April 2014

Here is the busy April update:

Starting the week of April 7th, 3-5 graders will take turns participating in the test-run

of the new Smarter Balance test that will replace STAR testing in future years.

A letter went home about this with a link to the practice test. 

Please let your children visit this site at home so they will be familiar with the format.

Although the scores will not count, we will participate in this test run to help

work out any glitches with the new format.

This school year has been especially busy for a number of reasons, not the least of which is all the changes we have had to integrate in one school year- Common Core & it's spending plan,  Smarter Balance Field Testing, the new Local Control Funding Formula and it's spending plan, and Prop. 39 funds. If none of this sounds familiar you can visit the CDE website for details.

The point is- there is a lot more to do with the same number of staff members and we need your help to get through the school year. 

Here are some areas that parent volunteers are needed:

1) organizing Trillium shirt sales

2) working on the yearbook 

3) washing the kitchen towels each week

4) garden & greenhouse care

5) planning for graduation &  End of the Year camp out

6) Help with the playhouse- either a remodel or a demolition

7) donations of extra clothes- especially pants

Please let us know if you can help. Thanks in advance.

Also- thanks to everyone who attended a parent conference and filled out a parent survey. 

Your feedback is essential to our ongoing success.

Coming right up:

Monday April 7-May 16: Smarter Balance Field Testing

Tuesday April 8th: Steering Committee 6:00

 M-F April 14-18: Lisa will sub. for Sarah

Friday April 18: minimum day

M-F April 21-25: Spring Break

Monday April 28: Teacher Duty Day

Wednesday April 30: 1st day of swimming

We are pleased to announce that we have swim lessons planned again this year and we are taking the bus to and from the pool- yay! We still need at least one male chaperone to help out in the boys locker room. The dates for swimming are: 4/30, 5/2, 5/5, 5/7, 5/9, 5/12, & 5/14. 

All students will be swimming unless there a doctor provides a medical exclusion.

Please send your kids with: a suit, towel, goggles, hair ties for long hair & a bag for wet stuff.

Wearing your suit to school under your clothes is always smart option but not required.

The End of the Year Family Camp-out is coming right up. 

Please put it on your calendar for June 10-12 at Pamplin Grove.

Look for itinerary details in your parent boxes mid-May.

Families are always welcome to attend any part of the trip that fits in their schedule

if you cannot get all 3 days off.

If your family cannot attend the trip at all please talk to your child's teacher about independent study for those days. There will not be anyone at the school.

One last reminder: when the weather is wet and muddy please send you kids with some extra dry clothes, pants and socks would be the most helpful. Thanks.