Weekly Newsletter

Testing Window:

• Dates: August 19 - September 13 📅

• Student Progress Reports: September 16 📈

Administration Details:

• Grade Levels: K-5 📚

• Schedule: K-1 teachers, review the attached schedule. 2nd-5th grade teachers, follow your grade level plans. 🕒

• Preparation: Ensure students are familiar with the platform and have needed materials (e.g., headphones) 🎧

• Accommodations: Review and support necessary accommodations 📝

• Make-up Testing: Student who are absent will complete MAP assessments during designated make-up days 🕰️

Action Items:

• Grade Level Plans: 2nd-5th grade teams, please share your MAP schedule plans with Hicks, Valdora, and Hale before the start of testing. 🗂️

• Review Schedule: Confirm testing times, sessions, and locations ✅

• MAP BOY Letters: Letters for the BOY assessment have been placed in your boxes. Please send home by Friday and share a copy on Class Dojo 📬

• Kimberlin MAP Training Guide: Read the campus MAP testing guide and review campus-specific information 📚

Who receives testing:

K-2: all students

3-5: students at or below the 5th percentile on MAP reading and/or students who were placed in Tier 3 through MTSS committees (these students will be tested by the interventionist or dyslexia therapist)

Here are the training materials for administering mCLASS:

Slide deck to be used when doing initial training

MCLASS landing pages:

mCLASS landing page (English)

mCLASS landing page (Spanish)

Math: K-5th all students

Reading: 3rd-5th all students (we do not have i-Ready for K-2; mCLASS is the replacement)

The slide decks below are to be used as a mini-lesson by teachers prior to students taking the diagnostic. Many of the slides have a teacher script in the speaker notes.

K-2 i-Ready

3-5 i-Ready

• When the Heat Index exceeds 100 degrees- all outside activities should be cancelled.

• When the air quality level reaches Red or Purple- all outside activities should be cancelled.

• When the air quality level reaches Orange- outside activities should be limited to 20 minutes with frequent water breaks.

• Special care should be taken for students with respiratory or other health conditions.

Please allow students to remain indoors upon parent request. Contact your school nurse or Health Services at 972-487-3268 should you have any questions.

• Waters will be made available for teachers on recess/outside dismissal duties
• Encourage students to bring water bottles outside or go inside for water as needed

Check out the position-based training ‘checklists’ (including recommended pacing and timelines) to support your completion by the assigned deadline!

• All Employees - all campus and district personnel will complete these trainings as required by TEA & GISD Board Policy will complete a total of 6 courses (5 hours)

• Employees Interacting with Students - employees with daily student interaction will complete a total of 9 courses (6.5 hours)

• Employees with Instructional Responsibilities - employees charged with instructional responsibilities will complete a total of 12 courses (8.25 hours)

Click here for more information and troubleshooting tips.

SHOUT OUT TO...

Christine Garza from Adrian : Thanks for helping make our first week a really good one. I see a great year in our future!

Karen Clark from Kristie Chapman : Thank you for always setting my technology set up so quickly! I appreciate you!

Nicole Reeves from Charlotte : Thank you for putting together the rotation system for after school duty with late students. I love this for being yet another way we support and care for each other!

Katelynn Valdora from Charlotte : Thank you for always keeping me in the loop about your students, and for the way you look out for them and care so deeply about each and every one.

Nurse Brandy from Charlotte : I don't know how you are still standing! I think your clinic was the busiest place in the school this week, but you manage it with such strength, grace, and always with a smile on your face. You are incredible!

Karen Clark from Charlotte : Thank you for letting me flag you down in the hallway to help with a student's Chromebook that died during MAP testing. You are always so thoughtful to stick with a problem until you know we've gotten to the solution. You are an expert extraordinaire!

Becky McKee from Charlotte : You are so clever and kind with your morning reading cart for early arrivals. The extra effort is so nice for students to be able to pass the time, but also helps use every minute that students are here for their learning. You are a superstar librarian!

Amy Whittington from Charlotte : I really love how thoughtful, patient, and understanding you have been this week with a student who was struggling with the transition to 1st grade. You turned many tears into smiles this week!

Adrian Renning from Charlotte : I love the way you comforted our kindergarten student who was still learning to navigate the cafeteria. You really helped get him past his fear. I've seen non-stop smiles on his face every day since then!

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SHOUT OUT YOUR COLLEAGUES! Enter it HERE!

SEPTEMBER

2 Labor Day (NO SCOOL)

20 STEM Night (PTA Math/Science Night)

OCTOBER

3 5th Grade Camp Mtg - 5:30pm

11 Donuts with Dudes

14-18 Fall Break

25 Picture Day