Fall Conferences

Hello Room 112 Families!

Fall Conferences are just around the corner!  This year, conferences will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20.  At this conference we will be discussing your child's progress since the beginning of the year, reviewing work samples and setting "next step" goals.

I look forward to seeing everyone!

Please see the below link to sign up for a 20-minute conference appointment that works best with your schedule. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4ba4a822a46-fall2

NWEA Parent Letter

Hello Parents-

This Friday your child's September NWEA scores will be sent home. I wanted to share with you a few thoughts regarding these scores to provide you with additional insight into the test, how it is scored, and what it all really means.

Why take the test so early in the school year? We take the test in September to provide the teachers with baseline data. The data allows us to track students progress throughout the course of the school year. The information is one piece that allows me to create strategy groups and next-step plans for the students.

How long should the test take? The most accurate data comes students who spent at least 40 minutes on the test. Students spending less time or significantly less time might have been rushing or not reading the questions before selecting an answer. 

Is there a standard error with NWEA? Yes, there is a standard deviation on 6 points with the test. If your child is within the standard deviation in his/her scores there is no reason to believe it is based on your child's performance but rather the nature of the test. 

What other factors might be affecting my child's performance? Sleep, mood, computer skills, food choices and time of day are huge factors in any standardized test. Taking the test in the afternoon after a child has been working hard all day could drastically change his/her score due to lower stamina. 

Will my child's performance be graded? No. The information collected for NWEA will not affect your child's grade in any way.

Why take the test? The data collected is a helpful indicator of where your child started the school year. It is one of NUMEROUS data points we take. NWEA does not carry any more weight than another baseline point. 

Please contact me with any questions.

Thank you!

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, November 4

This is a gentle reminder that there will be NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, November 4.

Schedule for the Week of 11/3 - 11/7

Monday (A) - Music

Tuesday (B) - Music and Art

Wednesday (C) - PE*

Thursday (D) - Media Center*

Friday (A) - Music

Please remember to bring gym shoes on days we have PE and return library books on days we visit the media center.

Happy Halloween!

Thank you so much to all the families that joined us in Room 112 today!  The children had an amazing time and were so excited to do all of the activities! A special thank you goes Mrs. PP for all of her hard work in organizing our classroom party.

Since I was not able to take any pictures of the party or the parade, if anyone has any pictures they would like to share, could you please send them to me so I can include them on the blog?

Thank you in advance and from all of the First Grade team, Happy Halloween!

Halloween Reminders

This is a gentle reminder that the Annual Harlan Halloween Costume Parade will take place tomorrow, Friday, October 31 at 10:15am.  All families are welcome to attend.

Also, our classroom party will begin at 10:45am, following the parade.  Our party will run though 11:45am.  Again, all families are welcome to attend the classroom party.  Questions regarding the classroom party can be sent to myself or our class Room Parent.

Below is a section of the Harlan Happening Newsletter from Mrs. Thompson regarding Halloween.  If you are not receiving her newsletters, please visit our school website to sign up, or contact me for assistance.

This year, due to the half day on October 31^st, our Halloween Parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. We want to make the morning fun and not scary for our youngest students, so we have developed a few “Costume Rules.”

• All costumes need to be age-appropriate for elementary students.
• Costumes should not be based on making fun of real people, real human traits or cultures.
• Avoid any costumes that have fake blood or gore – too scary for our younger students.
• If your child is wearing an historical costume, make sure that it does not present misinformation or inaccuracies. 

Students MAY NOT under any circumstances bring toy guns, knives, swords or other weapons to school, even if they are parts of their costumes.  Masks are fine as long as the students can see clearly through them. 

Parents are welcome to attend, take pictures, and even dress in costume!  Additional parking will be available in the back of the school building.

Please remember that Friday, Oct. 31 is a half day of school.  There is NO SCHOOL in the afternoon.  The children will be dismissed at 12:10pm.

Illnesses in our Grade Level

There have been several reported cases of illnesses in our grade level recently.  This includes colds, fevers, pneumonia and strep throat.  Please be on the lookout for symptoms of illness in your child.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your continued diligence in monitoring your child and keeping them home when sick.