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Once again it's time for another weekly newsletter. It seems as though the weeks are beginning to move faster and faster, and I'm sure the next month will be somewhat of a blur for most of us. I encourage everyone to remember the real reason and traditions of the holiday season that is just around the corner. In today's crazy and many times scary world, we must all remember to make time for those who are important to us.
A summary and comparison of the Iowa Test Scores are being sent home in the white envelope today. As I stated last year, standardized test scores should always be kept in the proper perspective. There are many outside factors that can affect the scores, and give a false interpretation of a student's real abilities. With that being said, the scores do provide a window into the overall effectiveness of the general curriculum of a school.
As you review the summary sheet, you will want to pay particular attention to the improvement of scores from 3rd to 8th grade. This improvement suggests that as students progress through the program at St. Teresa their overall knowledge and skills improve rather substantially. Secondly, you will notice a comparison of the scores of 4th through 8th grade students in 2013 to those same student's scores in 2015. In other words, the 4th grade scores in 2013 would be the 6th grade scores in 2015. Once again this comparison suggests that individual groups of student's skills have improved over the past two years. Next, you will notice a comparison of 3rd through 8th grade scores from 2013 to 2015. This comparison also suggests that our current 3rd through 8th grade students have acquired more skills than their same grade counterparts of two years ago. Lastly, you will notice the Diocesan Average for each grade is lower when compared to the 2015 scores at St. Teresa.
All of the summaries and comparisons shine a positive light on the overall program at St. Teresa School. However, please remember that individual students score can and do vary for a variety of reasons. The teachers and I often discuss students who seem to be struggling, and we do evaluate the scores to look for areas of concern. All of this information is then used to determine the best plan for each student moving forward. This approach creates the best possibility for long term student success.
Switching gears a bit, I wanted to thank everyone who attended the conferences this past Monday. While communication between teacher and parent is much easier today, it is still nice to be able to sit down face to face and briefly discuss your child's progress at school. I trust you found this time well spent, and would encourage everyone to continue conversations with the teachers throughout the year.
Please remember to drive safely in our parking lots, and that there are children who do not always pay attention when entering or exiting a car. We have had a couple of near misses recently, and all of us need to be more aware of our surroundings when we are in the lot. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this matter.
With only 2 days of school next week, I will not be doing a newsletter. Therefore, I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. May your holiday weekend be filled with family, friends, love, and laughter.
"One of the best gifts you can give someone is thanking them for being a part of your life"
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