Common Core here to stay
|
|
January 11, 2014 |
By Principal Gary Pfleuger
Valley View Elementary
Welcome to VVES 2014! This year we will “raise
the bar” in terms of academic expectations. The
new Idaho Common Core Standards are here to stay
— and this is good!
To prepare our students for their future, the
educational system needs to change with the
times. Our students need to be given the skills
necessary to find success in a fast paced,
technologically driven society.
With this edition of the Principal Press, I have
copied an article placed in the Nation Education
Association news letter. The article offers six
advantages to the Common Core Standards and
explains how these changes will affect classroom
instruction. To read it,
click here.
Now, the student assessment for the Idaho Common
Core is up to some debate.
The plan from the Idaho State Department of
Education is finding some push back from Idaho
Schools. The state plan was to use an assessment
developed by the SMARTER Balanced Assessment
Consortium. This assessment has been in other
states.
The Superintendents in southern Idaho have
petitioned to the State Department to use
another assessment, the Measure of Academic
Progress (MAP). This assessment, which is
nationally used, is reliable and much, much
shorter.
I am familiar with this assessment and very much
in favor of this option. I prefer more
instructional time and not losing the computer
lab for a month of testing.
This is up to the State, so … c’est la vie, we
will see!
Now, to local stuff — VVES now has a camera
security system in place! Nine cameras have been
placed on campus. Student safety is the primary
reason for the installation. Property
surveillance and security is the other. Funding
of the system came from State designated money.
The winners of the December drawing for safe,
civil and productive behaviors (the Badger Paws)
were: Kindergartener Miley Sund, first grader
Isabella Allured, second grader Martie Peterson,
third rader Randi Johnson, fourth rader Sierra
Petesch and fifth grader Ella Huggins.
Congratulations to these students and every
student who earns a Badger Paw!
The Student Council is sponsoring a Canned Food
Drive. This will be held until January 16, when
we will “Fill the Bus” in honor and support of
the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. tradition.
The class that brings in the most items will
earn an ice cream/movie social.
Upcoming Events
1/14 School Board 6:00
1/15 Kelly Milner-Hall and the Wonders of Weird!
Kelly is the author of several books; look her
up on-line. Assemblies will be held throughout
the day.
1/16 last day of canned food drive
1/20 MLK Jr. No School
1/23 Fourth grade ski
1/25 Regional Spelling Bee at the Free Methodist
Church 9 a.m.
1/28 PTO Math-a-thon
2/6 Fifth grade ski
2/13 Fourtth grade ski
2/27 Winter Carnival at VVES
3/6 Fifth grade ski
Thanks for all you do for the kids of Valley
View! |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
