Baker Bulletin
September 27, 2020
Principal Message
September is Chiari Malformation Awareness Month and we have at least one member of our Baker family that fights this battle. We will be wearing PURPLE this coming Tuesday, September 29th to show our support and help raise awareness. We would love for our students and staff to join us!
Below is some information directly from an adult diagnosed with Chiari and gives a good perspective that is understandable for all.
"Chiari Malformation is a neurological condition that basically means that a person has too much brain to contain... In medical terms, Chiari Malformation occurs when brain tissue expands into the spinal canal, due to a smaller skull. Functions controlled by the occipital lobe of the brain are affected, such as vision and balance. Chiari can be congenital, though symptoms can be developed later in life, and it might not show up on an MRI at first.
Symptoms can be very different, depending on the person. One of my friends is completely asymptomatic, and the doctors found the Chiari when they had an MRI for another reason. Another one of my friends lost their ability to walk due to their chronic pain and balance issues and uses a wheelchair. For me, my Chiari Malformation causes chronic, constant pain, spasms, and chronic migraines, as well as major issues with my eyesight. I also have issues with balance- I walk differently than normal, and my running can be best described as trying to walk across ice." - Veronica Lewis, 2017
As always, please let us know if we fall short in communicating with you. We want this to be a partnership in order for your child to succeed!
Sincerely,
Ashley Gannon
Principal, Baker Elementary
COVID-19 Screener
If your child is learning in person, please make sure to go through the Screener questions each day. Here is the link to the Screener. If your child tests positive, has been exposed to a COVID positive individual, or has one or more of the symptoms on the screening questionnaire, use the link at the bottom of the questionnaire to notify the school nurse and do NOT send your child to school until receiving clearance to return from the school nurse.
*If your child has a chronic condition that presents as one of the symptoms on the screening questionnaire, it is recommended that you contact the school nurse and your child's teacher about the chronic symptom so that both of these key school personnel are aware.
CogAT Assessment - Important Information
Baker Elementary will be administering the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to second and fourth-grade students. CogAT is a norm-referenced test that evaluates the level and pattern of cognitive development of students, as well as their abilities in problem-solving using verbal, quantitative, and spatial (nonverbal) reasoning.
Testing will take place during the school day and will be administrated by the student’s classroom homeroom teacher. There are three sections, each with three subtests. Each section is about 30 minutes, 10 minutes per subtest. All In-persons students in 2nd and 4th grade will test on October 14th, 15th, and 20th.
***Virtual Learners*** Permission Form MUST be completed by Thursday, Oct.15th
Baker virtual learners must take the CogAT on campus. Students in 2nd grade will test on Wednesday, October 21st from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. Students in 4th grade will test on Thursday, October 22nd from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. All sections of the CogAT will be administered in the allotted time frame. Please complete the google form to indicate if your child will or will not participate in this year's CogAT assessment. Click Here.
All parents will receive a copy of the CogAT profile that includes all scores once the district receives the results. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Jones, campus counselor, if you have any questions. For more information about CogAT, please visit https://www.riverside-assessments.com/cogat.
GT Referral
The fall referral window for Gifted and Talented Services runs from August to October 1st. If you are interested in referring your student, please see the information below:
Grades K,1,3 & 5:
To refer your students for gifted services please fill out this referral form by October 1, 2020 at 11:59 PM. Students referred will be assessed by the campus gifted specialist in October.
Grades 2 & 4:
The district will administer the CogAT test to all 2nd and 4th grade students in October. Although CogAT is not given to these grade levels specifically for gifted placement, the scores are used as ability data points to help determine the need for gifted services. Should your 2nd or 4th grade student require additional assessment, you will be contacted by the campus GT specialist.
All students that are placed in Gifted and Talented will begin receiving services in January 2021.
Please note: Students may only be referred once per academic year for GT testing.
Curbside Checkout-Library
Counselor Corner
Virtual Learners Needing Technical Assistance
If a virtual learner is having technical issues, you can call 469-219-2444 or email Technologyhomehelp@prosper-isd.net
Rockettes Mini Clinic - Oct 10th
Grade Levels: Pre-K through 6th Grade
The Rock Hill HS Rockettes will be hosting a mini-clinic at the RHHS Field on October 10th! Each participant will learn a dance, receive a t-shirt, snack, and picture with a Rockette!
Click here for more information.
Blue Crew
1. What is Blue Crew? Blue Crew makes you part of the team! Blue Crew Buddies will be partnered with a Blue Hawk football athlete from RHHS the entire school year. They will be pen pals with their paired RHHS Athlete, writing letters to each other weekly. This program is geared to mentor and build up our elementary buddies.
2. Mail Drop: We will provide a small mailbox, at each campus, for kids to drop their letters in weekly. Our thought is to place it in a common area, like on their way to the cafeteria or gym? In addition, I will deliver letters from the RHHS athlete to their elementary buddy. The best way to do this is for me to deliver to the homeroom teacher's campus mailbox once a week.
Registration link: https://www.bluehawkchampionsclub.org/blue-crew
Lunch Menu for the Week of 9.28-10.2.2020
Join PTO
About Us
Email: aagannon@prosper-isd.net
Website: https://www.prosper-isd.net/Domain/8
Location: 3125 Bluewood Drive, McKinney, TX, USA
Phone: 469-219-2120
Twitter: @BakerElem