Notes from the CMS Principal: February Message

Ten Book Challenge

Over the weekend you will be receiving in the mail a report for your child comparing their growth in reading level from October to January. We will be reviewing the report with your child here at school, but it would also be beneficial to review their progress as a family. If your child hasn’t grown as a reader it is likely because they have not developed the stamina, practice and exposure to a variety of texts. We continue to stress the importance of reading outside of the school day. You can remind your children that the 10 Book Challenge is still in progress. If your child hasn’t read five books, don’t fret! February break should provide a great window of time to get started.

I read an interesting article in the New York Times this week which reviewed that changes to the SAT that are just around the corner. The gist of the article is that the new test will have longer and harder reading passages and more difficult vocabulary, especially in the math sections. This type of test simply can’t be crammed for as an 11^th and 12^th grader. Students will do best-not just on the SAT (that may not be the road for all students)-but in life in general if they simply have steady exposure to a variety of reading materials over time.

Want some suggestions for February Break? Try these:

The Batboy by Mike Lupica – Lupica is one of the finest sport’s writers of all time, and his fiction writing is just as thrilling. This is a New York Times Bestseller.

Son by Lois Lowry – Written in Lowry’s typical powerful and simple style, Son brings to closure the journey of the characters we initially met in The Giver.

The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey – I am old enough to remember the Miracle on Ice of the 1980 Olympic Games. This book recounts the story of the stunning US victory during the peak of the Cold War.

The Sports Gene by David Epstein – A senior writer for Sports Illustrated looks at how elite athletes are born or made.

I will look forward to welcoming our students back to school on February 22^nd! Have a wonderful break!

We Celebrate Learning!

Beth

New York State Testing

Many of you may have read that New York State has made some positive changes to the Common Core assessments in ELA and mathematics that will be administered this April. Of note, the tests will now be untimed. This means that any student who is working productively to complete any portion of the test may have all the time they need to finish. There will also be fewer questions and reading passages.

I want all families to know that we believe all students are prepared to take these assessments. Our daily instruction and units of student are aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards and thus we have no need for “test prep” or additional work to ready our students. We rely on the excellent teaching and learning that we commit ourselves to each and every day. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at 672-3159.

Grades 3-8 ELA April 5-6-7

Grades 3-8 Mathematics April 13-14-15

Yearbook Order Deadline!

This is the last call for yearbooks. Please click the Balfour icon which will take you to the ordering page.

Should you have any further questions or have trouble ordering please contact Dale Keida at dkeida@westgenesee.org or by calling the main office at (315) 672-3159. Yearbooks are $28. They can also be personalized with your child’s name for $33. The deadline for ordering is February 26, 2016.