School News and Updates

Events:

• Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday (No School): 1/16/12
• TCAP Saturday, 9AM-11AM: 1/21/12
• First semester honors program for grades 4-6, 9AM: 1/25/12

Upcoming:

• TCAP Writing Assessment: 2/1/12
• Progress Reports: 2/8/12
• Class Pictures (Uniforms Only): 2/8/12
• Valentine’s Parties, 2PM: 2/14/12
• No school, Parent-Teacher Conferences 12PM-3PM: 2/20/12
• Black History Program/Heart4Art/PIE Meeting, 5PM: 2/28/12

Parents and students, we have a whole bunch of links to activities to help you prepare for TCAP! The links can be followed below or at the top of the blog page.

Third Grade TCAP Prep

Fourth Grade TCAP Prep

Fifth Grade TCAP Prep

Sixth Grade TCAP Prep

Skill practice activities and games are organized by targeted skill clusters. Please consult with the classroom teacher for specific skills that your child may need to practice, and monitor data information that is sent home.

It’s time to come back to school! We are excited for another great semester at Downtown Elementary! We will see you on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Events:

• Classes resume: 1/3/12
• TCAP Writing Practice Blitz begins: 1/3/12
• Report Cards issued: 1/11/12

Upcoming:

• Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday (No School): 1/16/12
• TCAP Saturday, 9AM-11AM: 1/21/12
• First semester honors program for grades 4-6, 9AM: 1/25/12
• TCAP Writing Assessment: 2/1/12

Downtown CLUE teacher, Kim Buie, recently achieved one of the most difficult certifications for teachers.  The National Board for Professional Teaching StandardsCertification is an advanced teaching credential achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do.

NBPTS Standards are based on the Five Core Propositions that form the foundation for what all accomplished teachers should know and be able to do and provide a reference that helps educators link teaching standards to teaching practice.

Five Core Propositions

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
• Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
• Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
• Teachers are members of learning communities.

We are exceptionally proud to have another addition to our growing number of National Board Certified teachers which also includes Patrice Campbell, 1st grade teacher; Rena Neal, 2nd grade teacher; Suzanne Garverick, 1st grade teacher; Timothy Cain, 1st grade teacher; Janis Pankey, CLUE teacher; Katherine Johnson, 3rd grade teacher; Elisa Bennett, Instructional Facilitator; Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell, School Library Media Specialist.

Video made by Ms. Buie’s sixth grade CLUE students in Spring 2011.

Events:

• PIE Meeting/Holiday Program, 5PM: 12/8
• San Jose Taiko Field Trip PK-6^th grade to Orpheum, 12PM: 12/12
• DCAP testing (practice TCAP) grades 2-6: 12/5-12/9
• Last day of the first semester, Holiday Parties 2PM: 12/16

Upcoming events:

• Classes resume: 1/3/12
• TCAP Writing Practice Blitz begins: 1/3/12
• Report Cards issued: 1/11/12
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday (No School): 1/16/12
• TCAP Saturday, 9AM-11AM: 1/21/12
• First semester honors program for grades 4-6, 9AM: 1/25/12
• TCAP Writing Assessment: 2/1/12

Events:

• Turkey Trot: 11/22
• Classroom Harvest Parties, 2PM: 11/22
• November 23-25 Thanksgiving Break
• TCAP Folio Formative Writing Assessment: 11/29
• Spelling Bee, 9AM: 11/30

Upcoming events:

• PIE Meeting/Holiday Program, 5PM: 12/8
• San Jose Taiko Field Trip PK-6^th grade to Orpheum, 12PM: 12/12
• DCAP testing (practice TCAP) grades 2-6: 12/12-12/16
• Last day of the first semester, Holiday Parties 2PM: 12/16

Events:

• Spelling Bee Preliminary Round (Grades 4-6): 11/14
• Progress Reports Issued: 11/16

Upcoming events:

• Turkey Trot: 11/22
• Classroom Harvest Parties, 2PM: 11/22
• November 23-25 Thanksgiving Break
• TCAP Folio Formative Writing Assessment: 11/29
• Spelling Bee, 9AM: 11/30
• PIE Meeting/Holiday Program, 5PM: 12/8
• San Jose Taiko Field Trip PK-6^th grade to Orpheum, 12PM: 12/12
• DCAP testing (practice TCAP) grades 2-6: 12/12-12/16
• Last day of the first semester, Holiday Parties 2PM: 12/16

Events this week:

• Family TCAP Math, Science and Tech Night, 5-6:30: 10/25
• Clubs Grades 4-6: 11/4

Upcoming events:

• Spelling Bee Preliminary Round (Grades 4-6): 11/14
• Progress Reports Issued: 11/16
• Classroom Harvest Parties, 2PM: 11/22
• Thanksgiving Break: 11/23-11/25
• Spelling Bee, 9AM: 11/30

Study Hall will begin on November 1, 2011. Study Hall will be held for 5th and 6th graders on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15-4:00. Students must be picked up by parents by 4:00. Students may get homework help, work on projects or research, or work on teacher-made assignments for EPGY, Reading Plus, or Study Island. Computer games will not be allowed during this time.

Events this week:

• Fall Break: 10/14
• Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4-6PM: 10/17
• Report Cards Issued: 10/19

Upcoming events:

• Family TCAP Math, Science and Tech Night, 5-6:30: 10/25
• Clubs Grades 4-6: 11/4
• Spelling Bee Preliminary Round (Grades 4-6): 11/14
• Progress Reports Issued: 11/16
• Classroom Harvest Parties, 2PM: 11/22
• Thanksgiving Break: 11/23-11/25
• Spelling Bee, 9AM: 11/30

Don’t forget about Family Reading Night, tomorrow from 5-6:30!

Events:

• Student Council Speeches, 9AM: 9/27
• Student Council Elections: 9/28
• Book Fair: 9/26-9/30
• Family Reading Night, 5-6:30 PM: 9/29

Upcoming events:

• Fall Break: 10/14
• Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4-6PM: 10/17
• Report Cards Issued: 10/19
• Family TCAP Math, Science and Tech Night, 5-6:30: 10/25