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