Focus on the Fabulous
Our number one core belief is to increase academic achievement for ALL students, and looking at our end of year NWEA results it appears that we are accomplishing this goal! The end of the year scores are solid, across the board, for Skoglund Middle School. Our 6th grade students did especially well and had an average growth of 7.9 points in math, 7.7 in reading, and 6.1 in language usage. A year’s growth in 6th grade is anywhere from 4 to 6 points, depending on the subject area. So on average, our 6th graders grew over a year and a half in reading, math and language! The same is true for our 7th and 8th grade students. Seventh graders, as a whole, averaged 4.7 points growth in math, 4.3 in reading, and 4 in language usage. Eighth graders hit their target growth in all four areas, growing 4.4 points in math, 4 points in reading, 3.1 in language usage and 3.9 in science. The hard work of our teachers and students is showing in the test results and reinforcing the belief that quality planning, instruction and assessment lead to high achievement for all students. Way to go Vikings!
Ms. Donaldson’s kids have been having fun with a math project in which they were required to use common ratios in the human body to determine the measurements needed to design the principal some new clothes. Students worked in small groups and were given a few specific measurements, like the circumference of the head for example, and they were to use what was given to determine a comprehensive plan for designing clothes that would fit the principal’s body type. The class did some creative math and designed some pretty spiffy outfits! This project required students to use critical thinking and problem solving skills and incorporated a variety of disciplines, including writing, art, and math. Ms. Donaldson is continuing to challenge students in fun ways while keeping the rigor in the classroom high! Great work Ms. Donaldson.
Ms. Donaldson’s kids have been having fun with a math project in which they were required to use common ratios in the human body to determine the measurements needed to design the principal some new clothes. Students worked in small groups and were given a few specific measurements, like the circumference of the head for example, and they were to use what was given to determine a comprehensive plan for designing clothes that would fit the principal’s body type. The class did some creative math and designed some pretty spiffy outfits! This project required students to use critical thinking and problem solving skills and incorporated a variety of disciplines, including writing, art, and math. Ms. Donaldson is continuing to challenge students in fun ways while keeping the rigor in the classroom high! Great work Ms. Donaldson.
Rewind
We survived another busy week! Hip hip hooray! Monday I returned home from the CADA conference in Denver. That evening I reviewed lesson plans and scheduled walkthroughs for the week. Tuesday our kids took the writing assessment in their language classes. I had a couple of IEP meetings and a parent meeting. Wednesday morning I got into several classrooms and had a parent meeting before heading to Alamosa for the Hershey’s Track meet and monthly AD meeting. That afternoon I met with staff members for the required Master Contract Meetings. Thursday I headed to Denver again, this time with my son’s class to attend the Night at the Museum field trip. I was back in Center before noon, to work on paper work, check on the middle school track meet hosted by Monte in Center, and watch the baseball double header that afternoon. Sunday afternoon I worked on preparations for the upcoming baseball tournament that Center will be hosting. I attended the seeding meeting for the tournament that evening.
Forward Focus
I’m looking forward to spending the week in Center! No trips anywhere! Monday morning I will be meeting with the 5th grade team to discuss incoming 6th graders. We discuss student needs and make plans to ensure we can provide our new students with the support necessary for their success. I will be reviewing lesson plans and scheduling walk throughs for the week. I will also be working on some of my athletic director responsibilities. At noon, I will attend the budget meeting in the admin. office. I will also be celebrating the success of our Reading Plus students with a root beer float party. Mrs. Ramos has done an amazing job with this program and our kids have benefitted as a result. Mrs. Ramos took on this program with enthusiasm and worked hard to hold kids accountable and make sure that things ran smoothly. Her hard work and dedication is evidenced in the success rate of our kids on the Reading Plus program and in their NWEA scores! Monday afternoon I will travel to Sanford with the baseball team and watch our boys in action. They are the #1 seed in the end of the year tournament! Come watch them play on Friday morning. Tuesday I have IEP and RTI meetings. I will also be meeting with Mr. Jones to discuss our building action plan as related to the UIP. I will be meeting with Ben Kern from the HELM project and our kids will be attending the Wise Choices Assembly in the auditorium. Wednesday morning our kids will take the tech survey in their first hour classes. I will be getting into classrooms throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday. I will attend the meeting with the Lieutenant Governor in the afternoon on Thursday, and that evening we will be hosting our Parent Appreciation Night. All library books need to be turned in by Friday, so please remind students. We will also be starting the first round of the baseball tournament that morning at the park. The championship games will be held on Saturday, and our final track meet of the season will be taking place at Sangre.