"Campers" & "Counselors" gathered in the Rec. Hall for a March is Reading Month Read In and Kickoff Assembly on March 1st.
This edition of the Howl is focused on informing you of our March Is Reading Month plans and activities for students and families.
Our Theme this Year
Camp Read A Lot KIck Off Video
Camp Read A Lot Parent Video
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
Spring Parent/Teacher Child Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, March 16 from 1:20-4:00 and 5:00-8:00 p.m. Spring conferences differ from fall conferences in that only one afternoon and evening time slot is allotted for teachers to meet with parents. Therefore, conference times are limited and will not be scheduled for every child. Classroom teachers will email parents if a conference is needed or not. If requested, you may begin to sign up for conferences on Thursday, March 2nd at 3:00 PM. Conference sign-up will end on March 15th, at 3:00 PM. Students will have a half-day of school on March 16.
Grade PLacement Proceedures
After we return from Spring Break, I begin the planning process for next school year. I would like to share our procedures for moving students to their next grade level teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. We use a comprehensive procedure to determine grade/teacher placement. The process is outlined below:
Teachers will fill out a student profile on each student in his/her class. The profile will allow teachers to identify each student’s strengths and needs.
A team consisting of the grade level teachers, principal, and other pertinent staff such as the reading specialist, special education personnel, and/or ELL teacher will meet to place students into classes based on information from the profile sheets, and any additional input. The class lists will be constructed so that each class is relatively equal with regards to the following factors:
- Balance of male and female students.
- A range of reading, writing, and math abilities in each room.
- Consideration of learning needs.
- Separation of behavior conflicts.
- Balance of students with strong leadership qualities.
- Balance of students with independent study habits.
In analyzing all these factors we strive to develop balanced classrooms, which will be minimally affected by the addition of new students as they move into our area.
We do not accept specific teacher requests. Parents are cautioned not to request placement or non-placement based on what they may have heard about a teacher from other parents. Just as each child is unique, so is each teacher. An experience that other parents may have had with their child may be totally different from what your child could have with the same teacher. However, if there is a concern, parents may send an email with information regarding their child’s learning style and specific educational needs. I need to receive this information by April 28th.
Please help your child understand that he/she may not be with the same friends next year, or with a teacher a sibling may have had. Help them know they are capable of working with new friends and teachers, that they are skillful youngsters, and able to handle new situations. Creating a mindset with your child to develop new friendships is imperative to a successful transition to middle school later in his/her educational journey. That mindset doesn’t just begin in fifth grade. It is a mindset that needs to be developed early on. It can help ensure a smooth transition now and in the future. We value your help and appreciate your consideration.
Thank you for your time and interest regarding the Grade Placement Procedures. We are looking forward to using this process and feel confident that each student will be placed in a classroom that will allow him/her to have a successful school year! Thank you.