The Mission of Nativity Catholic School, in partnership with our families, is to prepare

and inspire each student academically and spiritually to serve the Body of Christ.

Model Respect Learn Achieve

Back to School Parent MeetingAugust 16, 2018

Opening Prayer

Principal

Welcome

Strategic Planning Update

The Mission of Nativity Catholic School, in

partnership with our families, is to prepare

and inspire each student academically and

spiritually to serve the Body of Christ.

Model Respect Learn Achieve

Assistant Principal – Student AffairsExtended Day

o For Safety reasons – parents are NOT allowed to pick up children walking from the school into Extended Dayo Carlineo Buslineo Walkers

o Appreciate your patience as we make some improvements – the safety of your children is our primary concern

o Finger printing is available tonight

Assistant Principal – Student Affairs

Handbook Updateso Value statements are throughout the document

o More concise – documents from the appendices have been removed because they are online

o Uniform changes

o Earrings – no hoopso Free dress – no yoga/stretchy pants etc.

o Please read through the handbook

Assistant Principal – Student AffairsHandbook Updates – Discipline Code

o Team of teachers and parents worked on this together

o Demerits

o Rather than phases and steps

o Like points on your license

o Restorative Justice

o When we violate the code it is because we have damaged a relationship

o R.J. tries to heal that damaged relationship

o It also includes consequences

o ATLs have no connection to school discipline

2018-2019 Instructional Updates

Goal: Use data to inform instruction that is consistently rigorous, standards-based and ensures the learning of all students.

o Increasing Technology Integration

o STREAM Implementation

o Multidisciplinary Elementary Enrichment Program and Strengthening Student Identification

o Exploring Elective Offerings and Academic Paths for 7th and 8th Grade

o Block Scheduling to Provide Time for Deeper Learning Tasks

o Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

o Prioritizing Personalized Learning School-wide

Assistant Principal – Academic Affairs

2nd-5th Grade Enrichment Program

Measures of Achievement Behavior Characteristics

NWEA MAP Growth AssessmentsTerraNova

Observations

Measures of Intellectual Ability / Aptitude Demonstrated Performance

Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT)Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)SAGES

PortfoliosObservationsInterviews

Items of Considerations - Student Identification

Achievement and

Percentile rank two levels above grade level peers on a norm-referenced achievement test for reading, math and language usage; and

Aptitude and

Percentile rank two levels above grade level peers on norm-referenced cognitive assessment; and

Performance and

Demonstrated ability two or more years above grade level peers; and

Behavior

Observations to determine indicators of readiness to participate in program.

Identification Benchmarks

Elective Offerings for 7th and 8th Grade

Spanish 1 (This is a year long course of study)

Description: This elective will provide students the opportunity to explore not only the Spanish language, but also to explore some of the countries where Spanish is spoken; their diverse cultures, traditions, food, and more. Students who choose Spanish I, will build on the grammar and vocabulary skills they have learned in previous years to help build their fluency and language proficiency to be able to carry on a simple conversation.

Finally, we are hoping to begin a Chapter in the Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad (National Hispanic Society of Friendship); giving students the opportunity to be inducted into this society and engage in activities in three areas: ambassadorship, service to community, and service to school.

Technology Offerings

Game Design (1st Trimester)In this elective, Middle School students will explore several advanced programming, math, and social issues through the lens of creating games. The course will introduce the ideas of probability, logical rule sets, technical writing, and social analysis / engineering. We’ll also explore the implications of how advertisers leverage peer pressure for both good and ill, gaming addiction, and the potential value of E-Sports.

Graphic Arts (2nd Trimester)In this elective, Middle School students will explore advanced digital art techniques in the fields of graphic design, print design, and 3d modelling. They’ll develop their personal style preferences, learn to critique and breakdown digital art, and become aware of how digital manipulation can be used in several real-world applications. We’ll also discuss how advertisers alter images to sell, and the value of the truth behind images and the way they are presented.

Circuits- Electronic Engineering (3rd Trimester)In this elective, Middle School students will explore the basics of circuit design and electrical engineering. The course will introduce the concepts of how to read an electrical diagram, many different electronics components, and how to build with electronics for several different career and hobby fields. We’ll also discuss how the world of electronics is changing the wider world around us, and what can be done to sustainably create more opportunities for people around the world to be enabled to succeed through electrical systems engineering.

Sport Specific Strength/Conditioning (Offered Every Trimester)

The purpose of this course is to provide students the opportunity to develop and enhance their strength and cardio-respiratory. It will be tailored training with the athlete in mind. Students will set baseline data at the beginning of the course and will receive post test data at the end to show measurable goals.

Advanced Band (Offered Every Trimester)

This band elective is available for any student who has played a band instrument for at least one year. During band the students will be working on learning new concepts and songs throughout the trimester. Any advanced band member that is not available to take the elective will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2:45-3:30.

Creative Writing (Offered Every Trimester)

Calling all readers and writers! This elective will provide you the opportunity to indulge your creative side. We’ll be working with writing prompts, both silly and serious while expanding our various styles. This includes learning about: authors, illustrators, fiction, fantasy, poetry, personal expression, and a few special, unusual types of writing, too! Writing is expression of thought, so is illustrating, and we’ll work on how the two complement each other. You’ll create a wonderful portfolio of your work and become a published author as well.

Art Offerings

Trimester 1: Fiber Arts

In this elective, middle school students will explore fiber art media and techniques including weaving, knitting, sewing, and jewelry making. Students will not only create quality crafted art pieces while exploring the ways in which ideas may be expressed through fibers for themselves, they will also be participating in creating projects for our community.

Trimester 2: Puppetry

This course will provide instruction for making a variety of puppets (i.e. sock, rod, and finger puppets) that will also be used to perform. Puppets will be used to portray original scripts, traditional folk tales, and stories from around the world. Students will create puppets, write scripts, and create a performance space. Student puppet shows will be recorded to use in the classrooms and/or performed before live audiences upon completion as a service to our community.

Trimester 3: Ceramics/Sculpture/Community Service

Ceramics and Sculpture is a three dimensional art course that will explore media such as clay, plaster, wire, metal, and wood. Ceramic projects will involve modeling clay with pinching, coiling, and slab construction techniques. Surface decoration, glazing, and firing techniques will be explored in this course. Students will study historical and contemporary examples of sculptures from various cultures. Creative problem solving skills related to the concept of form will be emphasized. In addition to their three dimensional art projects, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and the facilities department to plan, design, draw, paint both temporary and permanent art pieces that will be displayed in different locations all over the school.

Focus for All Classrooms

Assessment Tools

Who should I contact?

• Mrs. Rebecca Turley – Technology related emails

• Mrs. Jo-Hanna Hohman – Admissions/Student Records/Homeroom Angel related emails

• Mrs. Michele Montanez – SSP and resource teacher related emails

• Mrs. Andrea Cseh –School Counselor for student social/emotional support emails

• Mrs. Therese Alonso – Daily Operations of the School related emails

• Mrs. Jenni Seebaran – Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment related emails

• Mrs. Bill Amrhein – Discipline, Extended Day and Student Injury related emails

• Mrs. Maureen Ringley– most emails will be brought to Mrs. Ringley’s attention (when needed) by the aforementioned individuals. Serious issues may be brought directly to her attention.