Upcoming Events
9/6/2010
- Student Holiday9/9/2010
- District 7 Board Member Applications Due10/1/2010
10/4/2010
Getting Started
Free Shot Clinic for Students
Location: Room 6, Freeman Heights, 300 South 27th
Shots are administered by the Bell County Health Department.
In addition to immunizations, flu shots will also be given to students at no cost.
Free and Reduced Meal Program & Benefits
| Meal Benefits Applications due by October 4th |
School Announcements
Kindergarten, 1st & 4th Grades Team Up in Reading
Jefferson fourth graders have started going to a Kindergarten classroom every Friday morning and a 1st grade classroom every Friday afternoon to read together. This has been a wonderful opportunity for both grade levels. The program helps build fluency and confidence for all readers involved. The 4th graders get to set a good example while practicing their out-loud reading voice and fluency and the younger grades get to show off their new-found reading skills in a comfortable setting. The 4th graders have become reading role models for their younger peers.
Absenteeism in Kindergarten Negatively Affects Longterm Achievement
At Jefferson, our kindergarten students lead the school in average number of days absent per child. This does not bode well for student achievement.
A recent study by the National Center for Children in Poverty shows that absenteeism in early grades negatively impacted on achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge throughout the early school years.
In fact, greater absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge at the end of 1st grade.
On average, children who missed 10% or more of the school year scored 5 points lower than did those who were absent less than 3% of the school year in kindergarten.
Low-income and Latino children were especially at a disadvantage in 1st grade, especially when they were chronic absentees in kindergarten: on average, they scored 10 points less in first grade reading achievement than did white children with the best kindergarten attendance.
In conclusion, if children are not in school, even during kindergarten, the odds that they will succeed decrease. Please make every effort to be sure that your children are at school, ON TIME, every day.
Texas 90% Attendance Law
According to Texas Education Code 25.092, students are required to attend at least 90% of the days a class is offered in order to obtain credit. A student who accumulates 18 or more absences (excused or unexcused) will lose credit for the class. In addition, Temple ISD will accept only 9 parent excuses in one school year. Any absences beyond 9 must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.
The campus Attendance Committee may reinstate credit if they find that the absences are the result of extenuating circumstances. However, if the Attendance Committee finds that there are no extenuating circumstances for the absences or if conditions established by the committee for earning credit are not met, the committee may deny credit for the class. A student, whose petition for credit is denied, may appeal the Attendance Committee’s decision to the Board of Trustees. A student may be allowed to regain credit by completing make-up work and/or making up days lost for absences by attending summer school.
Helping Your Child Master Math
We all have one goal for our children: to be successful in all areas of their lives. We share their world in teaching them which road to choose and the best way to get to the “finish line.” Here are some “signs” along that road to help them become the winners we know they are.
- Positive Motivation- We all have different strengths in different areas. Some of us love to read while others love the world of logic and numbers. Regardless of your strength, encourage your child to not be afraid of math but view it as a basic tool to solve problems in everyday life both great and small.
- Fact Mastery- No matter what grade your child is in, mastery of the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts will reduce the fear and build up their self confidence.
Whether a trip to the grocery store or to the mall, those few minutes in the car are great opportunities to work together to practice these.
Setting a goal of learning 5 to 10 facts each night would help to break up this job into achievable steps.
- Measurement Made Easy- When cooking, allow your child to measure the ingredients. Allow measuring the amount of laundry detergent for the wash.
- Counting Money- When you come home and empty your change out of your pockets, allow your child to count the money and keep it for their piggy bank. Most of our kids know about how to count with “hairy” money. Allow them to teach you this quick little tip.
Above all, the most important thing you can give to your children is to take an interest in their learning. Time is a precious gift that can not be taken back—only given.
…..to finish and become a winner!
Measuring Progress in Our Youngest Readers
Did you know that the state requires schools to measure progress and success in reading for our kindergarten, 1st and 2nd trade students? The test we use is called the Texas Primary Reading Inventory, or TPRI.
The TPRI is given three times per school year, fall, mid-year, and end-of-year. The mid-year TPRI for Jefferson is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27. On this day, a group of reading specialists will visit Jefferson and give the test to our students.
Scoring from the TPRI is either a D for “Developed” or a SD for “Still Developing” on each skill area. Teachers use data from the test to plan for instruction.
Temple ISD has set the goal for our first graders on the TPRI at 95% Developed. Our teachers are working hard at school to ensure that our youngest readers are ready for the next grade.
What can parents do to help with the TPRI testing? Read with and read to your kids each and every day whenever possible. Notice letters and words and talk and play with rhymes and sounds. Keep it fun and show your kids that you know that Reading is vital to their success at school and in the future.
The TPRI is given three times per school year, fall, mid-year, and end-of-year. The mid-year TPRI for Jefferson is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27. On this day, a group of reading specialists will visit Jefferson and give the test to our students.
- Kindergarten students are expected to demonstrate pre-reading skills such as rhyming, taking words apart by sounds, and blending sounds together to make words. They also listen to a story being read to them and answer comprehension questions about what they heard.
- 1st grade students are expected to take words apart by sounds, blend words together to make words, and read words from a list. First graders also will be asked to read independently at their level and answer questions about what they read.
- 2nd grade students should be able to show their knowledge of words by spelling 20 selected words from the state curriculum as well as reading a story and answering comprehension questions.
Scoring from the TPRI is either a D for “Developed” or a SD for “Still Developing” on each skill area. Teachers use data from the test to plan for instruction.
Temple ISD has set the goal for our first graders on the TPRI at 95% Developed. Our teachers are working hard at school to ensure that our youngest readers are ready for the next grade.
What can parents do to help with the TPRI testing? Read with and read to your kids each and every day whenever possible. Notice letters and words and talk and play with rhymes and sounds. Keep it fun and show your kids that you know that Reading is vital to their success at school and in the future.
Principal's Perspective
With each New Year, each of us has an opportunity to start over fresh. Many of us make goals or New Year’s Resolutions that we work hard to keep. The days pass, then the months and we can become discouraged because the task seems too hard, the road too long.
During this busy time of year, we look at each child’s progress to see if he or she will make it far enough to master the reading, writing, math and science goals that have been set by the state. Our district also set several goals that will require hard work and practice both at school and at home.
During this busy time of year, we look at each child’s progress to see if he or she will make it far enough to master the reading, writing, math and science goals that have been set by the state. Our district also set several goals that will require hard work and practice both at school and at home.
- Reduce the performance gap on the TAKS among subgroups by 5 points in every subject.
- Each campus should be acceptable or higher. Right now, we are acceptable, but we are working hard to reach recognized status.
- Increase the percentage of students who are commended on the TAKS by 2%.
- Ensure 95% of ALL 1st graders will be on grade level on the TPRI.
On the calendar, you will see our mid-year tests for K-5. The biggest thing you can do to help prepare your children is to have them read to you every night. The longer the amount of time, the faster the progress will be.
We encourage 2nd and 3rd graders to read at least 20 minutes a night and 4th and 5th graders should read 30 to 45 minutes a night.
Please help our school reach the district goals so all students are successful!
Sincerely,
Beth Giniewicz
