The Read-a-thon is not over yet! Today marks day 7 of our 10-day reading adventure, which means there is still plenty of time for each grade level to reach their individualized reading goal, and for the school to hit our overall target of 150,000 minutes. A lot is riding on those numbers, as the Reading Pirate has quite a few tricks up his sleeve for the Wrap Up assembly ─ but only if those benchmarks are met! Of course, we are also hoping to reach our fundraising goal of $15,000 in support of our very generous PTO. Please continue encouraging your child to read over the next few days. Every minute counts.
On Tuesday, the majority of our staff participated in a math professional development session led by math consultant Alison Mello. Teachers walked away with several practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in the classroom. This is the second time our staff has worked with Alison, with additional collaboration planned for the future. As we often remind our students, learning never stops, and our staff continues to model that mindset by constantly looking for ways to grow and improve.
On Wednesday, staff in grades 3 through 7 participated in training for this year’s MCAS administration as we prepare for testing, which begins at the end of March. While there are many technical aspects to the training, a good portion of our time was spent planning the fun traditions and activities that accompany MCAS at the Jacobs. Over the years, we have worked hard to make the testing experience something students actually look forward to with special treats, celebrations, and a supportive environment that helps them feel relaxed and confident as they do their best.
Our second trimester officially comes to a close on Friday. Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, and Parent Conferences will take place on Thursday. Our goal is always to have 100 percent participation in conferences as we continue to partner with families in supporting each child’s learning and growth.
Don't forget to encourage your child to Read, Read, Read over the next several days -- and even after that!
-Mr. Shaw
