From the Principal's Desk
Dear Father Doyle Families,
Firstly, thank you so much for your support of our Annual Walk-a-thon! Not only did we have a wonderful day on Tuesday, but we also raised over $19,000 in support of various student programs and projects. We're so grateful for the generosity of our community, and we can't wait to begin using these funds to serve our students in new ways in the months ahead!
With the start of October tomorrow, we also begin a new Virtue of the Month. The Virtue of the Month for October is reverence: showing your deepest respect for things of God. Over the next several weeks we'll be keeping an eye out for students demonstrating reverence and all of the virtues as part of our Virtue in Practice (VIP) Awards. Check out the photos below to see our VIP winners for the month of September!
As a reminder, our Virtues in Practice program also includes monthly saint studies conducted in the classroom, as well as home projects for families around the particular virtues being studied. You can find all of this information in the Virtue Corner below!
Reminder: Drop-Off Procedures
As a reminder, the drop-off spots in front of the gymnasium are available for students who are able to exit their vehicles unassisted. This helps us keep the line moving and avoids traffic on the entry road.
If your child needs assistance exiting the car, please use the parking spaces in our lot and walk your child to the building with the assistance of our Safety Patrol members. Thank you!
STAR Testing at Father Doyle School
Over the past two weeks, you may have heard your student(s) mention taking the STAR test. For those families who may be new to our school community or unfamiliar with STAR Testing, I thought it may be helpful to provide additional information about the test and how we use this data to promote continued student growth. See below for more information:
What is STAR Testing?
STAR Tests are short, online tests in mathematics and reading that provide teachers with learning data. STAR tests are computer adaptive, which means they adjust to each answer a student provides. This helps teachers get the best data to help your student in the shortest amount of testing time, generally about 15-30 minutes per subject test.
Why Does Father Doyle Conduct STAR Testing?
Here at Fr. Doyle, we utilize STAR testing data primarily to aid in instruction and monitor student growth. Teachers review the data collected after each round of testing and use it to inform instructional decisions. This includes learning more about what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, monitoring student growth, and determining which students may need additional help. Ultimately, the data collected provides a good baseline for teachers to ensure that students' needs are being met and they are making adequate progress in both mathematics and reading.
Is STAR a "High-Stakes" Test?
STAR data is used primarily to aid in instruction and monitor student growth. It is not used to assess teacher performance, influence student grading, or as the sole factor in determining the need for resource or enrichment instruction. Indeed, STAR is just one of many factors we consider when analyzing student progress and performance. Generally, STAR tests are administered in three windows each year - fall, winter, and spring. These three snapshots are certainly helpful data points, but they are not the only way students are able to express their abilities. Teachers also consider classroom performance on formative and summative assessments, tests, projects, presentations, etc.
Should Students Study for the STAR Test?
Because STAR tests are computer adaptive tests, meaning the questions adjust based on students' correct or incorrect responses, no two STAR tests are alike. As a result, students cannot prepare for a STAR test in the same way they would for a classroom test in social studies or science. The focus is not on specific content knowledge, but rather on how well they have mastered certain math and reading benchmark skills appropriate to their grade level. In addition, because of this adaptive design, it is likely that even students who score high on the test will encounter questions they are not yet able to answer. This is perfectly normal and does not mean the student is not adequately prepared or not meeting benchmarks.
Where Can I Learn More About STAR Testing?
To learn more about STAR Testing, you can view this brief video that further discusses how STAR is utilized at Father Doyle. You can also view the STAR Parent's Guide to Assessments.
Newsies Need Your Newspapers!
Our drama club production of Newsies, Jr. is looking for newspapers for the production! If you have gently used newspapers, please bring them in to donate to the show. You can leave the newspapers with Mrs. Burns or Mrs. Jarvis in the front office. Thank you for your support!
Don't forget to keep scrolling below for photos and more information! Have a great weekend! God bless, and Go Saints!
Sincerely,
Mr. Peloquin
The Mission of Father John V. Doyle School is to provide students with a solid, well-rounded education based on Roman Catholic Tradition.
We live the Word of God in a caring, safe, and nurturing environment.
About Us
The Mission of Father John V. Doyle School is to provide students with a solid, well-rounded education based on Roman Catholic Tradition.
We live the Word of God in a caring, safe, and nurturing environment.
Email: kevinpeloquin@fjvd.org
Website: fjvd.org
Location: 343 South Main Street, Coventry, RI, USA
Phone: 401-821-3756
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gofjvdsaints