11/18/22
Just a reminder…The school will be closed from Wednesday, November 23rd through November 27th.
There will be no Principal's Message on Friday, November 25th.
We will see everyone on Monday, November 28th.
Have a wonderful break!
Congratulations!
Each month, Twin Groves will be recognizing students who are model citizens of our Colts Community!
The Twin Groves Staff would like to recognize the following students who consistently demonstrate they are Responsible, Respectful, and Safe. In addition to the 3 Traits, we are also recognizing students for being leaders, role models, supportive peers, brave, and positive.
Sritejas Bommisetty
Liam Collins
Paloma Cantre
Bayar Darkhansukh
Lilly Karp
Sonali Kistanna
Reese Par
Joyce Wang
Counseling Corner
Ms. Baker and Mr. Maddox, School Social Workers
Mrs. Koulentes, School Counselor
Mrs. Leverentz, School Psychologist
In middle school, we not only want to teach academic skills but we also want to teach important life skills to all of our students. As our communities are becoming more diverse, it is apparent that as a school we need to focus on the importance of inclusion, tolerance, and respect to all in our building.
The article “How to Raise Tolerant, Inclusive Kids” from US News and World Report includes ten tips for parents and families.
1-Confront Your Prejudices. Examine your own biases so that you are not passing them on to your children.
2-Model Tolerance. Be an example to your child that ALL people should be treated with respect.
3-Broaden Horizons. Encourage your child to be friends with different students.
4-Look for Commonalities too. If your child points out another student’s differences, be sure to show them the other student’s similarities as well. Your child will be able to appreciate their unique qualities but also how people share common ground.
5-Talk about Race and Exclusion. If necessary, learn together.
6-Expose your Child to Diverse Experiences and Ideas. The more experiences your child has, the more they will learn and the more comfortable they will feel with others.
7-Read Diverse Literature. Expose children to positive role models from different cultures.
8-Teach Children how to be Inclusive. Show your child how to meet people, how to introduce themselves to a new group of people, and invite a new person to sit with them. These exposures will help your child feel more comfortable when meeting new people.
9-Refuse to Allow Discriminatory Comments. If you hear racist comments in your presence, acknowledge it showing you will not tolerate it. This will show your children how they can handle it in the future.
10-Stress Empathy and Talk about Exclusion. Have a conversation with your children about the effects of deliberately excluding someone.
8th Grade World Languages Information
Dear Families -
In the month of December, 8th-grade students will participate in the AAPPL (The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages) assessment to assess their communicative competency with the Spanish language. The purpose of this assessment is three-fold:
1. D96 will collect valuable data that will inform our instruction to continue to enhance our Spanish curriculum and instruction.
2. Stevenson High School will use this proficiency data to make initial recommendations for Spanish coursework when your student is in high school.
3. Students will have the opportunity to have experience with an assessment that can lead them to earn the Seal of Biliteracy on their High School diploma when they are in high school.
Tell me more about the assessment.
Your child’s Spanish Teacher will share the specific assessment schedule. The tasks included in this assessment are similar to tasks we use during our regular instruction and assessment cycle in Spanish classes. The students are asked to engage in interpretive listening and reading tasks. This includes listening or reading authentic Spanish pieces and answering questions, in English, about those pieces based on the language the students already know or context given. Additionally, the students will respond to writing prompts in Spanish utilizing learned language skills. The final piece of the assessment is an interpersonal speaking opportunity in which your child will perform for the classroom teacher and will be scored based on a rubric co-constructed with all Spanish teachers across the consortium (D96, D102, D103, and D125) for consistency of expectations.
When will the test be administered?
Listening and Reading- December 8th from 1:06-2:30
Writing- December 9th from 1:06-2:30
What do students need?
Please make sure your student has headphones.
How will this information be used to make course recommendations?
Your student’s level of proficiency (interpretive listening and reading as well as writing) as indicated by this assessment combined with an analysis of their interpersonal speaking skills and teacher input will be used to make an initial course recommendation that is optimal for your student. You will receive this information in the mail late January/early February prior to needing to select courses at Stevenson. You can find the specific course sequence in this course book. In general, recommendations will be made for the following courses based on this assessment:
-Spanish 2
-Spanish 2-3 Accelerated
-Spanish 3-4 Accelerated
As this is a recommendation, your family will have the opportunity to provide input as you make the final selection for a course should your child choose to continue studying the Spanish language.
What is the Seal of Biliteracy?
The Seal of Biliteracy is intended to recognize students for multilingual skills and is indicated on a student’s high school diploma. Additionally, Illinois universities are obligated to offer college credit to students that have earned the Seal of Biliteracy through meeting the requirements.
For more information about this opportunity, use this link and click on the Seal of Biliteracy Tab.
What if my child would like to participate in a benchmark or placement assessment for a language other than Spanish?
Stevenson also provides individuals who have experience in Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, or Latin could take a placement exam to decide if a higher level language course placement would be appropriate for your child. Please visit the Stevenson website for more information and to register for the exam via this link. The deadline to register is Monday, December 12.
The purpose of the benchmark exam is two-fold:
-As indicated by this assessment, your student's level of proficiency will be used to determine the appropriate level for course recommendation. This information will be mailed in mid-January prior to Stevenson's Course Selection evenings.
-Course selection data collected in February is crucial to determining appropriate staffing, the number of sections, fiscal decisions, and building the master schedule for the following school year.
Finally, more information is available on the Stevenson website and on the Benchmark FAQ document. For additional questions, please email [email protected].
Current Patriot Consortium Mathematics Placement Process- 8th Grade
The consortium has created criteria that defines the four strands of mathematical proficiency to highlight the attributes of a proficient mathematical thinker. The criteria are grouped into three categories (See chart on the second page):
-Procedural Skills & Fluency (How well you can correctly use mathematics.)
-Conceptual Understanding (How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.)
-Problem-Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence (How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.)
Over the course of the year, the mathematics teachers will be discussing these criteria with the students in class to create a portrait of each student. This portrait will be used to recommend the students into the mathematics course at Stevenson High School that matches their content knowledge as well as level of mathematics proficiency at this time.
As a district and consortium, it is our vision that each student moves on to the next course in the sequence providing that there are no significant gaps in content knowledge. If there are significant gaps in content knowledge and a change in recommendation occurs, we will contact you. We feel that this process allows a mathematical picture of the student to develop over time, which will provide a more informed recommendation.
Course Sequence for Bridge Algebra 1 Students
-Algebra 1 with Mentor math or Algebra 1 with Math Guided Study will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-4
-Algebra 1 will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-4
Course Sequence for Algebra 1 Students
-Geometry will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-4
-Geometry Accelerated will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-4
Course Sequence for Geometry Students
-Algebra 2 will be recommended if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Units 1-3
-Algebra 2 Accelerated will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Units 1-3
PORTRAIT OF A MATHEMATICALLY PROFICIENT STUDENT
Procedural Skills & Fluency
How well you can correctly use mathematics.
(skill in carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately)
I can identify and use the most efficient method for the problem. (MP7)
I can use mathematical computations, terms, symbols, formulas, and language appropriately. (MP5, 6)
I can recognize the algebraic structure in problems and use rules or procedures to solve or simplify. (MP7)
I can solve problems with accuracy. (MP6)
Conceptual Understanding
How well you utilize mathematical ideas, transfer your knowledge into new situations, and apply it to new contexts.
(comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations)
I can use diagrams, pictures, and symbols to justify my work. (MP4)
I can understand and justify the “why” of the procedure. (MP3)
I can justify solutions algebraically, graphically, and numerically. (MP3)
I can explain my solution with sound mathematical reasoning using precise mathematics vocabulary and terminology. (MP3, 8)
I can determine the reasonableness of my answer. (MP2)
Problem Solving with Adaptive Reasoning and Strategic Competence
How well you can apply strategies and sound reasoning.
(capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, and justification and ability to formulate, represent, and solve mathematical problems)
I can select and use all the pertinent information to solve the problem. (MP2)
I can determine a solving strategy by forming logical relationships among concepts and situations. (MP7, 8)
I can represent a situation mathematically using modeling. (MP4)
I can retain and apply information and skills from previous units to solve problems alongside new concepts. (MP7,8)
I can make connections between multiple mathematical concepts to solve problems in unfamiliar situations. (MP7,8)
I can persevere when encountering new and difficult concepts.(MP1)
Dance 1 Master Class at Stevenson High School- 8th Grade Opportunity
Please join the Dance Teachers at Stevenson for a Dance 1 Master Class on Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to 11:30 am.
This class requires no experience and is for either those coming into the Dance program or those who may be interested but just aren't sure. Grab a friend and come to this casual, fun, free activity! You must sign up in advance so Register here."
TG Wrestling
Attention all students and parents! The wrestling team is back at Twin Groves and the season is right around the corner. There is no experience necessary and all you need is a pair of wrestling shoes to participate. Practice will begin on November 28th, which is the Monday we return from Thanksgiving break. We will hold practice at Twin Groves on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15-5:00. The meet schedule is already posted HERE. We will hold occasional Friday practices if we have a Saturday competition. Any and all questions can be directed to one of our coaches, Dan Sutton, whose email is [email protected]. There will be an informational meeting for all involved during the first two weeks of the season, where the coaches will introduce themselves and answer any and all questions from our families. We are looking forward to the season.
-Coach Sutton and Coach Ramirez
PTO
Please click HERE to access the PTO Blog.
Twin Groves Athletics
Please click HERE to access the Twin Groves Athletics site.
This site will be updated frequently.
Daily Announcements
Please see Twin Groves website for up to date school announcements. The announcements let you know what exciting activities and clubs are going on at Twin Groves. Please click HERE to access the Daily Announcements.