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Bear Facts... Your Superintendent's Message
To all of you who voted to support our students through this year's replacement levy, we say thank you! The levy is a crucial part of the funding we need to provide all of the programs and support we offer to our students. Without the support of our levy, we would not be able to continue the extra-curricular programs, field trips, transportation inside the mile radius, some of our educational assistants and other support personnel. Your continued support is appreciated.
SPOTLIGHT
This year, in response to the crisis in Haiti, our elementary school decided to run a coin drive to send to the Red Cross to help in the aid efforts. Thanks to Alice Muxen and her efforts to coordinate this project. As a school they have raised nearly $2000. Some of the heart-warming stories that we had are:
One 5th grader received $65 for his birthday.
He told his teacher that he was going to buy some silly toy that 3 or 4 months
from now would break and that he wanted his money to help rebuild the orphanage
that would last longer than some toy. Another student brought in his
Tooties Roll bank filled with money and said the orphans need this more than I
do. After counting it, there was over $53.00. There many other stories,
not with those large amounts, but with the same thoughtfulness behind them from
the 5th graders and others. In the 6 days that money was
collected, the 5th grade as a whole donated $665.58.
Our kids know how to give when
someone needs help. What a great lesson
to take with them as they take part in our community.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPLETE
The Board has adopted the
Strategic Plan for the next 3 to 5 years.
Thanks to over a hundred people who put their time and thoughts into
developing the plan. Your effort and input
are greatly appreciated. The Board will
distribute the plan through our district webpage, at counters in our local
businesses and through direct mailing to families of our students. If you do not have access through one of
these options contact the district office and one will be mailed to you.
Teaching
and Learning Report
Spring
testing update
- This past year, the state made some sweeping changes to the state testing
which students in grades 3-10 take each year. Beginning this year, students in
grades 3-8 will take the "Measurements of
Student Progress" and the "High
School Proficiency Exam" at grade 10. These tests still cover the areas of
reading, writing, mathematics and science. They provide valuable information to
parents about how their child is doing in school in meeting state standards. In
addition, the new tests will provide clearer information to schools about their
program strengths and areas where students need additional assistance. Changes
for this year include having fewer test
days, shorter tests with fewer questions and more short answer
questions than in the past. The end result will be less time devoted to the
test and more timely results for families and schools.
Testing
dates/times: This year the tests will be given at the
following times.
Grades 3-8 Measurement of Student Progress
From May 12 until May 28 there will be 5 test sessions
Grade 10 High School Proficiency Exam (5 test sessions)
March 16-18 Reading and Writing
assessments
April
13 Mathematics
assessment
April 15 Science
assessment
Testing
time: Students have as much time as they need to
complete each test. There will be only one test given on each day for 5
days. Average test time for students is
as follows;
*
Elementary- 75-95 minutes per session
*
Middle
School - 90-120 minutes per session
*
High
School - 90-140 minutes per session
How can
you prepare your child to do their best?
These
tests provide an opportunity for your child to "show what they know" and they "know a lot!"
Here
are some helpful tips ---
* See that your child is well rested. Testing requires concentration and being well rested is important.
* See that your child is well fed. A breakfast is an important step.
* Provide reassurance -It is normal for students to be nervous about taking tests. Remind them that it is important that they "do your best."
*
Be there! -It is important that your child is at school on test days. Please don't let
appointments or family plans which could interfere with this time. If a student
in grades 3-8 is absent they will have the opportunity to make up the test. High school students who miss the test will
have to wait until August to retake the test.
Kiona-Benton Middle School /
Principal's Corner for the month of March, 2010
As we head into March, April and May, I would
like to encourage our students as well as our parents to begin preparation for
the statewide "Measurement of Student Progress" that will be taken at the
middle school during the month of May.
The Measurement does what it says it does, it measures the academic
progress each student has made during the 2009-10 school year as to the
specific standards that are deemed essential to the students ability to
successfully traverse the secondary (MS and HS), and Post Secondary (College/University) terrain that they will be covering in the very near
future. As it is with anything in life,
the greater attention and importance we place on any topic such as the one
we're focusing on today, academics, the greater attention and importance our
children will place on that very topic.
Our children need our understanding and wisdom in order to make informed
decisions that will affect, to a large extent, their pathway as they move
forward in life. I can't stress any more
that I do each day, the necessity of a continued education throughout one's
life. Our ultimate goal is to see that
all of our students understand this and do all they can to assure that they
have the opportunity to attend and fulfill all the requirements of attaining a "Higher Degree."
As you are aware, we, as a district, have
been accruing time over each weekday in order to carve out time for our
teachers to "Collaboratively" work together in organizing themselves as a staff
to better serve the needs of our students.
We do this each Wednesday during our "Collaborative Release Time" or CRT
days. The purpose of the CRT day is to improve student learning as
measured by our student's results received during strategic testing throughout
the year. This time includes the
following collaborative efforts by our staff;
-Engaging in
professional development -Sharing
in-class strategies that are working
-Discussing
and Reviewing Assessment Data -Forming
Intervention strategies for struggling students
We would like to thank you for all you do for
our kids and the patience you have had with our newly developed CRT schedule
this year.
On a different note, Kennewick General
Hospital and the Tri-City American's in the month of February were offering to
our students who have worked hard to earn top grades, the KGH "A" is for Americans! program which allowed many of our
students the opportunity to bring their successful report cards or progress
reports to the American's ticket office at the Toyota Center to get a free
Student Ticket to an American's Hockey game.
What a great opportunity these institutions have provided to spend time
with your children and reward their hard work!
For the month of March we will have a "Person in the Spotlight!" rather than
a student! Our spotlighted person for the month is our Intervention Specialist,
Mrs. Jessica Weston! We would like to
Spotlight Mrs. Weston for the great courage she and her family has shown over
the past three years as she has battled cancer and the effects that it has had
on all those that know her. This past
month we have found that Jessica has completed her last round of Chemotherapy
and is free from any signs of the disease!
We are appreciative of the good work that she provides our students and
are very proud that she represents who we are as a school, a school district and
community!
Reflecting on Jessica's fight for to overcome
and those around us that we know are in similar battles, Ernest Hemingway is
known for many things, but a statement he made which we should always remember
in those moments when we're uncertain of whether we have it in us to succeed, he stated; 'Man is not made for defeat.' Keep that in mind as
we move forward and hold on to Jessica's example! Go Cubs!!
Mr. Wing - Principal Mr. Castillo - Dean
of Students
Kiona-Benton Middle School
Calendar of Events
March, 2010
Important Dates
March
3rd Collaborative Release Time /
Early Release @ 1:40 p.m.
5th Progress Reports Sent Home
9th Gear Up! Mad Science CSI,
Yakima, Leave at 8:00 a.m.
10th Collaborative Release Time / Early
Release @ 1:40 p.m.
11th Band Concert @ HS 7:00 p.m. 5,
6, 7 and 8
17th Collaborative Release Time / Early
Release @ 1:40 p.m.
19th Spring Professional Day
26th Third Quarter of School Ends
March 29th - April 2nd Spring Break
