QUASHNET SCHOOL

October 2, 2022

Dear Quashnet School Community,

Hello October! Monday will be the 21st day of school. We are four weeks in and on our way to a great year of learning.

The first week of October is also our first review of student attendance data. The best way for a student to progress academically is by being in school. Research has shown that students who are consistently tardy or have multiple absences during the first month of school are at higher risk of having academic challenges. Per the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, students who miss 10% or more of their enrolled days in school are identified as chronically absent. That would equal 2 days at this point in the year. It doesn't seem much, but if that trend continued, it would be a significant amount of lost learning time. If your child has been sick, Nurse Terri does note that and we understand. We do not want students coming to school who are not well.

Being tardy has a significant impact on learning, especially at the elementary level. We do not have a rotating schedule so a child is usually missing the same subject area which is most likely English Language Arts or Math in the morning. Being to school on time does matter!

The last several years with the pandemic have been very disruptive to the learning process. Prioritizing school attendance will support your child's academic growth. The school calendar is linked HERE. When planning a family vacation, please try to avoid days when school is in session. It is also important to note, that if a child is on a family trip, work will not be provided to the family in advance. Please see the language in the school handbook on page 9 - Quashnet School Handbook. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

On Tuesday, October 4, the Quashnet School gym will be the polling site for the Mashpee Special Town Election. Please be aware of extra traffic in the parking lot and pedestrian traffic crossing the drop-off and pick-up lines. As with each election, there will be a police presence in the school, and the public is limited to the gym.

This coming Friday, 10/7/22, is a NO SCHOOL day for students. It is a professional day for staff. Teachers will be analyzing student performance data including the 2022 MCAS scores and Star assessments. The data allows us to evaluate our curriculum in comparison to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as well as instructional strategies. This very valuable time is appreciated by staff and allows us the necessary information to adjust our practices to best meet student needs.

Monday, 10/10/22, is INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY, and school will not be in session. For more information on Indigenous Peoples' Day visit https://americanindian.si.edu.

Curriculum Update

Every day students spend time with Jiji on ST Math. ST Math stands for spatial-temporal math. It is an online program that allows students to engage with math concepts without words. It is a problem-solving format that allows students to "see" the math as they move Jiji, the program's penguin, through a series of mathematical challenges. Students are working on completing puzzles - ask your child how many puzzles they have completed. They are becoming mathematical experts!

For ST Math parent resources click HERE.

When students approach a writing task in English Language Arts (ELA) or in any content area, teachers ask students to use the ACES strategy to organize their written responses. What is ACES? The diagram below is a way to help students organize their thinking and it is referenced in every classroom. It is a helpful tool for homework as well.

If you have specific questions regarding your child's progress, you can always reach your child's teacher by email at the following: first initial last name @mpspk12.org - example: mobrien@mpspk12.org.

For planning purposes, parent/teacher conferences are coming up on October 20 and October 25. A sign-up link will be shared soon.