Is Winter Over Yet?

     Well, we are wondering if this winter will ever end!  We are ready for a normal schedule and we know the kids are as well!  Last week, at the start of second semester we started a new schedule and we have been able to use it fully for three out of ten days.  For those three days we like what we see.  We have put true Humanities back into the big room and Mr. Hunter and Mr. Premetz are working on language arts and social studies skills together.  They are working on skills that we need for our project and for the ISTEP!  Mrs. VanDerWeele is now in a small room during the first part of the day and two days a week she is working on science standards and the other three days she is doing math intense.  Mrs. Dennie is still working on math topics and Mrs. VanDerWeele is working on extending and reteaching topics.  The students have been wonderful with the change and with all of the delays.  We appreciate their flexibility as we try to find the best fit for our facilitators and learners.
     Students gave mini-presentations last week on their American Revolution topic.  They are definitely getting more comfortable speaking in front of their peers.  We want them to learn that they do not need to read word for word their information from slides.  We have been stressing that their visual aides should just add to their presentation.  The more they practice the better they will get.  We are very happy with how far most have come.  We are excited to see what they come up with for the play that we are all putting together.
    As you know from the permission slip we are planning on walking to PHS on Wednesday to work with the advanced acting class.  This is all weather permitting if it is too bad for us to walk we will reschedule and try to go sometime in the next week.  We will let you know if we have to change the date but no other permission slip will be necessary.  We are excited to pair with PHS for this project. 
     With the start of a new semester a new Riverside Reads needs to be completed.  Please encourage your child to read and complete this requirement.  We will be participating in a few other reading incentive programs.  Here are the links for information on the I Love to Read challenge English and Spanish.  Also, Achieve 3000 is still a weekly requirement of at least 2 articles at 75% or higher.  We appreciate all that you parents do to help our learners with their reading. 
      We are expecting the school board to approve the use on next Friday, February 7th and February 17th as a make up days.  We have been informed that the waiver for the first two days we missed in early January have been approved.  We are waiting on hearing from the state on possibly of moving the ISTEP back due to all of this weather.  We will try and keep you all informed of more make up days when we find out about them.  This has been the craziest winter we can remember. 
     Have a great week and stay warm.  We are hoping for a full week!