March 2015 ME Connection

MARCH 2015
MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - A TITLE I AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS SCHOOL
IT’S TESTING TIME!
FLORIDA STANDARDS ASSESSMENT
(FSA)
•••
TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015
• ELA READING: GRADES 3 & 4
80 MINUTE SESSION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015
• ELA READING: GRADES 3 & 4
80 MINUTE SESSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015
• MATHEMATICS: GRADES 3 & 4
80 MINUTE SESSION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
• MATHEMATICS: GRADES 3 & 4
80 MINUTE SESSION
MAKE-UP TESTING WILL BEGIN
APRIL 2 FOR ELA AND APRIL 9
FOR MATH. MAKE-UPS WILL
CONCLUDE APRIL 10.
From the Desk of Mrs. Bees, Principal
Hello My Maplewood Family –
It has been a very busy school year, with many exciting events to
come. April, May and June will bring performances, family nights, a
STEM Fair, FSA and another amazing fifth grade group moving on
to Middle School. We welcomed several new staff members to the
Maplewood family; just yesterday Camille Orr was appointed as our Assistant Principal. We
are so LUCKY to have such a loving, qualified candidate join our family.
All of our educators and students have worked very hard this year as they “unwrapped”
standards and have truly made real life connections in and out of the classroom. We
continue with our commitment in closing the gap as we are committed to a 30-minute daily
intervention literacy block. This is a time where we look at each student and use research
based programs that are delivered by teachers. ALL teachers in the school have made this
commitment to your children and now I ask for your help.
We have seen a significant increase in tardies, which impact student instruction. Please see
policy 5.8 for TARDINESS.
• Tardiness is defined as a student not being in the classroom when the class is scheduled
to begin.
• Parents must follow the same process to excuse a tardy as they do to excuse an absence.
• Excessive tardiness will be addressed on a case–by–case basis to determine if there is a
pattern of non- attendance.
• Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early-sign-outs, or
absences for all or any part of the day.
• Tardiness to any class without documentation may be considered unexcused.
• Habitual tardiness is defined as being tardy 5 times within a marking period.
• Unless excused under the provisions of this policy, accumulated tardiness will be
recorded as unexcused absences. (F.S. 1003.02 (1) (b))
Be sure to get plenty of sleep before
testing, eat a healthy breakfast and We ask that you please help us in this effort so that every instructional minute counts.
Thank you and have the best Spring Break!
arrive at school on-time.
Upcoming Events
March 17
Spring Personality Pictures
March 18
2nd Grade Parent Conference Night
March 20
No School - Teacher Planning Day
March 23-27
Spring Break
March 19
April 3
•Last day of 3rd Quarter
No School - Good Friday
Parents, please
complete our Annual
Title I Parent Survey
online. Thank you for
sharing your input.
http://goo.gl/Hjans2
•Early Release - 12:00pm Dismissal
The School Board of Broward County, Florida, prohibits any policy or procedure which results in discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national
origin, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Individuals who wish to file a discrimination and/or harassment complaint, may call the Executive Director
Benefits & EEO Compliance at (754) 321-2150 or Teletype Machine (TTY) at 754-321-2158. Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may call Equal Educational Opportunities (EEO) at 754-321-2150 or Teletype Machine (TTY) at 754-321-2158.
Parent
Communication
at MWE
It’s important to read to and read with
your child...
NAOMI CHURCH, LITERACY COACH
Follow us on Twitter
@MaplewoodElem
_
We are well into another exciting
year at Maplewood Elementary
School. As both parents and
Get Text Reminders by
teachers, we have come to see that
texting @Maplewood to
one of the most important elements
623.552.4955
_
Checkout our Website:
http://
Maplewood.Browards
chools.com
_
Sign up for Email
Blasts by going onto our
website and typing in
your email address on
the right side.
_
“Like” PTO on
in a child’s learning to read and
write, is a supportive home
environment.
Reading time at home doesn’t need to
be long – 10 to 15 minutes each day
will get you started. The important
thing is to make reading a regular part of each day. You can also boost your
child’s thinking skills and have fun at the same time. Here are some tips to
get started.
• Read aloud to your child – children need to hear what good fluent readers
sound like. Use expression and different tones when reading exciting,
scary and fun parts of the story.
• When reading, stop in the middle of the story, choose an exciting part.
Facebook: http://
Then ask your child, “What do you think will happen next?” Keep
www.facebook.com/
reading to see if they are right.
maplewoodelementarypto
_
5th Grade is also on
Schoology!
http://
Broward.Schoology.com
_
Be sure to ask your
teacher about the
various forms of
communication they use
in their classrooms.
• Ask your child to think about why something is happening in the story or
what they might do if they were in the same situation.
• When you have finished the book, ask them to think about how they
might change the story or the ending. Discuss what the problem was and
how it was solved.
• To check comprehension, ask your child to retell the story, what their
favorite part was and why they liked that particular part.
• Give your child a wide and varied range of reading materials. Children
love nonfiction/informative text. Be sure to include newspapers, share an
interesting article from the morning paper, have your child read over
your shopping list to make sure all those important items are included,
read and prepare the recipe for dinner together.
• Plan a time when everyone in the family will be reading, remember you
are the best model for your children.
Have fun when reading with your child, and your child will be developing
thinking and reasoning skills that will lead to success in school. As parents,
you have such an important role in helping your children not only to become
betters readers, but to develop, encourage and support their love of reading.
More @ Maplewood
Dear Maplewood Family,
MAPLEWOOD WELCOME
I am honored to serve the
faculty, staff, and families
as the new Assistant
Principal of Maplewood
Elementary. I would like to
take this opportunity to
introduce myself. I am a
proud graduate of the
University of Miami (Go
Canes!) and have worked
for Broward Schools for
fifteen years. My
experiences include
Elementary Resource
Teacher, ESE Specialist,
and Magnet Coordinator. I
look forward to bringing
my fifteen years of
experience to this
amazing school! I am
dedicated to working
alongside Mrs. Bees to
ensure our students have
a “year of endless
learning”. Maplewood
believes in teamwork and I
am elated to be a part of a
team that is working
together to provide
students with innovative
classroom experiences
everyday. You will find
that my door is always
open to support you in any
possible way and I
welcome your input.
Please feel free to call or
email me at
Camille.orr@browardschools.com.
Have a relaxing, stress
free Spring Break!
Let’s give a warm Maplewood
welcome to our new staff
members!
Camille P. Orr
Department of Education
(FDOE) surveys parents of
children with an individual
educational plan (IEP) to
•Mr. Aguilar - Technology
determine how well your
•Ms. Kurzenburger Kindergarten
with you and promoting your
•Ms. Mitter - Intensive PreK
•Ms. Orr - Assistant Principal
child’s school is partnering
involvement in your child’s
education. All states must
collect this data as part of
their State Performance Plan,
as required under the
Individuals with Disabilities
SPECIAL EDUCATION
WEEK
Monday, March 30- Wear Lots
of Socks Day
Tuesday, March 31- Dress Up
for Down Syndrome
Education Act (IDEA).
Make your voice heard!
!The web-based survey will
open February 1, 2015.
!You can complete the survey
online at http://www.esesurvey.com
Wednesday, April 1- Twin Day
or request a paper survey from
(We're All the Same Yet
your child’s school.
Unique in Our Own Way)
Your feedback is important in
Thursday, April 2 - Wear Blue
helping the state and local
for World Autism Day
school systems continue
improving educational
Friday, April 3- NO SCHOOL
programs for children with
special needs. Thank you!
FLORIDA’S 2014-2015
ESE PARENT SURVEY
February 1 – May 31
Parents! We need your help to
In Partnership,
Each year, the Florida
make Florida’s 2014-2015 ESE
Parent Survey a record
success!
For questions about the
survey, please contact Aimee
Mallini at FDOE 850-245-0916
or aimee.mallini@fldoe.org
A Message from:
Mindy Mansdorf, Guidance Counselor
Our 3rd and 4th grade children will be taking the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)
Reading and Math tests when they return to school from Spring Break.
The testing schedule is:
Tuesday, March 31: ELA Reading Session 1
Wednesday, April 1: ELA Reading Session 2
Tuesday, April 7:
Math Session 1
Wednesday, April 8: Math Session 2
Each of the above testing sessions is 80 minutes in length. The children and their teachers
have been working diligently, using all the strategies their teachers have incorporated into
instruction from the Florida Standards and are ready to show what they know. They will
shine!!
Our 5th grade students will test on the following dates:
Tuesday, April 14:
Science Session 1
Wednesday, April 15: Science Session 2
Tuesday, April 21:
ELA Reading Session 1
Wednesday, April 22: ELA Reading Session 2
Tuesday, April 28:
Math Session 1
Wednesday,April 29: Math Session 2
The statewide assessment program is designed to provide parents, teachers, policy
makers, and the general public, with information regarding how well students are learning
Florida's academic standards. We are confident that our children are prepared and will do
well. Please help us to ensure our children's success by making certain that they get a
good night's sleep the night before testing, eat a well balanced breakfast and have a
sweater with them in case they need one! Testing will begin promptly at 8:00 in the
morning. If your child is late they will not be able to test with their class and their teacher
for either session of the given test. Session 1 must be completed before Session 2 is
taken. Remember, this is the environment they are most comfortable with, and this will add
to their success!
Students are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including but not limited to cell
phones and smartphones, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom),
even if they are turned off. If your student is found with an electronic device, his or her test
will be invalidated. The best practice is to leave devices at home on the day of testing. If
your student begins a test session and leaves school before completing it (illness, etc.) he
or she will not be allowed to complete that test session. If your student does not feel well
on the day of testing, it may be best for him or her to wait and be tested on a make up day.
Please remember not to schedule appointment on testing days.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Ms. Mansdorf
at 754-322-6850. For more information about the FSA assessment program, please visit
the FSA Portal at www.FSAssessments.org. Thank you for supporting your student and
encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.