From the Principal's Desk – November 2016
I want to thank all parents, staff, and students for their hard work and support during the first three months of school. Not only are we off to a great start, we are on track for anamazing school year!
Just a reminder that our students received their report cards for the first quarteron Wednesday, November 15. Please take time to discuss their performance and possible ways to improve or sustain their achievement.Also, please find time to frequently access the parent portal, in order to review your child’s progress. It is my hope that this communication strategy will ultimately result in not only better communication, but improved student performance.
The teachers at Roton have been very engaged in implementing the Common Core State Standards Program throughout the various subjects.
Our teachers have been implementing the new block schedule in all three grades with much success, and our students are enjoying the new Encore Program, which meets once every Friday. The vertical houses and new lunch/recess schedule are now in place and working out well. I ask you to please communicate with your child’s teachers, should you have any questions, as the new programs are more rigorous and challenging.
I also want to share with you that our students are being provided with various intervention strategies in reading and mathematics through programs such as Read 180; Math 180; System 44; LightSail; and Mypath. We have seen early evidence ofstudent progress in reading and math, as a result of these programs.
Our teachers continue to receive training in the NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) initiative and Data Driven Instruction. This training will allow us to learn how to use relevant assessment data to provide specific strategies in the classroom to increase student performance. All students will take the NWEA assessment sometime in January, and again in the spring. This assessment measures students’ academic progress (MAP). Teachers will use this MAP data in order to prepare for the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) assessment that all students will also be taking in the spring. I will send out more specific information in the near future. The eighth grade students will also be taking the new Next Generation Science Standardsin April.
Our students are very focused on their programs of study, and are diligently moving ahead in the various curriculum areas. They are remarkably meeting high academic expectations. This is truly a reflection of everyone’s hard work, and you are to be commendedfor your positive contributions. I often say that the most important factor in parental involvement is not what parents may do in school, but what they do at home to prepare our students, in order to succeed in school. Also, equally important for student success is parental support for our teachers and school, and that, I must say, we have. Your support is a major ingredient in our school’s success.
I am extremely pleased with the leadership and support from our PTA, and our School Governance Council. Both groups provide excellent leadership and guidance with the many initiatives at Roton, as they always put students first!
I am certain that with everyone's continued cooperation, leadership, and support, we will be able to meet the many educational goals and challenges that lie ahead.
Please continue to be an active parent in your child's education at Roton. It is paying great dividends, and it will provide all our students a wonderful opportunity for success!
Sincerely,
Joseph M. Vellucci