We have been busy with PreK screenings for all of the 4 year old students in our attendance zone. The staff and teachers completed registration papers last week and this week they are screening all of the students. Because we have fewer available slots than the number of students registering, we will have to rank order all students according to their needs and only part of them will qualify for services at our school. Our buildings limitations restrict how many PreK classes we can have and that limits the number of students that can be served.
I have been encouraged by the parents that are bringing up their kids for the screenings. They have been enthusiastic and really want the best for their kids. For many of them, this is their first experience with public schools as parents. I hope they keep the enthusiasm as their child's educational career moves forward!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Working Weekend
Our school was a busy place this weekend. On Saturday, our Guidance Counselor who is also in charge of the Junior Beta Club, Deborah Moore had her students out doing a cleanup of the road leading to the school as part of the Adopt-a-Highway program. The students spent part of the morning doing this for the school and the community.
On Sunday a church, The Link, located in our town had a work day at the school in place of a normal worship service. It was great to have a team to help get a few projects completed. The biggest project was the completion of a patio area for our outdoor garden classroom. Lisa Carlton, Science Lab teacher, received a Lowe's grant to help build this area for student learning. It has been a slow process to get everything completed, but this group helped with the finishing touches as well as some planting around the school to beautify the grounds. Thanks to the following teachers who gave their time to help on Sunday: Lisa Carlton, Amy Barr and Summer White as well as members of The Link church!
On Sunday a church, The Link, located in our town had a work day at the school in place of a normal worship service. It was great to have a team to help get a few projects completed. The biggest project was the completion of a patio area for our outdoor garden classroom. Lisa Carlton, Science Lab teacher, received a Lowe's grant to help build this area for student learning. It has been a slow process to get everything completed, but this group helped with the finishing touches as well as some planting around the school to beautify the grounds. Thanks to the following teachers who gave their time to help on Sunday: Lisa Carlton, Amy Barr and Summer White as well as members of The Link church!
Friday, April 24, 2009
PayDay Friday
Eveyone is always happiest on PayDay Fridays! We all look forward to a nice weekend away from work. I appreciate all that my staff does in dedication to their kids in their classrooms.
It was a good day here at the school. One of our Special Needs classes attended the county Special Olympics and the kids did very well. We are anxiously going to watch the news tonight to see if some of them make it on TV!
2nd grade students moved their learning outdoors to Hunting Island State Park. Teachers and students reported back that it was a great day. We know that these hands-on experiences create a much greater learning environment. Our Math Coach led an in-service last week showing teachers how creating those hands-on experiences at the beginning of a new unit will help all students better understand more abstract information. Teachers agreed that this approach could benefit and will begin to look at how they can move field trips and other hands-on experiences to the beginning of a unit for common background knowledge for all students to improve the learning environment!!!
It was a good day here at the school. One of our Special Needs classes attended the county Special Olympics and the kids did very well. We are anxiously going to watch the news tonight to see if some of them make it on TV!
2nd grade students moved their learning outdoors to Hunting Island State Park. Teachers and students reported back that it was a great day. We know that these hands-on experiences create a much greater learning environment. Our Math Coach led an in-service last week showing teachers how creating those hands-on experiences at the beginning of a new unit will help all students better understand more abstract information. Teachers agreed that this approach could benefit and will begin to look at how they can move field trips and other hands-on experiences to the beginning of a unit for common background knowledge for all students to improve the learning environment!!!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Standing Ovation for Students
OK...so it has been a long time since I last posted. Probably too long and I should've just started again next year. But, I think that I am going to try to renew my commitment to this blog! I know, I know, I can sense your excitement. My biggest change will be that I am going to do shorter posts that I will update more frequently.
So...on to the standing ovation for students:
We had our 3rd quarter award's assemblies today. During our assembly for 5K-2nd grade students, we honored our 2nd grade students who met MAP (Measurements of Academic Progress) - a national norm-referenced test - growth goals from the fall to the spring. As we announced the names of the students who met their goals from each homeroom, all of the 2nd grade teachers gave the kids a standing ovation! It was great to see all of them supporting each other and all the kids in the grade level. That type of enthusiasm can easily translate to a better learning environment for all students.
So...on to the standing ovation for students:
We had our 3rd quarter award's assemblies today. During our assembly for 5K-2nd grade students, we honored our 2nd grade students who met MAP (Measurements of Academic Progress) - a national norm-referenced test - growth goals from the fall to the spring. As we announced the names of the students who met their goals from each homeroom, all of the 2nd grade teachers gave the kids a standing ovation! It was great to see all of them supporting each other and all the kids in the grade level. That type of enthusiasm can easily translate to a better learning environment for all students.
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