Happy Wednesday!

Today, you will be receiving Progress Reports for each of your children. These are simply mid-term checks on your child's progress in a number of academic and behavioral areas. We use Standards-Based Grading (SBG) to assess our students. This measures the standards for each grade (Common Core, State, Archdiocesan, etc.) using a four point scale. A detailed fact sheet is being sent home to explain SBG, so please read that prior to reviewing the Progress Report. Here is a quick-reference key for the scale:

4 - Exceeding Standard (This is very rarely used, please see the sheet for more info)

3 - Meeting Standard (This is the goal for all students)

2 - Progressing Toward Standard (Some additional practice/instruction is required to achieve mastery)

1 - Lacking Adequate Progress (It is perfectly normal to have this when a standard is first being introduced to a student)

It is perfectly normal for students to have many twos and even some ones, as we are early in the year and some standards are just being introduced. Do not expect to see a Progress Report full of threes at this point in the year (or the trimester). If you would like to see a quick video overview of SBG, please check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7m4762pjH8.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress, please feel free to contact your child's teacher directly. Communication is the key! Conferences will be happening the afternoon of Nov 23rd and 24th to discuss first trimester progress. Schedules will be coming out soon. If you have a preference for days (Monday or Tuesday), please contact Berenice at the office (office@hrrsjda.org) to put in a request.

I will be out all week chairing an accreditation visit in St. Xavier, Montana. I will miss seeing all of the students, families, and staff, but I look forward to seeing all of you next week!

Have a wonderful week!

Katie Dempsey

Principal

kdempsey@hrrsjda.org

• Progress Reports go home today. Please sign and return the cover sheet by Friday!
• Thursday - Join us for All School Mass at 9 am.
• Pre-K 3 & 4 Field Trip on Thursday afternoon.
• Spirit Gear on Friday - Teachers will indicate eligibility to students.

Upcoming Events:

Picture Day on Wed, Oct. 28th

Babysitting During Spanish Classes:

2 Adults are needed to babysit children during the adult Spanish classes on Mondays from 5:30 pm - 7 pm beginning Nov. 2nd. If you can commit to helping with this and have already been cleared through Virtus/Safe Environment (and completed your background check), please contact Berenice at office@hrrsjda.org.

Teacher Luncheon - Meals Needed:

If you would like to bring a dish for the teachers to enjoy during lunch on the two half days, Nov 23rd and 24th, please contact our Social Chairs Rosalind Arango at rosalindarango@gmail.com or Gloria Soto at gomezrsoto@aol.com. Lunch will be from 12:15 - 1 pm, followed by conferences until 5 pm.

Book Fair:

Safe Environment/Virtus for All Students:

Bilingual Education:

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) in Washington, D.C., is a wonderful national resource on language immersion. They have the following frequently-asked questions site for parents of students in two-way immersion programs.

• English: http://www.cal.org/twi/toolkit/PI/P_QA/parent_qs.htm
  
• En español: http://www.cal.org/twi/toolkit/PI/P_PR/padre_ps.htm
  

Questions about Curriculum?

Please submit questions for the next Curriculum Corner to Dr. Yaden at BYaden@plu.edu.

Just a reminder, all students in grades 3 - 8 will begin taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) this week and next. This test measures students in a variety of areas including math and reading, providing very detailed results in a matter of 4 - 6 weeks. Here is the website for more info on the test: http://www.riverpub.com/products/itbs/details.html.

During the testing period (which ends Oct. 30th), we ask for your support with the following:

• Please make sure that your child arrives ON TIME to school every day.
  
• Limit any interruptions such as medical appointments to non-testing times.
  
• Make sure that your child has a good breakfast before coming to school.
  
• Get the kids to bed at a reasonable hour so that they are well rested.
• Encourage your child(ren) to do their best, but not to stress about the tests. They are simply a way of providing information to us, so that we can better plan/refine our instruction for the year, making sure to address individual learning goals for all students.
  

If you have any questions/concerns about the testing, please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher.

Basketball Registration will be held after school with three in-person registrations in the first grade Spanish classroom from 3- 3:30pm on October 16th, 19th, and 21st. Cost is $60 per player, which includes a jersey (not shorts). Registration is for grades 4-8 for boys and girls. By signing up, there is no guarantee your child will be playing on a team. Teams will need to have at least 8 players and have a coach. The basketball season is from Nov - Jan. Email Athletic Director, Ralph Thomson, at CYO@hrrsjda.org with any questions.

We are looking for a girls' Basketball, boys' Basketball and co-ed Volleyball coach. Both sports are offered to students in Grades 4 - 8. If you are enthusiastic and willing to teach our kids about these sports, please volunteer. All coaches will need Safe Environment clearance. The Basketball season is from November - January and the Volleyball season is from February - April/May.

Please contact Athletic Director, Ralph Thomson, at CYO@hrrsjda.org.

Calling all Grandparents & Alumni! If you know of any alumni or current grandparents (and other community members) who would like to be included in our mailing list, please let us know. We are beginning to send out Annual Campaign letters and will soon be sending out information on upcoming events, such as the Annual Crab Feed & Auction and the Celebración. We want to make sure we are connecting with all of our supporters! Please contact Sarah at smckinney@hrrsjda.org with contact information.