The Panda Pulse
Week of January 7 - 11, 2019
CALENDAR
- 7/Day 1/Carrie leaving @ 11:30 for Principal's Meeting at KLC/Lockdown Drill @ 2:45pm
- 8/Day 2
- 9/Day 3/CLT Meetings in the Conference Room
- 10/Day 4/Leadership Team Meeting @ 8:15am - Be prepared to discuss how we can begin to implement The Leader in Me at our school/Anna @ AP Academy all day
- 11/Day 5
Looking Ahead...
Jan 16
- Panda Plunge Assemblies in the Cafeteria; 9:45am K-2; 3:00pm 3-5
Jan 17
- Literacy Committee Meeting @ 8:15am in Library
Jan 18
- PTO Popcorn Friday
- Wednesday, Jan 16 Strings classes in the afternoon (moved for the Panda Plunge)
Jan 21
- No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Retention Process/Notification Regulation
PWCS Regulation 665-1 Promotion and Retention
(See excerpt below from Regulation 665-1 that pertains to Elementary Retention)
Note: A discussion with Carrie must take place PRIOR to sending home Attachment 1 at the end of the grading period/January Conference Day AND parents must be aware of this possibility (the letter should NOT be a surprise). A copy of a signed Attachment 1 form may be obtained from Stephanie or Staci once you have discussed sending the letter home with Carrie.
II. Retention
The principal and appropriate staff members shall make the decision as to whether students are retained in a grade. However, this should be done with the full understanding of students and parents and should always be done in the best interest of the students and their development. Students shall be considered for retention in Grades K-5 under the following conditions:
A. The student has not been previously retained more than one time in Grades K-5.
B. The student is not able to retain and apply the basic academic skills that have been defined as the minimum expectations for that grade level, according to county expectations and basic learning skills.
C. The student has missed 10 or more days of school in which little or no make-up work was completed. An exception is granted if a physician’s certification of illness is provided to school staff.
D. Before retention is to be recommended a second time in Grades K-5 to a parent/guardian, various approaches and programs, such as Title I, remedial reading, and other special programs, should have been considered and found inappropriate.
E. Parents/guardians must be informed in writing (Attachment I) by the end of the first semester (18 weeks) that retention is a distinct possibility for their student. Notification in writing (Attachment II) shall again be sent to parents at the end of the third nine-week grading period (27 weeks). In addition, teachers are encouraged to arrange conferences with parents of these students. Students who transfer into a school after the end of the first semester may be considered for retention. Parents/guardians shall be notified in writing of possible retention within 15 days of the enrollment date, or as soon as it can reasonably be determined that retention is a possibility.
F. For each student in question, a retention advisory committee shall be established consisting of the individual's teacher(s), a principal or assistant principal, and a resource person, if applicable. This committee shall review all relevant data regarding the student in question and make a recommendation to the principal to pass or retain the student. Parents of the student shall be invited to attend the committee meeting.
G. When a student is being considered for retention, the teacher shall submit a cumulative folder of the student's daily work to the committee for review.
H. For grades in which SOL tests are given, achievement of a passing score on the SOL tests shall be one of the multiple factors considered.
I. Notification must be made in writing (Attachment III) to the parents at least 15 working days prior to the close of school.
J. Promotion and retention decisions which are contested by parents must be appealed in writing in accordance with Policy 731, “Appeal of Student Matters,” and as described in the third and final retention letter from the school.