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1/8/2007 8:06 AM  Fadlan wac 651-312-9015 si aad u heshid nuqul ku qoran Somali. Yog koj xav tau qhov no sau ua lus Hmoob, thov hu rau 651-312-9015. Por favor llame a 651-216-3415 para recibir esta carta en Espanol. Dear Families, On probably the last warm day this year, a group of family members and teachers met after school. We talked about the changing families that attend our school, the changes in teaching, the changes in what children need to know and what skills children need to have, and we talked about the need for change at Webster. This is our Strategic Task Force. Webster Magnet Elementary began in 1976. It was created to begin desegregating Saint Paul Public Schools. The school served its purpose well. Then from the mid-1990s to today, the school population changed. More African American families and fewer Caucasian families chose Webster. The number of students who spoke English as a second language declined. The number of families needing free or reduced lunch increased. Overall, the number of students went from 1200 to today’s 856. When I first came to the school in 2000, there were 45 homeroom teachers and 13 enrichment specialists. Children had well over two hundred choices for enrichment classes. Today, we have 36 homeroom teachers and 10 enrichment specialists. The enrichment choices are limited. At the same time that these changes were going on, the federal government created the No Child Left Behind Act or NCLB. This law required us to make sure that every student was proficient in reading, writing, and math. Student success was measured by the whole school. Now it is also measured by the success of the different ethnic groups, the success of Special Education students, the success of English Language Learners, and the success of students receiving free or reduced lunch. Each year a larger percentage of students must be proficient until we are at 100% in 2014, until all students make Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP. Our performance has been up and down. The results are measured by a test called the MCA-II. Some years we have not made AYP in reading, some years we have. Some years we have made AYP in math, this year we did not. Other test results show that our students are not performing as well as their peers in other Saint Paul schools. A couple of years ago some family members and staff visited two schools that have had success both on the MCA-II and other tests: Dayton’s Bluff and Como Park Elementary. We found three important things that both schools were doing. They had building-wide commitment to teaching reading, writing, and math. The teachers worked to build classroom community and climate in the same way. The students only left the classroom once a day to see specialists. At Webster we have already made changes to help our students achieve greater success. Students who are not at grade level have extra support during enrichment time. We have kept specialists like our reading support teachers. This year students in grades 1-4 only have one enrichment until January. All teachers are getting trained in reader’s workshop, writer’s workshop, and integrated math. All staff members are receiving training for Responsive Classroom to build classroom communities; connections between teachers, students, and families; and to support student learning of social skills. About 7 years ago, the superintendent and district administration began to change how schools received their money. They began to shift the funding so that every school would receive their money per student. Last year, district administration decided to take the integration base money from all schools and redistribute it throughout the district based on student enrollment. We stood to lose over $300,000. The Site Council argued that we needed more time to make changes and the School Board approved one more year. After this year, we cannot financially support the current enrichment model. We still have to make sure that every student learns to read, write, and think mathematically. The students have to be able to demonstrate this learning on tests. More change is necessary. The Strategic Task Force is working to decide what that change should be. By May, we will decide our school focus. We will decide what staff positions are necessary. We will decide how we are going to raise student achievement. Your participation is welcomed. Your input is needed! Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m. Sincerely, Jim Litwin, Principal Review the school district's new draft strategic plan at upcoming meetings For the past few months, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen and school district staff have been developing and revising a new draft strategic plan, which outlines how efforts and resources will be prioritized to accelerate student achievement in the Saint Paul Public Schools through 2009. Your feedback on the draft plan is important. Please plan to attend one of the five meetings, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the dates listed below, to find out more about the draft plan, ask questions, and offer feedback: Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007 Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007 Monday, Jan. 22, 2007 Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 The locations for these meetings is still being confirmed, but each one will take place in a different region of the city—the West Side, the East Side, Highland Park, North End/Como area, and the Summit/Dale area. Staff and families can attend whichever meeting is most convenient for them. Watch for more information about the draft strategic plan coming soon from Saint Paul Public Schools and on the district website, www.spps.org. Tiger Woods “Start Something” Comes to 5th Grade Two classes of Webster fifth graders are participating in a pilot of the Tiger Woods “Start Something” character-building curriculum. Don’t be surprised if you see four or five police cars at the school on Thursdays. Don’t worry, it’s just the volunteers who teach the curriculum. One police officer and one representative from Target Corporation team up to work with a small group of students. Together they and the students are exploring topics ranging from friendship to taking responsibility to heroes to careers. The program’s “focus to help kids ages 8 to 17 learn how to discover their dreams, define their talents and make a difference in their communities. Be Sure to Check Lost and Found Coats, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, and so on are piling up in the lost and found. Be sure to check. The box is located in the main hall across from the library. Reading Volunteers Webster is working to develop a program of volunteers to read with students. Our goal is to have many volunteers reading with students regularly. If you are available and interested, please email Eleanor Clemmons at eleanor.clemmons@spps.org or leave a voice mail at 651-293-8625, extension 1500. New Assistant Principal Monroe Walker has accepted the position of Webster AP. Mr. Walker has been an Administrative Intern at Eastern Heights and Parkway. He has taught fourth grade at Homecroft and fifth grade at Webster. He has participated in the SPPS Leadership Institute. Make sure to stop by and introduce yourself.
Webster Band, African Music Ensemble to Perform at Capitol Rotunda on Dec, 8 The 6th Grade Honor Band and the African Music Ensemble will perform a special holiday concert at noon, Friday, Dec. 8 at the State Capitol Rotunda. Invited guests include state legislators, other state officials and educators from the St. Paul School District as well as members of the community and parents. This is the 14th year the groups, under the direction of Diane Sollenberger, have filled the Rotunda with holiday melodies. More than 50 students will participate. The concert is free and open to all Capitol visitors. PTO Night “Preparing Your Child for Junior High” The PTO is sponsoring a special presentation by Murray Junior High School Administrative Intern, Mary Conlin-Warner. She will give us tips and suggestions for preparing your child for junior high school. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria on Thursday, December 21. Site Council Agenda The Site Council will examine our new test results, make changes to the SCIP, and discuss the District Strategic Plan. Our meeting is Tuesday, December 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Winter Dress We take the students out for recess each day unless the temperature or wind-chill reach unsafe levels. We use the National Weather Service wind-chill chart decide. Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing. If your family or a family you know needs help with winter clothing, please contact a counselor or the nurse. Here are some clothing tips:
Trying to help your child with Everyday Math? Frustrated with the directions or the methods? Finding math different than when you were in school? Stop by Webster’s library and ask Mrs. Folden about the Math Resource books. The school has purchased a number of these hard-covered books for most grade levels. You can check one out to help you help your child at home! Saint Paul Wellness Policy- Physical Exercise Saint Paul Public Schools recently adopted a new policy for healthy nutrition and exercise. The policy is long and detailed. Over the next several months, we will explain different sections of the policy. The policy supports our students’ health by including more opportunities at school for physical activity and better nutrition. Principals and teachers will be responsible for most of the Wellness Policy. Healthy Body = Healthy Mind Children need exercise to help their bodies to grow strong. Students that have healthy bodies are going to miss less school. Did you know that healthy bodies also increase student achievement? Scientists continue to explore the connection between mind and body. Even ancient peoples like the Greeks believed in healthy bodies. When children exercise, they are better able to concentrate in school. They increase their body’s blood flow including to the brain. Winter is here. It’s very easy to fall into the “couch potato” habits of TV watching, video games, and telephone conversations. A big key is to do these activities less than two hours a day. Obesity, weight gain, and weight loss are the frequent subject of news and popular magazines. The news about the impact to children is sobering. The big key is to find an exercise choice that is fun and that fits your family. Whether it is walking the dog, dancing, playing basketball, doing housework, or another activity, involve your children and stay healthy. Saint Paul Public Schools provides physical education classes. Students learn about many skills and techniques for life-long personal fitness. Students in grades 1-6 have a seven-week physical education class for 50 minutes a day. Kindergarten students learn physical education with their homeroom teacher. All students have 15 minutes of recess a day. The teachers engage students in physical activities throughout the school day from stretch breaks to activities in the lesson. It is important for the school to provide physical activities, high quality physical education, and recess. It is equally important to learn about lifestyle choices at home too. Consider the following questions to think about your child’s and your own health and physical activity:
If you have a child who is between the age of three and a half and five years of age, your child is eligible to go to Early Childhood Screening. Early Childhood Screening is a requirement for kindergarten that really needs to be done before kindergarten. This screening picks up on vision, hearing and learning concerns so they can be taken care of before your child enters kindergarten. Early Childhood Screening helps your child be more successful in school by giving them the support they need to succeed. If you have an eligible child, please contact the school nurse, Terri Lundquist, at 293-8625 ext. 1510. If you leave a voice mail message, please include your name and the name of your child who currently attends Webster. Thank you.
January test will identify students for gifted services Saint Paul Public Schools will once again be using the Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test (NNAT) to identify students who qualify for gifted services within the school district. Gifted Services provide challenging and fast-paced learning programs for students who have the ability to do work at a level above what is expected at their grade in school. Students who have previously been identified as eligible for gifted services are not affected by this test and will continue to receive services. All students in kindergarten and second grade, plus students nominated in grades one, three, four and five will take the NNAT for one hour at their school on one of the following dates: January 16, 17 or 18, 2007. Our school will inform you of which date your child will take the test. Families will be notified of final results before the school choice deadline on March 9, 2007. If you have questions, please contact our school and ask for the Gifted Services Specialist or NNAT Contact. Kev kom txuj lub Ib Hlis yuav tshuaj tub-ntxhais kawm ntawv rau kev pab cov txawj nruab siab ntse nruab thiab Tsev kawm ntawv Saint Paul Public Schools yuav rov siv tus xeem hu ua Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test (NNAT) dua ib zaug coj los tshuaj nrhiav cov tub-ntxhais kawm ntawv uas tsim nyog yuav tau txais kev pab rau kev txawj nruab siab ntse nruab thiab nyob hauv cheeb tsam hauv paus tsev kawm ntawv no. Kev pab ntawm kev txawj nruab siab ntse nruab thiab muaj khoos kas kev kawm nyuaj zog thiab ceev zog rau cov tub-ntxhais uas muaj rab peev xwm ua tau tej ntaub ntawv uas siab dua lawv qib kawm nyob hauv tsev kawm ntawv. Qhov kev xeem no yuav tsis muaj kev cuam tshuam rau cov tub-ntxhais uas twb yeej tau kev pab rau kev txawj nruab siab ntse nruab thiab lawm, thiab lawv yuav tau txais qhov kev pab no li qub mus. Cov tub-ntxhais kawm ntawv qib K thiab qib ob, nrog rau cov uas raug xaiv hauv cov qib ib, peb, plaub, thiab tsib yuav siv sij hawm li ib xuab moos xeem tus xeem NNAT rau tim lawv lub tsev kawm ntawv nyob rau ib lub sijhawm raws li no: Hnub tim 16 lub 1 hlis ntuj, hnub tim 17 los sis 18, 2007. Peb lub tsev kawm ntawv mam li qhia rau koj paub seb hnub twg tiag thiaj li yog hnub koj tus menyuam yuav xeem. Peb yuav qhia cov qhabnia uas xeem tau pub rau txhua tsev neeg paub ua ntej lub sijhawm xaiv tsev kawm ntawv xaus rau hnub tim 9 lub 3 hlis ntuj, 2007. Yog koj muaj lus nug, thov hu mus rau koj tus menyuam lub tsev kawm ntawv thiab nug tus kws tshwj xeeb pab kev kawm txawj nruab siab ntse nruab thiab los sis tus tiv tauj txog ntawm NNAT. Imtixaanka Janaayo la qaadayo waxaa lagu ogaanayaa ardayda la siinayo adeegyada ardayda garashadoodu sareyso Iskuulada St. Paul waxay mar kale qaadayaan imtixaanka loo yaqaan Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test oo loo soo gaabiyo (NNAT) si loo ogaado ardayda iskuulada dhigata oo mudan inay helaan adeegyada loogu tala galay ardayda garashadoodu aadka u sarreeyo. Adeegyada ardayda garashadoodu sareyso waxay ardayda leh awood ay ku qabtaan shaqo ka sareysa heerka laga rabo fasalka ay dhigtaan siinaysaa barnaamijyo ay si dhakhso ah wax ugu bartaan iyo howgelin adag. Ardayda hore loogu aqoonsaday inay mudan yihiin helitaanka adeegyada la siiyo ardayda garashadoodu sareyso imtixaankani saameyn kuma yeelan doono, wuuna usii socon doonaa adeegani. Imtixaankan NNAT waxaa qaadan doona ardayda dhigata fasalka xanaanada caruurta iyo fasalka labaad oo dhan, iyo ardaya laga soo xulay fasalada, kowaad, saddexaad, afraad, iyo shanaad. Imtixaanka NNAT wuxuu dhacayaa maalmaha Janaayo 16, 17 ama 18, 2007. Imtixaanku wuxuu soconayaa muddo saacad ah waxaana lagu qaadi dugsiyada ay ardayda imtixaanka qaadanaya dhigtaan, iskuulka ayaana kula socodsiin doona maalinta uu cunugaagu uu qaadan doono imtixaanka.Natiijada waxaa waalidka loo sheegayaa inta aynan xirmin xulashada iskuulada oo ku aaddan 9-ka Maarso, 2007. Haddii aad su'aalo qabtid, fadlan soo wac dugsiga ilmahaaga oo waydii qofka u qaabilsan arrimaha NNAT ama khabiirka adeegyada ardayda garashadoodu sareyso. Examen del mes de enero identificará a estudiantes que califican para recibir servicios para estudiantes superdotados. Las Escuelas Públicas de Saint Paul realizarán nuevamente la Prueba Naglieri de Habilidad No Verbal (NNAT) para identificar dentro del distrito escolar, a los estudiantes que califican para recibir servicios para estudiantes superdotados. Estos servicios, proporcionan programas educativos estimulantes y a paso acelerado para estudiantes que tienen la capacidad de trabajar a un nivel superior al del año escolar en el que se encuentran en la escuela. Los estudiantes que ya han calificado previamente para recibir estos servicios no van a ser afectados por esta prueba y continuarán en el programa. Todos los estudiantes de kindergarten y segundo grado, además de estudiantes nominados de primero, tercero y cuarto grado, realizarán la Prueba NNAT durante una hora en su escuela en uno de los siguientes días: 16, 17 o 18 de enero del 2007. Nuestra escuela le informará en qué día su niño tomará la prueba. Las familas serán notificadas de los resultados finales antes del 9 de marzo, último día de aplicación a las escuelas primarias. Si usted tiene preguntas, por favor contáctese con la escuela de su niño y pregunte por el maestro especialista de Servicios para Estudiantes Superdotados o de NNAT.
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