December 18th: Report Cards

Happy Holidays!
The focus of this blog will be to provide you with some information about our new report card coming your way on Thursday of this week. This topic doesn't feel very festive, however, I know that having some background information will be supportive to you as you receive the new report card and we all need less stress this time of year! But before I begin, may I express best wishes for you and your family. This holiday, may you feel peaceful and contented, knowing what the holiday means to you and celebrating it your way. These are the special times, times we remember - time together.

Before I begin - do not read beyond this paragraph if you prefer to get information in concise bullet points - just the facts will do for you. I will be emailing home a bulleted list and you can wait for that.

If you prefer a more conversational opportunity to learn more about the report card and more comprehensive information - read on!

Systems are incredibly hard to change. The educational system is long over-due for an over-haul. We are still living with structures from the Industrial Revolution and it's impact on education. All of us know that we are preparing students for a vastly different world than the one we grew up in. And yet, we still look for the systems, structures and documents that we knew from our educational experience. However, those documents - namely the report card in this case - are so misaligned with the outcomes and learning experiences we now provide our students. We've attempted to revise the report card to bring into alignment the current learning experiences and outcomes with the report. If you have friends with children at other schools this is not a district wide new report card. It's just a report card we've developed for Renaissance. You can also expect that it will continue to evolve.

It's important to know that communication about how your child is doing in relationship to the grade level expectations happens for parents in more than one way. The report card is the 'big picture' of how your child is doing and provides the least amount of detail. We have a comment box on the report card as we know that most of you value the individual comments most of all.

The next layer of information is communicated from the teacher via their blog. The blog communicates what the specific learning experiences are that students are engaged in.

The next layer is student-led conferences where students have the opportunity to show you their work, talk with you about what they have learned and how they have applied their learning.

At anytime, if you feel you need more information than you are getting, we have a partnership and you need only email or call your teacher to set up a time to get together and review your child's progress.

It is a challenge to create a method of communicating student progress to parents. Long gone are the days of worksheets and meaningless tasks. Students are engaged in constructing new understandings, applying what they are learning, collaborating, creating and synthesizing information to be innovative. They must collaborate, communicate, think critically and increase their creativity. These are the skills that will prepare them for their future.

The 'new' report card will have a page that reports out on how your child is progressing with these important skills. One page is devoted to what the district calls 'The 4 C's' - communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. The scale for reporting will be:
*A = Apprentice - student is just beginning to understand and be able to do
*D = Developing - student is moving toward independence
*I = Independent - student can demonstrate independence

You will receive two additional reports - one from Integrated Arts and one from the classroom, reporting on how your child is tracking toward the end of year grade level targets. Who decides on these targets? What are they? The Colorado State Department of Education created the Core Content Standards - the targets that students are expected to learn and be able to do at each grade level. You can find them on the CDE website. Above the state standards, there are national standards. These standards were created to attempt to have uniformity so as students move from one state to the next, one city to the next - there are no holes in the education they receive. Douglas County School District took it one step further and sifted through the state standards targeting in on those standards we believe are essential and they have become our Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC's). There are so many standards that it is impossible to ensure that all students master them all. And frankly, some of them are just not relevant or modern.

On the new report card, under the content areas, you will see the GVC's listed as the targets. You'll see language like - create, apply, defend, develop, analyze - much higher level thinking and application of learning than learning experiences of the past. Be patient with us as we learn to make this visible to you. We will start using the language as we label learning experiences, share it with you in our blogs and find ways to make the language of the GVC's meaningful to you over time. The GVC's will also continue to evolve.

On the Integrated Arts and Grade level report card you'll see a rating scale that looks like this:

*N/A = Not applicable (wasn't taught this semester)
* 1 = not on track to meet grade level target
* 2 = On track to meet grade level target
* 3 = At grade level target
* 4 = Beyond grade level target
 There is an asterisk and a triangle that are indicators for special programming

Because our first reporting period ends about halfway through the school year you can expect a student who is progressing appropriately to receive a "2" for the first semester.

Believe me, we know that this report card falls short of being 'the' tool for communicating student progress. However, the old report card was so antiquated and it's time we move forward to trying to create a better reporting tool.  We're stuck somewhere in the middle of pulling old structures along with us into the future and no other options. So, we've engaged in the process to develop a modern tool that fits a World Class Education. Innovation is a trial and error process - so we must begin.

I invite you to email me or stop in and visit with your comments, suggestions and innovative ideas for how we can develop a better tool.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday,
Ms. Deborah

Report cards will be sent home hard copy on Thursday, December 20th in Thursday folders. If you have an unpaid lunch balance I urge you to take care of that before Thursday.

December 16, 2012

Dear Renaissance Families,

On Monday, parents everywhere will send their students to school. Teachers and principals around the world will return to school with the aim of “business as usual” to provide consistency for our children in a time of great tragedy. I know we are still in a state of disbelief that such a horrific event could happen in a school. It terrifies us and breaks our hearts.

In spite of all that is done to ensure safety, these events occur. If our schools were barred and only those could enter under the escort of the police, the events would just occur somewhere else. Unfortunately, it is the state of the world right now. And while we so wish this didn't touch our lives, whether it happens close to home or not, we are impacted by tragic events that occur everywhere in the world.

How do we handle our own emotions, let alone those that children feel? We live in the moment - not what happened last week. or worried about what can happen next - we live in the moment. We look into the eyes of those precious children and we focus on what matters in the moment.

 I am anticipating that much discussion will occur over the weekend in the homes of our Renaissance families, but Monday may also bring some further questions and need for dialogue. In the interests of home-school transparency, below I will lay out our carefully carved out plans for Monday, December 17th at Renaissance.

Before School: I will host an all-staff meeting to offer dialogue amongst our teaching staff and review K-6 developmentally appropriate conversation structures for our children. We will also complete a full review of our school safety protocol in place. As a staff, we are fully invested in being comprehensive and thorough in our daily approach, and are always looking for new ways to be a better and safer elementary school for all.

During the School Day: Classrooms have the ability to hold “as needed” team meetings to allow students to talk about their feelings in a developmentally appropriate way. Our social worker Mr. Bill and I will offer on-demand guidance appointments throughout the day to talk with students who may be having trouble processing information they may have learned at home. If your child is seen by Mr. Bill or myself, we will personally call you (parents) to review our conversation in the best interests of our home-school partnership. *Please be advised that the details of the events in Newtown will not be discussed with any students K-6 at any time. Details of what students are aware of are solely at the discretion of each individual family.

In an effort to provide our Renaissance families with as much information as possible on all the ways that students and staff stay safe at Renaissance, I am personally available to meet with you this week. Please just call the office and let me know when you would like to talk either in person or over the phone.  We must work together in the best interests of our children. We are here for our families.

Even in the wake of tragedy, schools continue to be one of the safest places for children to be on a daily basis. Below are some conversational tips from Dr. Michele Borba personally shared on Twitter.  I hope you find her thoughts helpful.

Warmly,
Ms. Deborah

· Turn off the TV and media on the school shooting when kids are present. Image can negatively impact children regardless of your zip code.
· Talk to the kids tonight or as soon as you see them. Open with “What have you heard?” Kids need the right facts. YOU not their peers provide the best source.
· Kids need to know it’s OK to share their feelings. It’s normal to be upset. Be calm and give only age appropriate information.
· Don’t give more information than the kid is ready to hear. More importantly, let your child know you’re there to listen.
· Don’t expect to help alleviate your kid’s anxiety unless you keep your own in check. Kids are calmer if we are calmer.
· Please don’t think because the child isn’t talking about the events that he/she didn’t hear about it.
· Give the information in small doses. Listen. Watch their response. Kids need processing time. Kids don’t need to know all the details and numbers. End with “I’m here for any questions you may have at anytime.”
· Here’s a great way to curb anxieties: Find proactive ways to alleviate fears about the tragedy. Tonight, offer condolences, draw, write letters to victims as a family.
· Stick to family routines. This soothes the stress and helps kids know that despite tragedy, that the world goes on. The sun will come up tomorrow. Hug!
· Draw kids’ attention to heroism in the tragedy. Use police, teachers, doctors, etc so kids see the goodness in the heartbreak.
· Kids respond to tragic news differently. Let your child know their feelings are normal. Help he/she express them. Follow his/her lead.
· Tonight is the first talk. Keep ongoing dialogue. Don’t explain more than they are ready to hear. Kids process and will want more later.
· T.A.L.K.
o Talk to the kid about the tragedy in an age-appropriate way
o Assess kid coping skills
o Listen, give some information and listen some more
o Kindle hope that the world goes on
· Ask your teen: “What are your pals saying?” Don’t assume they are NOT affected. Ignite their social justice. “What could we do?”
· Plan what you’ll say to your kid about the tragedy to boost their confidence and calmness. It’s OK to say “I don’t know” or “Good question. Let me find out.”

For more information go to micheleborba.com

More good information for listening and talking to kids:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/talking.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=PBS

December 14, 2012

Dear Families,

I know all of us are in a state of shock over the tragedy in Connecticut today. There are simply no words -
This horrifying event impacts all of us who have children and/or who care for children each day.

Ms. Jill shared a quote that she finds comforting during times of tragedy. I found this quote very powerful and supportive and hope that it will be a comfort to all of you.  I do believe that there are so many caring people in this world. Certainly, our Renaissance community.  

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” - Mr. Rogers

Our thoughts and prayers are with the staff and families impacted by this senseless and horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  

Ms. Deborah