Every day, Ms. Garard finishes the morning announcements by telling students "at Test, we learn." Students learn throughout the day in so many ways! Of course they are learning new vocabulary and fractions and academic skills. But, though coming to school and going to class, lunch, and recess, they also learn organization and focus and how to be friends. One of the best ways you can support your student is to talk to them about their day. Ask what they learned, or what book they read. (See the section and attachments below for more information about what they are reading in school!) Ask who their friends are, or what challenged them at school. Let's work together in the new year to make the second semester a time of rapid growth and learning. At Test, we learn!

Teachers work on January 3rd to finalize grades from first semester. Report cards will be sent home (through Parent Square, hard copy by mail if requested) on January 10th.

Students took the IReady Middle-of-Year tests in Math and Reading in December. We get two kinds of results. The first is grade-level achievement - how far above or below their grade level. The second is growth from August to Decemeber - much they have improved since the start of the year.

Your student's individual results will be sent home with report cards, so please look for them! If you need help understanding what their score report means, please call Ms. Creech at 765-973-7162.

Winter weather has arrived, so make sure your student has what they need to stay warm at the bus stop or during recess. Please let us know if your student needs warmer weather clothing. Communities in Schools can help. Contact Ms. Toni Johnson at tjohnson2@rcs.k12.in.us or 973-7207.

Jan. 6 - First day back for students!

Jan. 9 - TBRI Parent Virtual Workshop begins (call office for Zoom link info!)

Jan. 10 - Families receive Semester 1 Report Cards via Parent Square.

Jan. 17 - Book Fair Preview Day

Jan. 20 - MLK Day NO SCHOOL (or snow make up day #1)

Jan. 21-24 - Book Fair

Jan. 29 & 30 - ILearn Checkpoint Testing (#2)

Feb. 14 - NO SCHOOL

Feb. 17 - President's Day NO SCHOOL (or snow make up day #2)

Feb. 25 - Game Night (After School Behavior Incentive)

This is the first year of a different approach to curriculum in our English Language Arts classes across the district. All schools, K-8, are using the Wit & Wisdom reading and writing curriculum. This approach incorporates the best research about how student brains learn to read and write. Thanks to efforts by the state of Indiana and a commitment by RCS, our teachers are working hard to make sure students are getting the best instruction.

Wit & Wisdom is also a knowledge-building curriculum...which helps students learn more about the world. When we learn new things, it's easy to forget them quickly. How do teachers make it stick? Research says knowledge is sticky - it sticks when we see it again and again, and it sticks when it connects to things we already know. Repetition and connection are key to making learning stick. In addition to stories and poems that you would traditionally find in reading class, many of the reading and writing activities are organized around a topic from history or science. This helps the learning stick - because students spend multiple weeks on the same topic (repetition) and the readings work together (connection).

In the first part of the year, you might have heard your fifth grader talking about the Nez Perce Indians and the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. Your 6th graders examined the Great Depression in the 1930's in their readings. During the second 9 weeks, they moved on to word play and mythology. January brings the start of a new module, the third of the year: 5th grade will be reading about the American Civil War, especially the role that young people played and how the war effected their lives. 6th grade will travel back in time to Colonial Jamestown and the challenges of early English settlements in Virginia. These topics are explored with articles and novels written for young readers, but the subjects are serious and worth learning about.

Interested in learning more? The family tip sheets linked here (in English and Spanish) give parents an overview of what students are reading and the questions they will be exploring in each module.

The PTO works to create extra special events for the school, including academic extenders like the book fair and special events like student dances. Every family can support us in some way! Click the button below to join the Parent Square Group where the PTO conducts business and sends requests for help. Every family can support the school in some way! There are no dues and no meetings required.

Being present at school is super important for kids! But sometimes they have to miss. When that happens, please make sure you report your child's absence to the school office (765-973-3412) OR by responding to a ParentSquare message that your student was marked absent.

Mr. Stolle tracks our attendance and will communicate with families about student absences. Please help him out and report your child's absence! His email is jstolle@rcs.k12.in.us.

Sometimes the menu changes. Click on the menu to link to the always up-to-date website.

This month's value is resilience: Getting back up when something gets you down.

This word does reminds us of a fact of life: that things will most definitely be tough sometimes, and something will definitely get us down. How we react to these tough times matters. We have so much power in getting back up. For us adults, we need to remember the kids are watching how we handle adversity. We show resilience when we:

• Are healthy in conflict
• Recover from a mistake
• Treat failure with humility
• Show hard work after a setback

Now, there are certainly times when getting back up is really hard, or perhaps even impossible on your own. In those moments, resilience can mean asking for help, taking a break, or starting over. Watch how your kids handle challenges. Coach them to keep trying if they want to give up, and compliment them when they show resilience!

Checking the Athletics Website is the best way to keep up with our teams. Please come support our students and be part of the fun.

This mentoring program meets at Test after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and transportation is home is available. A registration form was shared in ParentSquare; call 973-3329 if you have questions or need assistance. Watch the video below to hear directly from Dr. Lucinda Wright about the program!

Communities in Schools is here to support students and families with basic needs and academic support so kids can concentrate on learning. Ms. Toni Johnson serves Test Intermediate: contact her at tjohnson@rcs.k12.in.us or 973-7207.

Some students are already connected to counselors through Centerstone and Meridian. We have Centerstone services in the school building every day for existing Centerstone clients, and Meridian counselors frequently stop by to check on their caseloads. If you believe your student needs mental health support, we are happy to help with a referral to one of these agencies. Please contact Ms. DeDe Deloney, our Test School Counselor, who can assist with this. Email pwrightdeloney@rcs.k12.in.us or call 765-973-3412.

If school were to be delayed or cancelled due to weather, families will be notified by text and phone call.

• 2-hour delays do not have to be made up - school just starts at 10 am instead of 8 am. If there is a 2-hour delay, school will end at 3:15 (even if it's a Tuesday).
• If school is cancelled, the days will be made up in person on January 20 and February 17.
• On the third and fourth cancellation, students will complete Asynchronous eLearning Days.
• If there are five or more cancellations, students and teachers will meet online for live virtual learning as Synchronous eLearning Days.

“Test Intermediate School provides a caring, challenging environment where dedicated educators strive to prepare students academically, physically, socially, and emotionally to be productive members of society.”