From the Principal's Pen
April 9, 2021
Have a wonderful Spring Recess! We will see you back on Monday, April 19th!
Travel Reminder
Dear JC families,
Per GPS request, we are asking anyone who is traveling for April break to please submit a negative COVID test prior to returning to school on Monday, April 19th. We ask that this test is obtained either 72 hours before returning to CT or at any time after returning. If you are able to email your negative test to me at theresa_mcintosh@greenwich.k12.ct.us at your earliest convenience I would be grateful. I will be tracking our return to school tests over the break so your children can be cleared for return.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html#after-you-travel
Thank you!
Theresa McIntosh
School Nurse
The Fun Run was a huge success!
We well exceeded the fundraising goal of $10,000 - in fact, we nearly doubled it at over $17,000!! Because of that, Mrs. McGuire and Mrs. Brush got "creamed" by all of the students this afternoon with plates of shaving cream! Everyone had a great time - and our PTA will be able to support many programs for our students!
Important Testing Information for Grades 3-5
Dear Parent and Families:
We strive to ensure that your child—and all Greenwich Public School students—receive an education that prepares them to thrive in a global economy and in civic life. That’s why Connecticut has adopted challenging academic standards, including the Connecticut Core Standards in mathematics and language arts, as well as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). We expect that all our students will attain a firm grounding in mathematics, language arts, and science by the time they graduate from high school, preparing them to succeed in the future. Our teachers and administrators are committed to working together to support students with excellent instruction and resources to meet these new expectations.
With these statewide learning goals, Connecticut needs ways to measure student progress. Assessments are like academic checkups; they help teachers and parents see where students are, compared with where they need to be. The results can reveal subject areas where a student is excelling and subject areas where a student needs extra help. The state requires assessments in the subject areas of English language arts and mathematics using the Smarter Balanced Assessment at the elementary and middle school levels, and in Grade 11 using the SAT, which can also be used as a college entrance exam. The state also requires assessments in science in Grades 5, 8, and 11, using the NGSS Assessments.
The Smarter Balanced and NGSS Assessments are both administered on digital devices. These assessments are designed to measure skills in reading comprehension, writing, mathematics, and real-world science using questions that require students to demonstrate that they truly understand the content. In all these statewide assessments, additional supports are available for students with special needs, as determined by an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan.
To find resources specifically for parents and guardians, including ways to help your child with the new standards at home, please visit CTCoreStandards.org/ or https://www.nextgenscience.org/
parentguides/. For more information about the statewide testing in Greenwich Public Schools, please visit https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/assessments
Please review the Julian Curtiss Assessment Schedule and note the following:
- Please do your best not to schedule appointments during the times your child is scheduled to be taking an assessment.
- Please ensure that your child gets a good night's sleep and eats a good breakfast the day of the assessment.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to one of us.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Trish McGuire, Principal
Mrs. Brenda Brush, Assistant Principal
Información importante de evaluaciones para estudiantes en grados 3-5
Estimados padres y familias:
Nos esforzamos en garantizar que su hijo—y todos los estudiantes de las escuelas públicas de Greenwich —reciban una educación que los prepare para prosperar en una economía global y en la vida cívica. Es por eso que Connecticut ha adoptado exigentes estándares académicos, incluyendo los Estándares Fundamentales de Connecticut en matemáticas y artes de lenguaje, así como los Estándares de Ciencias de la Próxima Generación (Next Generation Science Standards -NGSS). Nuestra expectativa es que todos nuestros estudiantes logren tener cimientos firmes en las matemáticas, las artes del lenguaje, y las ciencias cuando se gradúen de la escuela secundaria, preparándolos para tener éxito en el futuro. Nuestros maestros y administradores se han comprometido a colaborar para apoyar a los estudiantes con excelentes instrucción y excelentes recursos para satisfacer estas nuevas expectativas.
Con estas metas de aprendizaje aplicándose por todo el estado, Connecticut necesita maneras de medir el progreso de los estudiantes. Las evaluaciones son como el equivalente académico de las revisiones médicas; ayudan a los maestros y a los padres a ver dónde están los estudiantes en comparación con dónde necesitan estar. Los resultados pueden revelar áreas de materias donde el estudiante se está luciendo y áreas de materias donde el estudiante necesita ayuda extra. El estado requiere evaluaciones en las materias de artes de la lengua inglesa y en las matemáticas utilizando la Smarter Balanced Assessment (Evaluación Equilibrada Smarter) a nivel de la escuela elemental y media, y en el grado 11, utilizando la Prueba de Aptitud Académica (Scholastic Aptitude Test - SAT), que puede también utilizarse como examen de admisión a la universidad. El estado requiere también evaluaciones de ciencias en los grados 5, 8, y 11, utilizando las Evaluaciones NGSS.
Tanto las Evaluaciones Equilibradas Smarter como las NGSS se administran con dispotivos digitales. Estas evaluaciones están diseñadas para medir destrezas de comprensión de lectura, de escritura, de matemáticas, y de ciencias en la vida real utilizando preguntas que requieren que los estudiantes demuestren que verdaderamente entienden el contenido. En todas estas evaluaciones, administradas por todo el estado, hay disponibles apoyos adicionales para los estudiantes con necesidades especiales, según lo determinen sus programas educativos individualizados (Individualized Education Programs - IEP’s) o Planes 504.
Para encontrar recursos específicamente útiles para padres y tutores, incluyendo maneras de ayudar a su hijo con los nuevos estándares en casa, visite CTCoreStandards.org/ o https://www.nextgenscience.org/parentguides/. Para mayor información acerca de los exámenes administrados por todo el estado en de las escuelas públicas de Greenwich, https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/assessments
Revise el programa de evaluación de Julian Curtiss y tenga en cuenta lo siguiente:
- Por favor, haga todo lo posible por no programar citas durante las horas programadas para que su hijo tome una evaluación.
- Asegúrese de que su hijo duerma bien por la noche y coma un buen desayuno el día de la evaluación.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse con uno de nosotros.
Atentamente,
Sra. Trish McGuire, Directora Escolar
Sra. Brenda Brush, Subdirectora Escolar
Filling in the Blanks is a local non-profit agency, located in Norwalk, CT that provides food on the weekends to school-aged children. FiTB is offering a supply of nutritious meals and snacks to your child over the weekends and extended breaks, free of charge. The goal of the Filling in the Blanks Program is to help children thrive in school by offering additional nutrition on the weekends.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who Qualifies? This program is open to any Fairfield County student enrolled at a participating school. Most assistance programs require families to document hardship before they are accepted. However, the FITB has no income requirements and no family is ever turned away. The goal of the program is to meet a child’s nutritional needs regardless of their circumstances or level of hardship. All you have to do is register!
How Does It Work? To enroll, a child will receive an Opt-In letter which will provide specific information about their school’s distribution information and schedule. Please note that if you have more than one child enrolled in the program, each child will be given their own weekend bag of food. Each week items will be delivered in sealed bags that will be distributed to the children on Fridays.
What Kind of Food Can I Expect? Although food items vary week to week, students will generally receive enough food to cover 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, several snacks, 2 containers of milk, and a vegetable. Food items are non-perishable and kid-friendly, and we strive to offer a varied menu each week. When possible, bags are supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables as “add-on” items to the regular menu.
Does It Cost Anything? This program is provided completely free of charge thanks to the generous support of private donors, grant programs, and established community partnerships.
How Do I Enroll? Enrollment is handled through your child’s school. Although it is recommended that you enroll at the beginning of the school year, the weekend meal program maintains open enrollment and families can enroll at any time. If you are interested in participating in the FITB program, please fill out the attached Opt-In form and return it to your school office. The names of children are kept confidential, only the school coordinator knows the identify of participating children.
If you have any questions, need paper copies, or need assistance filling out the forms, please contact District Social Worker Kristen Mulhearn at 475-232-8475 or via email at kristen_mulhearn@greenwich.k12.ct.us.
Please follow Mrs. McGuire and Mrs. Brush on Twitter
@JCSPrincipal and @JCSEaglesAP
Mrs. Trish McGuire - Principal
Email: trish_mcguire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @jcsprincipal