Peirce School

March is right around the corner, and for grades 3 through 5 here at Peirce, it means the start of MCAS season.  Our students will partake in the ELA (English Language Arts) MCAS beginning March 20th. 

Many of you will have questions about the test, such as “How do I talk to my child about it?” and “What does it mean?”.  While there are no simple answers to either question, it does bring up a lot of discussion.

As for talking to your child about it, it may be best to ask your child’s teacher, and your child, what the discussion has been in the classroom.  The students have been preparing for this since Kindergarten, they should not feel the test is something they have to start studying for now.

As for “What does it mean?”, the best I can offer is this; it is one way to measure your child’s learning, but it is certainly not the only way.  Many children express their understanding in ways that can not be reflected in a standardized test.

A new piece to MCAS last year was the addition of SGP (Student Growth Percentile).  Many of you have asked what this is, and I’ve found this description from the Department of Education:

“For K-12 education in Massachusetts, the phrase “growth model” describes a method of measuring individual student progress on statewide assessments (the MCAS) by tracking student scores from one year to the next. Each student with at least two consecutive years of MCAS scores will receive a student growth percentile, which measures how much the student changed relative to other students statewide with similar scores in previous years. Student growth percentiles range from 1 to 99, where higher numbers represent higher growth and lower numbers represent lower growth. This method works independently of MCAS performance levels. Therefore, all students, no matter the scores they earned on past MCAS tests, have an equal chance to demonstrate growth at any of the 99 percentiles on the next year’s test. Growth percentiles are calculated in ELA and mathematics for students in grades 4 through 8 and for grade 10.”

If you have further questions, you can visit the Massachusetts Department of Education’s website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas.

 Their website also contains previous MCAS questions if you want to take a look.  I personally love to take a shot at the question of the day.

I hope you have found this information helpful, and again, don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher for any advice on how to get through it.  We do great as a school, and I have confidence that we will do well again this year!

After recent Advisory Council, PTO and redistricting meetings, I wanted to answer some questions that seem to come up repeatedly.  I hope this is helpful in clarifying some issues:

Q1) Is Peirce going to house all the elementary special education programs for Arlington after redistricting?

The answer is no, Peirce already has two.  We have our co-taught, inclusion program in one classroom at each grade, and we are housing a SLC – A program during the Thompson rebuild.  There are no plans to add another program.

Q2) Does Peirce have the all elementary special education programs housed here?

No, almost every other elementary school in Arlington houses one or more special education programs.  If they do not it is because they do not have any space.

Q3) Are inclusion students sent here because they were a behavior problem at their home school?

No, there is a special program for students with severe behavioral problems housed in another school. 

Q4) Are the majority of students in the inclusion program children with special needs?

No.  Inclusion students who are here from other schools make up 11% of our total population.  And they are all fabulous, contributing members of our school.

I hope this helps to clear up any misinformation you have been hearing.  As always, you can contact your child’s classroom teacher(s) with questions or concerns.  They know what is going on inside the classrooms better than anyone else, and they are eager to share their expertise!

 
Wednesday, January 25th, is National No Name Calling Day.
As you may know, we use the Open Circle Curriculum to teach students about the adverse effects of teasing, name calling, and bullying.  This day fits in very well with that curriculum.
Please join us by taking some time before Wednesday to discuss the cruel and sometimes dangerous effects of name calling with your family.

As a school, we are always eager to talk about all the support we give to students when they are having a hard time in school.  If they fall behind in reading, we can give them extra help within the day.  If they are having a hard time getting along, or wrestling with anxiety, we connect them with professionals.  But what about the kids who are doing well, and could be pushed to excel? What do we do for them?  Teachers often neglect to share the fabulous activities they have for those students as well. 

As a public school, we have seen terrible cuts over the last decade, and unfortunately, many cuts come from programs that were intended to challenge our most advanced students.  It has fallen on the classroom teachers to make sure all students are getting what they need, despite having tremendous differences in the abilities of their students.  Additionally, legislation requires that they focus on closing the achievement gap between struggling and on-level students.  So what do they do?

Here at Peirce, they do quite a lot.  From ‘Think Tanks’ to “Challenge of the Week” problems, teachers at every grade level are aiming to meet the needs of their advanced students.  Sometimes, just getting through the broad curriculum they need to cover is challenge enough for even our strongest students.

If you aren’t sure what opportunities your child is receiving for challenge, ask your classroom teacher.  If there isn’t enough time in your child’s busy school day, ask what you can do at home as well.  Our teachers are full of creative ideas!

I want to wish you all “Happy Holidays” and a great holiday break. 

I recently enjoyed a musical version of Dicken’s ”A Christmas Carol” and I was struck by a line I have heard so many times before, “Mankind should have been my business”.  This is the deceased character Jacob Marley responding to Scrooge’s comment that he had been a good business man in life.  I thought about the staff and families here at Peirce, and I am so glad all of you, every day, make mankind your business.  Great work goes on here.

Have a joyful and peaceful New Year.

I hope the holiday season is going well for all of you.  This time of year can feel hectic, so it might help to know that things are going great here at Peirce!

Last week, I watched first graders learning about weather, and sharing some great ideas.  I learned that many of them are Shel Silverstein fans!

This week, I observed second graders working on some difficult math concepts, regarding area.  When they were asked about a math game they know, called “Guess My Rule”, many students remarked that it was a game they play to ‘discuss the characteristics of a shape’.  Characteristics???  That’s impressive for second grade!!!

In third grade, I joined a science lesson on comets.  The students were nice enough to explain to me that they are not stars (even though people call them shooting stars) and they are made of dust, ice, and gas. I wish I could have stayed long enough to make one with styrofoam and glitter!

Things here at school are running smoothly.  It is nice to walk into a room and feel so welcome, and to see the teachers and students acting so kindly towards each other.  We are so lucky to have such a great community!!!

Another Thanksgiving is here, and we are all thinking of things we are thankful for.  I wanted to take a minute to share my list:

I am thankful for a supportive community who puts their children first.

I am thankful for hard-working teachers who work tireless hours meeting the needs of all our children.

I am thankful for my entire staff, who make Peirce a great place to work.

I am thankful for parents who contribute so much positive energy and expect nothing in return (we know who you are!!!).

I am thankful for not having snow days yet.

I am thankful that I work at such a great school.

Have  a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!