Miner Minutes
ETE's Principal's Newsletter 2021-2022
MM #3 -- October 8, 2021
Dear ETE Families,
I want to start by thanking you for jumping right on board when the district reinstated the need for masks. Keeping our students safely in school and learning is our primary goal, and we've all worked hard to reduce the number of students out on quarantine as COVID numbers climb in our area and around the country.
While there are very few who enjoy wearing masks, we appreciate your support in helping students see the importance of masking in keeping each other safe and in school. This has been harder for some students, and for our staff who are constantly reminding them to keep their masks up and correctly in place. Please continue to support our students' safety by:
- Sending your students with a good-fitting mask each day
- Reminding students about the importance of mask wearing
- Utilizing the At-Home Symptom Screener and keeping students home when symptomatic
- Modeling a positive attitude as we all continue to navigate these wild COVID times
Important October Dates:
- 10/13 -- PTO Meeting
- 10/18 -- ETE "Walk To" Intervention Begins!
- 10/18 -- PCSD Board Meeting 6:30 pm
- 10/18-10/21 -- 5th Graders at Keystone Science School
- 10/20 -- Early Release Day
- 10/27 -- Parent Education Night: Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention
- 10/28 -- Halloween & SPHS Homecoming Festivities at school (Your child's teacher will let you know what their class will be participating in. Click Here to read the MS/HS Burro Blast for more Homecoming info)
Sincerely,
Laurel Dumas
"Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.
Take care of our school, and our community, and our environment!"
Assessment Update
Acadience (formerly DIBELS)
- Administered Sept. 20-30, K-5
- Our universal screener, it monitors the development of reading skills
- With the use of further diagnostic tools, it pinpoints for teachers skills to work on as a class, and skills each child needs to build to improve their overall reading, which will be targeted through daily "Walk To" Intervention
- Benchmark assessments occur three times a year -- beginning, middle, and end
- Progress monitoring occurs throughout the year to closely monitor growth
- Look for HomeConnect reports from your children's teachers soon in Thursday folders!
DESSA Mini-Assessment
- Administered Oct. 11-14, K-5
- Measures students' overall social-emotional skills development
- Connects to our school-wide SEL (social-emotional learning) curriculum, Second Step
- Parent letters already sent home, but attached below as well
- Parents can opt out by emailing classroom teacher or SEL Teacher, Erin Ventura
NWEA's MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)
- Will not be administered schoolwide this year, but parents may opt in (read more below)
- Measures students' overall achievement and growth in reading and math
- Compares students across the nation
Our core curriculum programs, Into Reading and Math Expressions, also provide us with extensive assessment tools to monitor students' overall and targeted skills throughout the year, as do some of our supplemental programs like Amira, Lexia, and Gooru. Because of this, we decided that we have all the data we need to properly monitor our students' levels and did not want to spend the extensive time and student stress needed to administer the MAP test this year. If you would like to have your student take the Reading and Math MAP tests please fill out this form by Thursday, October 14, and we will make sure they are administered before the end of the month. You can email laurel.dumas@parkcountyre2.org with any questions or feedback.
PTO Meeting -- Wednesday, October 13
The first meeting of the year will be next week in the Creative Arts room at school from 5:00-6:00. You can also join virtually (link coming soon)!
PCSD Parent Support and Education Night: Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention for Families
CALLING ALL PARENTS!!!!!!!!!
The Behavioral Health Team at Park County School District will be hosting
a series of three Parent Educational Support Nights during the school year.
Snacks and childcare for elementary age children will be provided.
Fall Presentation: Youth Suicide Prevention. October 27th. Presented by Sarah Youngren (SEE FLIER BELOW!)
Winter: When Your Child is Bullied, Date TBD.
Spring: Effects of Substance Use on Youth. Date: TBD
Stay tuned for more information on future parent information meetings.
All presentations will be held in the Multi Purpose room for social distancing, and currently masks are required for all adults within the school building.
Meals and childcare for children K-12 will be provided.
*for preschool childcare please RSVP to heather.hall@parkcountyre2.org
Early Release and After School Options for Kids
Below you will find fliers for two great options for Early Release Days -- and don't forget about our fabulous Boys and Girls Club too. With these options, students can walk with staff (Boys and Girls Club), take the bus (South Park Rec Center), or stay on campus (Curiosity Clubhouse) so you don't have to come earlier than usual for pick up! Both the Rec Center and Curiosity Clubhouse have fun activities for our kiddos after school throughout the year as well, so check out their websites!
You can reach the Boys and Girls Club at 719-836-9019 -- though your best bet to is to just stop on in!
Laurel Dumas
office: (719) 836-2949 / direct: (719) 836-4420