It was great to see many of you at Back to School Night! I appreciated the opportunity to share key research-based strategies that you can do at home that significantly impact your child's achievement. In reading the following three T's are recommended: Time, Text and Talk. There is a direct correlation between the amount of time students read at school and at home and their performance. Every minute counts, so engaging your child in a text of his/her choice that he/she can accurately read and comprehend is key. Also talking with your child about what he/she is reading and modeling your excitement for reading goes a long way.
In math it is essential to build students' math fact fluency without using a timer. Removing a timer helps send the correct message that math is about thinking, not speed. Having students practice with flash cards that visually represent the answer to an addition, subtraction, multiplication or division problem, similar to the ones used by our Investigations Math series, builds a conceptual understanding of what the operations stand for.
Finally, parents are able to promote students' academic and social emotional growth by honoring mistakes and promoting a growth mindset. Using more positive phrases such as, "I don't have this concept yet" instead of "I can't do this" promotes resiliency. Brain research also shows that the brain grows synapses when mistakes are made. Because the academic and social learning that results from making mistakes is great please encourage your child to take risks.
Click here for questions you can use when reading with your child at home and ways to shift your language with students.
Must Have Parent Resources
Several important parent resources were shared at Back to School Night that are also linked to our school website. If you click on the class website link and then your child's grade level you will find several of the materials that were shared (see below).
Math and English Language Arts Proficiency Standards are the outcomes your child will master by the end of the year. The standards are grade specific and an example of second grade outcomes is listed below. The Investigations Math Words and Ideas site provides examples and videos that explain how mathematical concepts are taught in the classroom. The link to Investigation Math games is a great resource for students to practice math concepts.
Math Words and Ideas
Math Games (K-5)
Second Grade Math Standards
Second Grade ELA Standards
Building Stamina and Routines For Readers' Workshop
Students have done a tremendous job settling into their classrooms! Students in all classrooms have
been talking about their stamina, or ability to read for a prolonged period of time. Students have
also been talking about selecting just right books, or texts that they can comprehend, read fluently and
enjoy. Our school resource officer even jumped in to read with second graders this week! See pictures
of students working hard below.
Assessment Hour - Tuesday, August 28th
Students have done a tremendous job settling into their classrooms! Students in all classrooms have
been talking about their stamina, or ability to read for a prolonged period of time. Students have
also been talking about selecting just right books, or texts that they can comprehend, read fluently and
enjoy. Our school resource officer even jumped in to read with second graders this week! See pictures
of students working hard below.
Assessment Hour - Tuesday, August 28th
In an attempt to gain more targeted information regarding your child’s academic strengths and need
each child will come to school for one hour only on August 28th to complete reading and math
assessments. The assessments administered allow educators to alter their instruction to meet your
child’s individual needs and learning style. Click here for the online conference scheduler to select
an assessment time for your child. The password is digger. Because we value the information we
obtain on these days, it is mandatory that all children complete their assessments on August 28th.
Please bring your child to the front vestibule and teachers will escort him/her to his/her testing location.
Students will conclude their assessment hour in the gym where your child take his/her school picture.
Our Before and After School Enrichment program (B.A.S.E.) will be available on August 28th.
Please contact B.A.S.E. as soon as possible as spaces are limited.
each child will come to school for one hour only on August 28th to complete reading and math
assessments. The assessments administered allow educators to alter their instruction to meet your
child’s individual needs and learning style. Click here for the online conference scheduler to select
an assessment time for your child. The password is digger. Because we value the information we
obtain on these days, it is mandatory that all children complete their assessments on August 28th.
Please bring your child to the front vestibule and teachers will escort him/her to his/her testing location.
Students will conclude their assessment hour in the gym where your child take his/her school picture.
Our Before and After School Enrichment program (B.A.S.E.) will be available on August 28th.
Please contact B.A.S.E. as soon as possible as spaces are limited.
Reminders for Drop Off & Pick Up
The following dismissal reminders help keep all students safe during our arrival and dismissal time:
* Morning supervision begins at 8:20 AM. Please do not drop students off prior to this time.
* Please move your car seat to the passenger side of the car so students can exit on the curb side.
* Please do not bring dogs on school grounds.
MySchoolBucks
Upcoming Events
The following dismissal reminders help keep all students safe during our arrival and dismissal time:
* Morning supervision begins at 8:20 AM. Please do not drop students off prior to this time.
* Please move your car seat to the passenger side of the car so students can exit on the curb side.
* Please do not bring dogs on school grounds.
MySchoolBucks
As part of the Express Check-In process, Douglas County School District transitioned all required and optional fees over to one payment system called MySchoolBucks. If you previously paid for school lunches, then you are already familiar with this system. The District has run into a couple of challenges during the transition that are outlined below.
Free and Reduced Lunch Fees
If your student qualifies for Free or Reduced lunch, fees that would normally be waived may appear as a balance due in MySchoolBucks. The District is currently working to get this resolved. In the meantime, please ignore any balance due. These fees will be removed from your account within the coming weeks.
Processing of Partial Payments
Some families have reported that they are unable to make partial payments via MySchoolBucks. The District is working with the vendor to get this corrected. The District hopes to have this glitch fixed by the end of August. The District asks that you wait to pay these fees until September. The same applies to partial refunds. These are expected to be fixed next week.
Preschool Fees
There has been some confusion regarding whether or not preschool tuition fees can be paid via MySchoolBucks. At this time, this system is only available to families with students enrolled in grades K-12. If you need to pay preschool-related fees, please contact your preschool directly, or call our preschool information line at 720-433-0025.
Review of Cart at Check-out
It is taking several seconds for the system to add your optional store selections to the cart. If you click the item while it is still processing, there is a chance you will have more than one of the same item in your cart. Please review your cart before making payment so you do not unintentionally pay for something more than once.
The District is working diligently to fix these issues. They apologize for any inconvenience. It is their goal to have all glitches corrected by the end of August. If issues are not resolved within that timeframe additional information will be provided.
Upcoming Events
* August 24 - Western Night @ 5:00-7:00 PM
* August 28 - Assessment Hour
* September 3 - No School Labor Day
* September 20 - Digger Dash
* September 21 - No School - Teachers' Professional Learning Day
* September 20 - Digger Dash
* September 21 - No School - Teachers' Professional Learning Day
