We, at Henderson Elementary, are in full swing. Learning is all around.
Kindergarten continues with their letters and sounds, and sight words; First grade is learning useful facts about frogs and toads and making comparisons with the stories they are reading; Second grade is working on their use of graphs to understand and use data; Third grade is deep in a unit on non-fiction, while writing an animal report; Fourth and fifth grade are on their way to an adventure at Outdoor Education. Every classroom found a way to celebrate our 100th day milestone. Are we busy!
This year’s state testing window is inching closer. Joe Henderson students will be testing several days during April 23 – May 4. All students, attending a California public school, are assessed in grades 2 - 5 as follows:
The California Standards Test (CST), a criterion referenced test, will be administered to students in grade two through five. Students are assessed in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Grade five students will also take the CST in science during the assessment window.
Grade four students will participate in STAR writing on March 6, 2012
· Your child’s teacher will be sending a testing schedule home in the weeks to come. Please avoid scheduling medical/dental appointments during the testing period, or taking extra days off from school.
· With this window approaching, I often think about the importance of school attendance. I have reported to the community several times what research proves about the correlation between good attendance at school and school success. Please use the following list from The Parent Institute as a way to improve your child’s attendance:
· Talk with your child about the importance of attending school regularly.
· Avoid scheduling family trips or doctor appointments during school hours.
· Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food
and getting enough sleep and exercise.
· Don’t accept excuses for why your child “must” miss or be late for school.
· Discuss with your child what happened at school each day.
· Support school rules and consequences for being tardy.
· Show your child why education is important.
Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.
· Lead by example.
If children see parents taking off work for no real reason, they may expect to be able to do the same thing.
As you all know, Joe Henderson Elementary is committed to providing a quality education to every child that enters its classrooms. This commitment is hindered when students are absent from or tardy to school. Important instructional minutes are lost when students are not in the room ready to learn.
In addition, Henderson and the district lose funding for children who are not in attendance. There are many studies, which show that attendance rates are directly related to student achievement. Attendance at school is the first step in helping your child to achieve the state standards and to do well on the CST’s this April.
Getting to class on time and prepared to learn is equally important. Students feel embarrassed when they’re late, and the disruption to the remainder of the class is unnecessary. The following suggestions may make your morning routine go more smoothly, and result in your child arriving to school on time:
· Place all schoolwork in a designated area that is highly visible.
· Set the alarm so that you and your child will have plenty of time to prepare for school.
· Work with your child so that he/she recognizes the importance of promptness.
· Schedule medical or dental appointments outside school hours.
Thank you again for all the support over the last months. Joe Henderson Elementary is a great school!
The Henderson Staff and I would like to thank all of the parents for their constant giving of time and financial support. Your generosity is very much appreciated. We all know that Henderson is a special and wonderful place to be. Childrens’ attitudes, staffs’ opinions, and parent input all prove it to be so.
Sincerely,
Carin Garton Principal
