School News and Updates

We had another snow day on this Monday.  Please continue to monitor the MCS website or local news for information about early closings and school closings due to inclement weather.

Events of the Week:

Events of the Week:

• TCAP Writing Assessment (2/02-2/05)
• Class Group Pictures 2/3/10

Our annual TCAP test will be the week of April 12-16. This past Saturday we held a “TCAP Saturday” prep session for parents and students. Dr. John Barker from the MCS department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, spoke to parents about testing and how this year’s test will be different.

To hear Dr. Barker’s talk on the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How, of this years new NAEP aligned test, just click play and watch our embedded video. To download a PDF version of his hand-out, “TCAP Info for Adults,” click here.

Other TCAP links:

Test Item Samplers

Spring Test Prep

Events of the Week:

• Test Prep and Study Skills Saturday, 9AM–11AM: 1/23
• Junior Beta Club Induction, 9AM: 1/27

The induction for the Junior Beta Club will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 9:00AM.  Parents of the 5th and 6th grade students being inducted into the Junior Beta Club are invited to attend.

Downtown Elementary sixth grade language arts and social studies teacher, Mrs. Capricious Westbrook, received the Tennessee Lottery Educator of the Week award from WREG News Channel 3.  Nominated by two separate students, she will be featured on next week’s Educator of the Week commercials on Channel 3.  Look for her on Channel 3 next week!  With high expectations, innovative teaching strategies, and lots of hard work, Mrs. Westbrook keeps her students productive and successful.  Congratulations!

View Mrs. Westbrook’s cutting edge classroom wiki.

Events of the Week:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, no school: 1/18
• Test Prep and Study Skills Saturday, 9AM–11AM: 1/23

This Thursday is also Optional Open House for prospective parents.

Downtown Elementary School welcomes all prospective parents, those interested in learning more about the school for possible optional program enrollment, to attend our Optional Open House.  Meet the school principal, Marcia Wunderlich, and receive a tour of the campus.  Many teachers will be available to discuss the optional program opportunities provided in their classrooms.  View the state-of-the-art science lab funded by University of Tennessee, and discover the technology standards achieved in both the computer lab and classrooms.  View work and live teaching (in the morning) to see enriched academics in action.  We hope you will consider enrolling your child at Downtown Elementary!

Date: January 21, 2010

Times: 9AM-11AM and 4PM-6PM

For more information about the Optional Program and other open house schedules, please click here.

Honors programs for the second quarter will be on Friday, January 15.

KK and 1st grade will present awards in the classrooms that morning.  Please check with homeroom teachers for more information.

2nd through 6th grade programs will be in the multipurpose room.

2nd-3rd: 9:00AM

4th-6th: 9:45

Parents, please join us in the rotunda for your Second Cup of Coffee before each program.

Events of the Week:

• Honors Programs: 1/15
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, no school: 1/18