MONTEREY RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Message sent - 11/2/2009

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
~ Voltaire

MAPs FOR PARENTS IS THIS THURSDAY AT 6PM
I am certain that almost all of you have heard about MAPs testing or RIT scores. On Thursday, November 6th I will be hosting a parent evening dedicated to discussing MAPs (Measures of Academic Performance). I will focus on discussing what MAP testing actually is, why we do it, how we use it and the powerful connection it serves for our students and teachers. I hope you will join me for this informative evening. We will meet in the MPR at 6:00 PM.

COMPASS LEARNING – AN HOUR A WEEK
Compass Learning is a huge part of our efforts to ensure that students have an individualized learning program that is web based and accessible from home. The research from Compass Learning (CL) shows that students who access the program a minimum of an hour a week show significant improvements in their academic growth. Our own data also supports the fact that in addition to the predominant role played by classroom instruction those students who regularly access CL and use it for a minimum of an hour a week show significant academic growth.

A COMPASS LEARNING JING FOR PARENTS ON HOW TO USE CL REPORTS
Below you will find a link to a JING which was created specifically as a way to share information directly with you. This JING walks you and your child step by step through the process of how to access reports on CL, how to have your child retake an activity in which she/he was not successful, and how to monitor the progress of your child’s work on CL. Make sure you have your volume turned on as there is both a video and audio component to the JING. I hope you enjoy this new way in which I hope to periodically share information with you.
                                      How To Use Compass Learning Reports

CONFERENCE DAYS FOR PROGRESS REPORTS – NOV. 16-20

Please note that progress reports and conference days are fast approaching. During the week of November 16-20 school will dismiss at 12:45 to allow for parent/teacher conferences.

NEW LOOK FOR e-PACKET
You may have noticed that our e-Packet has changed a bit. Thanks to your suggestions we have now added a link underneath each flyer so that you can click only on the flyers you want to preview rather than have to scroll through all of them. Please feel free to continue to share your thoughts on how we can improve our communication with you.

CANNED FOOD DRIVE
Our canned food drive begins this week and will last for the next three weeks. We are aiming to collect at least one can of food from each and every child to help those less fortunate. A red bin will be located in each village family room to collect the cans. This is a great opportunity for us to help our children learn to be citizens who give back to their community!

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
On Friday, November 6 we will be honoring our Character Counts Students of the Month at our Student Council led Breakfast of Champions before Friday Flag. As I am certain you are aware, our commitment to character education is strong. We want to celebrate students who exhibit the behaviors of the Pillar of Character we emphasize each month. Over the course of the school year we celebrate the six Pillars (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship) to help us bring character education alive and provide a barometer to help guide our students' decision making. Thanks again for joining us in helping build the minds and characters of our students.

LOCKDOWN DRILL
We continue to work on our emergency response to all types of situations that could possibly occur on campus. This week we will be having a lockdown drill. A lockdown would be used anytime students need to be contained and protected inside the building. Students will be asked to sit on the floor out of view of the windows, doors in the school will be secured and locked, and attendance will be taken so that each student is accounted for on campus.

NO SCHOOL - VETERAN’S DAY
There will be no school on Wednesday, November 11 in honor of Veteran’s Day.

Dr. Rich Newman.

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