Estrada's E-Notes
March 2022 Edition
Principal's Post
Dear Newport El Families,
It's hard to believe that the 2nd trimester is wrapping up. Next week is Conference Week, which is a terrific opportunity to meet with your student's teacher to discuss their progress. There's so much more to say than what is on the report card. Our teachers do an amazing job of getting to know their students, and I know they have lots to share with you.
This time of year is always exciting for me as a principal as we are working hard to finish the year strong while simultaneously planning for next school year. As things open up and restrictions are lifted, we will have be adding some events to our calendar for the end of the year. We have some fun and important events this month that I want to especially highlight.
March 4th - Read Across America - Guest readers from the NBFD will share a story with students in their classrooms. Books donated for the book drive will be donated to WIC.
March 17th - Absolutely Incredible Kid Day - We've got some fun surprises for the students, and I'll be making as many Great News Calls as I can. Parents could help celebrate how incredible their kiddos are by waking them up in a fun way, writing a message in sidewalk chalk that they will see as the leave for school, or adding an uplifting note in their lunchbox.
March 23rd - Kindergarten Round Up - This is an orientation meeting for parents who will have a kindergarten or TK student next year. Help us spread the word to your friends and neighbors so that they can learn about enrollment.
March 26th - NESF Great Gatsby Gala - This will be a fun night for grown ups and great opportunity to raise funds for our school. Don't forget about the online auction either!
Keep being awesome!
Principal Estrada
#thrivingtogether
Spotlight on Academics
What is RTI?
We know that students learn in different ways and at different rates. This is why we highly value and place a priority on RTI. Through our RTI rotations, we are able to differentiate instruction to ensure students’ needs are being met. During RTI rotations, the student to teacher ratio is decreased for all students because of our additional RTI staff. Children who need additional time and support to meet grade-level expectations work in smaller groups to close the gap. Students who are performing at or beyond grade-level receive extension and enrichment instruction and activities geared to take their learning even further.
How does it work?
With the help of the Newport El Foundation, we are able to hire additional credentialed, part-time teachers to be part of RTI Rotations. The classroom teachers and RTI teachers work together to assess students' needs, form flexible groups, plan differentiated instruction, and monitor students' progress. During RTI rotations (30 minutes per day, 4 days per week), students learn in targeted smaller groups than their homeroom class. Without these additional teachers, we would not be able to do RTI rotations in this way.
What is the benefit?
RTI rotations allow us to individualize instruction, helping students to grow in their academics and self-confidence. Since implementing RTI rotations, our scores on the state test have increased by 9.67% in Language Arts and 10.08% in Math. RTI is critical to students' success and our success as a school.
Spotlight on Safety
More information will be coming out soon in regards to how this will affect protocols in the health office, the Symptom Decision Tree, and quarantining requirements.
Thriving Together
This month's focus is optimism. Dr Borba says,
Thrivers find the silver lining. Children strong in optimism display positivity and gratitude, learn self-advocacy and keep unrealistic pessimism in check to reduce despondence and encourage a hopeful outlook.
Top Takeaways:
- Three abilities nurture optimism: optimistic thinking, assertive communication, hope.
- Challenge inaccurate views. Teach how to counter, refute or balance pessimistic, inaccurate views.
- Hold goodness reviews. Institute nightly review of good parts of each person's day to focus on bright side.
Strategy to Try:
Change pessimistic thoughts. Challenge sweeping (I always...never...every time) thoughts with "Reality check!" Then help reframe them with more positive realistic views.
March Read Aloud
This month I am reading The Power of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts by Trudy Ludwig. When one child reaches out in friendship to a classmate who seems lonely, she begins a chain reaction of kindness that ripples throughout her school and her community. One kind act begets another, small good deeds make way for bigger ones, and eventually the whole neighborhood comes together to build something much greater than the sum of its parts. The story has a message about optimism which is our Thrivers character strength of the month.
March Dates
March 4th - Flag Deck, Guest Readers for Read Across America
March 7, 8, 10, 11 - 1:00 Dismissal for Conference Week
March 8 - NESF Meeting via Zoom
March 9 - Conference Day - No school for students
March 16 - PTA Skate Night
March 17 - Absolutely Incredible Kid day
March 18 - Flag Deck
March 21-23 - 6th Grade Science Camp
March 23 - Kindergarten Round Up
March 26 - NESF Great Gatsby Gala
March 29 - Spring Picture Day
Volunteers on Campus
NEW: Starting January 31st, verification of vaccination is not required to be an approved volunteer. Instead, you will need to show proof of a negative covid test dated within 3 days.
All interested volunteers are asked to complete these 3 steps:
- Read through the Newport El Volunteer Orientation slide deck.
- Complete the Newport El Volunteer Agreement.
- Complete the district's volunteer approval process.
As always, every teacher utilizes volunteers in different ways. Teachers will be communicating with the approved volunteers from their class about their need for volunteers and scheduling.
Our Office Staff is Here to Help
Main Line: 949-515-6965
Absence Line: 949-515-6832
Attendance questions:
Vicky Mahtesian - vmahtesian@nmusd.us
Health, medications, and immunizations questions:
Dana Hansen - dhansen@nmusd.us and
Nurse Sarah Hacker - shacker@nmusd.us
All Other Inquiries:
Debbie Kandel is back supporting in the front office. You can email her at dkandel@nmusd.us