crestwood elementary

Principal: Kay Gallo

3914 W. Tapps Drive E.
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
(253) 891-4550
Fax (253) 891-4572

Newsworthy

February 16, 2012, K-12 Half-Day Early Dismissal - Teacher Furlough
Lunch will be served.
Sack Lunch (Turkey and Cheese Sandwich, Applesauce Cup, Orange, Carrots, Baked Chips, Rice Krispie Treat, Milk)

Co-Ed Volleyball After School Camp
Grades 4 & 5

When: Camp begins on Monday, February 13 (for boys and girls)
Where: At your home elementary school
Times: After school Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays for 90 minutes (Coaches may vary the schedule)
Coaches: Professional coaches will teach your child(ren) the fundamentals of the sport of volleyball
Cost: $45 (includes school logo T-shirt)
Registration Deadline: Monday February 13, 2012

An all-school jamboree will culminate your season on Thursday, March 22, 2012

For more information call Recreation Department Director Rebecca Giles at (253) 891-6500.

Registration Form

Changes to 2011-12 School Calendar: Snow Make-Up Days
At this time there have been 4 days of school closure due to weather. The current school calendar includes 2 days for weather make-up in May.

• May 25 and May 29: SCHOOL DAYs for all students K-12

The additional 2 make-up days have not yet been scheduled.

Highly Capable Program Nominations
Each school year, Sumner School District accepts nominations of students in grades 2-5 whose educational needs might be best served by the District’s Highly Capable Program.

Students identified as highly capable in grades 3-5 are served in a self-contained “all day” program housed at Daffodil Valley Elementary. At the middle school level, students attend Lakeridge Middle School and their program includes social studies, language arts, math and science.

Nomination Period: January 4 – 31, 2012

Nomination forms are available at all elementary and middle schools and online.

More about the Highly Capable Program > > >

Kindergarten Registration Information
The Sumner School District offers full-time and part-time kindergarten classes. Part-time students attend school all day on Mondays, Tuesdays and alternating Wednesdays (red kindergarten) OR all day on Thursdays, Fridays and alternating Wednesdays (blue kindergarten).

Some elementary schools offer a tuition-based, full-time program on a space available basis. Full-time kindergarten students attend school every day and have the same school calendar as students in grades 1-5. Students enrolled in full-time kindergarten receive extra instruction time to learn basic skills for first grade.

Full-time Kindergarten Rates
Registration Deposit (applied to June tuition): $100
Full Pay Monthly Tuition: $325

All children enrolling for kindergarten for the coming school year must be five years old by August 31, prior to the start of school. When registering a child for school, families should bring:

• Proof of child’s birth date (birth or hospital certificate, passport);
• Immunization information and child’s health history; and
• Names and phone numbers of parents, physician, and an emergency contact.

Families should contact their neighborhood school for registration information, or download a packet from the District Web site. Completed registration forms should be returned to the neighborhood school.

More about Kindergarten Registration > > >

Skylert Notifications
The District and all schools now have capability to send notifications about attendance, general messages and emergency alerts by phone, e-mail or text messages. All families should log on to Family Access to update their contact information and select preferred messages. Families will choose the phone number to which general and emergency messages will be sent (home, work or cell phone), with additional options for the message to also be sent by e-mail or text.

Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather brings road and driving conditions that might result in school delays or closures. Safety for your child is our primary concern. When winter weather impacts specific areas of the district, Limited Bus Transportation service areas may be announced. We try to make information available about school closure or changes to the school schedule by 5 a.m. Families should remember to check the Web site or call the District Hotline at 891.6001 for updated information about school operations.

• Limited Transportation Routes & Schedules

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Crestwood Families;

Our Crestwood mission is Crestwood strives to be a school community that is continually growing and sharing, learning and caring.  This past month, we have reviewed with students our CREST guidelines (Choice, Responsibility, Excellence, Safety and Tolerance) and behaviors that are expected in every area of the school. Last month, staff started giving students "I Got Caught" cards for doing expected and positive behaviors. When a student gets a card, they get to come down to the office and put it in a box and ring a bell!  Then they get to tell the office staff why they got it. On Fridays we recognize some students by having a drawing of these cards. Students get a prize and their name announced.  This has been a big hit and the bell rings a lot here at Crestwood!  As well, in helping all of our students be safe, we have also reviewed with students what the meaning and definition of harassment, intimation, and bullying are and how to recognize, refuse, and report so we can immediately follow up.  I am very proud of our students and the efforts they show me daily to treat others with respect. Because our school and students are safe with their words and actions, learning can be the focus and certainly our students care for one another.

Our students are working hard!  We just finished having every student in grades 1-5 take the test called Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP).  This is our second year using this assessment for reading and math and it is taken 3 times a year on the computer.

The MAP test is given each year to over 5 million students in all 50 states.  The MAP test uses a scale called RIT to measure student achievement and growth. This is a different type of score than a typical test that provides a percentage correct. It is also different from many tests that provide results based on your child's score compared to others in his or her grade.  Instead, the RIT score is an equal-interval scale, like feet and inches that is independent of grade level. Scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages.  RIT scores range from 140-300.  Students typically start at the 140-190 levels in third grade and progress to the 240-300 levels by high school.  RIT scores make it possible to follow a student's educational growth from year to year. 

The results from this assessment are helpful in the following ways:

• The scores enable us to compare school, class and grade levels to other schools all over the country.
• As we analyze the scores with other schools in our District, we're attempting to identify the instructional strategies and practices that are most effective.
• Individual scores help teachers gain an understanding of each student's academic level and where they need focused instruction.
• The MAP scores are linked to a system (known as the Descartes) that identifies particular math or reading skills that may be areas of strength or challenges for students.

Please remember, February 6 is a Student Waiver Day for professional development. Part of the teacher learning time on will be spent looking at these recent scores and evaluating student progress and needs as compared to their fall scores.  If you would like more information about MAP testing, you can contact your child's teacher, myself, or visit the Northwest Evaluation Association's Web site at www.nwea.org.

Students have also just completed the reading test called Dibels.  We also administer this test 3 times a year to measure growth and grade level in reading.  Soon all students will also be doing a writing assessment.  Again, all this information helps us to know how our students are progressing and what interventions we need to have happen. 

Finally, if you have a child who turns 5 by August 31, 2012, then it is time to think about kindergarten registration! Packets are currently in the office and ready for you to pick up and fill out.  Full time tuition paying kindergarten will also be available (contingent upon interest) for $325.00 a month.  Full time students follow the grades 1-5 schedule. Our kindergarten screening day is May 23 in the afternoon and all students registered will need to attend a half hour session on this day. You may sign up when you register.

Thanks for your continued support of Crestwood.  Enjoy February...it will go fast!

Mrs. Gallo, Principal

Read more of this month's Orca Soundings > > >

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