PANTHER PRESS
September 18, 2015
Principal's Note
Dear Prairie Grove Families:

The safety of our students and staff is of utmost importance.  I would like to take this opportunity to briefly address our emergency preparedness plan in the event of a threat posed to Prairie Grove Schools. Our District Safety Committee meets at least once year with law enforcement and fire officials in attendance, to review our comprehensive Crisis Management Plan.  This Plan lists what to do and whom to call in the event of an emergency. The plan covers natural disasters as well as emergencies posed by people, including bomb threats, intrusions, and hazardous materials spills.  The plan is a learning tool for all staff within our schools. By reviewing the plans on a regular basis and taking part in drills, administrators and staff will have the knowledge and confidence to respond quickly and correctly in the event of an emergency.  So far this year, we have practiced the following drills:

Tuesday, September 1, 2015 -  Lockdown and Shelter in Place Wednesday, September 16, 2015 - Bus Evacuation Drill
Thursday, September 17, 2015 - Fire Drill 

Our teachers and administrators are reviewing the effectiveness of each drill to ensure the ultimate safety of your children. Y our child's safety is our first priority. You can help us remain safe by following the procedures for visiting our schools:
  • Please always enter through the main offices and be prepared to show your driver's license. All visitors will be given a visitor's badge to wear during your visit.  If you are in the building without a visitor's badge, someone may kindly ask for you to return to the main office. Please understand that this is for the safety of all the children.   
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend with your families.  

Best regards,
Martha Maggiore
Principal
  
District Information
FACILITIES COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITY
The Community Facilities Committee will meet to begin assessment of our facility needs on  Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the junior high library.  Please plan to join us!


STATE ASSESSMENT UPDATE
You have likely heard in the news this week that the Illinois State Board of Education has released some limited, preliminary information about overall student performance on the statewide Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment.

As you may recall, in 2015 the PARCC Assessment replaced the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) as Illinois' statewide assessment. Illinois students in grades 3-8 took the PARCC exam for the first time during two sessions in March and May. The rigor of the PARCC assessment exceeds that of the ISAT. It also measures different skills such as students' critical thinking, problem solving, and writing, which are necessary for students to succeed in high school and beyond.

In releasing the preliminary statewide results, State Superintendent Tony Smith announced that due to the shift to the Common Core State Standards and the increased rigor of the assessment, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards statewide has decreased. Dr. Smith noted that these initial score results create a new baseline from which the state will move forward. The change is a reflection of how high-stakes assessments have evolved to meet more demanding standards that promote college and career readiness. Again, it's important to remember that this year's PARCC exam results cannot be compared to test scores from the state's previous ISAT assessments.

We at Prairie Grove believes strongly that no one assessment creates a comprehensive picture of a learner or group of learners. Therefore, we have built a robust assessment portfolio that includes assessments designed by teachers in addition to MAP and PARCC. Our assessment portfolio includes a balance of all types, while also being sensitive to the time needed for teaching and learning. These assessments inform day-to-day instruction and help teachers make decisions about differentiation, interventions, and student growth goals.

We will be sharing our results and individual student performance as soon as they become available from the Illinois State Board of Education. As of today, scores are not expected until later this fall.



Curriculum Night

Thanks to all who were able to attend Curriculum Night.  We appreciate your feedback and we are always looking at ways to improve our community events.  Stay tuned...!
Picture RETAKES ...

Friday, November 6th
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Junior High Information
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Attention parents of 6th Graders:

All 6th grade students need to have the required Illinois state physicals complete with all immunizations by the  October 15th state deadline!

If these are not in by the deadline, your student is considered "non-compliant" by the state and will be "excluded" from school until it is received.  If you have a scheduled physicians/eye doctor appointment after the  Oct 15th deadline, you MUST turn in a note from their office on doctor's letter head with a physician signature, date and time of the appointment!

If you have any questions please contact your school nurse!

6th Grade Timber-lee Parents, 
You may still drop off letters and medications to the front office. 
Elementary Information
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Kindergarten Physicals/Immunizations and Eye Exam Forms are due by 
October 15th  or students will be excluded. 
Important Dates to Remember


Friday, September 18, 2015

TONIGHT
Advanced Band at
Prairie Ridge Varsity Game

Monday, September 28, 2015

6th Grade Outdoor Ed 
Timber-lee

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Facilities Committee Meeting 6:00 JH Lib.



Prairie Grove Elementary 815-459-3023

Prairie Grove Junior High 815-459-3557