Intermediate News- January 18
Update For Intermediate Families From Principal Gene Hoskins
MLK Day Recognition, Benchmark Assessments in ELA and Math, and January Spirit Week
Here are a few updates for Intermediate families for the coming week:
MLK Day: Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Like many of our national holidays, the reason for our three-day weekend is sometimes forgotten by our students. I think it is important for our students to understand why we have this day off from school and why it is a national holiday. MLK Day is a national day of service in honor of Dr. King's work for social justice, his sacrifice for our country, and his enduring legacy of service. I hope this is a conversation in all of our classrooms. For these reasons I have included a video in this newsletter targeted for Intermediate age levels entitled "The Story Of Martin Luther King, Jr." by Kid President, as well as a Brain Pop video entitled "The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
Reading 20 Minutes Per Day: Included in this newsletter is some information on the importance of all students reading 20 minutes per day outside of school with a caring adult. Over the coming weeks and months we will be sharing information each week on how you can support your child's growth as a reader, and strategies you can use at home to help struggling readers get 20 minutes of practice in each night.
Midyear Benchmark Writing Assessment in ELA: Over the past two weeks our students have completed their iReady midyear diagnostics for math and reading. This coming week students will be taking their midyear writing assessment for ELA. Students will read passages, respond to questions, and create short essays as part of these ELA writing assessments. Virtual students will have their tests shared with them through their teacher's google classroom to complete at home at the same time that in-person learners are taking the assessment in school. All students will begin the assessment after homeroom on Tuesday, January 19. They will have as much time as they need to complete the assessment but will only work on a few periods on any one day. Based on past assessments, we anticipate that most students will complete the writing assessment Tuesday.
Students will take their midyear math assessment the following week (beginning Monday, January 25). This will be an extended-response assessment in math where students will show their work. We will be mailing all parents a report for your child's performance on these midyear benchmark assessments in early February. It is important that all students do their best on these assessments so that teachers have a better understanding of each students individual areas off strength and what concepts or skills that they need more support in.
January Spirit Week: Our Intermediate School Student Council is sponsoring a spirit week each month. Our January Spirit Week begins this Tuesday, January 19. The following are our spirit days this week:
- Tuesday, January 19 - "Tropical Tuesday" - Dress in your favorite Hawaiian gear!
- Wednesday, January 20 - "Wacky Hair Wednesday" - Crazy Hairstyle Day
- Thursday, January 21- Tie Dye Thursday" - Wear Class Colors: 4th - Green, 5th - Red, 6th - Blue
- Friday, January 22 - "Fashion Disaster Friday" - Fashion Disaster - wear your clothes inside out, backwards, or mismatched
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns. You can contact Mrs. Bucenec, Intermediate School Counselor, through email at mbucenec@soduscsd.org, me through email at ehoskins@soduscsd.org. You can also reach me by phone at school at (315) 483-5206, or on my cell phone in the evening or weekend at (315) 576-7090.
Sincerely,
Gene Hoskins
Sodus Intermediate Principal
Sodus Intermediate School - Principal Gene Hoskins
All digital newsletters for Sodus Intermediate School are posted in the left margin of the Intermediate School page of the Sodus website. The link to the Intermediate school page is listed below.
Traducción al español a través de Google:
Todos los boletines digitales de la Escuela Intermedia Sodus se publican en el margen izquierdo de la página de la Escuela Intermedia del sitio web de Sodus. El enlace a la página de la escuela intermedia se encuentra a continuación.
Email: ehoskins@soduscsd.org
Website: https://www.soduscsd.org/Page/476
Location: 54 Mill Street, Sodus, NY, USA
Phone: (315) 483-5206
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SodusCSD/
The IMPORTANCE Of Reading At Home With Your Child
It is my firm belief that all students can close gaps in reading performance when in-school instruction is supported with 20 minutes of daily reading practice with an adult at home. In many ways I think it is the single most important academic activity that students can do - reading on grade level opens the doors to achieving in all subject areas. Over the coming weeks and months you will see more information on how reading outside of school can make a difference for your child. We will be sharing strategies on how parents can help reluctant and struggling readers, and what supports we can offer families so that all students have access to an adult to read with every day.
The Power Of Reading - One 9-Year Old's Perspective
SEL Tip: Social-Emotional Learning Tips From Sodus MTSS Coordinator Kristin DeFeo
SEL TIP #19 - This month (and next) we continue to focus on self-management. Still the focus is YOU (self). Quick reminder - Self-Management (as per CASEL) is the “The abilities to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.”
Take a few minutes to watch this video on Self-Management posted below. Although it is intended for teachers, there are some great strategies that can be used at home. It shows the applications/importance to students and school, and gives a few great ideas that all ages can use.