INDEX
"Dear Parents!" - a word from the principal
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Art |
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Dear Parents,
By this time you have received the Report Card from the Prince George's County Public School System regarding the test results of the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) given for school year 2002-03. This was the first year this test was given under the Federal Law of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). There are 192 schools in the county and 70 of them made AYP. As you know Princeton Elementary made AYP. That means that we are making significant progress towards the goal of educating all the students in this building, no matter how diverse. The law states that all students must make 100% proficiency in all areas by the year 2014. The total proficiency level of Princeton Elementary Students
Grade 3, Reading-57.7
Grade 5, Reading- 41.2
All Students - 50.5
Grade 3, Math - 65.4
Grade 5, Math - 38.2
All Students- - 54.9
There are three important targets which combine to monitor school progress. These targets are Attendance, Meeting the Proficiency Level established for that year and Taking the Test (95% of all students). I would like to congratulate those students who are presently in fourth and sixth grades because they were last years' third and fifth graders who took the first MSA and did a great job. In order for Princeton to continue to be successful we need to have students complete all assignments, class work and homework in all areas. We need this to be done by each and every child. As students complete each year in school, they must meet specific proficiency grade level expectations in skills and knowledge. The student achievement performance of our school is judged against our own growth from year to year. Simply put the MSA tests how well our students read and do math (compute).
Students need to participate in the RED HOT READER PROGRAM, paying close attention to reading and selecting books that are interesting and challenging. Parents we need you to monitor book selection to ensure that your child has appropriate chapter books to read if they are in grades 3-6. He must include a written summary and a few interesting vocabulary words to receive full credit. Second grade students are doing exceptionally well transitioning from picture books to chapter books. They are writing great sentences and learning new vocabulary words. We are very excited because over 90% of our kindergarteners are reading, writing independently and participating in our reading incentive program. For students in grades K and 1 who are not reading independently a parent may read to that child and help him to write a sentence or two.
There is a need for parents to monitor the progress of their children in all grade levels in reading and in math. As students become older, parents need to allow them to show responsibility, but be available to give assistance to keep them focused on the significance of school success. Students with discipline problems will not be permitted to disrupt or waste classroom time. If necessary they will be suspended. Suspensions are caused by disrespect, insubordination, persistent disobedience, fighting etc. It is imperative that students come to school with all materials necessary, a good attitude and assignments complete. Please assist your child in the accomplishment of these goals. Teachers across each state in this country must follow an assigned curriculum with high academic standards focusing on ways to improve learning for all students. It is very important to staff at Princeton Elementary that we continue to deliver a quality education with rigor by measuring student growth in learning in order to ensure that our students have an opportunity to establish a firm academic foundation necessary to be successful citizens and life-long learners.
Make time to talk to your child's teacher to find out whether your child’s performance and academic achievement in reading is progressing using the following levels:
Basic-The lowest level of achievement, indicating that more work is needed to attain proficiency or is below grade level (BGL).
Proficient- The middle level of achievement, the minimum academic achievement expected for every child, on grade level (OGL).
Advanced- The highest level of achievement; challenging and exemplary level of achievement, indicating outstanding accomplishment, above grade level (AGL).
If your child is functioning below grade level please speak with your child's teacher so that together you can help your child reach his full potential. The goal of the MSA is for all students to perform at the proficient- ON GRADE LEVEL (OGL) or advanced-(ABOVE GRADE LEVEL) AGL.
This years testing will take place the last week in February and the first week in March. There will be four days of testing, two for reading and two for math. Each testing session will last 90 minutes each day with a break during the allotted time. Princeton students in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be tested this year. Please make sure that your child is here on time, well rested and encouraged to do his best.
“Teamwork requires many ingredients
….Be a part of the recipe!”
“Teamwork Make s The Dream Work!”
Cynthia J. Rodgers
Principal
Office Staff
We have now reached the point in the academic school year where school may need to close early or open late due to inclement weather. If it is necessary to delay the opening of school because of inclement weather, dangerous road conditions, or any other emergency which might arise, an announcement will be broadcast over radio stations before 6:30 a.m., Channel 96 and other television stations, and posted on the school system’s web page -- www.pgcps.org (click on “Weather Info.”) a. Two Hour Delay - Schools will begin two hours later than normal.
(1) There will
be NO work-study transportation. (Those students should NOT report to
school.)
(2) There will be NO Pre-K or half-day special education programs.
(3) All field trips will be cancelled.
(4) Food Services will offer breakfast.
• A delayed opening has no effect on dismissal time unless announced •
EARLY CLOSING FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER, EMERGENCIES, AND OTHER PROBLEMS
§ The announcement will be made prior to 10:15 a.m., if possible.
§ Regional Executive Directors and schools will be notified by the emergency communication system (Public Announcement System).
§ When the announcement is made for early closing, know your dismissal time, and immediately notify parents and staff.
§ When schools have a two-hour early dismissal, all half-day Pre-K and special education students will remain in school and be transported home with the regular afternoon dismissal.
§ All after school activities and events are to be cancelled.
§ Food Services will provide lunch.
Kindergarten
Do You Know What’s Happening In Kinderville This Month?
This month is a very busy month for the citizens of Kinderville. We will be off on a new field trip adventure, celebrating our special holidays and remembering to concentrate on all academic subjects, making reading our primary goal. In reading, we will focus on word family words and sentence structure. In math, we will continue identifying days of the week, numbers on the calendar, telling time on the hour, ordering events and counting money.
The field trip will be to the H.B. Owens Science Center to investigate creepy crawlers in their environment. This will surely bring out the scientist in us all. This will certainly correlate with our study of animal homes in social studies and science. Later in the month, we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with the ones we love, (look forward to more details to follow). Next, we will celebrate our 100th Day Of School. That means counting to one hundred, doing one hundred exercises, making chains with one hundred links, squashing one hundred balloons with our bottoms, writing one hundred words, etc. Yes, It will be Fun! This is also Black History Month. Thus, students will learn about famous African Americans, past and present.
As we look to reach many goals, one goal that is obtainable now is the goal of 100 percent participation in the Red Hot Reader Program. Parents please help us reach it.
Kindergarten Team
First Grade
Our Reading theme for February is called, Animal Adventures. What would you do if a mouse was in your house? What would happen if there was an alligator under your bed? The students will read fun stories and then write about them. February is also Dental Health Month. The students will learn about practicing good dental hygiene. In Science we will begin our next Plus Task called, Colossal Fossils. The students will learn more about dinosaurs by investigating fossils like real paleontologists do. We will go on a “pretend” dig to search for fossils. February is Black History Month. The students will read about famous African Americans. It will really be an exciting month. Be a RED HOT READER, and don’t forget to purchase a yearbook!
First Grade Team
Second Grade
REGROUP! REGROUP! REGROUP!
Please practice regrouping addition and subtraction with your child. This is a critical skill and needs to be mastered before the Third Grade.
Remember, the Red Hot Reader sheets are MANDATORY homework sheets. Students are required to read at least 15 minutes each night. Red Hot Reader forms let us know your child is meeting this requirement.
Congratulations to all of the students who made the Honor Roll for Second Quarter- keep it up!!!
Second Grade Team
Third Grade
As we enter the 3rd quarter of the marking period, please be reminded that if you would like to have a conference with your child’s teacher please do not hesitate to call and set up a conference time. As teachers, we are very flexible.
All money for our field trip to see Freedom Train on April 2, 2004 is due no later than February 9. The play traces the life of Harriet Tubman and the history of the Underground Railroad. Not only is the play educational, it also gives our students an opportunity to see a live performance.
Lastly, continue to encourage your child to read daily. This is the single most important thing that you can do to help your child succeed.
Third Grade Team
Fourth Grade
For the month of February we will be concentrating on MSA testing. Please make sure that your children get to school on time, eat a healthy breakfast and understand the importance of the test. Students also need to be aware that we will not tolerate any behavior problems. As some of you know we are enforcing after school detention to students who miss 3 or more homework assignments, no classwork completion and who continually disrupt class. This will be paramount during the next few weeks as we prepare for the MSA.
Soon students will be receiving permission slips for a few field trips we have planned. We will be seeing a play in Washington, DC and visiting the National Aquarium in Baltimore. These are two major trips that we have planned and we would love for all students to participate. Please be aware that these trips will cost approximately $15 each.
In honor of Black History Month, students will participate in a school program with Brown vs. The Board of Education as the theme. Students will also be completing an at home project on an influential black educator. Details about this project will be sent home soon.
We will be scheduling conferences soon to discuss the second report period grades.
We look forward to high scores and better grades in the future.
Fourth Grade Team
Fifth Grade
This is the beginning of the third quarter, already! Parents, if you are one who has not had a conference with your child’s teacher, please be sure you have been in contact to schedule a time. Many thanks to you who are working in collaboration with us to help your child be as successful as possible in class. Please continue to help support your child by making sure he/she is in school everyday and on time. Check to be sure he/she is set with necessary supplies. Be on the lookout for information on the planning for some field trips to be scheduled after MSA testing.
Fifth Grade Team
Sixth Grade
The sixth grade welcomes Ms. Hicks to Princeton Elementary School. The sixth grade is currently preparing for the MSA. The students are using the website www.brainchild.com, and the Omni Test Prep for mathematics and reading. We would like to congratulate the students who will be participating in the Black History Month Celebration: From Ms. Hudson’s class, Kristen Fowlkes and Frances Randolph. Ms. Hicks class, Tyeeshia West, Michaela Clifford, Lyana Melton, and Aaron Muse.
Congratulations to the students who were awarded The Students of the Month: Tyeeshia West and Aaron Blake.
Sixth Grade Team
CRI
Congratulations to all our students who earned Citizenship and/or Perfect Attendance certificates. You’ve worked hard and we are very proud of you.
February may be a short month but we plan to get as much done as possible. Number recognition, money, time skills, recognizing colors and color words, sight vocabulary and sound/symbol relationships will be focused on.
During this busy month, we will be going to Rolling Pins Bakery, bowling at AAFB, Baden Public Library for story time, the Giant in Clinton and Southern Maryland Hospital.
As always parents, thank you for all you do!
CRI Team
Counselor’s Corner
Career Day will be on April 23, 2004.
We are looking for volunteer presenters to make half hour presentations to our students. The start times are: 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30, 11:55am, 12:25pm, 12:55pm, and/or 1:20pm. We will work around the children's lunch and recess schedules.
Complete presenter applications are available online. If you are available for this wonderful event, please contact Mrs. Berces our school Guidance Counselor as soon as possible.
Best Wishes
C. M. Berces
Counselor
Reading Recovery
One goal of the Reading Recovery program is to help students become independent readers. The Reading Recovery teacher’s role is to teach children strategies that will help them become independent. Children should use these strategies at home while reading their take home books to their parents. Parents can help them use their strategies, when reading at home, by using the prompts on the Parental Reading Help Cards that were sent home earlier.
When a child gets stuck while reading a parent can:
Pause
Wait, count to five slowly 1…2…3…4…5
Say
“What would make sense?”
“Reread the sentence again and get your mouth ready for the first part.
“Look at the picture.”
“Give it a try.”
Praise
“That was a good try!”
“That makes sense.”
“I like that you noticed the first part…!”
“I like how you reread that part.”
Tell
After two helps say, “Could it be __________?”
Ask
“Does it make sense?”
“Does it sound right?”
“Does it look right?”
Enjoy the time you spend reading together!!
K Winslow
Red Hot Readers
Our Reading Recognition Program is Mrs. Rodgers Red Hot Readers. Please encourage your child to participate each month. Our challenge from Mrs. Rodgers is to see if we can read 10,000 books by May 30, 2004. Our progress was not encouraging for the month of December. Let’s make 2004 a greater year for reading! Due to the weather causing school cancellations and delays, January results will be published in February’s Princeton Press.
Students in grades K-6 receive a Pizza Hut Book It coupon for one free personal pizza each month that they meet the school’s reading goals through March. Please help your child earn school recognition of certificates, bookmarks, ribbons and pencils. We even have small trophies for readers of 50 and 100 books!
Students in grades 4-6 have been challenged by the Washington Wizard’s to read for 1000 minutes by Feb. 27th. The may use their Red Hot reader participation for this. They will be able to earn two rewards at the same time. There is a “pink” form for students to complete to show their reading times.
I hope to see greater participation from the intermediate grades in our reading recognition program. The county requires a minimum of 30 minutes of independent reading for homework on a daily basis. The Standards of Excellence requires student to read 25 books independently every year. Encourage your child to meet this academic goal.
Certificates are usually presented over Tiger TV but will be given to classroom teachers to present due to the several school cancellations.
February’s Red Hot Reader form requires the student to read a biography.
Mrs. C. Hanson
Reading Specialist
Testing
Students in grades2-6 have completed the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) Test. Scores are reported in lexile levels and proficiency levels. Certificates will be presented to our students who have progressed at least one proficiency level and have attained the proficiency levels of High Proficiency and Advanced Proficiency. Check with your child’s teacher about their progress in reading. Ask what ways you can help!
Students in grades 3-6 will be taking the Maryland State Assessment tests for reading on February 25 and 26th and math on March 3rd and 4th. Please make every effort to make sure that your child is present on these days. The tests are mandatory. Watch for your child’s curriculum guides with more information.
The First and Third grades completed the Otis Lennon Tests. As soon as we get the results they will be sent home with an explanation of the results for each individual student.
Catherine Hanson
Testing Coordinator
Achieve With Three
Students continue to work on their BCRs. They are answering open-ended questions, related to text they have been reading. When they have open-ended questions to do at home remind them to always support their answer with information from the text. In order to help students do their best on their BCRs they should now use Answer, Cite, and Explanation – ACE not FUSE . ACE is designed to guide students in answering their BCR correctly. A- answer the question; C – cite your answer from the text; E – explain your answer. Students should only be taking from 5 to 7 minutes to answer the BCR question.
Remember the goal of the BCR is to have students demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of the text. They should demonstrate this by addressing the question and using text-based (directly from the text) or text-relevant information (connected to the text) to clarify or extend understanding. Keep up the good work!
A nswer the question.
C ite your answer from the text.
E xplanation explain your answer.
K Winslow
Student Council Affairs
Coming Soon: Pennies for Patients
February 23- March 5
The Student Council is sponsoring a penny drive to benefit the Leukemia Research efforts. Students may donate pennies (or coins of all kinds) during these two weeks. A representative from the association will be here Friday February 20, 2003 for an assembly to educate our students about the importance of this research.
Tutoring Opportunities
The Educational Consulting Agency will help you locate private tutoring opportunities in various target subjects, skills, foreign languages, and test preparations for PG County students (K-Adult Learners)!
Please call 301-627-8345 or visit www.ecaontheweb.com for more information.
Student of the Month
Congratulations to the following students who have obtained the honor of being recognized as Student of the Month during the month of January:
Ms. Jacobson-Branden Roberts
Ms. Conway-Nevin Gaskins
Ms. Barbour-Mark Ellis
Mrs. Reyno-Korie Broadwater-Allen
Mrs. Scott-Jaydon Fields
Ms. Tucker-Diana Bobb
Ms. Preston-George Wicks IV
Mrs. Walker-Bryce Allen
Ms. Wells-Neesha Carter
Mrs. Toma-Scarlett Callahan
Ms. Ndenecho-Niasia Van de Cruz
Mrs. Gibson-Keith Sharkey
Ms. Stallworth-Jamall Lindsay
Mrs. Curtis-Jordan Garvin
Ms. Brown-Kontessa Roebuck
Ms. Leonard-Devany Degante-Cano
Mrs. Carter-Sujita Basnet
Ms. Paras-Iva White
Ms. Hicks-Tyeeshia West
Ms. Hudson-Aaron Blake
Upcoming Events
a 2/3 630 PTA Meeting
a 2/6 Honor Roll Assembly
a 2/9 Thornton Bill Rally
a 2/16 President’s Day
Schools Closed
a 2/27 African American History Celebration
a 3/2 Primary Election Day
Schools Closed
a 3/5 Picture Day
a 3/26 End of 3rd Grading Quarter
a 3/29 Schools Closed
a 4/5-4/12 SPRING BREAK
a 4/13 Students Return
a 4/14 Report Cards Released
a 4/16 Honor Roll Assembly
a 4/23 Career Day
a 5/4 630 PTA
a 5/11 Progress Reports Released
a 5/15 Early Childhood Conference
a 5/25 Spring Concert
a 5/28 Parent Math Day
a 5/31 Memorial Day
(Schools and Offices Closed)
a 6/1 630 PTA
Early Childhood Conference
May 15, 2004
9 AM – 4 PM
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Spring Break
April 5-12, 2004
Honor Roll Assembly
April 16, 2004
Career Day
April 23, 2004