From the Principal

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2008-09 school year! We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for our students. This year will mark the implementation of the Spring ISTEP+ examination for students in grades 3-5. All students in grades 3-5 will take the final fall ISTEP+ test in September. In March, the first segment of the new Spring ISTEP+ test will be given. The March test will be a writing test. In April, the ISTEP+ Progress test will be given.

We have introduced a new school wide initiative to help develop consistent rules and procedures throughout the building. We will begin the school year with the three overriding tenants we implemented last year – Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be a Learner. Each classroom will be developing procedures and routines to help students achieve each of the three tenants. We look forward to our students’ progress in this area.

We are expanding our character emphasis this year. We will continue to emphasize a character word each week on the daily announcements and in the classroom. This year, we have added goal setting to our teaching. Each week, we will have a school wide goal that will match our character emphasis for the week. Students will write the goal in their agenda and the classroom will discuss and promote progress towards achieving the goal. We will also emphasize a health goal and each classroom will develop a friendship goal for each week. As a parent, you may follow our progress through your child’s agenda.

We invite each of our families to take time to visit us, whether it is to help the teacher prepare materials for class, tutor students, PTO activities or just joining us for lunch. Together, we can work closely in providing a positive educational experience for all of our students.

Mr. Sampson