I want to begin by thanking ALL Wilson Elementary School District #7 stakeholders for their continued commitment to increased academic achievement. Our goal is for Wilson Elementary School District to achieve an “A” letter grade. For this to happen we know that it will take continued commitment from all community stakeholders. In just one week our students will begin AASA testing. I am excited to see the academic growth our students have made during this school year. Our entire community has been dedicated to improving Academic Achievement for ALL students by monitoring data daily to improve not only instructional practices but also to introduce the appropriate Intervention Programs.

“Sometimes we’re tested. Not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.”

-Unknown

Here at Wilson our test results are used to evaluate the achievement of our scholars, the skills they need to learn, and the effectiveness of our schools in teaching these skills. Test results are also useful in helping teachers and parents learn what kinds of strengths and weaknesses a child may have in different subject areas.

We have entered the testing season. Testing shows us how far our students have come from year to year. It is one method to gauge where they stand to their peers throughout the state. Of course, it is not the single determination of how the students are doing as we have various ways using the multi-sensory approach to assess our student growth in our classrooms. Our students are reminded to do their best and take their time. Here are ways to help them prepare for the state assessments:

• Get a good night’s rest
• Eat a healthy breakfast each morning
• Focus on reading each question carefully
• Review the work
• Take the sample tests at home to learn how to navigate the platform

Teachers and staff have planned some events to promote the upcoming state assessments. We want our students to know that they can achieve it if they believe in themselves. We want testing to be viewed as an achievement monitor and celebrate their accomplishments.

They got this!

Mrs. Wojcicki

Principal

Wilson Primary School

Welcome to April, Wildcat Families, the beginning of the last and busiest quarter of the school year!

This quarter is jam packed with activities and events to continue to support ALL learners and enhance our partnerships with parents and community members. This week we had students in grades 6-8 attend Phoenix College, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University for guided tours and informational sessions as they begin to plan their future. Keep an eye out for flyers, robo calls/messages and Facebook posts to stay updated on all upcoming events.

The Arizona’s Academics and Standards Assessment will be administered from April 10th through April 25th. Our students have been busy these past few months, working hard to master skills in their Math, ELA and Science classes. I am confident they will demonstrate the growth they have made throughout the year and the new skills they have mastered.

To help your student and ensure they are ready to test each day, they should:

• Go to sleep early and get a good night sleep.
• Arrive at school on time every day.
• Have breakfast either at home or at school.
• Leave any cell phones, smart watches or electronic devices at home, to prevent their test from being invalidated.

Please speak to your student about testing to ease some of their anxiety and encourage them to do their best. As always, thank you for your support!

Cynthia Cantu
Interim Principal

Wilson Elementary School

Starting this summer, Wilson School District will begin using Online Registration to enroll new students and update existing students' information. Parents, please practice accessing your parent portal account this summer so that you will be ready to review next year's annual updates!

If you need assistance accessing your parent portal, please contact your child's school.

April is here and students across America will begin to engage in what we commonly refer to as “standardized testing”. Although the testing window varies in every state, one thing is common and that is providing the positive support from teachers, family, and community. The emotional and academic preparedness that is needed before and during the testing window is seen in various forms and here at Wilson we strive to prepare every student.

As a community, we can encourage our students to succeed by providing tips, resources, a positive attitude, and confidence in the knowledge they gained during the school year.

Make studying fun and alleviate any test anxiety they experience. For example, if they begin to feel nervous, they can take a few deep breaths or a quick five-minute stretch. Let the students know that it is okay to take a quick break to relax and reset. We encourage all community members to participate in the Walking Club, held every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:30-6:30pm. Reach out to Mariana Melendrez for more information at mmelendrez@wsd7.org

Getting plenty of sleep and eating a good breakfast will help prepare students for the day. This will prepare them physically and mentally so they can have a great attitude and confidence during testing days. At the Community Center we offer food bags every Thursday. Visit our webpage under Food Pantry to find more resources. https://www.wsd.k12.az.us/Page/251

Wilson Community Center will be hosting the annual Health/Spring fair with over 40 different organizations providing health screenings, mammograms, resources and much more. We will have Hands on Greater Phoenix with games and activities for everyone. Food and drinks will be sold as well. We hope to see everyone there on Saturday, April 22nd from 9:00am to Noon.

Gaby Duran

Coordinator for Community Relations

April is finally here! That means beautiful weather, the return of baseball, and....state testing in Arizona for students. Unfortunately, many students experience test anxiety before, during, or after an examination. If this sounds like someone you know, share a few of the test taking tips included in the handout linked below created by AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). One of the strategies I would like to highlight is: Attempt to maintain a positive attitude—with realistic, constructive self-talk—while preparing for and during the test. As a caring adult, please listen for any negative talk and help students reframe the test taking experience into an opportunity to celebrate all that they have learned this year. After all, as Roy Bennett says, "Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.”

Jason S. McIntosh, Ph.D.

Director of Advanced Learning Experiences

The ParaPro Assessment

About the ParaPro Assessment

The ParaPro Assessment is a general aptitude test for prospective and practicing paraprofessionals that measures your:

• skills and knowledge in reading, writing and math
• ability to apply them when assisting in classroom instruction

It is required for certification in many states.

ParaPro Test Content

Computer delivered and administered in English, the ParaPro Assessment measures your knowledge in reading, writing and math. The test takes 2 1/2 hours to complete and has ninety (90) multiple-choice questions:

• Approximately two-thirds focus on basic skills and knowledge.
• The remaining one-third focus on applying skills in the classroom.

Why does the test measure these subjects?

ETS's ParaPro Assessment was designed to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. Its replacement, the Every Student Succeeds Act, leaves these requirements in place. The law requires paraprofessionals serving in an instructional capacity to do one of the following:

• hold an associate of arts degree
• complete sixty (60) college credit hours
• demonstrate, through a state or local academic assessment, that they are knowledgeable in reading, writing and math and capable of assisting in classroom instruction
  

The ParaPro Assessment was developed with the assistance of an advisory committee composed of paraprofessionals and the teachers who work with them. A thorough job analysis was conducted to determine what knowledge and skills in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics, and in assisting in instruction in these areas, are important for paraprofessionals.

ParaPro Registration

The ParaPro Assessment is computer delivered continuously throughout the year at home (in some states) and in test centers throughout the country.

ParaPro Scores

Your ParaPro scores demonstrate that you are knowledgeable in reading, writing and math and capable of assisting in classroom instructions.

Classified Staff Professional Growth Opportunities

Classroom Monitors or Classified staff who decide to take and pass the ParaPro test are eligible to become Paraprofessionals/Instructional Assistants with a starting salary of $16.00 per hour. In addition, the district will also reimburse the staff member for the test fee of a passing ParaPro score.

Thank you to Facilities and Transportation for all the work you did organizing and preparing and completing projects over Spring Break while the majority of the district took the time to be with family.

Randy Weaver and Chelsea De La Cruz, IT Extraordinaire! You both are truly amazing! Thank you for the incredibly long hours (again) that you put in to ensure the student laptops were returned prior to Spring Break, and to then ensure they were assigned by classrooms of most need for when all returned after Spring Break. I sincerely hope and pray the week of Spring Break without student laptops, provided time for students to enjoy fresh air and human interaction without being tied to electronics the entire time.

The month of April is focused on assessments that the students will be taking. I want to take a moment to sympathize with the students. In the business office, we are tested regularly, only in the business world, they call the tests “audits,” “fiscal monitoring,” “reviews,” or “inspections.” Your public school districts in Arizona are held to GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) standards, GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board of the FAF, Financial Accounting Foundation) standards, and USFR (Uniform System of Financial Records) standards. We are audited annually by a third-party neutral auditor in order to meet requirements set forth by these standards. We are also audited by the AZ Dept of Health and Nutrition for both our food service, as well as our procurement (purchasing processes and records). We are audited by the AZ Dept of Education’s Grants Management Enterprise where they audit our federal and state grants’ records and procurement. We are also audited by the AZ Auditor General for compliance on our financial records, our records management system, our procurement processes and records, our staffing records and processes, our food service records, processes and procurement, our transportation processes and records. Public school districts in Arizona also are inspected by the local Fire Marshall, and by the Health Department who inspects food preparation and service spaces, bathrooms to students ratios, upkeep and standards (certain heights for certain ages), as well as other reviews.

I do not share this to bore you, but rather to share with you and the students that we “feel your pain” regarding what might feel like endless testing and assessments. But, to learn to handle testing and assessments while young, puts you miles ahead of the pack, as once you are “free” of school, you not only lose your summer vacations (sigh), but you gain career-related professional testing in the form of audits and reviews. So, take pride in your ability to take assessments, get comfortable with the discomfort. It is not a “right” or “wrong” situation. It is a “WOW! You seriously excel here!” And sometimes a “Whoa… let’s take a second look at this here.” Life is a wonderful cycle of learning opportunities with moments of fantastic victory, and moments of marvelous revelation. Embrace it all!

From us the business services at Wilson, good luck – our first goal is to support you! We support you best striving for excellence in the testing we face each season, to ensure the district continues to test faithful and responsible to be given more resources to ensure you are provided the best possible educational resources.

Catherine King

Executive Director of Business Services

Child Find, a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enables states to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth through 21, who need early intervention or special education services. Special education services are available for children of any age (birth through 21 years). Wilson School District is responsible for locating, identifying, evaluating, and serving all children with disabilities (ages 3-21) and referring children ages 0-3 to AzEIP for evaluation and appropriate services. AzEIP is the Arizona Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers. Wilson provides free and appropriate public education that includes special education and related services to children at public expense, under public supervision and direction without charge to parents. For all school-age students who are new to the district, the classroom teacher will complete screening activities within 45 days of enrollment. If any concerns are noted, the child will be referred for help. Parents who have concerns regarding their child’s education may contact the Special Education Department at Wilson, (602) 683-2400, ext. 4205.

Are you currently experiencing temporary living arrangements due to eviction, job loss or a traumatic event? Wilson School District offers services to families through the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act. Services such as enrollment and immunization assistance, uniforms or school supplies, community referrals and in some cases, transportation can be available. Your family may qualify due to living with another family or friend due to financial hardship or living in a shelter, transitional housing, or motel. Please contact your school office or Mariana Melendrez at 602-683-2515, ext 6002 for more information about this program.

Excellence in education

Website: https://www.wsd.k12.az.us/
Location: 3025 East Fillmore Street, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: (602) 681-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilsonSchoolDistrictNo7