Eagle's Eye View: Parent Edition
April 2017
Del Director
*Si usted necesita una traducción de la carta del director, pídame una y yo se la daré. Gracias.
Dear Parents and Zarrow Families,
I hope that this message finds you all well and that you are enjoying the beginnings of sunny and warm weather here in Tulsa! I most definitely am. The cold and dark weather starts to get to me after a while, but when I see the flowers and trees starting to bloom I get a little extra pep in my step.
With that being said, it's the time of year when we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. We have roughly 8 weeks left of school and we are excited and determined to end strong with high levels of rigor and success. We will continue to focus on best teaching practices as we implement research and theory into our classrooms while teaching a target language and content, as well as the language of the content areas: math, science, social studies, language arts, physical education, art, music, etc. It takes an entire school to create and develop well-rounded and highly performing Eagles and we have the best of the best doing just that! I am so proud of our team, and that means YOU, too! This year our parents and teachers have been working so well together and it has been amazing to see, and participate in, as we continue on our 'destination to excellence.'
I'd also like to remind everyone that we have resources on the school's website that will help you practice, with your children, skills your Eagles are learning. Furthermore, teachers always have good ideas on how we can continue to live the learning at home in a real and practical way. This helps deepen the knowledge gained in the classroom, and makes what is taught more relevant as we support the application and conceptualization of such skills. Again, all of you are such a keystone to success and it is for this reason I applaud you and your efforts this year as we continue to only soar at the highest levels possible.
More so, as we do continue ahead these next weeks I'd like to remind 3rd-5th grade families that we do have testing coming up. Our 3rd-5th graders will soon be taking their OCCT state mandated tests. Please, take to heart that we (all of the ZIS team and you included) have been preparing our students since August for these tests. We, although are conscious of the fact that this testing is a reality, are not stressed or nervous about the upcoming assessments. Our Eagles are amazing, both teachers and students alike, and I have no doubt in my mind that we are prepared to excel. Like I always say, testing is not our focus. Good teaching is our focus. However, if we are to play the [testing] game we might as well win! We have in the past, and we will again this year. So, I ask that you all at home stay stress free with this testing as we will continue to do at the school level. Again, we acknowledge that this is part of reality, but we rely on the pedagogies we have used all year to ensure success in our school and not mere "test prep." Nevertheless, there are some good things that we can continue to do (and some of this relates to PK-2nd grades, as well) as we finish out this school year with and without testing:
Throughout the year:
1. Read to/with your child and make time to discuss what you’ve read.
2. Encourage reading for pleasure regularly.
3. Know what kind of homework (and/or Living the Learning depending on conversations you've been having with your teacher(s)) teachers expect and make sure your child
completes it.
4. Provide a regular, quiet place for your child to read or complete (home)work.
5. Set high expectations for grades and attendance.
6. Take an active interest in what your child is doing in school. What is he or she
learning? Parents who communicate daily about what their children are learning
build a strong foundation to demonstrate that learning on tests.
7. During the weeks leading up to the test, begin to talk with your child about doing
his or her best. You know your child better than anyone. Emphasize the
importance of the test, but remember to build confidence, not anxiety.
The night before the test:
1. Make sure your child goes to bed on time so he or she is well-rested.
2. Keep your routine as normal as possible. Upsetting natural routines may make
children feel insecure.
3. Be positive and confident in the fact that you know your child will do his/her best.
4. Plan ahead to avoid conflicts on the morning of the test.
The morning of the test:
1. Get up a few minutes early to avoid rushing and make sure your child arrives at
school on time.
2. Have your child eat a nutritious breakfast. There is a strong correlation between
eating breakfast and memory and cognitive functioning.
3. Have your child dress comfortably.
4. Be positive and communicate that this is your child’s chance to show what he/she
knows. The most important thing you can do right before the test is to build
confidence about doing his/her very best.
After the test:
1. Talk to your child about his/her feelings about the test.
2. Discuss what was easy and what was hard; discuss what your child learned from
the test.
3. Explain that performance on a test does not define him or her as a person. It is
just one opportunity to demonstrate learning.
(Taken from: http://www.schoodoodle.com/shop/images/Parent_Test_Prep_Letter.pdf)
In closure, I want to reiterate how wonderfully supportive you all have been this year and, again, applaud you for the great work you do as parents, communicators, advocates, and stellar stakeholders of Zarrow International. I am blessed to work alongside you all and am absolutely thrilled with what a great family this is, and continues to be!
All my best...always,
Sr. Kellito
April Testing Schedule
Monday 3rd -3rd Grade Reading Section 1
Tuesday 4th – 3rd Grade Reading Section 2
Wednesday 5th – 5th Grade Math Sections 1 & 2
Thursday 6th – 5th Grade Reading Sections 1 & 2
Friday 7th – 5th Grade Writing
Monday 10th – 4th Grade Math Section 1
Tuesday 11th – 4th Grade Math Section 2
Wednesday 12th – Make-ups
Thursday 13th – 3rd Grade Math Section 1
Friday 14th – 3rd Grade Math Section 2
Monday 17th – 5th Grade Science Sections 1 & 2
Tuesday 18th – 4th Grade Reading Section 1
Wednesday 19th -4th Grade Reading Section 2
Thursday 20th – Make-ups
Friday-OCCTs returned to Enrollment Center
PTA News
Please take the time to complete this survey by tomorrow, April 4th, to let TPS know what you want in a new principal. It is important for us to have as many of you participate as possible so school administrators know how vested we are in our school and our students. The https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCkcc9YhDcf-NZfyPPMQmBK1KGw8JMJRDuzobrRbu5BtVyLA/viewform
We also still need help with Kinder welcome night. Please see the sign up genius: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054eafa82ca46-kinder
Dates to Calendar:
PTA Meeting - April 11@ 6:30 in the cafeteria. Child care will be provided in the gym.
Thank you for all the silent auction donations. Free Dress on April 21
STEAM Night April 21 6:00-8:00
Skate Night - April 24
Dinner Club - April 25
Talent Show April 28
¡Viva Zarrow!
Teacher parties available for purchase at the school
Movie Party with Srta Johnston: 4th graders are invited to spend an afternoon with Srta. Johnston for a movie party with snacks in her room. Price $15 - 5 open spots available
Chess Tournament with Sr Jorge: Price $20 - 10 open spots available
Third Grade Game and Movie Party with Sra Astacio and Srta Reville: Sra. Astacio and Srta. Revilla are hosting 15 third graders for a game and movie party. Students will enjoy snacks and fun with friends and teachers! Price $15 - 9 open spots available
Third Grade Movie Party with Sras Aubert and Santiago: Sras. Aubert and Santiago will host 15 3rd grade students for an after-school movie party in their classroom. Price $15 - 5 open spots available
Bunco Party: This bunco party will be a blast for up to 16 students! Sra. Torres and Srta. S will guide the group through a fast-paced and social hour of the infamous dice game. Planned for after school on April 27th. Price $15 - 11 open spots available
4th Grade Movie Party: 15 lucky students will join Sras. Najera and Bocalandro for an after-school movie party with snacks. Price $15 - 13 open spots available
Kinder Movie Party with Sra Barajas: 15 kindergarteners are invited to spend an afternoon with Sra. Barajas enjoying a movie party in her classroom. Price $15 - 8 open spots available
Kinder Pelicula Party with Sra Tamez: Sra. Tamez is hosting a P-Party, featuring Pizza, Ponche (punch), Palomitas (popcorn) and a Pelicula (movie) in her room one day after school for 15 kinder students. Price $15 - 7 open spots available
Pre-K Movie Party with Sras Castell and Vargas: Sras. Castell and Vargas offer an annual after-school movie party for 10 Pre-K students! The party is guaranteed to sell-out, so get your spot quickly! Price $15 - 7 open spots available
Sports Party with Sra Caballero: Sra. Caballero will treat eight kindergarten students to an afternoon sports party on the ZIS playground! She will lead the students through several athletic activities and then make a craft featuring ice cream.
Date: Friday, April 14 from 3:50-5:15 p.m.
Price $15 - 1 open spot available
Counselor's Corner
Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test will be administered to our third, fourth and fifth grade students beginning on Monday, April 3rd and concluding on Friday, April 19th. The third and fourth grade students test in two subjects areas of Reading and Math; the fifth grade students test in three subject areas of Reading/Writing, Math and Science. Teachers from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade work with students diligently to assist them to improve their academic skills.
Parents ask what can I do at home to prepare my child. In the months preceding the test encourage your child to read. The easiest and best way to prepare your child for doing well on tests is to read often. There are also tips you may want to review with your child to do well on any test including the OCCT tests. They are:
1. Get a good night’s sleep before the test.
2. Eat a good breakfast in the morning. (Blueberries are excellent food for the brain).
3. Bring 2 #2 pencils with erasers for the test.
4. Be on time to school.
5. Layer uniform clothes. It is important that children are not cold during testing. (Children do better on testing when they don’t have to think about how hot or cold they are).
In addition, you may want to review the following test taking skills with your child:
1. Follow test directions carefully.
2. Read all of the answers before you choose one.
3. If you do not know an answer, make the best guess you can.
4. Fill in the test bubbles completely.
5. If you erase an answer, erase it completely; and mark the
answer you believe is correct.
6. Stay relaxed – take some deep breaths.
Right before the test, you might say to your child, “This test is important. I know you will try hard and do your best.” A parent’s confidence is contagious. In addition, our teachers are positive with the children as they prepare for the test.
Thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor. And a BIG thank you to the Zarrow PTA for providing small bottles of water for the children on their testing days!
Thank you for letting me be a part of the good things that are happening at Zarrow!
Ann Butler, LPC
Counselor