Navigator Notes

This is our monthly newsletter full of info you'll need. You may want to bookmark or save the link to come back to so that you can access information and links provided. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions or need additional information: leaboiles@misdmail.org

April into early May is our time to show off everything we've learned this school year. The next month brings us to our yearly State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness or STAAR testing. If I could help our students and families understand one thing about STAAR testing it would be; these are important assessments because these assessments put a "rating" on our school for the public and we are compared to other schools by this rating, BUT these assessments are only 1 picture of everything your child has accomplished this year. Our goal is for every student to show growth so please help us to communicate to your child that while these assessments are very important we do not want students to be filled with anxiety about this one time assessment. What you will hear me say to our Navigator students is, "if you do your absolute best on this test and use all the information and strategies your teachers have shown you then I couldn't be prouder of you".

The STAAR test has been redesigned for this year and there are new question types. We've been practicing these new question types throughout the school year so your child should be familiar with them. You can see more information about the test re-design in thection below. All students will have the entire school day to complete the test if needed. According to the Texas Education Agency we are expecting individual student score reports to be received in August so there will be a longer wait that usual for scores.

The testing schedule for this year is:

April 18 - 5th Grade ELAR, make-up testing is April 19-28

April 19 - 6th Grade ELAR, make-up testing is April 20-28

April 25 - 5th Grade Science, make-up testing is April 26-May 5

May 2 - 5th Grade Math, make-up testing is May 3-May 12

May 3 - 6th Grade Math, make-up testing is May 4-May 12

Important note: In order to maintain a secure testing environment, we will not be allowing lunch visitors on the following dates: April 18, 19, 25 and May 2, 3rd. You can certainly drop off a lunch for your child in the front office but please note that our lunch times for all students will be different on these 5 dates. An exact lunch schedule will be sent to you prior to each testing date.

Thank you for continuing to support your child and our campus as we approach the final stretch of this school year.

Reminders:

• Course selection information is being shared with 5th grade STEM learners this month and should be submitted to your child's counselor: Last name A-L Mrs. Austin Last name M-Z Mrs. Ballard
• Course selections for 7th grade are being at handled at the Middle School campus your child will attend. Rising 7th grade STEM learners going to McKinzey will be receiving course selection information on April 5, 2023.
• MISD does not allow food deliveries for students from services such as UberEats or Doordash. Parents are welcome to bring lunch and eat with your child during lunch time but please do not bring food to share with other students.
• MISD requires all visitors to all district campuses to show a government issued ID before you are allowed to enter a building. Please help us to verify the identity and purpose for visit for all visitors by not holding the door open for others that might be standing behind you if you are entering our building. This practice helps to ensure the safety of all persons inside the building.

EVENTS

• April 7th - No school
• April 11th - Pre-UIL Choir contest
• April 14th - Spring Dance Show @ Performing Arts Center
• April 18th-May 12th - STAAR testing (see schedule in Principal's notes section)
• April 27th - 6th grade Band Competition
• April 27th and 28th - 5th grade Fine Arts Academy Musical
• April 28th - Intermediate School Track Meet

Mrs. Austin and Mrs. Ballard do amazing work helping our Navigator learners be the best they can be, please check out their newsletter:

NEWSLETTER: APRIL

Check out the latest info from our amazing librarian.

Save the Date:

Volunteer Appreciation Tea - May 12, 2023 2:15 p.m.

Scholastic Book Fair - May 8-12, 2023

The STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test is changing! The STAAR redesign is a result of House Bill (HB) 3906 passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019. The redesign will be implemented in the state summative assessments administered in the Spring of 2023.

Major changes:

-Online testing

-New Question Types (no more than 75% of the STAAR test can be multiple choice questions)

-Cross-curricular passages

-Evidence-based writing

Click on the link below to see more information regarding the changes to the test.

STAAR Redesign Information

Order your 22-23 Yearbook now!! All orders are online only at; ybpay.lifetouch.com

Yearbook ID Code: 14526023

Cost is $23.00

• Did you know if your family qualifies for the free or reduced lunch program your family also qualifies for other benefits through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer? More information about the P-EBT can be found at the Texas Human & Health Services Department.To fill out an application for the free or reduced lunch program please visit this link Student Nutrition

Helpful Links:

District website: https://www.mansfieldisd.org/

AMIS Website

Bus Information

Car line map

Carpool Line Karaoke

Communicable Disease Prevention Information

Compass Traits (Navigator behavior expectations)

Device Protection Information

Power of Choice website

Student Code of Conduct

Technology Department, Repairs and Info

Stay connected to the school and PTA by following these pages on Facebook:

Alma Martinez Intermediate School | Facebook

Alma Martinez Intermediate PTA | Facebook