The Underwood Way

As we settle into the school year, I want to take a moment to share what we’ve been up to and the exciting plans we have ahead.

So far this year, we have focused on establishing clear expectations to set the stage for success. Our students have participated in Star testing, a vital tool that helps us tailor our teaching to meet their individual needs. We have also engaged in numerous hands-on activities, which reinforce our learning targets and make learning both interactive and enjoyable.

As a TSI (Targeted Support and Improvement) identified school, we are actively writing a Plan of Action to address our academic needs. This plan will focus on improving instruction, implementing effective interventions, enhancing assessments, and increasing student engagement. Our entire school community is coming together to ensure that our students continue to grow and thrive, and we appreciate your ongoing support in this effort.

Looking ahead, we will be hosting parent-teacher conferences soon. Please keep an eye out for a sign-up link that will allow you to choose a convenient time to meet with your child's teacher. Your partnership is essential in supporting your child's education, and we look forward to these meaningful conversations.

After your conference, we will also send out a survey to gather your feedback on how we can continue to improve our efforts. Your insights are invaluable to us.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we can make this a wonderful year for our students!

Sincerely,

Hope Rush

Every family is special, and we all have different rules and ideas about how to use screens and technology. Here are some ideas from The Social Institute to talk to your child and come up with standards of use. You can pick what would work best for your family! https://hubs.ly/Q02l9rD00

For our Accelerated Reader program this year, I am selecting “AR Stars of the Month.” These will be either the student in each grade earning the most points for the month or a student who has made significant improvement. They will be posted in the hallway outside the Library. September’s “AR Stars” are: Kinley - 2nd, Madden - 3rd, Otto - 4th, Macy - 5th, and Levi - 6th. Way to read!

Welcome to fall!

Quiet Club started the week of September 9th. Many students have enjoyed the opportunity to utilize that time for taking AR quizzes, reading, or being creative with coloring or crafting. I am hoping to add puzzles as an option later this fall.

In Elementary Library for grades 2-6, we will be trying out centers in October. The first week, we will have a monthly lesson overview. The following weeks, there will be at least one center with a different activity each week relating to the monthly lesson topic. Other center options will rotate and may include: checking out books, reading, writing book recommendations, reading/writing games, taking AR quizzes, coloring/crafts, and typing. October’s lesson topic is the Dewey Decimal System - how most libraries organize the books on their shelves.

Please reach out to angie.nagle@underwoodschool.org with any questions, ideas, or concerns.

While there are reasonable arguments on both sides of the debate, surveys show that parents overwhelmingly support homework because it gives them a way to monitor the quality of their children’s education. In fact, some research suggests that parental involvement in homework has a more powerful influence on achievement than either social class or the parents’ own educational level. Read article here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V1CcdoZqXmmHbe4AJTrnAjTL71T6AjwH/view?usp=sharing

While there are reasonable arguments on both sides of the debate, surveys show that parents overwhelmingly support homework because it gives them a way to monitor the quality of their children’s education. In fact, some research suggests that parental involvement in homework has a more powerful influence on achievement than either social class or the parents’ own educational level. Read article here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V1CcdoZqXmmHbe4AJTrnAjTL71T6AjwH/view?usp=sharing

Common question from parents:

"How can a virtual nurse really assess my child???"

Answer: Avel eCare’s advanced two-way video technology and specialized telehealth stethoscope, otoscopes and exam cameras connect students and school staff to an experienced registered nurse within minutes. The virtual nurse is able to listen to your child's lungs and heart with our high-tech stethoscope, look inside their throat, and even see inside their ears with school staff assistance.

Please click on picture for more information on school nursing at Underwood.

October 14th Early Out at 1:00pm

October 14th Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:30-7:30pm -Be on the look--out for the sign-up email!

October 16th-18th NO School

October 31st School Board Meeting at 8:30 am