[TNS-list] Dyanthe's Weekly Letter: 3.7.16

[Dyanthe Spielberg]

Dear Neighborhood School Families,

Our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will soon sit for the NY Common Core
Aligned State Tests or TNS Alternative Assessments.  The English Language
Arts tests/TNS Alternative Assessment will be administered April 5th -
7th.  The Math Test/TNS Alternative Assessment will be administered April
13 - 15.  We will have our forum on testing on Wednesday, March 23.  This
is a follow-up from our last advocacy meeting about assessment at TNS: how
we “measure” learning.  Most of the meeting will be Q&A, but 3rd - 5th
grade teachers, members of the Advocacy Committee and I will give some
context to the discussion first, including:


   -

   What do “high stakes” mean?
   -

   What does “test prep” look like at TNS?
   -

   What does opting out of the tests mean for middle school admissions?
   -

   What do the testing days look like for those children taking the state
   tests?
   -

   What do the testing days look like for those who will not be taking the
   state tests?
   -

   How do we talk with children about about opting out (or not)?


We hope that by attending this forum, you will have a better understanding
about what testing and test preparation look like at TNS, and what the
tests will mean for your child and the school.

Department of Education (DOE) Parent Survey will go home in backpacks today
(if you didn’t complete yours during student conferences last week).  The
DOE survey counts toward our school’s “Quality Snapshot”, so it’s very
important that we get one from every family.  This survey gathers
information about your overall satisfaction with our school and results are
published on the DOE’s public website.  Completion rates are also important
as they reflect the level of parent involvement to the DOE.  We need
families to complete surveys so that the Chancellor knows that our parents
are involved, informed, and are advocates for our children.  The deadline
for the parent survey is Friday, April 1st .

Mark your Calendars:

   -

   My Morning Hour is Tuesday at 8:30 in the PTA Room.  Tomorrow’s meeting
   will be an informal discussion about testing and the evaluation of
   students, teachers, principals and schools.
   -

   4th/5th graders go to Camp Ashokan March 9 - 11.  I will going with them
   Wednesday and Thursday.
   -

   TNS HALF-DAY IS FRIDAY, MARCH 18TH. Please note this is a change in
   date.  Dismissal will be at 11:35am.


Lastly, don’t forget to “spring ahead” into Daylight Savings next weekend;
you will need set your clocks one hour forward.

Have a great week,

Dyanthe
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