief after the test
Once the test is over, talk with your child about his or her results and how he or she felt about the test. By discussing his or her answers, thought processes, and feelings, you can gain further insight into what he or she is struggling with (and excelling at) and then help him or her better prepare next time. Talking about testing can also help your child process the experience and overcome any anxiety that he or she might have had.
Camp Invention
The fun, hands-on activities at this year’s @CampInvention program, Recharge, are just what children need this summer. At Magee Elementary, we’ll be hosting this wonderful program during the week of June 14th-18th for students entering grades K-6 from both Koenig and Magee Elementary schools. Discover all the fun you’ll have at camp: https://youtu.be/aX4r8bQSsJA.
Registration information can be found at: https://www.invent.org/ click on the register for Camp Invention button.
Calling your child in sick to school
Community Health Dental Visit
Lakeshore Community Health Care’s School Dental program is coming back for the 2020-2021 School Year! We have implemented new safety measures to keep your student, school staff and us safe. If you would like your child/children seen, please fill out a dental form, one for each child. All forms are directly linked back to Lakeshore, just click on the link below and fill out the attached form! If you are unable to fill out the fillable form provided, don’t worry, just be on the lookout for the lime green forms that will be sent home with your child in the future.
These forms can also be picked up at Lakeshore Community Health Care at 2719 Calumet Avenue in Manitowoc.
We must have a form filled out in order to see your student. If you have any questions about the dental program, please contact Kim at mtwcschoolsdental@lakeshorechc.org or 920-395-2981 Ext. 327
Link for fillable dental form: https://www.pdffiller.com/en/link_to_fill/535490245.htm(1 form for each child that is participating, Forms are only Valid for the 2020-2021 school year. Forms filled out for previous schools years are expired and no longer valid.)
March Title 1 Tip: Use Pictures, Illustrations, and Diagrams
Dear Families,
As your child is progressing through the year, we would like to update you with another CAFÉ strategy to reinforce at home. CAFÉ is an acronym that stands for Comprehension (I understand what I read), Accuracy (I can read the words), Fluency (I can read smoothly and understand what I read), and Expanding vocabulary (I know, find, and use interesting words).
One way readers expand their vocabulary is by paying attention to pictures, illustrations, and diagrams in a text. They use the context of the story, their background knowledge of what is being read, and at times infer to gain meaning of what is being read. Readers do this because illustrations provide clues about the meaning of words and text. Paying attention to the pictures may confirm the meaning of words, Help your child become familiar with this strategy by using the following suggestions at home.
How to help your child with the vocabulary strategy at home:
When reading with your child, remind your child to cross check. A reader cross checks by asking, “Do the pictures match what I think the word means, and does it make sense?”
Model this strategy by breaking it down in these steps.
Read a picture book or nonfiction book.
When you come to a difficult or “interesting” word, stop.
Say, “I’m going to look at this picture to see if I can figure out what this word means.”
Infer the words meaning based on background knowledge of text and what is shown in the picture.
Celebrate figuring out the word - remind your child that using pictures helped to increase your understanding of the text.
Thank you for your continued support!
Kids At Hope
Three Universal Truths:
1. WE BELIEVE – Children succeed when they are surrounded by adults who believe they can succeed, No Exceptions.
2. WE CONNECT – Children succeed when they have meaningful and sustainable relationships with caring adults.
3. WE TIME TRAVEL – Children succeed when they can articulate their future in four domains rather than one, (which is generally Education & Career): Home & Family, Education & Career, Community & Service, and Hobbies & Recreation.
Stop the Spread!
Help keep our students in our buildings and our athletes participating in their sport.
- Wear a mask when out and about.
- Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.
- Wash/sanitize your hands.
- Sanitize frequently-touched surfaces.
- Do not attend large gatherings.
- Stay home if you are sick.