ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
December 15, 2016

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• 12/19 thru 1/2 - December Vacation
• Tuesday, 1/3/17 - School Resumes

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from the Almond Teaching Staff

At this morning’s school coffee, Mrs. Benadom, Mrs. Leach, Ms. Greene, and two of our awesome 4th graders shared Almond’s use of data binders to enhance student self-efficacy and to provide formative feedback on learning progress.  Here is the presentation that was shared. Here is a Tweet of the superstars themselves.

Tomorrow you will receive paper copies of the 2nd administration of the iReady computerized assessment for reading.  This measure is just one of many that we utilize.  Because iReady is only given three times a year, it serves as more of a progress monitoring tool than a data source to determine targeted instruction configurations.

We would like to share some of the results that we have noted through our analysis.
iReady Reading

• 505 students in grades K-6 had a T1 and T2 score
• In T1, 61% of students performed at or above their grade level designation
• In T2, the percentage students performing at or above their grade level designation increased to 77%
• 389 students demonstrated a gain in their diagnostic score from T1 to T2
• In T2, the percentage of students scoring 2 or more levels below dropped from 12% to 7%

Your child’s iReady reports will communicate two scores via a bar chart; Test 2 and Test 1.  It will also provide a breakdown by subject area domain.  As noted in the data above, many students experienced an increase of score between the two administrations.  There were however students whose scale score went down.  We ask you to consider three things when reflecting on this information:  1) There is a standard of error of (+/-)approximately 10-15 points.  2) This is one single measure taken on one particular day or series of days.  3) We are looking at each and every students’ results and following up on how to further support growth with specific actions from the education team at Almond. 

We want ALL children to be challenged in their sweet spot of learning.

If you have any specific questions regarding your child’s iReady reading results, please address those directly to your child’s teacher in January when we return from winter break.

To better understand the predictive capacity between iReady and the statewide CAASPP assessment for grades 3-6, we examined both data sets from 2015-16.  There was a strong correlation between the iReady relative labels of “2 or more below” and the CAASPP label of “Standards Not Met.”  We also found a strong correlation between the iReady “1 level below” and the CAASPP “Standard Nearly Met.”  We found that when a student achieves at the “early” or “mid” grade level designation within their age appropriate placement, the CAASPP result was typically “Standard Met.”  And finally, students with a score designating performance at the “late” stage of their designated grade level or at a level above their grade level, the corresponding CAASPP score tended to be “Standard Exceeded.”

We share this with you so that when you receive your child’s iReady results, you may consider this information within a reasonable context.  We are midway through the school year.  There is still more learning to take place.  We will continue to focus on the diverse needs of students and work together as a staff to personalize learning for ALL of our students.  Again, we cannot emphasize enough that this is one single measure upon which we reflect to ensure we are supporting the learning of our students.

In January, we will be sending home the iReady math results.

Happy Holidays!  See you in 2017.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

STUDENT COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Get your kids excited because this Friday is PJ day! Make sure your kids do not bring any eye masks or stuffed animals, as these items may distract the kids from their learning. In addition to PJ day, our Winter Break begins this weekend! Kids will be dismissed from school for two weeks. Happy Holidays!
• Student Council has also decided that they would like to add some new items to the Student Council bulletin board on campus that includes a goal, quote, joke, etc. of the week. This board is meant for kids to learn new things and have a little fun at school. The board will begin after winter break.

LAEF:  TWO WEEKS LEFT FOR CORPORATE MATCHING IN 2016
Did you know that in 2015/16, LAEF received $590,000 in corporate matching funds? Wow! With less than 20 days until the end of the tax year now is the time to submit a matching request to your company (or to make your tax-deductible annual donation for 2016). Find out if your company matches by going to www.doublethedonation.com/laef or donate at LAEFonline.org.

LAEF:  COMPUTER SCIENCE ROCKS IN LASD!
LASD joined schools around the world to celebrate Computer Science Education Week December 5-9. This annual event was dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science. Our students participated in the Hour of Code program organized by Code.org. This year’s LASD theme was Code with a Buddy and TRY Something NEW. Go to LAEFOnline.org and find out why it's important to learn computer science and what LASD students in each grade are learning this year.

DRAMA WORKSHOP FOR ASPIRING ACTORS 
To prepare for the upcoming drama season, Egan Girl Scout Troop 61015 is offering a workshop to help children gain confidence with performances and in everyday life: stage presence, acting, singing and dancing, and expressions. This is a fundraiser for Girl Scouts and a fun afternoon for kids!

• Friday, January 6th from 2:35 - 5:00 pm, Almond Multi-purpose Room
• $20 for the first child and $10 for additional siblings
• Grades 2-6
• Snacks included

Click here to sign up.  Any questions?  Send an email to Sara Elkin.

ALMOND SINGERS
Our next practice isn’t until Tuesday, January 10, 2017 @ 7:30am.  There is no practice on January 3, 2017.    Have a peaceful and joyful  holiday break!   Mr. Chan

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

[none at this time]

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALMOND BROWNIE GIRL SCOUT TROOP 61070 COLLECTS COATS for ONE WARM COAT

• Nearly 50 million Americans are currently living in poverty.  For these families and individuals, a warm coat is a budget extra they simply cannot afford. Almond Brownie Girl Scout Troop 61070 invites you to make a difference in your neighbors' lives by donating coats during our upcoming coat drive!
• Brownie Troop 61070 is working with One Warm Coat to collect clean, gently used warm coats from November 28 through December 16 in the Almond office. Our second grade Brownie troop will write loving notes to place in a pocket of each coat and deliver them to Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto. All donated coats will be given to local children and adults in need.  Please consider making a difference in someone’s life by sharing your outgrown or unused (but in good condition!) coats!

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Send announcements to us at AlmondThursdayWord@lasdschools.org by 12:00pm Monday, for that week's Word. Keep your announcements brief and, if applicable, send a PDF version of any flyer or additional information to be posted on the website.

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Copyright © 2003-2016 Los Altos School District.  All rights reserved