Quarter 4 Family Newsletter

As we enter the final quarter of the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible growth and accomplishments we have seen across our school community. Our students have worked hard, our teachers have remained committed to high-quality instruction, and our families have continued to provide unwavering support. Thank you for being such an important part of our success! One of the highlights of this year has been the significant increase in parent events and family engagement opportunities. It has been wonderful to see so many of you in our building for lunch with your student, participating in events and connecting with our teachers. These moments not only give families a clearer window into what students are learning each day, but also help us build strong, meaningful relationships that support student success.

With nine weeks still ahead of us, we have important work to do, so let’s finish strong! This is a critical time for maintaining focus, reinforcing expectations, and continuing to grow. In the coming weeks, students will be engaged in meaningful learning experiences, completing key assessments, and demonstrating the progress they have made throughout the year. We encourage all students to stay motivated, organized, and committed to doing their best each day. For our families, your partnership continues to make a difference. Supporting consistent attendance, encouraging strong study habits, and maintaining open communication with teachers are all essential as we work together to ensure a successful end to the year.

Thank you for your continued support of our school. Let’s make these final few weeks a time of growth, connection, and success for every student.

All parents are invited to provide input on school Parent and Family Engagement through the Annual Title I Survey. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey for Oak Grove Elementary School. The survey is also utilized to plan events for the next school year that meet the needs and interests of families. If you have students at multiple schools, please complete one survey for each school by Friday, April 24.

Link to School Input Survey

Below are resources to help as you work with your student at home to support academic achievement in ELA for the fourth quarter. For more information about any of these resources, please contact Chelsea Bailey, the Family Liaison at your school.

Kindergarten: Use a combination of drawing, labeling, and, writing to create a text with expository techniques.

1st Grade: Use personal pronouns (subject, object, and possessive).

2nd Grade: Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs and adjectives.

3rd Grade: Distinguish between correctly structured simple, compound, and complex sentences.

4th Grade: Discuss and explain techniques used in different types of poetry, including free verse, rhymed verse, haiku, and limerick.

5th Grade: Elaborate on ideas and information, using adjectives and adverbs to convey precise meaning and engage audiences.

Below are resources to help as you work with your student at home to support academic achievement in Math for the fourth quarter. For more information about any of these resources, please contact Chelsea Bailey, the Family Liaison at your school.

Kindergarten: Identify, sort, classify, and analyze two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes.

1st Grade: Add and subtract multiples of 10 within 100.

2nd Grade: Find the value of a group of coins and determine combinations of coins that equal a given amount that is less than 100 cents.

3rd Grade: Determine the area of rectangles presented in relevant problems by tiling and counting.

4th Grade: Investigate points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), perpendicular lines, parallel lines, and lines of symmetry.

5th Grade: Classify, compare, and contrast polygons based on properties.

Parent involvement plays an important role in supporting the success of our English Learners. Below are some simple ways you can support your student’s learning and stay actively involved in our school community.

• Read books with your student every day in English or in your home language.
• Talk with your student about their day using complete sentences.
• Practice new English words together (colors, numbers, school words).
• Encourage your student to speak English at home during breaks and summer to avoid regression.

Soon after students start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, students need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online.

Please see below for tips for your family.

Assessments are used to help better understand your student and their abilities in the classroom.

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System begins for students in Grade 3 and is designed to

provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in

the core content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.

Grades 3-8: Math and English Language Arts

Grade 5: Science

Proficiency Levels:

Beginning Learners, Developing Learners, Proficient Learners, Distinguished Learners

Because the state of Georgia adopted new English Language Arts Standards, Milestones sores in ELA will be delayed until late fall 226.

We encourage all parents to take advantage of GA Experience Online to help prepare their child for the Georgia Milestones assessment. This free resource allows students to practice with real test-style questions in a low-pressure environment, helping them build confidence, become familiar with the format, and strengthen important skills. Spending even a few minutes each week on GA Experience Online can make a big difference in reducing test anxiety and improving performance. Your support at home plays a key role in your child’s success!

Students in grades K-3 participate in the CCSD Reading and Dyslexia Screener three times a year,

and students in grades 4-8 will participate in the CCSD Reading Screener three times a year.

Parents will receive a report via ParentSquare of the results which will show your student's current

proficiencies in reading.

Proficiency Levels:

Early Literacy (Grades K-2): Emergent Reader, Transitional Reader, Probable Reader

Reading (Grades 3-5): Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, Advanced

Students in grades K-8 participate in the CCSD Math Screener three times a year. Parents will

receive a report via ParentSquare of the results which will show your student's current

proficiencies in math.

Proficiency Levels:

Below Grade Level, Early On Grade Level, Mid-Grade Level, Late Grade Level, Above Grade Level

Students in Kindergarten will be assessed through GKIDS and the report will show your student's

current progress towards the standards. Areas of assessment include: English Language Arts,

Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Approaches to Learning, Social Development, Personal

Development, and Motor Skills.

Proficiency Levels:

Not Yet Demonstrating, Beginning, Emerging, Developing, Demonstrating, Exceeding, Not Yet

Assessed

Entering Middle School is a big milestone! Below are some tips to make the transition a bit

smoother:

1. Encourage involvement in school activities.

2. Help your child stay organized and check Canvas regularly.

3. Maintain open communication and be a safe space for questions and concerns as they adjust.

4. Support academic responsibility and communication with teachers.

5. Be patient with emotional and physical changes

6. Help your child explore interests and future goals.

​

Email: chelsea.bailey@cherokeek12.net
Website: www.cherokeek12.net
Phone: 770-721-8566