NEW STANDARDIZED TESTING BEGINS AT IDE

MAP TESTING

MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) is a new test to District 66 this year and will replace the IOWA test which was given in years past. We will give students MAP tests to determine their instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year in the areas of math, reading and language arts. The test is taken on the computer.

MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. With the use of MAP tests, we can administer shorter tests and use less class time while still receiving detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth. Over the next few weeks, your child will spend a total of about two to three hours completing these tests. Each school year, students in grades 2-8 take the tests in fall and again in the spring. This fall the 2nd grade test is being piloted. We are administering the test at this time to familiarize the students with the testing procedures therefore the results will not be sent home. The spring testing results will be sent home with the final report card.

We are truly excited to begin a new era that focuses on every child’s individual growth and achievement. Partnering to help all kids learn, parents and teachers can have a profound positive effect on the lives of our children. For more information on resources for parents, download the Parent Toolkit at www.nwea.org >> Partner Support.

Please feel free to call me at 630-783-5200 with any questions.

Mrs. Hansen

LOOKING TOWARDS OCTOBER

It's hard to believe that September has come to a close and the first month of school is over. Now we can look forward to October and the beautiful Chicago Fall weather, football, basketball and hockey (unfortunately no baseball :( - there's always next year)!

October Events at Ide

Monday, October 11th - NO SCHOOL - Columbus Day

Tuesday, October 12th - School Board Meeting @ PV 7:00

Wednesday, October 20th - Early Dismissal @ 12:00

All students are dismissed at noon and only AM kindergartners attend.

Thursday, October 21st - Ide PTO Meeting @ 7:00

Friday, October 22nd-Family Halloween Party 6 - 8

Tuesday, October 26th - School Board Meeting @ PV 7:00

Friday, October 29th - Classroom Halloween Parties and Parades

CHARACTER COUNTS AT ELIZABETH IDE

PBIS

Later this year, Elizabeth Ide will be implementing an approach to discipline called Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a proactive systems approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.

As a Response to Intervention model, PBIS applies a three-tiered system of support, and a problem-solving process to enhance the capacity of schools to effectively educate all students.
Data-based decision-making aligns curricular instruction and behavioral supports to student and staff needs. Schools applying PBIS begin by establishing clear expectations for behavior that are taught, modeled, and reinforced across all settings and by all staff.

While we are being trained to implement this program, we will continue our Positive PAWS (Positive Amazing Wonderful Students) Program. Our students can earn pawprints for demonstrating the Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship) anytime during the school day. The paws are brought down to the office and six lucky students are drawn each month to win a certificate and other "pawsitive" items. One student each month wins a Character Counts t-shirt or poster. All of the paws are hung on the Positive PAWS bulletin board at the end of the month.

RtI Begins Again

RTI

RtI will begin for our first graders on Monday, Sept. 13th and on Monday, Sept. 20th for our second graders. Letters went home today stating who your child's reading teacher will be. Our entire teaching staff works together to make this education initiative as productive as possible for our students. Therefore, your student may have a classroom teacher or one of our specialists as their reading teacher. Who the teacher is does not reflect on your child's abilities, but enables us to have teachers work with smaller groups of students to enhance their educational experience at Elizabeth Ide. Kindergarten RtI will begin after the first trimester. The following link will take you to a brochure created by District 66 to better explain RtI to you; http://www.ccsd66.org/Montes%20Website/HomePage.html . Please scroll down to "RtI: A Parent's Guide."


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and if you have any questions please feel free to email me at jhansen@ccsd66.org or call me on Monday at 630-783-5200.

WELCOME BACK

I can't believe this will be day 3 of the school year - the summer just flew by. I really enjoy hearing the children's voices again, it gets pretty lonely in the summer!!

During the Open House I heard many positive comments about the building renovation, I am so glad that everyone is enjoying the new look. Please know that my office door (and ears) are always open if you need anything. I am looking forward to working with our new and returning families this year. Welcome back and let the fun begin!

SUMMER NEWS

This summer has been very busy and filled with unexpected (but) happy surprises.

The Ide renovation is coming along nicely and the school looks terrific. I cannot wait for our Open House so everyone can see the changes - for a sneak peek check out Dr. Tiede's blog for pictures :)

The Hansen household has increased by one! Marc a beautiful and wonderful 3 year old boy has moved in and filled our home with love and happiness. I have been able to introduce him to many Ide families as we've been out and about in the neighborhood.

I hope all of you are having a terrific summer and enjoying time with family and friends.

THE YEAR IS ALMOST OVER

I can't believe we are at the end of another school year. I have enjoyed working with all of you and your children this year. For those of you going on to Prairieview I wish you the best of luck and hope you'll come back and visit us here at Ide; especially since we'll be renovating the building this summer.

The renovations will begin immediately after school ends on Wednesday, June 2nd and should be completed by mid-August (keep your fingers crossed)!!! If you need any assistance during the month of June the office will be relocated to Prairieview (630) 783-5100. Once we are back at Ide we'll send out an email informing all of you.

When everything is complete I will be posting some before and after pictures so that everyone can view and enjoy the changes. I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing summer!!!!!