Common Core here to stay |
| January 11, 2014 |
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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! |