The Times They Are A-Changing

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the extra day off this weekend. Hopefully you got a chance to get outside and see the beautiful fall foliage. It’s amazing how quickly the colors change. Speaking of change, we have been going through a lot of changes here at school. As I mentioned previously, we have adopted the Olweus Anti-Bullying program in response to the Dignity for All Students Act. Classroom teachers have weekly class meetings where they do activities and discuss the importance of treating each other with respect and including everyone. I’ve enjoyed being able to watch some of these meetings. Please join us at the November 5th PTA meeting for a brief Olweus parent presentation.

Another change has been the way in which we identify students receiving intervention/support services. We are now using three different points of data, versus just one test score, a teacher’s or a parent’s recommendation. These support services will begin shortly. Student lunches have also changed – they are healthier than they have been in the past in response to the newer nutrition guidelines. The way principals and teachers are evaluated is also changing as I’m sure you have heard.

Our curriculum is also changing. We are now fully implementing the Common Core Learning Standards in both English/Language Arts and Mathematics. These standards involve a shift in the way we are teaching and what students are expected to know and be able to do. I am particularly excited about the math curriculum as we will now be able to go deeper with many of the topics, enabling students to have a greater conceptual understanding of mathematics. The good news is that all of these changes are good changes! They just take time and effort and we are working tirelessly to adjust and adapt.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the variety of activities and opportunities we are able to provide our students. Our 5th graders are able to serve as Safety Patrol Officers. Safety Patrol began just last week and allows our dismissal to run smoothly. Students who completed math packets over the summer were rewarded last week by our instructional specialists. The students were taught a new math game and walked away with the supplies necessary to play the game at home. Our PARP (Parents as Reading Partners) Reading Celebration begins next week. Our theme is, “Fall into a Good Book!” We look forward to having guest readers in our classrooms, having daily DEAR time, reading at home (with the TV off), attending the fall Book Fair, and doing a variety of reading-related activities.

Stay tuned for more!

- Lisa