The Buzz from Tom Green Elementary—January 22, 2018
(Abajo enespañol)
Good evening, Parents and Guardians of Tom Green Hornets.
After an unexpectedly short week last week, we’re settling in to a solid five days of learning and growing together this week. Remember that this Friday is Polka Dot Friday; wear those dots to school!
What’s Happening Academically?
Take a moment to ask your students about what they’ve been writing; I’ve been in a first grade class writing imaginative stories about being lost in the woods, a second grade class working on process writing, and fourth grade classes beginning work on research writing.
Students in grades 2 and higher have been working with fractions in math, and in science all grade levels are looking at earth and space and the resources we have here on earth. You may have seen pictures on Facebook of the alternative energy cities created by 5th grade students in their science classes, and third grade will be welcoming a real-live astronaut to talk to them about his adventures in space (and what it took to get there!) this Friday, January 26.
Accountability Reports from 2016-2017
Though we are half-way through the 2017-2018 school year, you will be receiving information this week that reports on and is based on data from the 2016-2017 school year.
1—A School Report Card—Each year the Texas Education Agency publishes a report card for each campus in the state showing data from the previous school year. I’ve attached the Tom Green School Report card for the 2016-2017 school year to the email with this week’s Buzz. As you can see on the first page of the school report card, Tom Green “Met Standard” in the state accountability system. I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that performance of Tom Green students on STAAR assessments increased in reading and math. Scores in writing and science were down, and the second piece of information that you’ll receive regards repercussions of the writing scores.
2—I’ve mentioned in at least one of the Principal Coffees and one parent meeting that Tom Green is identified as a PEG campus due to writing scores. On Wednesday, January 24, we’ll be sending letters home regarding Tom Green’s status as a PEG campus. PEG stands for Public Education Grant and was enacted by the state legislature in 1995. Any campus that has student performance at or below 50% in any subject area for two of the preceding three years is considered a PEG campus. Since writing scores were at 50% in 2016 and 36% in 2017, Tom Green is identified as a PEG campus.
We’ll review both of these documents at the next Principal Coffee scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, at 7:45 a.m. In the meantime, I am happy to answer any questions you may have about either document.
Parent/Community Survey
While STAAR scores give us some information about a campus, they do not tell the whole story. Your input as parents/guardians of Tom Green students is also important and taken into consideration in planning for campus improvement. If you’ve not already, please take a few minutes to respond to the Hays CISD parent/community survey linked here: Currently, we have 36 respondents from Tom Green. We have 778 students as of last week, and I’d greatly appreciate feedback from a larger number of our community. The survey will close this Friday, January 26, at 5 p.m.
Opportunities for Family Fun
Thanks to those who were able to make it to our Vision Board night on Thursday, January 11. Please stay posted for upcoming details on our Family Dance on Friday evening, February 9.
Please stay home if you have the flu!
Attached you’ll find a letter regarding flu. We’ve seen an increase in the number of students with flu, and we strongly encourage you to keep your child home if you suspect that s/he may have the flu. We’re working hard to make sure that everyone washes hands and covers noses/mouths when sneezing/coughing. Please help us by keeping anyone who may be contagious at home.
Have a fantastic rest-of-the-week! We look forward to seeing polka dots on Friday!
Joy Philpott
Principal, Tom Green Elementary