This Week
Monday
* CMAS testing
Tuesday
* CMAS testing
* SD: Workshop and Thinking Strategies
Wednesday
* CMAS testing
Thursday
Friday
Reminders
EPR
* If you have not done so yet, please give Libby your finalized EPR sheet for spring semester.
CITE 6
* We will input CITE 6 data in InspirED during a staff meeting on Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30. Please come with your data. All data will need to be inputted into the system by Friday, April 27.
EOY READ PLANS
* Please administer Istation to ALL K-3 students and any 4th & 5th graders who are on READ plans on either May 1st or 2nd. We will collaboratively update current plans and write new plans on May 7th & 8th. We will have a rotating sub for this process. Please continue to progress monitor these students in Alpine.
SUMMATIVE EVALS
* Please schedule your summative evaluation for the week of April 23 with Anita if you have not done so already. The rubric states that all 4cs should be planned for, assessed and taught by the end of the year. Please plan on bringing artifacts of this work to the meeting if you have them.
CMAS
* 5th grade Science - 10:00-11:45
* 4th grade Math - 1:30-3:00
* Please ensure all students who receive text-to-speech for Science or Math have headphones. Please provide students with scratch paper.
* Please remember to charge your devices for CMAS each day!
* Please cover all math and science related items on your walls. Don't forget to remove name tags.
FIELD DAY
* Field day will be May 22nd for Kindergarten and May 23rd for 1-5 grades.
CLASS PLACEMENT PROCESS & PARENT INPUT
Creating balanced class lists that meet the needs of all students is a difficult endeavor. This process involves hours of thoughtful dialogue between classroom teachers, administrators and other staff members. We know that creating a strong learning environment is essential to students’ success and we therefore take this responsibility seriously. Please be assured that we take each child into consideration. Please see our process below.
· Teachers identify the social and academic needs of each student. They refer to existing data and record pertinent information to assist them in their decision-making.
· Teachers meet as grade level teams to form class lists that are balanced. Balanced classrooms meet each student’s academic, social and emotional needs. Teachers consider each child’s personality, academic strengths, needs and friendships. Learning specialists, the specials team and administration also collaborate with classroom teachers to provide feedback.
· Each grade level team types several drafts of class lists. I review final lists to ensure all parent input has been considered. Classroom teachers approve any changes I suggest given parent feedback to ensure classes remain balanced.
· Class lists are finalized in mid July to reflect the addition of students joining Gold Rush in the summer.
This process is consistent across grades K-4. Our 5th grade team collaborates with the teachers at Cimarron Middle School to ensure students’ success in 6th grade.
We strongly believe that this detailed and collaborative process creates learning environments that benefit all students. Please remember that our ultimate goal is to create classes that promote the success of each child. Please also know that your child is placed in a classroom for specific reasons and that our process benefits all students. Because of the input and thought given by teachers, parents and administrators, we are reluctant to make changes once this process is complete. It may be hard to believe, but moving one child can disrupt the balance of an entire classroom.
We do value parent input and welcome any insight you wish to share about your child’s strengths, needs and learning style. We will take into consideration all pertinent information that you share with me on or before Friday, April 25th. While we welcome your input, we cannot honor specific teacher requests. Please put your thoughts in writing and address them to me (Jenny Brown). I will accept either a letter or email (jjbrown@dcsdk12.org).
I cannot express enough how important it is that your thoughts are in writing. As you can imagine, I receive a great deal of parent input and verbal information is difficult to track. I also prefer that you direct this communication to me, as I am ultimately responsible for reviewing final class lists in July when teachers may be available.
Happy Birthday
Pam Ditus - April 9th
Go For the Gold
* Karen Petty was recently interviewed for a pod cast. March was Music in Our Schools Month. You can hear the interview below. Thank you for sharing Karen!
* Thank you teachers for another successful week of CMAS! Thank you Justin Brakefield, Mel Berry, and Megan Fleet for administering make-ups!
Golden Nuggets
Morning Announcements: Hawk
Lounge Duty: Steinher/McMillan
