Highlights from the Week
This week the Prairie faculty and I enjoyed meeting with parents at our Curriculum Nights. This evening provides us an opportunity to share our district and building goals along with grade level curriculum and expectations for student learning. Please remember that our goals for this year are to maintain high levels of student achievement through our continued focus on literacy instruction, new learning targets, and standards based report card implementation. Our second goal is to enhance two-way communication with our community. My weekly Principal’s Message will be pushed out via an email as well as the weekly E-News 96 that highlights District level information.
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
MAP testing will begin next week for grades 2-5. During the week of September 6th these grade levels will take the reading assessment. During the week of September 12th, students will take the math assessment. This year, for the first time district-wide, 1st graders will be taking the MAP test. Reading and math assessments for first graders will be conducted the week of September 20th. Your child’s teacher will use MAP results to plan instruction and to confer with your child for goal setting.
Raptor Security System
The security and safety of our students are our first priorities. Last year all of the schools in the District implemented the Raptor Security System. Raptor's V-soft product helps keep unwanted visitors out of the school and tracks those that are allowed inside the building. The process is simple. When a visitor checks in at the main office, their driver’s license (or other state issued ID) is scanned. The web-based V-soft instantly screens for registered sex offenders through national and state databases. When a visitor is cleared, V-soft prints a badge featuring the individual’s name, photo, date, time and destination. If you are volunteering in the building for the first time please bring identification and allot additional time to scan your driver’s license. Parents are encouraged to come and scan their license prior to all school events, such as holiday parties, as this reduces the amount of time that it takes to print badges. As always your cooperation is appreciated!
New Cold Bar at Lunch
We are excited to share that this month we will be incorporating into our lunch choices a cold food bar containing fresh fruit and vegetables. It gets even better… there’s dip!
The cold food bars will also offer a canned fruit, bread, and pre-cupped desserts when offered on the menu. Our lunch staff will train the children on the new options and selection process.
PTO Weekly Highlight
The Back to School Blow Out is this Thursday, September 8th. Please see the PTO Newsletter for more information about this event and others.
