Dear EVES Families,
We had a smooth start to the 2006-2007 school year.  Many thanks to parents who utilized their LifeSkill of flexibility to allow teachers to test students on our assessment days.  Teachers were able to focus in on instruction right away and provide students with what they need.  Without the assessment days, teachers would typically take up to four weeks to learn about their students and where they might fall academically.
Our PTA has also jumped right in this year and has already provided students with a fun assembly on reptiles.  Many exotic animals were presented to students during a fun-filled afternoon. 
Wild West Day also proved to be a great success despite the gloomy weather leading up to the event.  Students showed their spirit on Friday, September 22 as they wore their cowboy and cowgirl outfits to school. 
As we move into October, please realize that assessments are not quite over for students.  They are working hard on their NWEA tests, which help teachers monitor individual student growth.  The NWEA test is administered to students in grades 2 – 5 in reading, language usage, and math.  The assessment is taken online, giving students the experience of taking tests on the computer.
In closing, please join me in welcoming Krista Gould to our office staff.  She has filled our school secretary position and has done a fabulous job learning our various systems and procedures and has already proven to be an asset to our Eagle Valley Elementary School family.
We’ll see everyone again when our Parent/Teacher Conferences roll around on October 24th and 26th.  More information regarding the scheduling process can be found inside this newsletter.

                        Enthusiastically,
                        Monica Lammers
                       

MOVING TO A STANDARDS-BASED REPORTING SYSTEM

What is the purpose of grades and report cards?  What does a 95% or a letter grade of “B” tell us about what a student has learned?  These are questions that have led Eagle County Schools to move to a more detailed system for reporting grades both in the grade books and on the report cards.

The previous way in which grades were reported only gave us a general idea about how the students were progressing in a subject area.  A “B” on a paper or report card indicated that the child had achieved most of the learning benchmarks (the specific learning target or goal for a lesson), but did not indicate which learning benchmarks were mastered and on which ones the child still needed more work. 

Starting this fall, teachers are reporting a student’s proficiency level on each of the benchmarks in the language arts and math curriculums.  For example, on the 3rd grade benchmark “locate and label halves and fourths between whole numbers on a number line”, the student must demonstrate their ability to complete this task.  The teacher then records a score of from 1 to 4, which 3 meaning that the student is proficient on this particular benchmark.  When looking at all the benchmarks for working with fractions, this allows the teacher to know specifically what skills the students have mastered, and on which ones students still need more work.  More importantly, it allows the teachers to give this specific feedback to the students so they know their own learning targets.

Please contact your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about standards-based grading and reporting.  The school newsletter will also contain more information on the subject each month. 

            Carolyn Neff, Director of Elementary Education




PTA NEWS


WILD WEST DAY

A big thank you to all who attended the 2006 Wild West Day.  We could not have asked for a more beautiful day.  Wild West Day is our PTA’s biggest fundraiser and it wouldn’t be successful without your help.  Thanks to all the volunteers and to those who sold raffle tickets.  The event was a huge success.  The community spirit is what makes this event so enjoyable and successful, year after year.  A special thanks to Debbie Darrough, Chairperson for 2006 Wild West Day.  She did a wonderful job.

Our school sold over $5,000 in raffle tickets.  It was a very close race between the classes.  Mrs. Vernell’s and Mrs. Carullo’s classes tied for 1st place and both won a pizza party.  The top selling student was Jesse Myers selling $210 worth of tickets.  He won an Eagle Valley Elementary sweatshirt.  The following students sold 40 tickets or more and had their names entered in a separate raffle drawing:  Logan Bliss, Nikki Cunning, Austin Darrough, Mariah Dermody, Shelby Essex, Maggie Gilman, Katelin Hennum, Jesse Myers, Clayton Olesen, Delaney Patterson, Tiffany Sheehy, Paul Smith and Kaylin Zilar.  We had three winners from our school for the raffle drawing:  Maggie Gilman, Jesse Myers and Delaney Patterson.

What a great turnout we had for Spirit Day!  We appreciate all of you dressing up as cowgirls and cowboys.  Our winning classrooms were as follows:

       Grand Prize:   Mrs. Hanson’s class – winning an ice cream party
       1st Place:         Mrs. Vernell’s class – winning a cookie party
       2nd Place:        Mr. Markert’s class – winning a cookie party


ASSEMBLY 

On Tuesday, October 17th, Dann Jones, “The Cartoon Man” will come to our school for an assembly.  The program will be packed with lots of surprises.  The students will have fun as they learn how drawing cartoons and reading and writing can open up new worlds to them.  The cartoon characters come to life as they help students learn to draw great pictures and to learn valuable lessons, as well. 


PTA MEETINGS

Eagle Valley Elementary PTA, “Elevating our children’s school experience through support, education and community”.  We can make a difference.  PTA meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month in the cafeteria.  If you would like to get more involved or want to find out more about PTA, please plan on attending a meeting.  Tuesday, October 10th from 7:30-8:30 a.m. is the next meeting.  As part of the October 10th meeting, Carol Wick, our ELA Educator, is going to share information about EVE’s services to English Language Learners.  Hope to see you there.
EAGLE PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS! 

Wednesday, October 25th – “AFTER SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTIES”

Elementary aged children are invited to the library for scary stories, Candy Corn Bingo, a spooky craft, and ghoulish treats.  Wear your most original, funny, or scary costume to be judged in a contest.  Candy count winner announced.  Candy count begins in children’s room October 1st. 

    Grades K-2 meet from 3-4 p.m.
    Grades 3-5 meet from 4-5 p.m.

Special Halloween stories will be offered for preschoolers on October 26-27. 


TAKE CHARGE OF EDUCATION

Target Stores donate up to 1% of purchases made using the REDcard SM to eligible schools designated by their guests.  Schools are issued Take Charge of Education donations each March and September.  It doesn’t cost cardholders anything to sign up for the program, and you can designate your school in one of three ways:
➢    Visit Target.com/tcoe
➢    Stop by the kiosk in your favorite Target store
➢    Call 1-800-316-6142


EVE SWEATSHIRTS

PTA is selling EVE “Hoodie” Sweatshirts – gray with green lettering.  Please use order form below to purchase a sweatshirt from the Office. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
RETURN THIS FORM TO EVE OFFICE


HOODIES ORDER FORM           $20.00 each


Available Sizes:

YOUTH:   Small ____    Medium ____   Large ____

ADULT:    Small ____    Large ____       XL ____


Name ______________________________        Teacher ________________________

Total of Order ____________________

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO EAGLE VALLEY ELEMENTARY PTA.