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February 23, 2015  
IN THIS ISSUE:
Principal Post
Class Picture Day is Coming
Dragon's Lair Used Book Faire
February 19 Special General Meeting Results
Pantry Packs Food of the Month
Math Challenge 7
Lake Washington Schools Foundation News
ASB News
Principal Post

This year all Washington schools are transitioning their standardized testing protocol in grades 3-5 from the MSP to the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA).  This assessment will be used by approximately half of the states this year, and measures student progress towards the new Common Core Standards. The standards are more rigorous than those previously measured by the MSP, and will require students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in different ways than our previous assessment required.  Additionally, the assessment window and activities are dramatically different from the past. We will be assessing students in various grade levels and content areas between the end of March through June.  This is due in part to the new state law that requires schools to report a student's current reading level in grades K-4 to parents on the end of year report card.  In order to meet this requirement, we need to have testing completed and results returned prior to the end of school.  Students in grades K-2 will have their reading level assessed through their DIBELS assessment, which we have always delivered three times per year.

Student attendance on assessment days is essential to their success.  Students will be allowed to participate in class discussions, brainstorming, and research that will be difficult to replicate if they are absent.  I urge parents to be aware of their student's assessment dates, and to support their success by ensuring that families do not plan for appointments or vacations during that time. I will be sending more information to families to support students during this process in the coming weeks, and parents should expect to learn specifics of their child's classroom from their teacher.  The Dickinson/Explorer staff is dedicated to learning all we can from this new assessment, and using the results to improve the teaching and learning for students at our school.

 
Karen Barker
Principal

 

Attachment: SBA Calendar for Dickinson/Explorer

 

Class Picture Day is Coming

Friday, March 6

 

Dragon's Lair Used Book Faire
March 23-27
Donate books, games and movies now! 
The Fourth Annual Dickinson/Explorer Used Book Faire (Dragon's Lair) is in 4 weeks!  In order to make this sale yet another stunning success, we need your donations. A collection box is in the school lobby. Please clear out those unwanted books and games, and send them on to be enjoyed by another eager reader. We accept children's books of all ages, as well as 'grown-up books.' We also accept movies on DVD or video (G or PG only please). Sorry, we don't take magazines. Accept the challenge! Clear out those shelves to make room for new treasures. I can't wait to see what you dig up!
Questions?  Email: Wendy Woolsey at 
[email protected].

February 19 Special General Meeting Results
The proposed change to our standing rules passed.  Standing Rule #3 will now read: 
From:  This unit serves children in the Emily Dickinson and Explorer School community.
To:  This unit serves children in the Emily Dickinson community: Emily Dickinson Elementary, Explorer Community School and the Emily Dickinson Preschool. 
The attendance and participation of the general members Thursday night is much appreciated.

Pantry Packs Food of the Month

February is I HEART Fruit! We'd love to gather single serve fruit. This can be anything from raisins to fruit cups (no foil lids, please) to fruit leather to fruit snacks. Dried fruit! Fruit in fruit juice! We'll take it all. Thanks very much for your generosity, Dickinson and Explorer!

 

Math Challenge 9
Math Challenge 9 will be available February 27
It's not too late to join Math Challenge! Math Challenge is a free math enrichment program for Dickinson & Explorer students. Math Challenge 9 will be online February 27. To participate:

1) Go to this link.

2) Print out the current Math Challenge, neatly write your name, grade and teacher at the top.

3) Solve as many problems as you can. Be sure to pay attention to the minimum number required for your grade. Remember to ask for help if you need it!

4) Submit your solutions by the due date.

5) Check online the following week to see the answers.  

 

We will keep track of your submissions and will award randomly drawn prizes for some of the challenges! At the end of the school year we will give recognition to students who successfully complete at least 12 sets of challenges. The program is completely free and no sign-up is necessary. If you have any questions, please contact  [email protected].  Good Luck!


Lake Washington Schools Foundation News
February 2015
Save the Date! Lake Washington Schools Foundation is celebrating 10 years of investing in kids! Please join us April 29 at Juanita High School to be inspired by LWSD students and teachers and learn how you can be part of their success!

This year's luncheon is a celebration of the nearly $2 million invested over the past 10 years and will raise funds to continue investing in core academic, intervention and enrichment programs for our students. Interested in being a table captain or volunteering at the event? Do you have a student who needs volunteer hours? Do you know someone interested in corporate partnership? Please visit our website for more information.

Reaching for Success Grants. Just a reminder that applications are due to the Foundation office on February 27 at 4:00 PM. Here's the link with more information: http://www.lwsf.org/teachers.html
Thank you and we hope to see you in April!

ASB News

No news this week.


 

Community Fliers, Events, and Information

Remember to check the Community Bulletin Board for sports registrations, community events, lectures, parenting classes, camps and other important information. Here are just a few of the many items on the board and from the community:

 

Become The Parent You Want to Be with Positive Discipline.  Multi-week workshop starts this Wednesday, for more information, click here.

 
Understanding Our Kids Online & Offline Social World: Friendships, Cliques & Social Power Plays.  A special presentation by children's advocate and author Trudy Ludwig. March 3, 6-8pm, Redmond Middle School. More information can be found here.

 

Flyers available in the Lobby: Advantage Basketball Outreach.

 

Girls Rock In Science & Math (GRISM), is holding a math and science competition for girls in 3rd to 5th grade. This is the second year of GEMS. Last year, over 100 children from schools as far as Kent attended the competition and everyone really enjoyed it.  More information can be found here.

 

For Your Calendars  

February

24 Kindergarten Tours, 10am

24 PTSA Special Needs Group Meeting, 7-8:30pm, LWSD Resource Center

26 Kindergarten Tours, 1pm


March

6 Class Picture Day

6-7 Little Theater Performances

13 No School LEAP Day

23-27 Used Book Fair

24 PTSA Special Needs Group Meeting, 7-8:30pm, LWSD Resource Center


 

School District Calendars  |  Dickinson PTSA Calendar

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MESSENGER NEWSLETTER

 

THE VIRTUES PROJECT

 

February's Virtue is Honesty

 

 

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL WHILE YOU SHOP!   
   
Simply click the amazon school rewards box before shopping and 4-10% of your purchase goes to our school, automatically!