Principal Message: What Works in Schools?

Unbelievably, we have completed the first month of school. By now, students and

teachers are settling into routines and expectations. This principal also has a routine. At the end

of each month, I gather my thoughts about the “message” for our monthly newsletter. While I

could go on and on about our great staff and students, this year I would like to take the

opportunity to share research about what makes a school effective. Simply, what works in

schools? The source of this research comes from “What Works in Schools: Translating

Research into Action” by Robert Marzano.

Marzano’s work indicates three main factors that support strong academic outcomes and

positive culture. The factors are found at the school level, teacher level and student level. Each

month I plan to highlight one or two aspects within each level.

One of the critical school level factors is parent and community involvement.

Involvement refers to communication and participation. Simply, high performing schools have families that are actively engaged in their child’s learning experience. The start of a school year

is a perfect time to get connected. While we tend to have fantastic attendance at our ready, set,

go conferences; communication and participation tend to dwindle during the school year. Based

on my experience, I would highly recommend the following;

 Read parent square emails (that is our primary source of school information).

 Check your child’s assignment notebook nightly.

 Contact your child’s teacher with questions or concerns. We like to solve problems

before they get bigger.

 Attend a PTO meeting or event.

 Volunteer to help at an event. For example, pumpkin-carving on Oct. 23rd .

We understand that life gets busy. (I have another whole speech on over-scheduling our

children’s lives-HA). In the end, we sincerely desire a strong partnership between home and

school. This year, we will work diligently to develop great readers, smart mathematicians,

and well-rounded young humans. We appreciate your support, ideas, and suggestions.

Mark your calendars for:

October 2nd - No School

Week of October 5th- Coin Drive

4th Grade Steam Club- Oct. 7-Nov. 4th

October 15th & 22- Parent Teacher Conference

October 15th & 22nd- Bookfair

October 23rd- Pumpkin Carving

October 29th- 4th Grade field Trip

October 31st- Happy Halloween!

Please remember:

*An extra Set of Clothes are needed at school for accidents as well as spills. Please keep an extra set in your child's backpack

*Shoes and Socks are needed on Phy Ed Days!- Especially during Roller Skating

*As the weather gets colder it is important to remember that we will continue to go outside as long as the temperature and/or windchill is above 0. Please make sure your child has a warm coat, hat, gloves or mittens and boots. If assistance is needed in getting any of these items please reach out to someone in the school office.

*The Lost and Found is growing! Have your child check for any missing items. We will donate anything left over the holidays and at the end of the school year.

Please see the message linked below from the Wellness Committee for October.

If your student is absent from school due to a medical appointment, please provide a note from the medical provider to have the absence medically excused. Please refer to the chart to determine when your child is able to come back to school after an illness.

Please see the Reading Calendar link below.

Happy Reading!