Friday, December 11th. Tonight is night number two of Hanukkah (or Chanukah, the more traditional spelling), Christmas and Kwanzaa are the 25th & 26th and if there are other celebrations from our Woodlawn community, let me know because I love celebrating our diversity. Shifting gears... I had a great conversation with Mrs. Miller this week about our 8th grade students. She reinforced what I have felt for a long time about this group...they are really doing a great job academically and have earned the respect of our 8th grade teachers. Kudos to our 8th grade students!
Schedule for this Week!
Tuesday, December 15th is Early Release. Here is the schedule for Tuesday.
Wednesday, December 16th is our first Asynchronous Day. Here is the schedule for Wednesday.
Winter Break begins after school next Friday, December the 18th!
NEW INFO REGARDING PREORDERING FREE MEALS
Preorder Free Meals for Pick-Up During Winter Break
Free meals may be preordered for pick-up during Winter Break.
NOTE: Preorders must be in by 10 AM on THURSDAY for pick-up in the week ahead.
Preorder by 10 AM on THURSDAY, Dec. 17, to pick up meals (meal packs for 5 days) on Mon., Dec. 21.
Order by 10 AM on THURSDAY, Dec. 24, to pick up meals (meal packs for 5 days) on Mon., Dec. 28.
Preordering Free Meals in 2021
IMPORTANT: The last day to preorder free meals for the week ahead is changing. You’ll need to preorder by 10 AM on Thursdays, rather than Fridays.
To preorder meals for the first week after Winter Break (Jan. 4–8)
Order by 10 AM on THURSDAY, Dec. 31, to pick up meals on Mon., Jan. 4 (meal packs for 3 days) and Thurs., Jan. 7 (meal packs for 2 days).
The first step is to create an account to use for pre ordering meals. SEE INFO
Please direct your questions to the public info coordinator [email protected]
8th Grade Math Placement Information- Please read! This is new information.
Current Patriot Consortium Mathematics Placement Process
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 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 move 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.
UPDATED Patriot Consortium Mathematics Course Sequence for Algebra 1 Students
Below are details concerning the pathways for 9th grade recommendations - whichever path students take, they will complete both Algebra 2 and Geometry by the end of Sophomore year.
A few weeks ago, you received an email from your student’s math teacher explaining the Stevenson Placement Process for Mathematics. This process has NOT changed. However, the sequence of courses offered to students has changed. If a student is proficient in the essential Algebra 1 content, it will be recommended for them to move on to Algebra 2. For students who need to refresh and strengthen essential Algebra 1 content, it will be recommended to take Geometry prior to Algebra 2. Whichever path students take, they will complete both Algebra 2 and Geometry by the end of Sophomore year.
-Algebra 2 will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Unit 1-3
-Geometry will be recommend if students need to reinforce and refresh targets in Unit 1-3
Course Sequence for Algebra 2 Students
-Geometry Honors will be recommended if students have mastered targets in Unit 1-3
-Geometry Accelerated will be recommend if students needs to reinforce and refresh targets in Unit 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)
Monthly Asynchronous Wednesdays (12/16, 1/13, 2/24, 3/17, 4/21)
Schedule listed above!
Once per month, beginning in December, students will participate in asynchronous activities for a portion of their school day. The dates for each of these asynchronous Wednesdays are identified below. Students will go through all of their periods on an amended schedule. They will be done with their classes at 12:00PM. Lunch will be from 12:00-12:30PM and the asynchronous portion of the day will be from 12:30-2:30 PM. Teachers will communicate with students to be sure that they understand the expectations for each of these days.
These monthly asynchronous days were created to give students the opportunity to participate in topics that will enhance our current curricular content, and so that teachers have time to collaborate and plan with each other to determine the best way to approach future instruction.
In addition to the December 16th date, the remaining asynchronous Wednesdays will take place on the following dates.
December 16
January 13
February 24
March 17
April 21
SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIRST ASYNCHRONOUS WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 16th
The asynchronous portion of the day will take place in the afternoon. The asynchronous focus for this day is digital citizenship. Students will be engaging in a variety of Digital Citizenship See specifics below for each grade.
Middle School (Grades 6-8): Students will engage in instruction as they typically would until 12:00pm. At 12:30pm, the asynchronous portion of the day will begin and continue through the end of the school day. Students will access the asynchronous work in Schoology. Teachers will communicate with students to be sure that they understand the expectations and communicate where they should access the asynchronous work for each of these days. While we prefer that the asynchronous work is completed during this designated time, please adjust timing based on what works best for your family.
The schedule for 12/16 is in the link at the top of the blog.
Visit the PTO Monthly Blog!!!!
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Spirit Week -Virtual Style
This looks like fun! Make sure your student participates!
Finally, the cookie contest was a flop for me. I have survived my share of crushing defeats and if life teaches you anything, it is that you must get back on your feet and face the world. Just chalk it up to a learning experience, just like:
- When I missed bucket #2 on The Bozo Show at 4 years old
- In my first year of little league when the ball went through my legs in the last inning of the championship game
- When my 4th grade teacher told me i’d never amount to anything
- Moving to a new school in 7th grade
- Every high school dance I attended
- The JuCo state championship baseball game - Lost 25-6
- The Division III regional final loss to go to nationals
So where does the cookie debacle of 2020 rate? Somewhere between my 4th grade teacher and being dumped soon after one of those dances. Again, we all have to get back on our feet. Resilience. I think back to the inspirational words my mom would say at a time like this.....Get over it. Words of magic.
One of my most favorite quotes come from Theodore Roosevelt that I like to bring out from time to time:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”