Thursday, September 26, 2013

Highlight of the Week

Students Finish Fall Assessments
Our students finished their beginning of the year assessments this week.  This data will give teachers a sense of your child’s strengths and needs.   As you recall, students in kindergarten through fifth grade were assessed in reading and math this year using the Measures and Academic Progress, or MAP.  Students in second through fifth grade were also assessed in science and social students.  Grade level teams are looking forward to analyzing students’ initial data together next week.  We will use this data to plan instruction that addresses students’ individual needs.

Teacher Professional Development Day
On Friday, teachers will explore best reading and writing practices on our professional development day.  We will study the elements of narrative writing and collaboratively score students’ work.  Teachers will also have the opportunity to discuss reading strategies in more meaningful ways.  We will also explore how students can apply reading strategies using different types of text.  Teachers will be able to implement what they learn directly into the classroom. We look forward to a great day of learning together!

Parent Math Nights
We thank our parents for joining our fall math nights!  The goal for these sessions was to provide parents with an overview of the math strategies taught over the course of the year.  We also gave parents an opportunity to practice the strategies that students will use this year.


Mark Your Calendar

• September 27 – No School / Teacher Work Day * BASE is not in session

Friday, September 20, 2013

Highlight of the Week
Our highlight of this week was certainly the Digger Dash!  Students from all grade levels enjoyed running in our annual school race!  We thank our parents for cheering us on and helping us raise funds for additional computers!  We also thank our PTO and parent volunteers for making this day possible!  Check out our pictures below.






Mark Your Calendar
·      Tuesday, September 24 @ 4:30-5:30 4th & 5th Math Parent Sessions

·      Friday, September 27th – No School for Students/ Teacher Professional Day

Friday, September 13, 2013

Highlight of the Week
Math Parent Sessions
Gold Rush held its’ first math parent trainings this week.  Our turn out was impressive despite the rain! Parents learned the strategies that their child will learn in math in kindergarten, first and third grade.  Teachers shared the reasoning behind why certain strategies are highlighted in the Investigations curriculum. Parents even had the opportunity to practice the math strategies themselves.  We look forward to posting grade level math information and presentations on our school website.  We also look forward to our remaining math nights!

·      Second Grade: Thursday, September 19, at 4:30-5:30 @ Gym
·      Fourth & Fifth Grade: Tuesday, September 24, at 4:30-5:30


Digger Dash
We are looking forward to the Digger Dash next Friday, September 20!  Our annual school-wide run is an honored tradition.  We hope you are able to join us for the fun!  Click here to sign up to volunteer through PTO.  See the schedule of grade level runs below.

·       
9:20-9:35                     Stretching (Preschool and Kindergarten)
·       9:35-9:50                     Race begins (Preschool and Kindergarten)
·       9:40-9:55                     Stretching (1st and 2nd grades)
·       9:55-10:25                   Race starts (1st and 2nd grades)
·       10:15-10:30                 Stretching (3rd and 4th grades)
·       10:30-11:15                 Race begins (3rd and 4th grades)
·       11:05-11:20                 Stretching (5th grade)
·       11:20-12:05                 Race starts (5th grade)

PTO
·      Click here to vote for Gold Rush!  Target will award Gold Rush with $25 for every 25 votes we receive! No purchase is necessary.

Lifetouch Picture Day Retakes
If your child had their retake picture taken on Friday, September 13, you can go online through Sunday, September 15 to order. Click here for more information.

Safety Tip of the Week
“Please do not text or talk on the phone in the car loop.”

-Collin, Safety Patrol  

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Highlights of the Week
Now that classroom practices and routines are in place, students are digging into core curricula.  Many students, for example, are exploring personal narratives, drawing on their background knowledge and making connections as they read.  In addition, students are continuing to demonstrate what they already know in reading and math using the Measures of Academic Achievement assessment.  In the coming weeks students in grades two through five will also share what they already know in social studies and science.  We will use all of students’ data to plan for individual students.  Again we look forward to sharing your child’s results with you during fall conferences.

State Assessment Data – TCAP
Gold Rush received our scores from the state assessment, or the Transitional Colorado Academic Performance assessment (TCAP).  Students in grades three through five took this assessment in the Spring of 2013 in reading, writing and math.  Fifth grade students also took the assessment in science.

Our celebrations on the state assessment were many.  Our highlights include the following:

Gold Rush….
·      Met state standards for academic achievement in all content areas!
·      Met state standards for academic growth in all content areas!
·      Met academic growth gaps in reading and writing!

If you have a current fourth, fifth or six grade student you will receive your child’s results in the mail early next week.

As part of best practice Gold Rush will use this data to reflect on our current instructional practices in all content areas.  We already began implementing the reading strategies and assessments that each grade level team created last year.  In addition we will study experts in the field in the area of writing.


Mark Your Calendar
·      September 10 – PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM in the Gold Mine Room
·      September  11 – K & 1 Math Parent Session @ 4:30 –5:30 in Gold Mine Room
·      September 12 – Third Grade Parent Session @ 4:30 –5:30 in Gold Mine Room

·      September 13 – Picture Retake Day

Fourth Grade Students
Fourth grade students encouraged others to create a bully free school.  Here are their words of wisdom that they shared on the announcements this week...

“We are here to say we don’t want bully to happen this year. We want bully free school. We want to brake the record this year. Lets get rid of bullying. What does a bully free school look like? If we don’t bully kids will be happier and won’t get hurt. Bulling is not the right thing to do. Just please stop bulling. It will change every thing."                                                    -Eric, Preston, Colby & Nick      






Safety Tip of the Week
"Please stay in your vehicle when you are in the car loop."  - Collin