SJRCS Wildcat News

Dear Parents and Family Members,

In September, students in Grades 2-8 were assessed using the NWEA MAP Growth Assessment. Students take Math, Language Usage, and Reading assessments. Your child’s score report will come home in a sealed envelope today in their Friday Folder. Please take time to review the report.

NWEA provides many resources to help families understand MAP Growth and the meaning of student scores. When faced with a question regarding MAP Growth, families should refer to the “Family Toolkit” at https://www.nwea.org/family-toolkit/. In addition to the Toolkit, the family reports provide overview information, performance graphs with national percentile ranks, and questions to ask teachers when trying to understand how MAP performance is used in the classroom.

You will also notice two national percentile ranks that measure student growth. For each content area (Math, Reading, and Language), students receive a national percentile rank on the left side of the page (see image below) that represents their performance, along with a national percentile rank for student growth on the right side (also see below), which is a measure of the change in performance since a previous administration of the test. For example, the winter family report measures the change in performance between the fall and winter administrations.

The reports can be challenging to understand since there are two national percentile ranks for each test. It is possible that a student might have a high achievement score but a low growth score. In the graph below, the student achievement score is in the 81st percentile, and the growth score is in the 16th percentile. It is important to understand that this student is very high-performing and not to be distracted by a low growth score. This student’s RIT score remained the same, so performance was flat, which translates to growth that is higher than 16 percent of the population.

On the other side of the performance spectrum, low-achieving students (20th percentile and below) can have high growth scores (80th percentile and above). In the case of a student whose achievement is in the 15th percentile with growth in the 85th percentile, it is important to understand that this student is low-performing and not be distracted by a high growth score. In this case, teachers and families can celebrate the high level of growth but should focus on working together to support and improve the low achievement level.

Both achievement and growth scores should be used in conjunction to better understand a student’s level of performance. Not all students will have high levels of achievement and growth, and high-achieving students often have low growth scores. High growth scores will increase achievement scores if a student is relatively low-achieving.

Feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any questions regarding your child’s MAP scores.

Blessings,

Mrs. Hanner, Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Coughlin, and Mrs. Soto

As a reminder, according to the Parent Handbook (page 60), dogs are NOT allowed in school or on school property for the safety of all students.

We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this policy to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.

As a reminder for the efficient and safe dismissal of students:

• Car Bell: Upon hearing the bell ring, please proceed directly to your vehicles. Avoid holding up the dismissal process by engaging in conversations in the parking lot.

• Student Safety: For the safety of all students, please ensure that no students run among the cars. They should remain with their designated adults and follow the dismissal protocols.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated in helping us ensure a smooth and safe dismissal process for everyone.

Thank you to NJHS members for all their help during the Truck n Treat!

Thank you to Mrs. Lowe for organizing a fun and festive Trunk or Treat evening

Get ready to warm up your hearts and help support our school! We’re excited to announce this year's Fun Run as our Cocoa Crawl fundraiser—a delightful dash that combines fitness with a cozy twist. The students will lace up their sneakers and hit the course, where every step they take supports security enhancements for our school community.

After the race, students will enjoy hot cocoa served by the amazing folks at Red Envelope Coffee, perfect for sipping while they celebrate their accomplishment and connect with their fellow peers.

Click here to find your student and spread the word!!

Prizes:

*100% Participation: Comfy Clothes Day!

*100% Goal Reached: Christmas Spirit Dress Down Week!

*Homeroom with the Highest Donations: Pizza Party!

*For every $150 a student raises, they will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win 4 tickets to 4th Dimension!

Please click here to volunteer for the fun run!

Thank you to all of our players, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make this year's Golf Tournament such a success!! The school raised over $7,000 that will go towards school enhancements!

The holiday season is the perfect time to fill your home with festive cheer. This year, add a touch of holiday magic while also supporting our school by purchasing some beautiful festive florals!

Orders will be available for pick up at SJRCS the week of December 2nd. Please place your orders by using the QR Code or by clicking here to be taken to MySchoolBucks. Orders are due by Friday, November 22nd. Please email Samantha Lynch slynch1613@gmail.com with questions.

Upcoming HSA Events:

Poinsettia Sale

The holiday season is the perfect time to fill your home with festive cheer. This year, add a touch of holiday magic while also supporting our school by purchasing some beautiful festive florals!

Orders will be available for pick up at SJRCS the week of December 2nd. Please place your orders by using the QR Code or by clicking here to be taken to MySchoolBucks. Orders are due by Friday, November 22nd. Please email Samantha Lynch slynch1613@gmail.com with questions.

Breakfast with Santa - December 7, 2024

SJRCS Breakfast with Santa will be on Saturday, December 7th. Order forms and more information will come home soon.

If you would like to volunteer to help plan the event or if you have any questions, please reach out to Lori Salvatore at loribsalvatore@gmail.com.

Member Sign Up:

If you’d like to join the HSA as a member, please click here

Please click here for the October H.S.A. Newsletter

Fer, 8, shows skills on Series stage

By GREG SWATEK

gswatek@newspost.com

In late September, the email pinged into the inbox of Frederick resident Nicole Fer, and she couldn’t wait for her youngest son, Gabriel, to get home from his older brother’s baseball practice.

Gabriel had competed in Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run competition and performed so well on the local and regional level for 7- and 8-yearolds that he earned one of five spots to the national finals and the trip to the World Series that came with it.

When he walked through the front door and heard the news, “He jumped into my arms and started crying,” his mother said.

But Gabriel’s run of good fortune did not stop there.

The 8-year-old Gabriel is a massive Los Angeles Dodgers fan through the influence of his father, Paul. His favorite player is Freddie Freeman because “I always wanted to play first base,” he said. Gabriel is a shortstop for his Clover Hill Baseball 10-and-under travel team.

So when the Dodgers finished off the New York Mets in six games on Oct. 20 in the National League Championship Series, Gabriel wouldn’t just be going to the World Series. He’d be going to Los Angeles to watch his favorite team play in the Series — and he’d be competing in the Pitch, Hit & Run national finals on the field at Dodger (See FER B2)

The New York Yankees had already won the American League pennant a day earlier to secure their spot in the Series, setting up the dream matchup of heavyweights.

“All the stars aligned,” Nicole Fer said.

On Saturday night, there were Gabe and his mother in seats high above the first-base line, watching his hero, Freeman, homer again to give the Dodgers a three-run lead in their eventual 4-2 victory over the Yankees in Game 2 of the Series.

A night earlier, they were at a watch party in downtown L.A. for Game 1 when Freeman hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history to send the Dodgers to a 6-3 win in 10 innings.

“I was really happy and excited,” Gabriel said.

For reaching the Pitch, Hit & Run national finals, Gabriel and a guardian were given tickets to Game 2 of the World Series by Major League Baseball. The Fers sprung for an $800 ticket, a relative bargain on the secondary ticket market, to get his father into the game.

“The crowd was electric,” Nicole said. “And, when I say electric, you felt it. To be able to experience something like that was just phenomenal.”

On Sunday morning, Gabriel took the field at Dodger Stadium to compete in Pitch, Hit & Run.

“It was really fun,” he said. “I was excited and emotional.”

Pitch, Hit & Run is a free initiative by Major League Baseball that allows kids ages 7-14 to showcase their baseball and softball skills.

At events, they perform each of the three disciplines (pitching, running and hitting) and are assigned a score based on how well they perform in each. In each local event, the competitor with the top cumulative score advances to the regional level. And the top four regional scorers, plus one from Puerto Rico, earn an all-expenses paid trip for two to the World Series.

The contest started with roughly 46,000 participants across the nation, and Gabriel wound up placing fifth. Across the 32 regional competitions, he had the third-best score (390) heading into the finals.

“It was amazing to see him on the field,” Nicole said. “We are Dodger fans. So, it was the same feeling of, ‘Wow! He is a lucky kid.’” Nicole was appreciative of what the entire process afforded her son, who she said does not often get to shine individually with three older brothers.

On the local level, he got to compete at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Frederick Keys. For the regional competition in late August, he took the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

“I just really want to thank the Frederick Keys,” Nicole said, since the team hosted the local Pitch Hit & Run event. “It’s a huge thing they did for the kids in this area. To be able to have an event in our own backyard like this is really cool. None of this would have been possible without the Keys. I am very grateful.”

Gabriel said it was a dream come true. He is hoping to compete in the event again next year, and he hoping his Dodgers will once again be there waiting for him.

Gabriel Fer, an 8-year-old Frederick resident, competed Sunday in the national Pitch, Hit & Run finals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He placed fifth. For reaching the Pitch, Hit & Run national finals,

Gabriel and a guardian were given tickets to Game 2 of the World Series by Major League Baseball.

Courtesy Photo

Please review the latest version of the 2024/2025 Family Handbook, which includes updated information on the Out of Uniform policy located on page 76

The 7th & 8th Grade Dance will be held on Friday, November 8th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM here at the school in McElroy Hall. We hope you will join your fellow Wildcats at the Black & Gold Sneaker Ball! The cost is $10. Please click here to sign up to attend.

Volunteer chaperones are needed the evening of the dance. Please click here to volunteer.

Please click here to review the dress code and guidelines for the dance.

Veterans Day will be observed on Monday, November 11th. Each year, the president of the United States signs a proclamation declaring November Military Family Month, a time our nation will honor the commitment and sacrifices made by the families of our nation's service.

The tradition of placing a STAR in the window dates back to World War 1. In 1917 Army

Captain Robert L. Queissner designed and patented a simple flag with a blue star to reflect the

World War 1 service of two sons. The appeal of this flag quickly caught on. When World War 1

began claiming the lives of many young Americans, a new flag developed.

Red Stars honor living, retired and former military personnel.

White Stars honor deceased military personnel.

Blue Stars honor active military personnel.

We are asking SJCS families, in honor of our Veterans living and deceased, to decorate at least one star in honor of a Veteran in their family or community. If you would like to decorate a star, please click here to download the star template.

We are in need of recess volunteers for the month of November. Please click here to sign up.

We are in Phase I of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Capital Campaign procedure. The AOB is reviewing our project and will provide feedback and assign a project manager. More information will be shared once we receive an update!

You may click on the picture to open calendar view

November:

8 (Fri) Fun Run, 7th & 8th Grade Dance

11 (Mon) Storytime for Tots 8:30 AM, Veterans Day Prayer Service 9:00 AM

13 (Wed) World Kindness Day - Wear a yellow shirt with gym pants and shoes

15 (Fri) Noon Dismissal - No Lunch - No Wildcat Aftercare End Trimester 1

21 (Thu) Mass 10:00 AM, No Wildcat Aftercare

26 (Tue) No Wildcat Aftercare - Spiritwear Day

27 (Wed) No School - Thanksgiving Break

December:

2 (Mon) School Resumes

If you are interested in ordering lunch from school, please be sure to create an account with All About Lunch Deli by clicking here. For those families who have money left over on their MSB account from last year, you will be refunded through FACTS by the end of September.

Our 8th Grade Newsletter is where parents can keep up-to-date on the latest information for our soon-to-be graduates. You can access it anytime by clicking here! Our new 8th Grade Newsletter will be updated as needed and will be full of information about high school testing, shadow days, important dates and deadlines, as well as other pertinent information for both local private and public high schools.

If your child will be absent, or your child has an appointment and will need to be picked up early from school, please fill out the absentee form by clicking here. In doing so, the front office will be notified and can mark your child's attendance report accurately, as well as, have your child ready for you when you arrive to pick them up for the appointment.

Please note - per AOB regulations, early dismissal ends at 2:20 PM. Parents arriving after that time will be instructed to wait in the parking lot for regular dismissal.

It is important for parents to follow the designated drop-off and pick-up times for their children at school. The school cannot take responsibility for any supervision or accidents that occur before 7:50 a.m. or after 3:15 p.m. If a parent is unable to pick up their child on time, enrolling in the school's aftercare program is a helpful option. However, instances of tardiness will result in an additional late pick-up fee. If the student is participating in a supervised activity outside of school hours, specific arrangements must be made for drop-off and/or pick-up at the designated times. Please value and respect the school staff, teachers, and administration by being punctual and adhering to the designated drop-off and pick-up times. See page 32 of the handbook for more information.

Students in Grades 3 - 8 who are designated as walkers or bike riders should live within a two-mile distance of the school. They will require the written permission of a parent or guardian and the school administration to be released with these groups. Please click here to register your child as a walker or bike rider.

Google Classroom is an important tool used at SJRCS. Teachers post homework daily and give assignments using Google Classroom. It is important that parents become familiar with Google Classroom to support their students. It is very helpful to use your child’s log in information so that you can see everything your child sees. We encourage parents to view a short video on how Google Classroom works. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions regarding Google Classroom.

Google Classroom How To

If you are visiting the school during the school day or for evening school events, we ask that you park in the Pk-3rd grade parking lot. Please do not park in any of the numbered spots as those are reserved for teachers and staff. We also ask that you not park in the spots on the side of the school reserved for the Parish Offices.

This tip line is offered to expand the means for students, staff, and the community to come forward if they are aware of threats, possible self-harm by a student or other behavior that could adversely impact a particular school community. The tip line is administered through a partnership of the Maryland Center for School Safety and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.

Report a Tip

8414 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, MD 21702

Phone: 301-662-6722

www.sjrcs.org