Cardinal Connection

Some of our winners have been persevering through the MSTEP, showing improved behaviors, or are great leaders or patient friends. Whatever you did to earn a Cardinal ticket, you should be proud, keep doing what you are doing, way to go Cardinals!!!

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Huge THANK YOU to Kristen Marie Northey and Morgan Bowerman for carrying on this special tradition for our Costello community. Saying YES to taking this on means more than you know, because of you, our students and families were able to create joyful memories together.

Also, grateful to the many parent volunteers and NHS students who gave their time and support. Thank you to everyone who came out today and to our incoming kindergartners, we are so glad you joined as well!

photo credit to Jen Ford

This week TSD honored 49 AMAZING teachers who were nominated to be Teacher of the Year! These teachers go above and beyond for their students every day. We are so proud of Mrs. Busa and Mrs. Maliepaard for earning this recognition. Congratulations to Mrs. Maliepaard for earning the Troy School District Overall Elementary Teacher of the Year, whooohooo!!!

The Oakland County Enhancement Millage will be on the August 4, 2026 ballot. If approved, each public school district and eligible public school academies would receive approximately $781 per student annually. This proposal would cost about $300 per year for a $400,000 home ($200,000 taxable value).

Districts would use the funding for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples on how these general fund dollars would be spent:

• Staff recruitment and retention

• Stabilizing general fund budgets

• Maintaining or reducing class sizes, where possible

• Expanding professional development

• Enhancing student wellness supports

• Improving safety and security

• Maintaining and strengthening district programming

Visit the Enhancement Millage website for more information and a tax calculator.

Our Neurodiverse Universe Door Contest was a true celebration of creativity, collaboration, and inclusion! Classrooms across the building came together to design doors that reflected the beauty and strength of our diverse ways of thinking—every single one told a meaningful story.

The judges had an incredibly tough decision to make. The level of creativity, effort, and teamwork made it nearly impossible to choose!

Congratulations to our winners...

1st place - Mrs. Dabrowski's Room

2nd place - Ms. Contesti's Room

3rd place - Ms. Eldridge's Room

...and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated. It was inspiring to see our entire school community come together, support one another, and create something so special. Thank you for making Costello a place where everyone belongs.

We are so proud of our hardworking Cardinals! Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are truly showing what perseverance looks like. Parents, thank you for sending them to school well-rested and prepared to take on each day’s challenges, your support makes a difference.

Their effort and positive attitudes are impressive. Let’s keep encouraging them to give their best and push through. Next week most students will start the math portion of the test.

Dear Fifth Grade Families,

We would like to provide you with an update to our middle school math course options. Within our middle schools there are many strong math pathways available for students. Our priority is ensuring that every student is placed in a math course where they feel challenged, supported, and confident. We encourage families to consider their student's strengths, readiness, interests, and learning needs when making decisions about course placement. In the 2026-27 school year, Troy School District will be piloting IM Accelerated Math 6/7 as a new option in all middle school buildings.

All 5th grade families will have the choice to select from one of the options below:

Option 1: Math 6

Math 6 establishes a critical foundation in proportional reasoning by exploring ratios, unit rates, and percentages through visual representations like double number lines and tape diagrams. In this problem-based course, students transition from elementary arithmetic to middle school algebra by developing a deep understanding of fraction division and expressions with variables. Students also expand their mathematical world to include signed numbers and statistical variability. This course provides the time and space for students to build a conceptual understanding of mathematics, ensuring they are ready for the complexities of Grade 7.

Topics covered in Math 6:

Area and Surface Area, Introducing Ratios, Unit Rates and Percentages, Dividing Fractions, Arithmetic in Base Ten, Expressions and Equations, Rational Numbers, Data Sets and Distributions.

Math 6 Pathway

Grade 6 – Math 6 Grade 7 – Math 7 Grade 8 – Math 8 or Honors Algebra 1

Option 2: (NEW) Accelerated Math 6/7

Families may choose to enroll their child in Accelerated Math 6/7. This course is a rigorous, fast-paced course that compresses all Grade 6 standards and significant portions of Grade 7 into a single academic year. In this problem-based course, students master ratio reasoning to engage with complex proportional relationships, circle geometry, and the four operations with rational numbers. This pathway is designed for students who demonstrate high mathematical independence and the ability to synthesize new concepts with minimal repetition. It serves as the launchpad for a two-year sequence that culminates in Honors Algebra 1 by the 8th grade.

Topics covered in Accelerated Math 6/7:

Area and Surface Area, Introducing Ratios, Unit Rates and Percentages, Dividing Fractions, Arithmetic in Base Ten, Expressions and Equations, Proportional Relationships, Rational Number Arithmetic, Percent Increase and Decrease, Data Sets and Distributions, Probability and Sampling.

Accelerated Math 6/7 Pathway

Grade 6 – Accelerated Math 6/7 Grade 7 – Accelerated Math 7/8 Grade 8 – Honors Algebra 1

Option 3: Math 6 Test-Out

The Math 6 test-out process allows current 5th grade students who are ready to demonstrate mastery of the 6th grade math standards to progress to an accelerated math pathway in middle school by testing out of Math 6. This option is completely optional and is intended for families who feel it may be a good fit for their child. Students take the test-out exam at their elementary school, and those who pass the test will skip Math 6 and begin Math 7 in 6th grade. Please know that for students who have registered for this assessment, no further action is required.

Math 6 Test-Out Pathway

Grade 6 – Math 7 Grade 7 – Honors Algebra 1 Grade 8 – Honors Geometry

Next Steps:

All 5th grade families will receive information about each math course, directions for course selection, and information on student data to consider at the following 5th Grade Parent Nights (hosted at your student’s future middle school):

• Baker Middle School – May 5 at 5pm

• Boulan Park Middle School – May 7 at 6:30pm

• Larson Middle School – May 6 at 7pm

• Smith Middle School – May 6 at 6pm

Math data for your student will be provided to families via email after May 11th. Families will be invited to make a course selection for their students in PowerSchool between May 11 and May 26.

Questions?

If you have questions, please attend the upcoming middle school parent events or reach out to your student’s middle school counseling team.

FAQs

What is required of Accelerated Math 6/7 students? Accelerated Math 6/7 compacts Math 6 and the majority of Math 7 into a shorter time period, without skipping material. This means that students interested in accelerating math must be prepared to encounter new content at a faster pace. Accelerated Math 6/7 is best suited for students who consistently engage with extension and enrichment materials provided in the regular curriculum and demonstrate fluency and understanding in mathematics. Students should anticipate having nightly homework.

What is the same? In both Accelerated 6/7 and Math 6, each lesson starts with an invitation to the mathematics, followed by a deep study of targeted concepts and procedures, and ends with an opportunity to consolidatelearning through direct instruction by the teacher. Students then apply their learning by engaging in practice problems. This structure continues throughout each unit and through the course.

What is different? In order to address all the grade 6, 7, and 8 standards in two years, lessons have been compressed. This makes the Accelerated 6/7 a fast paced and rigorous course.

What if I already signed up for Math 6 Test-Out? No action is required. Your student will take Math 6 test-out at their elementary building. Results will be sent to families by May 20.

https://app.smore.com/n/k1myn

Costello Staff Appreciation Week is next week, May 4th ~ May 8th

Thank you to all of our families for your generosity and contributions. Did you miss the sign up? You are welcome to drop off donations or gift certificates next week too. THANK YOU to Angie Cheek for planning the themes and treats for our well deserved staff.

Well done Cardinals! Keep up the great work. Show those Cardinal Traits at home over break!!

What a successful month of reading celebrations! Thank you to our planning committee for making this such a fun month for our Cardinals!

Wow, what a terrific turnout at the Skate World this week. Thank you to our PTO for free admission. Thank you Mrs. Northey for organizing this special community event.

Dear Costello Families,

Our students will soon participate in the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). The M-STEP provides a snapshot of your child’s learning and helps inform instruction. While it offers useful information, it is only one measure. To fully understand and support your child’s needs, we consider multiple sources, including classroom performance, teacher observations, and other assessments.

MDE Testing Window: April 27 – May 18th

*grades will test within this window for a portion of the day and not necessarily for this entire time frame

Grades Testing: 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades

How You Can Help:

• Ensure good sleep routines

• Provide healthy breakfasts

• Arrive at school on time

• Encourage your student to persevere and try their best, this will help them feel proud and confident

• Student electronic devices are not to be on students (Smart watches/phones) - these will be collected if they come to school on testing days.

• Avoid scheduling appointments during testing

• Send your child to school each day with a fully charged Ipad

We strive to create a calm and supportive testing environment and remind students that this is just one way to show what they know. The M-STEP helps to prepare students for standardized testing that they will experience in the years ahead. The teachers will be practice test taking skills leading up to the M-STEP. Below is a link to the MDE website with links to practice tests. To minimize worry, you may want to have your child work through these sample questions.

CLICK LINK FOR SAMPLE M-STEP PRACTICE

https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/student-assessment/m-step/content-specific-information/online-practice-for-m-step-ela-math-science-and-social-studies

If you have questions, please contact me.

Thank you for your support.

Tammy DiPonio

Our students were inspired by the Larson Middle School students today, check out the video below! It was fun to see some former Cardinals! The students were a very respectful audience.

Lamb Road will be closed at Rochester starting 3/30/2026 until further notice. Vehicle can use Shallowdale for detour. With spring break coming up, is there a way the school can notify the parents about this closure? I assume a lot of parents may use Lamb Road for pickup/dropoff.

Keep doing the right thing and being Cardinals that others can learn from! Way to go!

The remarkable 2026 Costello Auction Committee; Rachel Mistretta, Jenna DeCarolis, Brittany Fike, Annie Gallagher, PTO President - Jen Ford and Deb Wilson (missing from photo), worked so hard and did an incredible job planning the 20th annual auction, a truly successful evening with earnings of over $15,000, simply AMAZING!!!! THANK YOU so much ladies for pouring your time and energy into this special evening. The new venue was definitely a win!

A special thank you to Philippe Cicchini, whose DJ and auctioneer talents kept the energy high and the crowd engaged all night long. All who attended enjoyed plenty of laughs, delicious food, the excitement of placing the winning bid, and most importantly, the pride of giving back to Costello!!

On behalf of our students and staff, thank you to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make this special night possible. Your support means so much to our Costello community! Please be sure to check updates on our Costello PTO Facebook page. Add your photos and share what you won!

3rd Graders experienced science in action on their field trip to Escape. Learning and fun were combined; bowling showed forces in motion, friction, gravity, speed and impact of surface. Thank you to our 3rd grade team for planning and our PTO for making this trip possible!

2026/2027 Kindergartener Round-up: Do you know any incoming students that will be 5 yrs-old on or before Dec. 1, 2026, if so, e-mail Costello kegelski@troy.k12.mi.us with your student’s full name, address, phone, e-address, and date of birth.

Please ensure your child has the best start to his/her day by arriving on time, students can arrive as early as 9:00 AM. Students should report to their assigned door. The first bell rings at 9:04, students can enter the building at 9:04. Students are late at 9:09 when the tardy bell rings. Parents, if you are dropping off after 9:09, you need to park and sign your student in. Thank you for prioritizing "on time" arrival. This makes for the best start to the day for your child.

Conferences Wed. & Thur. March 18 & 19, 2026

All Kg-5 Students will have a half-day on both conference days, 3/18 and 3/19. Costello students dismissed both days at 12:59 PM

To schedule a conference: every parent has to create a parent account. If you haven’t created an account in the past, access Conference Manager at: Costello Elementary School Conference Manger Click “REGISTER NOW”.

First time account creators will receive a confirmation email with your account details. Once you have an account, log into Conference Manager and book your conference.

March 25th 6:15-8:15!

Free admission for all Costello families. You will need to rent or bring your own skates. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Thank you to Kristen Marie Northey for planning!

If you would like to contribute to school snacks for Morse Elementary, we will be collecting these at the door on the night of the skating party, thank you for considering donating.

**This is a date change from the original plans of having the event in May. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Hope to see you all there!

OYM Costello Floor Hockey (with Coach Frazier)

https://troy.ce.eleyo.com/course/1204/2025-2026/on-your-mark-youth-floor-hockey%E2%80%942

OYM Costello Basketball (Coach Frazier)

https://troy.ce.eleyo.com/course/1158/2025-2026/oym-basketball%E2%80%942

OYM Costello Youth Fitness (Coach Contesti)

https://troy.ce.eleyo.com/course/1205/2025-2026/on-your-mark-fitness%E2%80%942

We are so proud of the positive leaders that you are, you are hard workers and treat others with kindness. Keep on leading!!

It was Pure Michigan fun at our March is Reading Month kickoff assemblies this week! Everyone is pumped to get reading!

Our March Is Reading Month Committee put together an entertaining assembly that got everyone excited about the many special activities planned throughout the month. Be sure to keep the MIRM calendar handy and encourage your child to participate in the fun along the way.

We’re looking forward to a month full of exciting reading adventures!

Mrs. Homrich organized this visiting author to come and talk to our K, 1, 2 students. Use the QR code below to order one of her books. She will be visiting on March 25th and will bring the purchased books to the students.

Dear Costello Families,

For twenty years, the Costello Night Auction has been a special tradition that brings our community together in support of the children who walk our halls every day. It is one of the most important fundraisers for our school, and the funds raised go directly back to supporting our students, classrooms, and the experiences that make Costello such a special place.

A group of dedicated Costello parents has spent months volunteering their time planning this event, gathering donations, and creating a fun evening for our community, all to benefit our kids.

Even if you do not plan to bid on auction items, we still encourage you to attend. Simply showing up supports the event and our school. The night is about more than the auction. It is a chance to connect with other Costello parents, meet new families, and enjoy time with the community that surrounds our children every day. It is also the only Costello fundraiser of the year that is just for adults, making it a rare opportunity for a fun night out while supporting our school.

Many Costello families have already purchased tickets and are looking forward to a great evening together. To give everyone one final opportunity to attend, we have extended the ticket deadline to Sunday, March 8.

Attached are flyers showing just a few of the exciting experiences and items that will be available that night. We truly hope every Costello family will consider being part of this special tradition and supporting the place where our children learn, grow, and create lasting memories.

We would love to see every Costello family represented at this event. When our community shows up for moments like this, it sends a powerful message to our students about how much their school and their experiences matter.

Thank you for continuing to support Costello and the students who make it so special.

Open links for more details and to scan to purchase your tickets!

Your work makes a positive impact on our students, THANK YOU, Ms. Berlin for all that you do.

Fourth and fifth grade buddies have been training this week with Mrs. Marcaccio & Mrs. Wonsowicz. These student leaders will be reading with their kindergarten and first grade partners each morning from 9:10–9:25. During this time, students will:

• Practice reading three snap words for the week

• Write the three snap words

• Read to their buddy while eating breakfast

The goal is to build confidence with high-frequency words while creating positive reading relationships with our older students.

Thank you Mrs. Marcaccio & Mrs. Wonsowicz for giving our students this special opportunity!

Mr. McKinney and Mrs. Schwartz's buddy classes are carrying over an idea from Kindness Week. They are collecting new socks for those in need. Ask your students what they learned from the students' presentations.

Hello Costello Community! In the below message you will find information about next year's openings on the PTO as well as information about our upcoming PTO Meeting on March 9th!

March is the month that our PTO accepts nominations for next year’s Board. Our PTO Board is made up of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. As of now, these positions have members who have expressed interest and commitment in taking these jobs over for the next school year. However, if you wish to be nominated for any of these Board positions, you can still do that! Please email Jen Ford at jhutch44@hotmail.com so you can be added to our nominations for the April meeting. Nominations will close at the end of the April PTO meeting which will be held on April 13th. Voting will take place at our May PTO meeting which will be on May 11th. All Costello parents are automatically voting members of our PTO.

We are looking for additional volunteers to join the following committees for the 2026-2027 school year:

Staff Treats: Bidisha Goswani is the amazing PTO member who is committed to heading up this position next year, but it would be great to have two people working on it! In this role, you will plan monthly treats for the staff, as well as coordinate lunches or dinners for parent-teacher conferences for them twice a year. You will be helping with the overall yearly planning of treats, pick up and drop off of lunches, dinners and treats as well as set up and clean up after. The treats are a mix of donations from community businesses and PTO funded treats.

Costello Auction: Jenna DeCarolis and Rachel Mistretta are our wonderful auction chairs! We are looking for more committee members to join this well-established team. As a committee member you would be helping to collect donations as well as helping to plan and execute this special night. This is Costello’s second largest fundraiser and a very fun way to get more involved.

We are so thankful for the Costello community! The Costello community continues to pull together year after year and your support, whether that be given through attending an event, planning, donating, sending in needed items or volunteering for part of an event, is what makes it all work. This is a very special community with a strong PTO that serves our students and teachers well. It takes many hands to continue this work, and we appreciate your consideration for the above opportunities! If you would like more information about any of the above positions please email me at: jhutch44@hotmail.com

Upcoming March PTO Meeting:

We hope you can make it to the next Costello PTO meeting this Monday, March 9th at 7:00 in the Media Center. Childcare will be provided, and the link to the virtual option to join is below. We hope to see you all there!

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 266 441 058 492 9

Passcode: R88Jt6zn

Thank you!

Jen Ford - PTO President

We had a wonderful surprise announcement yesterday from the district Teacher of the Year Committee…

Mrs. Maliepaard has been named the Troy School District ELEMENTARY Teacher of the Year! 🎉

This is an incredibly special honor and so very well deserved. After many years of nominations, Mrs. Maliepaard was recognized with this distinguished award for consistently exemplifying excellence and dedication in everything she does for our students and our school community.

She was completely surprised when our Superintendent, Dr. Machesky, along with Central Office staff and her family, entered her classroom during Number Corner to present her with the award.

To celebrate this amazing achievement, students lined the hallways to cheer and congratulate her — a moment filled with pride, joy, and appreciation for a teacher who gives so much to others every single day.

We are SO proud of you, Mrs. Maliepaard!

Milo, Prince, Maria, Aurora, Noah, Kennedy (missing from picture)

Look at these smiling Cardinals, keep doing "all things positive!"

Parents and Guardians,

After an extensive evaluation of numerous companies, TSD is pleased to partner with Pickmykid/VisitU for our new visitor management/attendance system. Under the new process, all visitors will be required to present a valid photo ID upon arrival to our buildings. When you visit Costello you will find a kiosk located in the main entrance lobby. Visitors will start the sign process by selecting the visitor check in tab. This will prompt you to scan the back of your driver’s license or state issued identification by placing it vertically, bar code facing up into the card holder on the back of the iPad. Once your identification is scanned it will prompt you to take a photo. After the photo is taken you will be asked to enter the employee that you are visiting or the location you are going to in the building.

If you do not have a driver’s license or state issued identification, you will have to press the airphone button for assistance. The airphone is located in the vicinity of the kiosk.

The system will then print out a visitor badge in the front office. You will be buzzed into the building and then issued your badge. The badge must be worn on the outermost garment at all times. Upon leaving the building, please exit through the main office and proceed to the kiosk for checkout. Select the visitor check out tab and scan the QR code from your badge. This will automatically check you out.

See visuals for signing in and out of the kiosk.This system is designed to protect visitor information through encryption, data integrity checks, and secure storage. It ensures that sensitive data is not stored in a way that could be accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Downloading the mobile application will allow you to use your mobile device to check in at any of our schools and will also allow you to do attendance for your student.

Attached are the directions for downloading the mobile application.

It should be noted that this is being piloted at Costello and the High schools only at this time. If you have other students at other buildings in the district besides Costello or the high schools, the attendance function will not work.

If you use the mobile application to schedule an absence in the future you will be notified that it is approved for the date that you submit it on. Do not worry, this is being worked out with the vendor.

As always parents will still be able to phone in attendance, but use of the mobile application is highly recommended.

The support team at Pickmykid/VisitU is available 24 hours a day. If you need assistance of have any questions, contact them at E success@pikmykid.com W www.pikmykid.com

Check your child’s red folder today for information about all the exciting reading fun beginning on Monday!

We’ll kick things off with a special assembly to launch our celebration. A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers for transforming Costello into Pure Michigan Reads, and to our Events Committee for all of their planning and hard work to make this experience so special for our students.

Happy Reading! 📚

You can't just walk by this amazing artwork, Ms. Myre does such unique projects with our students, WOW!

I appreciate all of the thoughtful notes, gifts, lunch, cookies and celebratory messages for Principal Day! It was a very special day! THANK YOU so much!

Curious what’s up for grabs at this year’s auction? We thought so! We’re confident you’ll recognize (and love!) many of the businesses behind this year’s auction items and experiences. Thanks to their generosity, we have an exciting lineup ready for bidding — and the funds raised directly support essential PTO programs for our students and staff.

Take a sneak peak at these sponsors, and secure your tickets at the link by March 6th!

https://costelloauction.auctria.events

Vedh, Whitney, Yamon, Emmett, Alex, Khalid

The interactive Young Author’s Writing Assembly was a huge hit for our K–5 students! This special opportunity was made possible for Costello thanks to your generous donations — from all of our students and staff, THANK YOU!

This unique experience was led by a professional mime who had students completely engaged from start to finish. A highlight of the day was when the mime invited Luke Gorman to assist, Luke had the entire crowd laughing with his confidence and spontaneous acting skills! What a great sport you were, Luke!!

After the first assembly, students returned to their classrooms to write their own stories for the performer. During the writing time, the mime visited classrooms to answer questions and help spark ideas. Once the stories were collected and read, the day concluded with a second assembly where the mime brought selected student stories to life on stage. Watching the excitement on students’ faces as they saw their own writing performed was truly unforgettable!

👏How awesome to celebrate our amazing Costello staff for their hard work and dedication!! Way to go Ms. Berlin & Ms. Eldridge!! 👏

The 20th Annual Costello Auction Fundraiser is coming up on March 13, 2026! Please tell your neighbors, friends, and family members to join us for a terrific evening of fun that supports our amazing school. This is an adult only event, reserve your babysitters and buy your tickets this today!! You won't want to miss this night of fun. Our auction committee has been hard at work for months to put this evening together. More information in the attached flyers and auction video. Thank you for supporting Costello!

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Keep making those great decisions and being good leaders, well done Cardinals!

As we celebrate this milestone year, we’re excited to share a new twist on the auction experience. Based on feedback from our school community, we’ve refreshed the event format and elevated our offerings—bringing you even better prizes, experiences, and opportunities to bid.

The Costello Auction is our second largest fundraiser, with a goal of raising approximately $15,000 to support programs and resources that directly benefit all Costello students.

Watch video to learn more about the event timeline and preview some of the incredible prizes that will be available for auction. Join us for a fun and meaningful evening supporting our school community with great prizes for the whole family!

We hope you can make it to the next Costello PTO meeting this Monday, February 9th at 7:00 in the Media Center. Childcare will be provided, and the link to the virtual option to join is below. We hope to see you all there!

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 266 441 058 492 9

Passcode: R88Jt6zn

Nobody will be happier than Mr. Frank to welcome spring! Huge shout out for all of his hard work keeping our sidewalks cleared, what a job! We appreciate you Mr. Frank!

Our volunteer extraordinaire, we appreciate you showing up to help our Cardinals, THANK YOU!

Congratulations to the following students, their artwork was chosen and featured on display at Athens, Central Office and Oakland Schools. Ms. Myre, thank you for helping to develop talented young artists.

Ananshi Malli Aravindh- 5th Grade

Aashna Kansara-5th Grade

Hannah Peyerl- 5th Grade

Charles Hendrickson- 1st Grade

Kaden Dennison- 1st Grade

Naomi Shah- Kindergarten

Claramae Harris - 5th Grade

Kayla Klem - 5th Grade

These Cardinal Power ticket winners got to enjoy a special s'more treat! Thank you Mrs. Miller for donating your time to celebrate our Cardinals!

Cowboy hats, boots, line dancing, rodeo fun, and more, what a hoedown!

A huge thank you to Amanda and Jason Harris for planning such a fantastic event for our Costello families. As always, you went above and beyond to create lasting memories for our Cardinals.

Thank you as well to Philippe Cicchini for generously donating your time, equipment, and energy, and for serving as our emcee for the evening. We also appreciate Mrs. Waak for getting our Cardinals up and two-stepping on the dance floor! And finally, thank you to all of the families who attended and continue to make Costello such a special community. What a fun way to bring our community together!

Next Wednesday, February 4th we will have a spirit day for our Unified Bowling tournament when we welcome our Wass and Hamilton friends to Costello.

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Saddle up Cardinals - the Costello Ball for Y’all will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 and TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO BUY TICKETS!!

BUY TICKETS HERE:

https://stage-a-stellar-event-18282.cheddarup.com

This year all ticket orders will be placed online with options to pay with credit card, cash, or check made out to “Costello PTO” at checkout. You will receive e-tickets to your email which can be saved to your Apple or Google wallets!

If your family has not had the opportunity to attend before, it is absolutely one of the best nights for the Costello Community - don't miss out! Check out photos and videos from previous years on the PTO Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764126304704451/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

If you have any questions or concerns about the Ball before buying your tickets, please reach out to Amanda Haverty-Harris at ahavertyharris@gmail.com.

You sounded amazing, a terrific performance, well done 5th graders!

I am meeting with buddy classes over this month and next to share the lessons I learned from running my first marathon in November. Ideal way to tie in new year's resolutions and goal setting. Ask your child what he/she learned, remembers from this visit.

- How did Dr. DiPonio use the Cardinal Traits during her training?

- What small steps can you take to achieve your big goals?

- What were some unexpected things that Dr. DiPonio ran into?

- About how many laps around the bus loop is 1 mile? (19)

- If a marathon is 26.2 miles, about how many loops would you need to make around the bus loop to equal a marathon? (138,336)

- Why is it important to tell others what your goal is? How can an accountability partner can help you reach your goal?

- If you stick with your plan and do the small stuff you will be able to accomplish your big goals, what is a goal/new year's resolution do you want to accomplish?

- Share goals with your children that you have set, how you struggled and succeeded and what you learned along the way.

Dear Families,

Over the past few years, the Troy School District has implemented the NWEA MAP growth 6+ Mathematics assessment in our middle schools, and this year we have expanded this math only assessment. While this work remains ongoing, we are encouraged by the valuable insights it provides, helping us better understand how each student is growing academically in mathematics.

Based on this progress, we will expand NWEA MAP growth Math testing to include students from third grade through fifth grade. It’s important to note that MAP growth is not a test of mastery. Rather, it is a personalized, computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure each student’s current level of understanding and track their academic growth over time.

Our first NWEA mathematics assessment will be happening next week either Tuesday the 20th or during the half days in January; the 21st, 22nd and 23rd. This will help us establish a baseline that shows how students are performing in relation to peers across the country. This baseline helps teachers and schools identify strengths and areas for growth, while also giving the district valuable insight into how our math programming is meeting students’ needs. By examining this information alongside classroom assessments and instructional data, we can make informed decisions about curriculum, resources, and support systems to ensure every learner continues to grow.

Elementary level NWEA Mathematics MAP assessments will be administered this winter, as well as this spring. The Math test typically taking 45-60 minutes. This assessment provides teachers and administrators with valuable information about student growth. When combined with unit assessments, checkpoints, and daily classroom interactions, this data helps teachers further target instruction to both extend and support learners, while also guiding district efforts to continually strengthen our math programs.

Unlike the state-mandated M-STEP, which measures achievement once a year, MAP focuses on academic growth, giving us a clearer picture of how students develop throughout the school year and beyond.

Families play an essential role in supporting their children’s success. We encourage discussing math in everyday life, ensuring adequate rest and nutrition before testing, and fostering a positive mindset about the assessments as tools for growth.

For more information, please visit NWEA Parent Toolkit, which includes helpful resources and tips for supporting your child’s learning. Additionally, you can watch this short informational video to learn more about MAP growth.

Link to Video

We remain committed to partnering with families and educators to ensure all learners achieve their individual potential.