Principal: Michael Foxall
Phone: 603-298-8202
Principal Notes June 2008
Dear Parents:
Friday PM Sing: This past Friday we recognized our three retiring colleagues with song and merriment. While ours is a culture preoccupied with eternal youth, the experience, knowledge and wisdom accrued over time by Betsy Drinkwater, Pat Howe, and Connie Mackey is going to be missed in our school. In remembrance of their service we are planting shrubs on our campus. Thanks to all parents and guests who were able to attend to enjoy the sing and special ice cream social that followed. Thanks, too, to our West Lebanon PTO volunteers who helped in time and donations to the program.
Oversight: In my last letter I was remiss in mentioning the fact that Jen Smith, special education teacher, will be leaving at the end of the year. Jen has done an excellent job in her capacity as she filled in for Deb Kennedy, who is on a one year sabbatical. We all wish Jen (an alumni of Mt. Lebanon School herself) all the very best in her future endeavors.
June 16th is Step Up Day: This program is designed to help familiarize children with teachers, classrooms, expectations and activities in the next grade level. You will have received letters indicating class/teacher assignment prior to June 16. I wish to thank you as parents for your insights and best wishes for your children in this process, and the faculty and staff for the many thoughtful meetings that were conducted to ensure that all variables were considered in creating balanced heterogeneous class lists.
Annual Yearly Progress: According to proficiency standards established by the NH state Dept. of Ed., Mt. Lebanon was a school identified as not making annual yearly progress. The data from the third grade NECAP (New England Common Assessment Program) results are separated into seven categories of students, and the smallest number of students to be counted as group is nine. The categories listed are: 1. Gender, 2. Primary Race/Ethnicity, 3. LEP (Language/English Proficiency) Status, 4. IEP (students identified as qualifying for special services), 5. SES (Economically Disadvantaged Students), 6. Students of Migrant Families, and students who qualify for 7. Title 1 (Federal assistance).
We had eleven students in the group "economically disadvantaged", five of whom did not reach proficiency levels in reading and/or mathematics, most of whom also have individual education plans. Those five were the scores that determined that Mt. Lebanon School is a school in need of improvement. We are going to take an analytical and systematic approach to improving student learning, and we have already taken steps to identify those specific test areas where we might consider a more concerted emphasis in our instruction. At this time the state requires no formal submission of improvement plans. All parents can do their respective parts this summer to maintain and strengthen academic skills. Our purpose in sharing this information is to edify, not to judge. And
the following recommendations are addressed to ALL parents and students because ALL students will benefit if these suggestions are followed. We ask you to :
READ. Read with your children every day and set aside some quiet reading time in the house everyday. Lebanon has a summer reading program as well. Look for book sales in stores and at yard sales. Students who develop the reading habit are far more likely to be successful in school in the long run.
WRITE: Encourage your child to write stories, poems, and grocery lists. Keep a summer journal with your child in which you jot down the highlights of each day. Set a goal of writing 10 postcards to family members and friends. (We have a virtual family history of our travels just through post cards sent and received over the years.) Crossword puzzles are great for all ages, and the children enjoy filling in the “MadLib” books in the summer.
MATH: We have identified four distinct areas where, had our students performed just a little better on the tests, significant statistical differences would have been reported. (When a subset of skills may have only 7 questions, the difference between 6 correct and 4 correct is significant. It is doubly important then, to keep in mind just what these results are being based on.)
*U.S. Currency and especially COINS. Keep a coin jar. Have your child count and sort change. Talk about coin values using phrases like, "A dime is ten cents. It has the same value as two nickels or ten pennies." " Show me 5 ways to make 40 cents using only nickels and dimes." Have your child "make change". Play board games that use money.
*Fractions: It takes time for children to really grasp the concept of numbers less than one whole. The best way to support learning fractions in the summer is to divvy up pizzas, pies, fruit, and quarts of fruit juice. Talk especially about halves, thirds and quarters. This will reinforce, in a fun and nutritious way, the concept of fractions.
*Time: The digital age has decreased our reliance on the clock with hands. Talk about telling time using a traditional clock and the functions of the second hand, minute hand and hour hand. Talk about 60 seconds, 60 minutes, the hour and 24 hours. For adept math minds, use fractions in your discussion of dollars and time of day, the "o'clock"‚ (of the clock).
*Basic Math Fact Practice: Make your own FLASH CARDS. Accuracy is more important than speed. Five minutes a day will yield significant results.
It is important to remember that your child will take his or her cues from you. If he/she perceives these activities are a drudgery to you, it may become a drudgery for him or her as well. These activities should never be used as threats or punitively. Better not to do at all than threaten as punishment. Keep the activities interesting, fun, and challenging. I am absolutely confident that together, we can improve our children's learning.
Project Outdoors: Mrs. Drinkwater's letter updating you on the progress of our project is now posted on our website: http://lebanonmles.learningnetworks.com (Please note that Marilyn Wyzga, our artist in residence coordinator works with our own NH Fish and Game, not Vermont Fish and Game.) We will be setting a volunteer workday toward the end of school or right after the end
of school.
Notes from the Nurses office: See full newsletter at the site above.
Dates to Remember: Also attached:
* Math Camp: NOTE, This announcement is specifically targeted to those grade three students who qualified for the program, and who are not otherwise already receiving additional educational services. I apologize for any confusion this notice (attached to the hard copy that went home Monday, June 2) may have caused.
On behalf of all the wonderful teachers and paraeducators at Mt. Lebanon, thank you for your unstinting support of your child, your attendance at morning sing, meetings and conferences, for the many small and large donations of time, coins, snacks, treats, letters, notes, conversations and courtesies you extend in helping to make Mt. Lebanon School an exemplary family oriented school community. Our best wish is for yours to be a healthy, happy, safe and restful summer vacation with family and friends.
I will be in the office through the end of June. The building will be open to accommodate summer camp and tutoring. Inquiries about building usage should be directed to David McBride in the SAU office: 603-448-1634. I will not be in the office for the month of July but will return beginning August. I may be reached any time by email <mfoxall@sau88.net>, or by phone: 603-523-7235, if you have any questions or concerns.
Michael Foxall
Principal
Michael Foxall, Principal
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