Homecroft Elementary School News
February Update v2
February - Out like a lamb?
Please remind your son/daughter that even though the midday temps are creeping up, we still require winter gear for recess.
Dates to Note:
March 6 - Spring Picture Day with Lifetouch
March 9 - 11 - Grade 5 to Wolf Ridge
March 13 - PTO meeting 2:30 PM
March 17 - PTA meeting 6:00 PM
March 19 & 20 Kindergarten Round Up
March 20 - No School for current grade K students
From the MN Department of Health:
Information for Schools, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The situation surrounding the outbreak is rapidly evolving and the information or recommendations are changing as new information becomes available.
- At this time, the risk of becoming sick with COVID-19 is low, including for people in Minnesota schools.
- As always, we recommend that people stay home when sick, cover their cough, and practice good hand hygiene. These recommendations are especially important during cold and flu season.
Take Note: March 10 Emergency Communications Test
Communication is important, especially during a school emergency.
On Tuesday March 10, Duluth Public Schools and the Duluth Police Department will conduct a test of emergency technologies such as alert systems, two-way radios and school building communications.
The test will include Infinite Campus Parent Portal notifications.
- On March 10, you may receive a test phone call, text or email from your school or from the district.
- The message will clearly state “This is a test of Duluth Public Schools notification systems."
- No response is necessary on your part.
We appreciate your patience as we test our emergency notification systems on March 10.
March 6 - Spring Picture Day
What is our school working on in Reading to foster a love of books and ensure students reach mastery of state standards?
At Homecroft, we have something call our Collective Commitments. Which, are agreed upon requirements for each classroom given a number of academic, professional, and social-emotional areas.
Here are out Literacy based commitments: There is MUCH MORE we are doing in reading, but this is a current snapshot specific to literacy.
Wonders curriculum is the primary reading resource. Other tools can supplement but not supersede Wonders as teachers determine is appropriate using class data.
All students are actively engaged within a guided reading group weekly. Running records inform the student/group level.
Gradual release model is applied across connected lessons.
Interactive Reading (I Do)
Close Reading Skills applied across lessons (We Do)
Leveled Readers (We Do/You Do)
Teachers regularly incorporate written response to reading into weekly instruction.
Common formative assessments during semester one are given weekly.
During semester one, team must agree to use unmodified version of approaching level OR on level assessment.
During semester two, all teams will use unmodified version of on level assessment.
If you have questions about "how do we teach reading", please reach out. For more information on standards, visit https://education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/stds/index.htm
Can my son/daughter use a cell phone in school?
Even though we are an elementary school, the number of personal devices we see students have is not surprising. Parents/students are asked to review our policy on cell phones. Below are a few reminders:
Standards for Responsible Use at School, on Buses, or at School Activities
A. Respect for the educational environment
1. Students shall not use any electronic device that in any way disrupts or detracts from the educational environment.
2. Cellular phones or other personal electronic devices should be silent and kept out of sight in classrooms and during the school day in Media Centers, testing centers, and during fine arts performances.
3. Students will not be allowed to leave class in response to electronic devices.
4. In secondary schools only, cellular phones and other devices may be used appropriately and respectfully before and after classes and during lunch, in common areas-such as near lockers or the cafeteria-or outside on school grounds.
5. Teachers may permit the purposeful use of personal electronic devices in support of curricular objectives and student supports.
If you need to reach your son/daughter during the school day, please send the teacher a message or notify the office. While we respect your choice as parents to provide devices, please also note our policies that help provide environments conducive to learning. For more information on our district policy, please visit: https://www.isd709.org/district/policies
MCA Testing
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) and alternate assessment Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are standards-based accountability state assessments that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and also meet federal and state legislative requirements.
The list below shows tests by subject and grades that take the tests.
Reading (Grades 3 - 5)
Mathematics (Grades 3 - 5)
Science (Grade 5)
The following is our testing schedule for 2019:
Reading - Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24 Make Up Date: April 24
Math - Monday, April 27 - Friday, May 1 Make Up Date: May 1
Science - Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 8 Make Up Date: May 8
If you would like an idea of what the test is like and how to prepare, check out these item samplers: http://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/item-samplers/
More information on testing can be found here: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/tests/
Attendance
Our school is committed to the philosophy that every student should attend every class every day. Regular attendance and promptness are expected in all classes, and are essential for success in school. Learning to participate in group discussions, developing an appreciation for the views and abilities of other students, and forming the habits of regular attendance are legitimate objectives for any course, and learning that is lost due to absence can never be adequately replaced. Education is more than reading and writing. The classroom contact with teachers and other students is vital to the development of critical thinking and evaluative processes.
Please ensure that your student attends school every day and arrives on time. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. The academic impact of missing that much school is the same whether the absence is excused or unexcused. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.
Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
• Make sure your students keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Ensure your students go to school every period, every day unless they are truly sick.
• Avoid scheduling vacations or appointments when school is in session.
• Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
• Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor,
or another parent to take your child to school.
Let us know how we can best support you and your students so that they can show up for school on time every day. We want your student to be successful in school! If you have any questions or need more information please contact the office.
Finally, we ask a lot of questions when students are gone. Why? We are not being nosy, but we are required to report student attendance accurately per state guidelines. When your son/daughter is gone, please be sure to state specifically why they are gone. It is not our intent to invade your privacy, but we are required to document why our students miss school. Your understanding and assistance are sincerely appreciated!