Two Mile Tidbits

I need your help! While I understand that illness and emergencies happen, TMP’s attendance rate this year is one of the lowest in CPS elementary schools (which has never been the case in previous years)! Every day counts because every minute of instruction is valuable. Attendance also affects our funding, accreditation, and our overall rating with the school district and Department of Education. Dropping your students off late or picking them up early impacts our daily attendance rate.

CPS expects a minimum of 90% attendance, and currently, TMP is at 81% for the year. Please help us improve our attendance! Thank you for your support!

November is a busy and exciting time as we prepare for parent-teacher conferences during the week of November 11th. Our classroom teachers look forward to seeing you and discussing your child’s progress and growth so far this year. Your child's teacher will contact you with your conference time soon!

This fall, we’ve made some changes to our grading process to better reflect student learning at each stage. Instead of a 4-3-2-1 scale, we are now using E (Exceeding), M (Meeting), N (Nearing), and D (Developing). Students are encouraged to aim for an M, meaning they’re meeting the standards based on the instruction given to date. Unlike last year, where grades indicated the expected year-end proficiency, this new approach grades students based on mastery of the skills taught so far. This means a student may receive an *M* early on and later receive an N or D if they need additional practice on newly introduced parts of the standard. It also means students might receive a D (developing) if that is the highest expected mastery at this time.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to support your child’s learning. We look forward to a strong finish to the fall semester and to seeing you soon!

On Monday, November 11th at 9am we will have a special Veteran’s Day assembly.

Students are encouraged to invite special Veterans that they know to the assembly. Please email Ms. Bruckerhoff or Mrs. Jackson if you would like more info or to rsvp. We will also have our Hero Wall again this year on the bulletin board in the main hallway. Please send in copies of pictures of family members that have served in the military with their name and the branch of the military they served in. On November 11th, please encourage your child to wear red, white, and blue in support of our special guests and all the veterans who have served our country.

*If you have a Veteran coming to the assembly, please invite him/her to breakfast starting at 8:15am!! Our students will serve our special guests in the library!

What are students in CPS graded on?

Missouri has specific learning goals, called Missouri Learning Standards, that outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level to be ready for graduation. These standards ensure your child develops the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in school and beyond.

What is Proficiency-Based Learning?

Proficiency-based learning is a teaching approach where students are provided feedback based on how well they meet specific standards or skills, focusing on learning and improvement.

Is CPS using standards-referenced reporting?

• Yes, for elementary students (grades K-5). Elementary grades and reports denote students' level of understanding for that reporting period. The reporting levels are Developing, Nearing, Meeting, and Exceeding in regards to the learning standards at that grade level for both academics and behaviors.

A proficiency scale breaks down learning goals into different levels of understanding or skill. All CPS courses have proficiency levels for the learning that students are expected to master.

How do teachers use proficiency scales?

Proficiency scales clarify what students are expected to learn. Teachers in CPS use proficiency scales to design lessons, create assessments, and provide targeted feedback to students.

How do proficiency scales help families and guardians?

Proficiency scales offer a clear and straightforward way to communicate your child’s progress. Instead of just receiving a grade, teachers can show precisely where your child excels and where they might need more help.

Do students see or use proficiency scales?

When teachers share proficiency scales with students, students can track and see their progress, which can motivate and boost their confidence as they work toward mastery. Focusing on growth, rather than just final grades, encourages students to keep improving, as they can see their progress over time.

What do grades on tasks or assessments communicate?

Grades on tasks or assessments show how well a student understands the expected material or has mastered a specific skill. They communicate the student’s progress and what they still need to work on.

How are work and learning habits reported?

Teachers will report student performance on the Success Ready (grades K-8). Success Ready will be reported using a 4 (Exceeding), 3 (Meeting), 2 (Nearing), or 1 (Developing).

How do elementary students get a “Meeting” or “Exceeding” score if they are still working on complex topics?

The feedback on the progress report will reflect the student’s current level of understanding, even though the end-of-year standard mastery expectations may not have been fully taught yet. All students will have the opportunity to reach the level of Exceeding.

Are MAP tests or iReady Diagnostics part of my child’s grade?

No. Grade Level Assessments (MAP GLAs for grades 3-8) are how the state determines if our curriculum, instruction, and assessment programs meet students' needs. iReady Diagnostic is a tool teachers use to inform instructional decisions made on behalf of students.

As you have probably seen on the news or social media, CPS had to make some adjustments to our district calendar. Official communication from Michelle Baumstark's office should be coming next week, but I do want you to be aware that 3 days have been impacted:

Feb 7th is now an early dismissal day (instead of full day).

Feb 14th is now an early dismissal day (instead of no school).

April 11th is now an early dismissal day (instead of no school).

Week of November 11-14th: Parent-Teacher Conferences

November 15th: No School

November 21st: PTA Pancake dinner 5:30-7pm (more info to come)

November 27th-29th: No School-Thanksgiving Break

December 20th: Class Parties 2pm, last day before winter break.

December 23rd-January 3rd: Winter Break

January 3rd: Return from winter break

January 20th: No School

February 7th: Early dismissal (12:10)

February 14th: Early dismissal (12:10)

February 17th: No School

Week of February 24-27th: Parent-Teacher Conferences

February 28th: No School

March 24-28th: Spring Break

We have a vocab word of the week we share on morning announcements. I will keep an updated list here in the Tidbits.

This week: (no new word)

Previous Weeks:

significant

prefer

accurate

eliminate

critical

essential

simplify

examine