Attendance Line Number - 490-3062

September 5, 2003

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Shepardson's Home Page:
http://schoolweb.psdschools.org/she/

	PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS		SHEPARDSON CHOIR
	CALENDAR		INNISBROOK COUNT DOWN
	25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION		PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
	ATTENDANCE LINE		CUB SCOUT INFORMATION
	SHEPARDSON CSAP RESULTS		How to Contact SIT / PTO / VIPS

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Thanks to all of you for attending the parent conferences held this week with your children's teachers! It is through this event that we can begin to develop the needed partnership to better understand your child's learning needs and to establish joint goals that will help ensure that each child will attain his/her highest level of performance. Working together for these common goals is a common indicator found in the highest achieving schools---where students are able to meet and often exceed our expectations. Special thanks to the teachers who worked extra long days after teaching all day. Knowing the value of communicating with you so early in the year has such positive rewards to offset the tiredness that naturally accompanies these days. We so appreciate working in a school community that values education and where parents will work with us as a partner for the best interest of their children. Thank you!

In this newsletter is a summary of the CSAP testing results from last spring. Teachers and a building committee will analyze the data and prepare a report to SIT. Parents will be receiving their personal copies of their child's performance by next week. We will also attach their performance on the levels testing which took place last spring. Classroom teachers use these testing results to determine the areas of focus needed for each child this year as they plan for instruction. In addition, teachers use periodical performance assessments to monitor growth as the year progresses. Targeting instruction to meet the instructional needs of the students is one the Best Practices identified for improving student achievement.

Special thanks to all of you who were patient as we muddled through "worms" in our computers, copiers that refused to work and rooms too hot to relax. Although these were simply "things" that didn't meet our expectations, I continue to be impressed with the positive attitude and willingness to do what is needed by the staff, students and parents at Shepardson. This is truly a special place to be! Have a wonderful weekend!

-	Mary Kay Sommers
	email: msommers@psd.k12.co.us

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SEPTEMBER 2003			SEPTEMBER 2003
Tues	Sept 9	PTO Meeting; 7:00 pm	Tues	Sept. 23	Individual Picture Day
Thurs	Sept 11	Cub Scout Info. Night 7:00 p.m.	Thurs	Sept. 25	SIT Meeting 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Fri	Sept 12	Innisbrook Kickoff Today	Tues	Sept. 30	First Choir Practice 7:45 a.m. (5th/6th)
Thurs	Sept. 18	Shepardson's 25th Anniversary 3:30 - 6:00 pm

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Please put Sept. 18th on your calendar for this special event. It will be a social time from 3:00- 6:00 p.m. and will include tours, picture viewing, and food.

At 4:45 we will recognize:

• 1978-79 Original staff, administrators and Board of Education
• Retirees of the original team: Patty Bell and Barb Erlandson Hyland
• Previous and current staff, students and families
• Reflection on the school namesake, Margaret Shepardson by her great niece Kathy Andrews
• Look to the future

YOU are all a major part of Shepardson's life and have contributed greatly in its growth and positive reputation. Please come and join in this celebration of learning and community!

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Just a reminder... If your student is going to have a late start or is going to be absent, please call the Attendance Line at 490-3062 and leave a message. Otherwise, for safety reasons, we will be trying to reach you to determine the reason for your child's absence.

This is a great help to our office staff and teachers!

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Last March, students across the state took Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) tests. Reading results for third grade students were released before the end of the school year. The rest of the results of these assessments were released to our district and statewide this summer.

Hopefully today, parents of students in grades 4-6 will receive their student's individual CSAP results in an envelope with their children's Friday folders. We encourage you to call us with any questions or concerns.

The CSAP is primarily a broad measurement tool that over time-gives us a clearer picture of our efforts at raising students to higher standards. These CSAP results demonstrate that Colorado's public school students and teachers continue to make steady progress in student achievement.

Because of more information being shared with the schools, we will be able to better use this information to assist us in the planning process for teaching and learning. Teachers will be analyzing these results this fall.

Classroom teachers continually measure and assess students in many ways to ensure they are making steady progress over time. CSAP is a snapshot of where children are in selected subjects at a certain time. It is not an overall measure of a child's educational experience.

What really matters is how individual children are doing in all of their subjects. Teachers continue to rely on daily classroom observation, student projects and grade-level tests of various kinds to gauge academic progress. CSAP is part of that array of assessment tools that teachers and parents can use to guide the continuing educational development of their children.

Below shows the percentage of students who scored at or above proficient last spring:

	Grade	Shepardson	Poudre School District	CO
Reading	3	88%	84%	74%
	4	84%	75%	63%
	5	82%	77%	66%
	6	89%	83%	67%
Writing	3	73%	69%	57%
	4	77%	65%	52%
	5	71%	64%	53%
Math	5	79%	66%	56%
	6	85%	69%	50%

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Mrs. Everett is looking for fifth and sixth graders who like to sing. The Shepardson Choir is going to be starting practices on Sept. 30! We will be meeting every Tues. and Thurs. morning from 7:45 to 8:25 in the music room. You don't need to try out, just come and join in the fun! The choir is looking for singers who like to have fun, will come to practices each week, and want to make the Shepardson Choir the very best!

Watch for the sign up sheet by the music room door starting Sept. 22 and be ready to make beautiful music starting Sept. 30! A letter will be sent home to all fifth and sixth graders on Sept. 26 with more information. Talk to Mrs. Everett if you have any questions.

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Start thinking about wrapping paper sales. Do you have the right paper for that special occasion? Sales dates will be September 12 - September 26. This year, you can also order on line at www.innisbrook.com using our school's code: 104621.

If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Liringis at 222-7903.

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• SIT recorder
• SIT non-parent community rep.
• PTO Vice President
• Policy Committee (7:40 every Tuesday)

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Shepardson's Cub Scout pack 194 is now recruiting all 1st through 5th grade boys. Come join us as we learn about the environment, our families, our community, and how to help others. We have fun filled den meetings with other Scouts at the same grade level. We have exciting Pack meetings and Pack events including the Blue and Gold Banquet, Pinewood Derby, Space Derby, Rocket Launch and overnight theme camps. An informational meeting and sign-up will be held September 11 at 7 pm in the Shepardson Gym or call Byron Alcorn at 226-5590.

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