Peirce Newsletter
February 2020
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Greetings Peirce Families!
Peirce Students and Staff began quarter 3 today, Report Cards will be sent home on Friday, February 7th. Middle of the Year Testing Reports for MAP (2nd-8th), AIMS (Kinder-8th) and TRC (Kinder-2nd) will also go home. Students enrolled in the Middle Years Program (6th-8th) will also receive their IB Report Card for Semester 1.
Please join our students and staff on February 12th at 8:45am and 1:30pm for the 3rd annual African American Heritage Showcase! This years theme is "Seeking Equity, 400 Years and Counting".
The Peirce Local School Council will host a morning meeting on Thursday, February 20th at 8:15am in the Fieldhouse. The focus of this meeting will be around the Continuous Improvement Work Plan. Please attend if you are interested in learning more about the Local School Council or providing input into the Continuous Improvement Work Plan.
Please note that Sally (main office staff member) has a new email address - please update your records to: Sally Suarez de Duran, ESSuarezdeDuran@cps.edu.
With Regards,
Lori Zaimi
Principal
Local School Council Elections
Local School Council Elections
If you are a parent, community member, student, or teacher looking to get more involved with Peirce, consider running in the LSC election. The application window for the 2020 LSC elections is currently open. To apply, candidates must download and fill out the application forms and return them with two forms of identification to the Office of Local School Council Relations at the Garfield Park Office on the third floor of 2651 W. Washington Blvd. by February 25, 2020, or to the school for which they intend to run as a candidate by March 5, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
Parents and community members have the option to file a Form 4-20 Candidate Statement, school staff candidates must file a Form 5-20 School Staff Candidate Information Form and high school student candidates must file a Form 6-20 Student Candidate Information Form.
Click here to access the forms. You can also come into the main office for an application packet.
Race & Equity Updates
- The Race & Equity Team reconvened in January. The team is currently working on the structure of an informational session and establishing goals. We hope to have an information scheduled within the next couple of months to share the vision/mission/core values and goals.
- Peirce teachers participated in a Professional Development Workshop on Friday, January 31st with a focus on Implicit Bias.
- February is month two of our 3-month series around Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. In January, students explored Diversity, what it means, how we can celebrate and recognize the diversity within our school community. During the month of February students will explore what Equity means how we can engage in equitable classroom and school-wide practices. This three month series replaces Anti-Bullying Month and Inclusive Schools Week.
- We continue our partnership with Facing History - teachers and administration have access to curriculum materials and professional development.
- The Race & Equity Parent Resource Group will meet on February 13th at 8:15am in the Fieldhouse.
Peirce Sports Department
Primary Years Programme Update
Behind the Scenes Tour Follow Up
Part 2: Assessment in the PYP
Types of Assessment in PYP
Assessment for learning
Learner-centred
forward thinking
involves the entire learning community
a collaborative effort
determine what students already know and can do with further guidance
Assessment as learning
helps students to take responsibility and develops enthusiasm and motivation for their learning
encourages students to actively design, manage and measure their own learning
self-assess, to reflect on and to make adjustments in future learning.
Assessment of learning
opportunity to gauge their acquisition of knowledge, development of conceptual understandings and skills during the inquiry.
Next Behind the Scenes tour for PYP
Part 3: Creating a culture for international mindedness
March 13, 2020
Reading in the Primary Grades
Essentials for Reading Success in the primary years focuses on developing 5 essential areas to reading:
The five components of reading in primary years are:
Phonological Awareness (K-2)
Phonics (K-3)
Fluency (K-5)
Vocabulary (K-12)
Comprehension (K-12)
COMPONENT FOCUS:
Comprehension: “Reading comprehension is the construction of the meaning of a written text through a reciprocal interchange of ideas between the reader and the message in a particular text (Harris & Hodges, 1995, definition #2, p. 39).”
According to the National Reading Panel, “comprehension can be improved by teaching students to use specific cognitive strategies to reason strategically when they encounter barriers to understanding what they are reading.”
AT HOME APPLICATION:
Differentiate between informational texts (non-fiction) and narrative texts (fiction)
Ask questions that require the reader to go back to the text to support their understanding
Fiction Text: Have conversations with your readers about:
Plot and Setting
Character
Vocabulary
Themes and Ideas
Non-Fiction Text: Have conversations with your readers about:
Main Idea
Key Details
Vocabulary
Text Features
Middle Years Programme Update
Peirce-Senn Parent Tour
For the past two years we have partnered with Senn to offer a special Peirce-Senn Family Tour of Senn. There was a lot of interest in 2018 with less interest in 2019. We are in the process of determining whether or not this is of interest in 2020.
Please complete this survey to indicate your level of interest.
MYP Updates
- The Assistant Principal/MYP Coordinator Position is close to being staffed - interviews began in January with 2nd round interviews completed last week.
- MYP Teachers met on Friday, January 31st to discuss the use of PAWs in Middle School, and ways to enhance Student-Led Conferences. Teachers also had time to meet across content areas (ex: 6th, 7th & 8th grade Math teachers) to receive feedback on IB Units and look for ways to more explicitly plan and implement lessons which focus on the Approaches to Learning.
Math at Peirce
Lesson Study
Here at Peirce, many teachers engage in a system of professional development called lesson study. This is a collaborative, teacher-led process in which a team of teachers chooses a topic, engages in research to build content knowledge, and then collaboratively plans a lesson to try out an instructional strategy. This “research lesson” is carried out with a class of students while the members of the team observe and take notes. Afterward, teachers and invited observers discuss the effectiveness of the lesson and how they will use what they learned in future lessons.
Throughout this school year, five teams of teachers are conducting lesson study cycles -- with one team collaborating with a teacher (and Peirce parent) from another CPS school! Please look for our bulletin board by the 1st floor old building stairwell for updates about what we are learning. For more information about Lesson Study, check out this article and related American Radio Works documentary.
Bilingual Program
Culture of Bilingualism
Did you know over 30 different languages are spoken by Peirce families? At Peirce we hope to promote a culture of bilingualism. Each and every one of these native languages are important -- both to the identities of our students and families and to the diversity of our school community. Do you have ideas about how we can better promote this message around the school? If so, please email Joshua Lerner, ELPT/bilingual coordinator, at jdlerner@cps.edu with feedback and suggestions.
Counseling Department
High School Acceptances
The results for ninth grade will be released on March 27, 2020. Families will receive a robocall and email the week of the upcoming release date and you are encouraged to log into your accounts to ensure that you remember your usernames and passwords.
Selective Enrollment Exam Results
Students who completed their selective enrollment exam in November or December will receive their scores by mid-February. Students who test in January will receive their test scores in March 2020, with their application results.
Tier Location and Selective Enrollment Schools
If your address has changed since the application deadline, please be sure to update your address in the GoCPS account and also with the school main office so that you receive any notifications by mail. Your address change after Dec 13 will not affect your designated Tier for selective enrollment selections. The address you used when you submitted your high school application is the address that will be used to determine your Tier. How to determine your tier - type in your address in the search bar.
Selective Enrollment Calculator
Type in your child’s 7th Grade Final Report Card Grades, NWEA Spring Scores, and your Tier location into this Point Calculator for Selective Enrollment Schools. The calculator will then give you the range of scores that your child will need on the selective enrollment test in order to possibly receive an offer from a selective enrollment school. Please keep in mind that cutoff scores are the minimum scores from last year’s applicants that were accepted. The cutoff score this year will depend upon the pool of applicants this year, so the numbers that are shown in the calculator gives you a range of the test score that is needed based on last year’s scores.
Scoring Rubrics for Choice Schools
Amundsen IB, Senn Arts, Senn Dance, Senn Theatre, Senn Music, Alcott Pre-Engineering, Chi-Arts, Jones Pre-Engineering, Jones Pre-Law, Lincoln Park, Mather Pre-Engineering, Mather Pre-Law, and other Choice Schools use a point system in their selections. Please view the Scoring Rubrics and Cutoff Score Guides to calculate your child’s chances of receiving an offer. Keep in mind that the “cutoff scores” are the minimum scores from last year’s applicants that were accepted. The cutoff score this year will depend upon the pool of applicants this year.
Open Houses
Open Houses are a great way for you to see the school and program to help you make your decision on accepting a High School offer. Check out this link - Open Houses and visit the schools that you applied to. If you missed the High School’s Open House date, you may call them and ask to schedule a visit.
High School Application Coaches
If you have any questions you may contact one of the high school application coaches below. If we are unable to assist you, please contact GoCPS@cps.edu or 773-553-2060.
Anne Choe, School Counselor apark1@cps.edu
Brian Girard, 8th Grade Teacher bgirard@cps.edu
Irma Puente, 6th Grade Teacher, Speaks Spanish ipuente@cps.edu
Jinny Gerhardt, Intervention Specialist, jlcrawford@cps.edu
Joseph Vasquez, 8th Grade DL Teacher javasquez57@cps.edu
February Calendar
5th - Student of the Month, 10:15am
7th - Report Cards Sent Home
7th - Small Group Parent Tour, 8:15am
7th - Parent Basketball League, Friends of Peirce Sponsored, 6:00pm, Gymnatorium
11th - Metropolis Coffee Orders Due, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
11th - Friends of Peirce Meeting, 6:30pm, Fieldhouse
12th - African American Heritage Showcase Performances, 8:45am & 1:30pm
13th - Race & Equity Parent Group Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
14th - Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
14th - Valentine’s Day Dance, Peirce Service Organization Sponsored, 5:00pm
17th - No School - President’s Day
20th - Local School Council Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
21st - Peirce Service Organization Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
21st - Parent Basketball League, Friends of Peirce Sponsored, 6:00pm, Gymnatorium
25th - 8th Grade Graduation Pictures, Re-Takes
25th - Math Parent Workshop (Kinder-2nd), 8:15am, Fieldhouse
27th - Math Parent Workshop (3rd-5th), 8:15am, Fieldhouse
28th - Race & Equity Parent Group Coffee Hour, 2:00pm, Fieldhouse
28th - Parent Basketball League, Friends of Peirce Sponsored, 6:00pm, Gymnatorium
March
4th & 5th - Picture Days, Grade Level Assignments TBA
6th - Progress Reports Distributed
6th - Bilingual Advisory Council Meeting, 8:15am
6th - Small Group Tour, 8:15am
6th - Parent Basketball League, Friends of Peirce Sponsored, 6:00pm, Gymnatorium
7th - Peirce Day @ Chicago Wolves Game, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
10th - Comprehensive Sexual Health Information Session, 10:30am, Gym
10th - Friends of Peirce Meeting, 6:30pm, Fieldhouse
11th - Picture Re-Takes
11th - Race & Equity Parent Resource Group Meeting, 6:00pm
13th - Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
13th - IB Behind The Scenes Tour, 9:30am, Fieldhouse
13th - Parents Night Out Babysitting Night, 6:00pm, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
13th - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm, Gym
16th - Metropolis Coffee Orders Due, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
17th - Washington D.C. Family Meeting, 5:00pm, Gym
19th - Peirce Day @ Jett’s Pizza on Clark, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
19th - Local School Council Meeting, 6:00pm, Gym
20th - District Bilingual Advisory Council Meeting @ Peirce, 8:15am, Gym
20th - Peirce Service Organization Meeting, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
20th - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm, Gym, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
25th - Coffee with the Principal, 8:15am, Fieldhouse
27th - Parent Basketball League, 6:00pm, Gym, Friends of Peirce Sponsored
28th - 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament (18 and over), Friends of Peirce Sponsored
31st - Student of the Month, 10:15am, Gym
Office Updates
Cold Weather Reminders
The warm summer weather is behind us and cold days have quickly found Chicago. Please make sure that children are dressed appropriately with hats, gloves, scarfs and boots as appropriate. Students will have recess as long as the weather is 15 degrees or warmer, wind chill may be factored in at the discretion of the school administration.
Student Fees
Peirce families now have the option of paying student fees online by clicking here and then selecting the one time payment option. Fees are $50 per student or $100 max for 2 or more children.
Apply to be a volunteer
Parents please apply to become a Peirce volunteer by filling out an application at cpsvolunteers.org, it would be of much help to our teachers if you apply to become a Level 1 volunteer. This level of clearance allows you to help our teachers on field trips with the children. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at ebelizario@cps.edu.
Parent Portal
If you have not yet created a Parent Portal account through ASPEN please send me your child's name and your email that you would like associated with the account to ebelizario@cps.edu .
No Dogs on Campus
Please help us create a safe space for our students as they enter and leave the building - dogs and pets are not allowed on school grounds.
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
The CPS Breakfast and Lunch Menu can be found here, this is updated regularly, so please check back often. These menus are subject to change. Also, please check out the CPS Nutrition Services Website.
Daily Specials Classes
The specials schedule can be accessed here - this indicates the class that your child will have each day of the week (Art, Music, Dance, PE, Spanish).
Key Contact List
The information below indicates the leadership team at Peirce - if you have questions about something not listed, please reach out to Lynn or Sally in the main office so that they may put you in contact with the correct team member
Lynn Carro, Office Manager
Enrollment, Building Rental, Schedule meetings with administrators, Lunch & Recess, General Questions
Sally Suarez de Duran, Office Manager
Enrollment, Volunteering, Schedule meetings with administrators, General Questions
Lori Zaimi, Principal
Oversees all school operations
Kristen Munoz, Assistant Principal
Kindergarten-4th Grades
Kim Lebovitz, PYP Coordinator & Instructional Coach
PYP Program
Joshua Lerner, Bilingual Lead Teacher & Math Instructional Coach
Bilingual Program
Math Instruction
Anne Park, Counselor
School Counseling, High School Transition, Climate & Culture
Shelton Jackson, Restorative Practices Coach
Restorative Practices, Student Behavior & Supports, Recess & Lunch, Climate & Culture
Athanasia Kolontouros, Case Manager
Special Education Services, IEPs, 504 Plans
Brooke Thompson, After School Program Coordinator
Fee & CPS Funded After School Programs
Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies
Email: lzaimi@cps.edu
Website: peirce.cps.edu
Location: 1423 W Bryn Mawr Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-534-2440
Facebook: facebook.com/peircecps