Robins K-8

April is the month of testing from grades K-8th! Our Kinder, 1st , 2nd and 3rd grade students are taking their reading assessment called DIBELS. The AASA tests are scheduled for the entire month for 3rd-8th grade levels. Teachers have sent home the specific dates that correlate for your child’s grade level. The AASA is the Arizona state test for grades 3rd – 8th. As you may recall, the Arizona state accountability system rates schools almost exclusively on how well students do on the AASA tests. Therefore, it is very important that our 3rd – 8th graders do their absolute personal best on these tests. We expect our students to continue to fare well and exceed state and district averages, as we have done in the past. Plans are already under way to ensure that next year is another stellar year at Robins K-8. Please help by ensuring the following:

· Students get to bed early and are well rested.

· Balanced breakfast and water bottle to stay hydrated, snacks if needed.

· Talk to your child/student about the importance of doing their best.

· 3rd grade students- This group is the most nervous about the testing because of the implications it comes with for passing to the next grade level. Please help calm your child and reassure them that they will do GREAT!

· MIDDLE SCHOOL parents- help students understand that is important. It is difficult for them because they have been testing the longest time (year after year). Please stress that each year they need to do their best as they are a big factor in how we are rated school wide and for 8th grade their scores are reviewed in high school and may determine some of the classes that they are enrolled in for their 9th grade year.

I have included a “Handy Handouts” flyer for common Test Vocabulary words, please have your child practice these words. Here are a few online sites where students can practice as well: https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/test-prep/ OR (Vocabulary.com) or visit Quizlet for an interactive practice: Test Taking Vocabulary Words Flashcards | Quizlet.

Common Test Vocabulary: Describe, Identify, Explain, Analyze, Summarize, Compare, Contrast

SUMMER SCHOOL for grades K-7th is by invitation only due to funding. Robins K-8 will NOT have summer school this year. Our district has selected a few schools to host summer school for all students.

We will be celebrating Love of Reading week, April 28th – May 2nd. Please reach out to our library if you are interested in participating by reading a book to the school.

Hello Middle School families,

I am writing a quick note to update you on a few changes that are necessary to make to ensure a distraction free learning environment.

The middle school staff and support staff met to discuss our concerns about earbuds, headphones and cell phones distractions happening across the middle school classes. We want to reiterate to our students and families the district policies and Robins K-8 procedures. Therefore, today we discussed with each grade level the expectations ( a reminder) and made an announcement as well. It is crucial that students follow the expectations and policies as we are approaching the state testing days and cellphones , earbuds, air pods etc. are a disqualifier for the entire school.

Here are the reminders that we discussed with your middle school student today:

• No cellphones out between 7:45 am-2:45 pm (before and after school are fine)
• Cell phones need to be in their backpacks and not on their person
• No air pods, earbuds, headphones out between 7:45am-2:45pm (before and after school are fine)
• Hoodies may be worn but the HOOD of the hoodie must come down when in class. Students have been hiding earbuds, headphones , air pods under their hoodies and our district dress code policy addresses this as a distraction.
• Hats are fine , but if it covers their ears, it must be removed when in class.

We are finding it necessary to remind students and enlist your help as families/guardians/parents to remind students. We must maintain a DISTRACTION FREE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

One last update:

* If a student has their cell phone , air pods, earbuds, headphones, other unauthorized technology out during our learning hours 7:45am -2:45 pm, we will confiscate it and secure it in our vault for a guardian or parent to pick up at the end of the day or the student can retrieve the item the NEXT school day.

Thank you for your support in keeping a distraction free learning environment for our students.

Mrs. Thomas, Principal

Mr. Gonzales, Dean of Students

Welcome to April, Robins Families! 💐

There are a lot of exciting things coming up as we get closer to the end of the school year!

🌸 Our next PTO meeting will be April 7th at 4:30pm in the school library and all are welcome, including kids! Come discuss your thoughts on the Earth Day Carnival, teacher appreciation, ideas for next year and more!

🪙👛 The Penny Wars is wrapping up on April 4th! Get that loose change into the jugs by the office! The grade with the most pennies gets a pizza party! 🍕🎉🍕

🌏 🎪 Earth Day Carnival is right around the corner on May 2nd! We are so excited to bring this fun event to Robins and we need YOUR help making it awesome! Please sign up to volunteer or donate for the carnival! Any and all help is welcome! Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ADAE2EA0F9C52-50474748-volunteer

🍎Teacher appreciation week is coming up in May! Let's show our teachers how much we appreciate all they do for our kids by donating to help stock the teacher lounge and fridge! Things like snacks, treats, K-cups, coffee or teas are just a few ways we can help give back to our teachers who give so much!

Don’t forget we have the food pantry in the office available to ALL Robins families! Just ask our friendly folks in the office!

robinsPTO@yahoo.com

@robinsPTO23

Digital volunteer form: https://forms.gle/G9SwhvLAt34ZqUiA8

Hello Roadrunner Families!

It is officially TESTING time! Attendance MATTERS! Please be on time to school, every day, for the remainder of the year.

Worries and stress can occur during this testing season. Please reassure your students that these tests are simply a review of what they already know and to use all their test taking strategies they've been learning since January.

As the weather gets warmer, please have your students coming to school with a refillable water bottle. Also, if your student needs clothing for cooler weather (shorts/shirts/shoes, etc.) please let me know and I will help get them those items.

If you need anything for your family or your student, give me a call and I’ll help you out.

❤️ Mrs. Sheava Craig

Parents, please ask your grades 3-8 student to recite the quote they memorized last month. This quote was part of the unit where they made vision boards and talked about obstacles that they may encounter as they work toward their long—and short-term goals. They also discussed ways to overcome these obstacles. The quote by Eleanor Roosevelt is, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. This month they are practicing how to stand for what they believe without being swayed by others. Students are having a great time participating in debates where they can present arguments and voice their beliefs.

NJHS parents:

I am so proud of the students who donated their time at the Interfaith Community Services’ Food Bank on Saturday. They got up early and they were ready to work. The staff at the food bank were grateful to see so many young people organizing food, filling boxes in the warehouse, and helping to load food boxes into needy families’ cars. Nice job students on making a difference in your community!

· The induction ceremony will be on Tuesday, April 29 at 5:30 in the Robins cafeteria. Students are aware of the dress code for that evening: no jeans, no t-shirts, no sneakers. Parents may bring as many people as you want for this formal ceremony. Thank you for supporting and working with me to help your child be successful. These students are future leaders who will make a difference in the world. Their motto this year has been: Small minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas.

· Students whose grades fall below the requirement of A’s and B’s will be temporarily suspended until they raise their grades. Please check grades on Synergy regularly to make sure your student is meeting the standards of the National Junior Honor Society.

· Please ensure that your student will have their community service hours completed before April 18. Students who have not yet been inducted must complete 20 hours. 2nd year NJHS students must complete 40 hours.

· Several students have not exhibited one of the major tenets of NJHS – Character. I closely monitor my NJHS student’s behavior, and they could be temporarily suspended for this as well.

· Students will not be able to participate in the Induction ceremony on April 29 if they do not meet all these standards – Grades, character, and community service.

· This is an extraordinary group of students who were selected for membership, and there is great potential for them to be community leaders and individuals who make a difference in the world. They are elite learners, and I hold them to a high standard as an NJHS member. Thank you for reinforcing these standards with your students. Please reach out anytime if you have any questions.

As students are beginning testing please encourage them to do their personal best. However, it is important that students not become over-anxious and stressed throughout this month. Please reiterate to them to take deep breaks and relax. They will not be able to do their best if they are experiencing angst.

Rachael M. Walters, M.Ed.

Robins K-8

Counselor

Spring is in the air and the state assessment season has begun. Continue to talk to your students about wise choices and to act respectfully and responsibly in the classroom, on campus, and any place they represent their family, friends, school, and Robins community.

After school opportunities continue to grow with the Gardening Club, Folklorico, Guitar, K-1 Soccer and other choices as well as middle school extracurriculars including Guitar Class, Folklorico and, come January 6th, Co-Ed Soccer

Roadrunners Rock coupons are given by the K-5 teachers and PBIS points in the middle school classrooms. Middle school students have the opportunity to spend these points on various items including mechanical pencils, books and lunch rewards with Principal Thomas or myself. This semester, teachers have given out over 6000 coupons for positive behaviors and acts of kindness.

Please have your to school before 7:37am. Breakfast is served from 7:15 - 7:30 which should give students some time to eat. However, when students are late, they often don't get enough time to finish their meal and food is not allowed in classrooms. Help us to ensure your student gets ample time to eat breakfast.

Robins K-8 students are also following school and district expectations in regard to general behaviors. However, when the seasons change, behaviors often change. Add to that the stress of the holiday season, and students begin to misbehave both in class and among their peers. Showing compassion, grace and patience with your student goes a long way to making positive behavior changes. Continue to have discussions with your student(s) about their school activities, recess time, favorite class activity, etc. Positive speak leads to positive outcomes.

Continue to encourage your Robins K-8 student to Be Kind and follow the three tenets of
Robins K - 8:

• Be Safe
• Be Responsible
• Be Respectful

Thank You for All You Do !!

Testing is in full swing at Robins! We have been so proud of the students' efforts so far! Thank you for making sure students are making it to school on time and are encouraged to do well. I want to thank PTO for purchasing 100 sets of headphones for testing to ensure that everyone can have what they need to be successful. We have found that we are still running short on headphones, especially in middle school. If possible, please send students with a pair of plug-in headphones for the remainder of our tests, Bluetooth is not permitted during testing.

We have 2 weeks left of testing, each Tuesday and Thursday students will be taking a reading or math exam. I would like to encourage parents to keep earbuds, cell phones, and watches at home for these exams. If a student has one on their person during the test, it will be invalidated. It would be such a shame to lose out on all their efforts due to forgetting to remove a watch.

Thank you so much for helping to make this testing season successful!

Hello, Scholars!

The year is winding down to a close. It’s gone by so fast. You all have done a pretty good job of keeping up with the books you borrowed. If you have any past due or lost, please look for them if you can. I will be checking laptops in in May, so be sure to take good care of them until then. We are almost there! Those of you who have laptop fines, emails should have been sent to your parents once the fine was assessed. I will also be printing out notices as well. Great job in reading more chapter books and nonfiction as opposed to only graphic novels. Don’t get me wrong, any reading is good reading, but reading nonfiction and chapter books is very important.

Our Love of Reading Week is from April 28th to May 2nd.

The activities for that week will include:

Book Character Dress Up Day— Tuesday, April 29th

Book elections:

Primaries start April 1st (6 books will compete)

Main election will start the first week of Love of Reading. (3 primary winners will compete)

Don’t forget to stop in and cast your ballot!

Winner will be called Friday, May 2nd

Book character word search (throughout the week)

Guest readers— Thursday, May 1st

Read aloud—Friday, May 2nd

***Parents are welcome to come in and read a book to a class anytime during Love of Reading Week! Volunteers should contact me at 520-908-4344***

Just a heads up, last day to check out books will be May 5th, and all books are due back by May 12th.

The Spring Reading Challenge will be held all of April. Names will be put in a raffle. Winner will be called April 30th

See you at the library!