Welcome back! I hope each of you had a chance to reflect, rejuvenate and reunite with family and friends over winter break. We are back in full-swing at Greenwood, and have some exciting opportunities and changes to communicate in this week's E-news.
Parent Technology Presentations - 2 "Must Attend" Session Options:
1. Social Media 101: What EVERY Parent Needs to Know About Social Media - and What Many Kids ALREADY Know!
Thursday, Jan. 10th
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Chances are...if you are unfamiliar with the apps Instagram or KIK your child has heard of them...or will soon enough. Truth-be-told, these apps are one way our children choose, or will choose, to communicate. With all of these expanded opportunities to communicate in and outside of school comes the reality that children will use these tools to explore who they are and who their friends are. This session will equip parents with important information to engage and support their children as they grow up in an increasingly hyper-connected world full of opportunities and potential pitfalls. MyWay resources and iPad information will also be provided.
2. MyWay & iPads: A Hands-On Parent Seminar
Thursday, February 7th
8:30-10:45 a.m. in the Media Center
Learn key elements of the district's iPad roll-out and how student learning will continue to take center stage. Important information that parents should know about digital citizenship and supporting students technology fluency and safety will also be provided. Parents will be interacting first-hand with the session content using the school's iPads.
Morning Drop-Off & Home Base Doors
Beginning January 14, Door #9 will be locked before school and throughout the school day. It will be unlocked by Home Base staff at 2:10 p.m. and supervised by Home Base staff for evening pick-ups until 6:15 p.m. Students being dropped-off or walking to school should plan to enter through the main entrance in the front of the school, and a staff member will be available at the drop-off lane to guide students in this direction. Any Home Base parent needing access through Door #9 during the school day should telephone the Home Base program for assistance. The main entrance to the school will remain open to families, and all visitors should continue to check-in at the front desk. A greeter desk is also in place to help with questions, and after guests have signed-in.
2nd Grade MAP Testing
This January, students in 2nd grade will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®). MAP tests are used to determine students' instructional level and to measure academic growth in the areas of Reading and Mathematics. Our district will also use the January MAP results as one piece of information for the district-wide Vision 21 identification process for 2nd grade students.
For more information on MAP tests click here.
3rd Grade Parents
As part of the new, district-wide identification process for Vision 21 services, Wayzata Public Schools administers the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screening Form to all second grade students. Current third grade students were tested last spring. The purpose for administering the CogAT Screening Form is to assist in Vision 21 screening decisions at the elementary level. It is just one of multiple information sources used in the identification process.
For more information on: the CogAT Screening Form click here, and how to access your 3rd grade child's scores, click here.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Brad Gustafson, Principal
