April 2016 Edition of the Twality Spotlight

The Twality Spotlight - April 2016

Message from the Principal

Smarter Balanced Assessment

In May students will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC). SBAC is a high quality assessment that measures students’ acquisition of the Common Core Standards. In October 2010, Oregon adopted the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts and Mathematics. These standards were designed to challenge students to understand subject matter more deeply, think critically and apply knowledge to real life situations. The results will provide us with meaningful information about each individual student’s skills and about the effectiveness of our instructional program. 

We created a testing schedule to minimize disruption and elicit our students’ best effort.  Most students will complete the assessment in one week:

May 9^th-13^th:          6^th Grade 

May 16^th-20^th:        7^th Grade 

 May 23^rd- 27^th:       8^th Grade

Sixth graders will test in the mornings, Monday through Friday. Seventh and eighth graders will complete most of the testing in two 90-minute blocks on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (Wednesday and Friday will be normal schedules). Students will be assigned to a proctor (one of their teachers) who will be with them throughout the testing session.

We ask that you help us make this a positive experience for your student by following 

some of these tips and requests:

·         Please do not schedule medical or dental appointments, or vacations during the testing window.

·         Encourage your child to get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. (Students may bring snacks and water bottles).

·         Please bring headphones.  There is a listening portion on the Language Arts assessment and students typically like using their own headphones.

·         Remind your child that phones will not be allowed in the testing environment. All electronic devices will be secured with the proctor or in their lockers prior to the testing session.

·         Remind your child to bring a book or drawing materials to occupy their time if they complete the assessment before the end of the testing session.

·         Your child may want an extra layer of clothing in case the classroom is cold.

As a school staff, we are committed to creating a stress free environment for testing.  We believe that SBAC is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning. Students (and teachers) have worked hard all year and I am confident that each student has achieved their learning goals.

Thank you,

Carol Kinch

Family STEM Night, Tue May 10th 6:00-8:00pm

Family STEM Night is a FREE opportunity for families to have fun together while exploring a variety of hands-on STEM activities and learning how STEM is involved in everyday life.  Come create, design, explore, improve, imagine and invent!

We know that there are many of you out there that hold professions that incorporate STEM skills.  We NEED you to come and share what you do with students and families attending STEM Night. There will be a two-hour block of time that we will have for you to share. Please join us for the first hour, the second hour, or both! Bring some hands-on tools, activities, pictures, etc...that can help get students excited about pursuing a fun career in STEM.

Remember, it may not seem the most exciting to you, but when students hear about what you do, they are almost always blown away and excited about new things they haven’t thought of before. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) encompasses a WIDE range of skills and professions! Please come and share what you do!

Contact Dylan McCann or Carla Birkholz if you are interested in joining us!

dmccann@ttsd.k12.or.us    cbirkholz@ttsd.k12.or.us

Drama One Act Plays

Our amazing advanced drama students have been preparing One Act Plays for you!  Come enjoy a show on Tuesday April 26th or Thursday April 28th, 7:00-8:30pm in the MPR.  Both shows have different performances, come see both if you have time!  Thank you for supporting our Drama Department!

Have an 8th Grader interested in Tigard High School 

Dance teams?

Tigard Youth Football

It's that time of the year again!  Tigard Youth Football season registration opens April 1st for the 

Fall 2016 season.  There is an Open House meeting scheduled for April 17th if you have questions 

about Tigard Youth Football.

 

TTSD Books on Wheels, Book Drive

TTSD Parent Presentation

Tigard Turns the Tide:

National speaker scheduled for Community Education Forum

Mark your calendars now for Monday, May 9. National speaker and Police Officer Jermaine Galloway will lead a discussion about emerging alcohol and drug trends in our area. Before our event, he will do a community scan to identify our local culture in alcohol and other drug items that promote use. We will have the opportunity to learn about emerging trends, both nationally and locally.

The Community Education Forum will be held:
            6 – 8 p.m., Monday, May 9, 2016
            Colossae Church, 12244 SW Garden Place, Tigard 97223

This FREE forum is appropriate for parents, teachers, school staff, community leaders, coalition members, law enforcement, PSO’s, youth pastors, youth group leaders, and other adults in the community working with youth. This forum is not appropriate for children or students. Spanish language translation and refreshments will be provided.

City of Tualatin's Blender Dash Event for Kids