Welcome Back, Wrangler Families! I hope you all had a restful, relaxing break and had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends! This week wraps up our second nine weeks, which means we will be at the official halfway point of the school year! It seems to move more quickly with each passing year!
As we begin the third nine weeks, we will look closer at how students are performing. Throughout this month, students will complete their middle-of-the-year diagnostic tests and benchmark tests. Of course our goal is to see them growing toward mastery by the end of the year. Kindergarten through third grade students completed the Dibels 8th Literacy Screener (Louisiana Literacy Screener) in December; those scores will be coming home with your student on Monday. Please look over the information and read the letter. If there is anything to sign and return, please do so quickly. As always, please reach out to your child's teacher/teachers if you have any questions or concerns. I also want to note a change in the Pupil Progression Policy for OPSB. Holdback Requests (that is a request made by the parent or legal guardian to retain a student with passing grades in a grade) are due NO LATER than Saturday, February 1. The form is digital and is located on our website, georgewelch.opsb.net, under PARENT RESOURCES. It is titled Student Holdback Request Form.
State Standardized Testing or LEAP is also just around the corner for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. It is a little early but we want to make sure you have these dates on the calendar to avoid make-ups or zero scores. Third graders will test Wednesday, April 2 - Tuesday, April 8. Fourth and fifth graders will test Wednesday, April 30 - Tuesday, May 6. Please do not schedule any appointments during these days. If you must, please make every effort to schedule them for 2:00PM or later. The LEAP test is the basis of our school performance score and determines our school rating. There are changes to the policy going into effect this year that will make higher School ratings more difficult. We just want our students to do their very best!
Finally, I want to mention attendance. I know I sound like a broken record, but as we stand in the midst of flu, cold, strep, and Covid widespread, please make sure your students are attending school if they are not sick. Our school day begins at 7:50AM and ends at 3:00PM. We work bell to bell to ensure your children are receiving the quality instruction and support needed. If your child must be out for a unexcused reason for 2 or more days, you must visit Child Welfare and Attendance for a known absence letter. It does not excuse the days, but we do consider it when making grade level determinations at the end of the year or referrals to truancy. We will provide work for your child while he or she is out.
Thank you for a wonderful first semester! I am so thankful for your presence and intentionality; we know that the best support a child can receive is when the school and home work together!
