Upcoming Calendar

March 2010

Dear Parents:

The arrival of March brings us to the threshold of spring, and it is going to be a very busy month. CSAP testing will continue from March 8^th through March 19^th. Spring break will be during the week of March 22nd-26th and I know that all of us are looking forward to the time.

As I explained last month, the CSAP is required for all students in Colorado in 3^rd – 10^th grade. Students will be assessed in Reading, Language Usage and Math. Students in grades 5 and 8 will also be assessed in Science. These tests provide a comprehensive picture of how well students are doing in meeting the Colorado state standards. Additionally, the data that we gather is critical for teachers to use in diagnostically evaluating individual student achievement, to assess the effectiveness of their instruction and to plan for next year. These are very important assessments and we will rely on you to help us maintain a positive and calm testing environment. The school wide testing schedule is as follows:

Tuesday 3/9                8:30 - 10:00 & 1:00 – 2:30

Wednesday 3/10         8:30 – 10:00 & 10:30 -12:00

Thursday 3/11             8:30 - 10:00 & 1:00 – 2:30

Tuesday 3/16              8:30 - 10:00 & 1:00 – 2:30

Wednesday 3/17         8:30 – 10:00 & 10:30 -12:00

Thursday 3/18             8:30 - 10:00 & 1:00 – 2:30

Due to changes in the requirements for testing this year, every SCCS staff member will be involved in administering the test. We will have parent volunteers in the office during the scheduled test times. Therefore, I am requesting that you not come to school to take student(s) out during testing unless it is an emergency. Also, please do not schedule for students to be absent, again unless it is an emergency. If they are ill, please keep them home and we will schedule a time for them to make up the tests. If you need to come into school during testing, please report to the office and parent volunteers will assist you. I am asking that no classrooms be disturbed during the scheduled time for testing.

In preparation for the CSAP, we would like to ask the following of parents:

·        It is very important that students get a good night’s rest each night.

·        A nutritious breakfast is a critical factor for students taking the CSAP.

·        Pack an extra snack and make sure that they bring a bottle of water.

·        We will provide a quiet and comfortable school environment to ensure that they have the necessary materials for each test.

·        Please have your student to school on time. Students arriving late will not be permitted to begin the test and will be required to take a makeup exam.

·        Do Not allow students to bring cell phones, Ipods/MP3 players or other electronic devices to school during CSAP. Under the new state guidelines, if a cell phone rings or any electronic device is on during the testing, it could invalidate the test for the entire class.

·        If you would like to donate snacks or drinks for your students’ class, please contact their teacher.

With your help and cooperation, we will continue to see our students reaching their potential and being successful with the CSAP.

I would also like to ask your help in getting your students to school by the 8:00 AM start time. As the year has progressed, there have been a significant increase in the number of students being tardy, and it is becoming a serious concern. It is difficult for teachers to begin teaching when students are arriving late to class. Beginning next week, we will be handing out a friendly reminder to parents who are arriving with their student(s) after 8:00 AM. Your assistance with this challenge is greatly appreciated.

Lastly, I wanted to inform you that we were contacted by the Avon Police Department on Wednesday, informing us that there have been sightings of a mountain lion in the area. As a result, we did bring classes that were outside at that time back into school. We are in regular communication with the police and will make decisions as to whether or not students will be outside based on their recommendations if concerns persist.

It will be a busy but rewarding month at SCCS and working together we will continue to make our school an outstanding place for kids. If I don’t have a chance to speak with you before spring break, I wish you a safe and relaxing time with family and friends. It will be a great opportunity for all of us to re-charge our spirits as we move into the last quarter of the school year. Thanks and take care.

John Brendza

Headmaster