A Principal's Perspective - March 2012

Last Thursday, our students performed amazingly during our Black History: Living the Dream program. They sang beautiful songs of hope and freedom. Students took on the personalities of heroes ranging from Harriet Tubman to Frederick Douglas.

It was a wonderful evening and a powerful example of the talent and hard work that our students and staff put forth in our school everyday. I hope that you were able to be there.

Next week, our students in grades 3-5 will have the chance to shine on a different stage. Monday, they start ISTEP, the test students take across the state to assess reading and math skills. It’s a performance that our students and teachers have been preparing for all year. 

Of course, parents are also special players in our ISTEP performance as well. You’ve have been helping all year keep your child focused on learning and prepared to do his/her best work each day. Still, next week is an especially important time to:

• Make sure that your child, especially your third, fourth or fifth grader gets a good night’s sleep each evening.
• Make sure that he/she gets a good breakfast that morning (or arrives early enough to get a good breakfast at CFA.)
• Make sure your children arrive to school on time.

Parents, please note that students who arrive after 8:20 will not be allowed to join testing that day. They’ll have to test on another day.

On Monday March 5th, we will be sending home some very important information with all children. Each of you will receive a letter with your assigned Parent/Teacher conference time for Friday, March 16th. At these conferences we will go over your child’s mid-year assessment data and discuss how they are performing towards meeting grade level standards. If you can not make your assigned conference time, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible to reschedule.

If your child is not yet performing at grade level, you may also receive a letter with information about the possibility of your child being retained next  school year.

Please take a close look at this information and contact his/her teacher if you have any questions or concerns.  Let us continue our partnership in supporting our students’ excellence on every stage in which they perform.