March 7, 2008

A Message From Mrs. Starr

In preparation for our standardized assessments, I will be writing a series of articles about these assessments and strategies to assist your child at home prepare for these tests.

*****WHY MSA  or TERRA NOVA  2?*****

I am fully aware that there is a discussion throughout the country on the value of the upcoming assessments and whether or not too much time and emphasis is being placed on these standardized assessments. The Maryland State Assessment (MSA) administered to students in grades 3, 4, and 5 is a test of reading, math, and eventually science achievement. (For the first time students in grade 5 throughout the county will be assessed in science on the MSA in April. This data in science will serve as a baseline for grade 5 for future 5^th grade yearly assessments in science. Last year’s data was used to pilot test items.)This test provides educators, parents, and the public valuable information about student, school system, and state performance.

Did you know ?

Ø      MSA student performance data assist the school in the development of its School Improvement Plan and goals for the coming school year.

Ø      Staff at Woodfield Elementary closely analyzes all available data obtained from this assessment, as well as classroom performance, and other subject related assessments throughout the year, to monitor student learning and plan appropriate instructional programs utilizing students’ strengths to improve individual student performance in need areas.

Ø      Woodfield Elementary staff recognizes that this assessment is only one measure of student performance on a few days of the school year.

Ø      The Woodfield staff works diligently to ensure that while students understand why these assessments are important, it is the students’ mastery of the day to day curriculum that is being taught to your children, utilizing quality instructional practices, that is of primary importance in determining student achievement.

Ø      Students are encouraged to do their best. That is all that anyone can ask of them!

Want to know more about MSA - Well keep reading!!

• Standardized tests have been used to measure student achievement for many years.
• Over the past few years, these tests have become more important across our nation.

• This test meets the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
• Many states, including Maryland, have defined specifically what students should know and be able to do, grade by grade. Maryland, like other states, use standardized tests to measure how well students achieve these goals.
• The test assesses the Maryland content standards in mathematics and reading.
• It is administered in elementary schools to students in Grades, 3, 4, and 5, as well as to students in middle school.
• Scores from the March administration are expected to be available during the summer.
• MSA scores show how well Maryland children have learned the reading and mathematics skills in the Maryland Content Standards. MSA scores will also show how children performed compared to other students across the nation.
• The test includes both selected responses (multiple choice) and brief constructed responses (short essay answers.)
• The student will receive a score in both reading and math that indicates whether his/her performance is within the basic, proficient, or advanced range. The goal is that all students will perform on the proficient or advanced level.

Please make sure that your child is present and on time, especially on the test administration days. All assessments will be given in the morning. Please make sure that you make all appointments in the afternoon on those grade level test days. Please refer to the test calendar below. Thank you for helping us ensure that our students do their absolute best!

SPRING TESTING SCHEDULE

Assessment                            Testing Window                                 Testing Group

MSA Reading                        April 1-2                                              Grade 3 and 4

                                                April 3-4                                              Grades 5

MSA Mathematics                April 8-9                                             Grade 3 and 4

                                                April 10-11                                          Grades 5

MSA Makeup                        April 14-16                                          Grades 3-5

Terra Nova 2                          April 28-May 2                                   Grade 2

MSA Science                         May 5-May 6                                     Grade 5

Spring Break

Friday, March 21 – Friday, March 28             Spring Break - No School

Montgomery County Recreation Department – Summer Camps

The Montgomery County Recreation Department has a booklet listing Woodfield Elementary as a Summer Fun Center.  This is an error.  The booklet went to print before it was determined that Woodfield Elementary   would be having improvements this summer so our building will not be available for any summer programs.   Please call 240-777-6840 for Summer camps offered near Damascus.

Donuts for Dad – Compliments of the PTA

Dads are invited to enjoy a morning of donuts, coffee and juice with your child at Woodfield Elementary in the cafeteria.  Please join us on the date according to the first letter in your last name.

March 13  Last names   A – M                March 14  Last names   N – Z            8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Any questions, call Julie Torrence @ 301-391-6642

Will Your Child Be Attending Woodfield During the 2008 – 2009 School Year?

Since the level of staffing allocated at Woodfield is based on projected enrollment, it is important for us to have information regarding your plans for the 2008 – 2009 school year.  Please call the office @ 301-253-7085 as soon as possible if there is a possibility that your child will not be returning to our school for the coming school year! Thank you!

International Night

International Night is Friday, April 25^th.  To date, we have 20 families participating in this fun event.  We are hoping to get more families/students to come out and celebrate your heritage.  You can also work in groups and present a country of choice.  If you have any questions, please contact Siobhan Kopp @ (301)414-0457 or gandskopp1@verizon.net.

Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart Forms

The jump rope and hoops for heart forms may be turned in the Week of March 17, 2008.

Kindergarten Orientation Dates Are Scheduled

Kindergarten Orientation for children who will be five years old on or before September l, 2008, will be held at Woodfield Elementary on April 17 and April 18. On these dates, there will be no school for our current kindergarten students. Please call the office to provide the school with your child’s name. If you know of families who do not have students currently at Woodfield but have children who will be in kindergarten next year, please share this date with them. More information will follow.

Author Hilary Hyland – Rescheduled for March 12th

Author Hilary Hyland is coming to Woodfield ES on Wednesday, March 12th. 

Damascus Cluster NAACP Parent Council

The next NAACP Cluster Meeting will be Thursday, April 3rd at 7:00 p.m. @ DHS.  We will meet in Room 120 and Child Care will be held in the Cafeteria.

The Damascus Cluster NAACP Parent Council is offering free help for students who will be taking state tests.  Volunteers will be on hand 3-5 p.m. every Sunday through March 16 at the Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, to help students sharpen their skills in preparation for the Maryland State Assessments tests and High School Assessment tests. 

SGA Spirits Days

The SGA will be sponsoring the following spirit days:

Friday, March 14  Hawaiian Day               Wear something colorful

Monday, March 17  St. Patrick’s Day        Wear something green

Maryland Summer Centers

The Maryland State Department of Education recently announced the schedule of upcoming Maryland Summer Centers for students entering Grades 5 through 12.  The Maryland Summer Centers program offers unique instructional experiences for gifted and talented students and gives them the opportunity to work in settings and with resources not available during the regular school year.

Centers are located throughout the state and offer one- to three- week residential and non-residential programs with a focus on the arts, creative writing, sciences, mathematics, technology, Chinese language and culture, engineering, law and government, physics, and history.  Activities are designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while challenging students academically.  Tuition ranges from $100 to $700.

The 2008 Maryland Summer Centers brochures are available in the school office, as well as, a copy of the catalog of programs for viewing.  Brochures, application forms and a video featuring the Summer Centers may also be found on the website of the Maryland State Department of Education at www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters.

Applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 15^th, except for Fine Arts Centers, which have earlier deadlines.  Materials are available in Spanish translation upon request.  For more information, call Stephanie Zenker at 410-767-0821.

2008 Important Dates

Wednesday, March 12                         Hilary Hyland – Author Visit

Thursday, March 13                                         Donuts for Dads  A – M  8:00 – 8:30

Friday, March 14                                             Donuts for Dads   N – Z  8:00 – 8:30

Monday, March 17                                          St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 18                                          Science Expo

Friday, March 21 – Monday, March 24          Holidays – Easter (Note: Passover begins at sundown 4/19) Tuesday, March 25 – Friday, March 28 Spring break – No school for students and teachers

Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30          Autism Awareness Month

Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30          Arab American Heritage Month

Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 30          Month of the Young Child Celebration

Tuesday, April 1                                               PTA Meeting  7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 2            MSA Reading Grades 3 and 4

Thursday, April 3                                              NAACP Cluster Meeting @ DHS 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 3 – Friday, April 4                   MSA Reading Grade 5

Friday, April 4                                                  Third marking period ends

Saturday, April 5                                              Frederick Keys for Reading Baseball Game – 2:00 p.m.

Monday, April 7                                               Professional day for teachers – No school for students

Tuesday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 9            MSA Mathematics Grades 3 and 4

Wednesday, April 9                                          Flyer Distribution Day

Thursday, April 10                                            5^th Grade Family Life Parent Meeting – 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 10 – Friday, April 11   MSA Mathematics Grade 5

Monday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 16        MSA Make-up Window grades 3, 4, 5 (Math & Reading)

Monday, April 14 – Friday, April 18                 Staff Appreciation Week

Tuesday, April 15                                             Report cards distributed

Thursday, April 17                                            Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten

Friday, April 18                                                Kindergarten Orientation – No School for Kindergarten

Monday, April 21 – Friday, May 16                 LAS Links (ESOL Testing) Grades K- 5

Tuesday, April 22 – Friday, May 16                 MAP R Spring Window for grades 3, 4, 5

Thursday, April 24                                            Take Your Child to Work Day

Friday, April 25                                                PTA International Night

Friday, April 25                                                A.M. Cultural Arts – Nada Brahma – World Music

Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2                   Terra Nova testing – Grade 2

Tuesday, April 29                                             4^th Grade In School Field Trip – In Space

Thursday, May 1 – Sunday, May 31                 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Thursday, May 1                                              5^th Grade Picture – 1:45 p.m.

Friday, May 2                                                  Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5

Monday, May 5                                               lst Grade Field Trip to Rose Hill Manor

Monday, May 5 – Tuesday, May 6                MSA Science Grade 5

Tuesday, May 6                                               3^rd Grade Field Trip - Baltimore Museum

Tuesday, May 6 – Wed. May 7                    Global Screening

Tuesday, May 6                                               PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7                                          5^th Grade to Strathmore Concert

Thursday, May 8                                              Muffins for Moms

Friday, May 9                                                  Muffins for Moms

Friday, May 9                                                  Field Day Grades K, 1, 2

Friday, May 16                                                Rain date for Field Day K, 1, 2

Friday, May 16                                                Read Aloud Day with Seniors

Friday, May 16                                                5^th Grade Patrol Picnic

Friday, May 16                                                PTA Year End Dinner

Saturday, May 17                                             School Beautification Day 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Monday, May 19 – Friday, May 23                  Spring Book Fair

Tuesday, May 20                                             5^th Grade Field Trip to Washington, D.C.

Thursday, May 22                                            Woodfield Art Show

Thursday, May 22                                            2^nd Grade Field Trip – Imagination Stage

Friday, May 23                                                Rain date for Field Day Grades 3, 4, 5

Monday, May 26                                             Holiday – Memorial Day – No School

Thursday, May 29                                            4^th & 5^th Gr. Band, Strings, & Chorus Concert (date change)

Friday, May 30                                                Damascus High School Graduation  10:00 a.m.

Thursday, June 5                                              Volunteer Luncheon – Media Center 

Tuesday, June 10                                              4^th Grade Field Trip – Living Classrooms

Wednesday, June 11                                        5^th Grade Promotion followed by a Pool Party

Thursday, June 12                                            Last day of school for students – Dismissal 12:35 p.m.

Friday, June 13                                     Professional day for teachers 

Saturday, June 14                                             Flag Day

Thursday, June 19                                            Report cards mailed

Tuesday, August 26                                          First Day of School

Note:  Dates that have been added this week are in bold.