3/19/12

Dear Bixby Families,

Our teachers and staff members have been working hard to meet the needs of all of our Bixby students and prepare them to reach their end of the year goals and standards. This year, we have continued our focus of differentiating instruction by teaching students in small groups based on a particular needed skill, and including the dimensions of Depth and Complexity for our advanced learners. Thinking Maps® are being used to help students become aware of the thinking skills that drive their learning, and active participation strategies are used to keep students engaged and to check for understanding. Our recreation team is teaching Peaceful Playground games on a consistent basis and sharing the rules with the classroom teachers for consistency. Many VIPS have been reading with small groups and practicing math with flashcards. Our Safe & Civil Team is working on completing our Guidelines for Success, and very soon it will be published and posted all over campus. I am very proud of their efforts to implement these best practices.

Research shows that consistent school attendance is one of the most important variables in student achievement.  When children are absent from school, they lose precious instructional time and the school loses money that supports instructional needs.  Instruction that has been delivered and concepts that have been developed are never as powerful when presented the next day as a review or “catch up”.  A typical school day is full of learning!  When your child is absent he/she misses such learning activities as a lively student discussion, the opportunity to work in a team to get started on a project, or take a practice quiz for an upcoming spelling test, etc.  When your child is absent, he/she is denied the opportunity for on-the-spot clarification from the teacher about instruction.  A school day lost can never truly be recaptured.

If your child is absent, you must send a note to the teacher upon his/her return to school.  Absence- excuse notes are a legal requirement.  Please let us know if any absence is anticipated to be longer than three days, and we will arrange homework as appropriate. 

Students also lose instructional time when they are late for school.  When a child is tardy, it starts the day “off kilter”.  It is sometimes difficult to catch up with classmates after coming to school late and the arrival of late students interrupts the flow of instruction.  If your child is late, they are to go directly to the office to receive a tardy slip. Please do your best to make sure that your child arrives at school on time. We want to celebrate students’ success whenever possible.  “Perfect Attendance Awards” will be given to each student, for each trimester they have had perfect attendance. 

This year, STAR testing window for grades 2-5 is April 23 through May 16. A schedule will be sent home as we get closer to the start date.  Please make sure your children are present, fed a healthy, protein packed breakfast, and are well rested during the testing window to help them do their very best. The California Education Department has English Language Arts and Math practice tests in English Language Arts and Math called “Blueprints”.  They contain grade level sample questions which mirror the California Standards Test. If you would like to review the questions or practice with your child, the sample questions and answers can be accessed at:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/blueprints.asp

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp

You are also invited to attend the upcoming Parent Education workshop, “Understanding the Testing Process” to be held in Bixby’s auditorium on April 5, 2012at 5:00 pm.

Sincerely,

Ms. Jones

April 18th - Western Family BBQ

May 25th - AMERICAN FLAG DAY!

               Red, White & Blue!

June 1st -   ALOHA!  & 
             CRAZY Sunglasses Day!

Here are some places to go to get information to help both you and your kindergartener get ready for the first day of school.

Immunization Requirements

LBUSD Parent Guidelines - English

LBUSD Parent Guidelines - Spanish

ABC - Ready to Read

Literacy Activities: What Your Child Learns

Dear Bixby Families,

Student grades are not currently posted on elementary sites.