3-6, Mark Your Cal.

 

Attention ELA (grades 3-12) and Math (grades 3-8) teachers administering NWEA MAP ELA and MATH Assessment…all others disregard.

 

All students in grades 3-12 ELA will be given NWEA MAP (Lexile) assessment three (3) times this year.  In addition, all students in grades 3-8 math will be given the NWEA MAP assessment three (3) times this year.  

 

Students are able to take both these assessments on their Chrome Books. Please note the following timeframe that the assessments MUST be given. We know that these dates are a little later than we have in the past. The reason for this is we want to be able to give students time to settle in and reduce the impact of summer slide and COVID slide on the data we receive from these assessments.

 

Both the ELA LEXILE and the Math MAP will be given during the same timeframe…please do not administer these assessments outside the testing window. The consistency ensures these assessments are common and is critical to the data analysis process. In addition, these dates are important so that we can upload the results to Infinite Campus.

 

NOTE MW: Merton Williams teachers, please work with your team to make sure you determine when you are giving the ELA assessment and when you are giving the math assessment. This is important so as to avoid the technology issue that can occur when two different assessments are given at the same time.

 

 

LEXILE and Math MAP Administration Dates
LEXILE and MATH MAP	Start Date	End Date
Assessment #1	September 27, 2021	October 22, 2021
Assessment #2	January 17, 2022	February 18, 2022
Assessment #3	May 9, 2022	June 10, 2022

 

Mid-summer Updates!

Team, 

I hope this message finds you with your feet up somewhere, enjoying all the relaxation you can squeeze in. Summer has been quiet and enjoyable here at QUEST, but we look forward to having the team and students all back come fall. In less than a month we will begin the 181 day process--adventure--of impacting kids...together! 

Below you will find some important updates, as well as information pertaining to summer day. Please look through carefully and reach out if you have any questions. 

Focus for 21-22

It was once said that when you have too many focuses, you really do not focus on anything at all. As we look toward the 21-22 school year, a few central focus areas for the district, and ultimately our school,  pop out: 

• 
  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity: We will dive deep into the CRE framework and look at best practices that promote a school--and classrooms--where every student, every day means EVERY student, EVERY day. 
• RtI: We will try to move the needle with RtI systems and pick-up where we left off pre-pandemic. Keep in mind that RtI does not simply mean RtI meetings, but rather the practices and systems that grow all students.  
• Culture/Climate: We will all work to do our part to build a positive culture at QUEST--one in which we walk in others' shoes. 

Summer Day

Summer day is set for August 25th starting at 9:30 in the auditorium. Not a problem if you can't make this day--please just remember to let Derek know what other day you will be in to complete your summer day to-do list. 

The Ice Cream social will be that evening from 6-7. Parents will be allowed to pop in the building to drop off supplies, but only if they have a mask on. 

The link below will take you to our agenda for that day. 

SUMMER DAY AGENDA

Need-to-Know

• Students who walk or get dropped off by parents will be entering the building at 8:40, which has been our usual start time; however, students taking buses will enter at 8:45 (or a minute or two earlier as buses trickle in). The high school needed to shift a procedure in the morning, and all elementary schools will now have buses drop off five minutes later than in the past. With that, dismissal for daily pick-up will be at 3:25 for this year (unless we get a last minute surge in pick-up requests and need more time), bus duty and K dismissal at 3:30, and the rest of the school at 3:35 (same as last year). 
• Mrs. O'Connell-Byrne will no longer be joining QUEST as she will be supporting VE next year. 
• 
   Please join me in welcoming: Tara Delvecchio (Health-Aide); Lisa Scottow (Library); Lance Trott (Psychologist); Kristin Tomczak (Duffy LTS)
• We have an opening for the math center TA that is currently posted.
• Liz T. and I are in the process of hiring a nurse. 
• Chris Steger will be with us full-time for the next three years as we have increased math center to 1.0. 
• QUEST will have a "Learning Lab" TA , .5. This person will work out of the library and will be there to support RtI plans and more individualized learning needs that pop up in the areas of ELA, Math, and executive functioning skills. We are in process for hiring for this position. 
• The Center for Youth (CFY) will officially be joining us this year. They will work out of the current computer lab, and will be there to support student behavior in a proactive, "teaching first" way. We will be working collaboratively to develop processes and procedures regarding how we work alongside the CFY. More to come. 
• The guidance from the state has been released and aligns with the CDC guidance. I have a meeting on Monday afternoon, so more information on building-wide procedures will be coming. 
  

In closing, I hope the remaining weeks provide you with plenty of time to knock an item or two off your bucket list. What a gift that we have a career where we hit a pause button each year, affording us a chance to recharge and come back ready to get reacquainted with our why. Until then, rest, recharge, and read a good book. We will see you soon!

Be well,

Derek 

A Warm Demander?

 Team,

Good read on warm demanders. As an educator, those first days of school set the tone for June. How can you ensure students see you as firm, but loving. Not too firm, yet consistent. Warm, but yet still having high expectations. Check it out: 

Read by clicking here!

Ice Cream Social!