Principal's Page
November 5, 2009
Dear John Hay Families,
John Hay K-2 Music
I am pleased to introduce our new K-2 Music Instructor Ms. Chiyona Dang. General and vocal music is taught once per week with the participation of the classroom teacher. Curriculum includes learning music concepts, playing rhythm instruments, performance techniques, and incorporating movements and singing. Chiyona grew up in the Seattle area after moving here from Seoul Korea in 1984. She has her foundations in music from the Suzuki Institute in Seattle. Chiyona has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts from the University of Washington and has 8 years of experience teaching piano. She has taught art and music in early childhood education at Harvard Avenue School and also has a background in performing arts and dance that will enhance the music curriculum for this school year. Chiyona is honored to have been given this opportunity and looks forward to a promising year! Additionally, Chiyona will be teaching the John Hay Chorus on Tuesday mornings from 8:15-9:15 AM. Registration forms can be found online at www.seattleschools.org/schools/johnhay or in the office.
Moveathon 2009 - It is not too late to turn in your pledge envelopes!
On October 16th, we celebrated John Hay's twenty-first annual Move-a-thon. Our 469 students, staff and many participating families walked, jogged and ran a total of 4,076.5 laps around the school. Our purpose was to raise funds to support tutoring, Spanish, Music, and other vital school programs provided by the John Hay Foundation. Despite the pouring rain, our students, who were all dressed in green t-shirts, enthusiastically ran a course lined with families, and staff members. Our teachers showed their school spirit by running in costume. It was really fun to see the students laughing, smiling and excited about a cause. Additionally, watching families enthusiastically supporting our students to achieve their best is inspiring. Finally, I would like to thank our wonderful Move-a-thon chairs Heather Scott-Goddard, Yuko Enomoto, Wendy Carlyle and Margarita Vanegas whose hard work paid off! I would like to thank all of our volunteers for creating such a wonderful day.
Veterans Day 2009
Wednesday, November 11th, there will be No School in honor of Veterans Day. Tuesday November 10th, John Hay students will participate in a short all school Veterans Day observance. This will take place around the flag pole if weather permits and in the auditorium if it is raining. Our agenda will be highlighted by several 5th graders sharing the history of Veterans Day and an all school sing-a-long led by Ms. Hanson.
"Shop Local for Schools"- November 14th-15th
Next month, the Upper Queen Anne Merchants Association is planning to host a weekend-long fundraiser for local Queen Anne area schools including John Hay. Many of the Association's members are also parents who understand the dire conditions that exist in some of our schools due to a lack of funding. This holiday season, the local merchants are stepping up to help.
During the weekend of November 14 & 15, participating businesses on Queen Anne Avenue would like to give back to John Hay School. They will accomplish this by featuring new holiday products, extending hours and by offering sale prices. But best of all, 10% of participating merchant receipts collected will go directly to John Hay Elementary. In addition, there will be entertainment from participating school's music departments, kid art featured in the venues and even dining opportunities that evening that will benefit our school. We will be posting further information to our John Hay Website as well as sending home a flyer for the event in the Red Folders. Please consider supporting this event, getting your holiday shopping done early and helping John Hay continue all of our fantastic programs at the same time. Be sure to designate at the point of sale that you support John Hay.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - November 23rd, 24th, and 25th
This year John Hay along with other SPS Elementary schools will use a Full Day Conferencing schedule. Students will attend school regular FULL DAYS from November 16th- November 20th. There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 23rd - Wednesday, November 25th. Conferences are scheduled on these three days. Additionally, please understand that these three days have been specifically put aside for the sole purpose of Parent/Teacher conferences. If you choose not to participate in a conference during these days, teachers will not be expected to provide a make up conference.
Fall Conferences and MAP Information
Curious about the newly implemented MAP? Here is some preview information about what to expect, regarding the MAP, at your child's Parent/Teacher Conference.
What is the MAP?
NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests present students with engaging, age-appropriate content delivered by computer. As a student responds to questions, the test responds to the student, adjusting up or down in difficulty. Each child learns differently, so these computerized, adaptive assessments test differently, allowing teachers to see their students as individuals - each with their own base of knowledge. The result is a rewarding experience for the student, and a wealth of detailed information for teachers, parents and administrators.
What information will I receive about MAP at my child’s conference?
Your child's classroom teacher will be presenting you a quick look at an excerpt of the MAP data tool the teacher may use to help target skill areas for development. The DesCartes Continuum, provided by NWEA is an informative resource teachers may use to develop and build upon existing curricula and for the alignment of varied instructional delivery.
Will I be given my child's MAP score?
The MAP testing provides teachers with a score range that allows for curriculum and instructional planning. The score range for this fall is a baseline measure which, when compared to the subsequent testing results in the winter and spring, will provide teachers with timely and valuable information and evidence of a child's growth. So, there is no MAP "score" that represents a child's achievement. The more important numbers to focus upon will be the scores your child receives on his/her report card and that reflect a child's overall classroom performance and academic achievement to date.
How are MAP results used?
Understanding each student's academic level gives teachers invaluable information to help students grow. MAP computerized adaptive assessments are the tools that provide our educators with the detailed information they need to build curriculum and meet their students' needs, one child at a time.
The MAP testing, begun across the district this year, provides one more snapshot of information as teachers plan and implement lessons for students. In addition to MAP, our teachers rely on teacher observation, regular Every Day Math unit assessments, Writers Workshop "On Demand" assessments, DRA (primary) data, the WASL, and classroom performance on daily work and homework. MAP data adds one more piece of vital information to help us understand and respond to a child's needs.
Be On Time to School
The Citizenship Goal Team is focusing one of our Continuous School Improvement Plan (C-SIP) goals around decreasing the number of students arriving late to school each day. Currently, John Hay averages 50 students per week who arrive late to school after the 9:25 AM start time. Our goal is to significantly reduce this number. There are those certain circumstances that make it unavoidable to be tardy on occasion. However, chronic tardiness not only disrupts the classroom, it can impair a child's learning and success at school.
Due to current truancy laws principals are required to make sure students come to school regularly and on time. This also helps students develop strong habits of responsibility and promptness. In partnership with parents we can provide the best educational setting possible for all John Hay students.
The following tips might be useful in helping families get students to school on time and prepared for the day:
- Select clothes the night before
- Bathe the night before
- Pack lunches and snacks the night before
- Check homework and pack backpacks before bedtime
- Create a wake up routine
- Plan ahead for quick and easy breakfasts
- Build extra time into your morning for the unexpected
Usable Laptop Request from Nicole Koleshis, Occupational Therapist
Hello John Hay community! Many of you already know me, but for those who don't, my name is Nicole Koleshis and I am the occupational therapist (OT) at John Hay. I mainly work with students who have motor skill and sensory processing needs; however, I try to spend as much time as possible in the classroom, so I am familiar with many of our students. Currently, I work with a number of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who are beginning to learn how to type. I am looking for a few (2-3) laptops to use as teaching tools with these students. So if you have a laptop in decent working condition that you'd like to donate to John Hay's OT program, please contact Dan Warren.
Sincerely,
Dan Warren, Principal
