K-5 Elementary September Updates
September Message from the Asst. Principal
September News from Grades K-5
Dear ES Families, The beginning of the year is a time of happiness and optimism. We are off to a great start here at ACA–we hope you are feeling the same way while working at home. Additionally, we always look forward to “seeing” our students in the Live Lessons and during regular check-ins. For the full experience, be sure to have the CLASS APP downloaded for ZOOM. Benchmarks and Diagnostics are completed, and we are ready to begin our WIN (What I Need) small group intervention supports. Please be sure you have confirmed any invitation provided by your teacher and/or our reading interventionist to participate in these sessions. Your homeroom teacher will also be sharing the results of Benchmark scores during your upcoming check-in or through webmail. Please be sure to communicate regularly with your teacher. He or she is here to support you, offer suggestions/strategies for learning and motivation, and to monitor your progress. Be sure to update your teacher of any schedule or contact changes. Thanks for being a part of the ACA family! Kindly, Deanna Woerner, M. Ed Elementary School Asst. Principal Each month, different grade level teams will provide a helpful video to support your learning. September video: Handwriting Thank you grade K teachers! |
Thank you for taking your Fall Benchmarks!
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Community Board
Be sure to check out the Elementary School Community Board for the month of September!
We are part of a very big world and the more we learn about it, the better. Let’s have some fun this month celebrating all the different people, cultures and places.
Click here to view the weekly events in September
We are part of a very big world and the more we learn about it, the better. Let’s have some fun this month celebrating all the different people, cultures and places.
Click here to view the weekly events in September
Student of the Month---Kimberly K.
Congratulations, Kimberly! Your participation on our monthly community board demonstrated how you R.E.P ACA by being responsible, engaged, and by persevering!
Arizona Move On When Reading Law (Grades K-3)
Dear K-3 Parents & Guardians,
In Arizona Connections Academy our focus is on providing the best high-quality reading instruction to all students each day. Through a process called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), all kindergarten through third grade students are screened for reading difficulties and/or characteristics consistent with dyslexia in the fall, winter, and spring using Acadience Reading K-6. This literacy universal screening process is a brief assessment administered to all K-3 students to inform teachers of students who are on track and students who may need more targeted intervention. This screening does not diagnose for reading disabilities, nor dyslexia.
Per the universal screener, students who are not on benchmark are administered a deeper diagnostic assessment. This diagnostic information provides teachers and specialists with the specific skills needed to target in intervention. Those interventions are started immediately, working to close the gaps. This diagnostic assessment does not diagnose for reading disabilities, nor dyslexia. A change in intervention curriculum, group size, level of intensity, frequency, and/or duration may be needed. More intensive time, duration, and frequency in intervention may be needed and can take place with the classroom teacher or a specialist, such as a reading interventionist. This is considered intensive Tier 3 intervention. The progress of all students receiving intervention is closely and frequently checked. Parents are essential to this entire process. Following the Universal Literacy and Dyslexia Screener in addition to diagnostic assessments, you will be notified if your child is not at grade level.
Arizona’s Move On When Reading (MOWR) legislation places great importance on this process beginning in kindergarten. This ensure all students remain on track to be reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Arizona Revised Statute §15-701 states that if a student scores below the cut score on the reading portion of the 3rd grade statewide exam, he/she will not be promoted to 4th grade until the student makes sufficient progress in reading proficiency. It is understood that each child is unique, therefore exemptions have been established for students to be promoted to 4th grade. Those exemptions are available at www.azed.gov/mowr.
A variety of factors, in and outside of school, can influence a child’s educational path and progress. It is important for parents to share in the educational journey, through constant communication and continued involvement. We encourage you to continue to highlight and celebrate your child’s strengths and share difficulties if they occur. Please reach out to us if you have any questions and we look forward to a successful school year.
Sincerely,
Deanna Woerner, M. Ed.
ES Asst. Principal
In Arizona Connections Academy our focus is on providing the best high-quality reading instruction to all students each day. Through a process called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), all kindergarten through third grade students are screened for reading difficulties and/or characteristics consistent with dyslexia in the fall, winter, and spring using Acadience Reading K-6. This literacy universal screening process is a brief assessment administered to all K-3 students to inform teachers of students who are on track and students who may need more targeted intervention. This screening does not diagnose for reading disabilities, nor dyslexia.
Per the universal screener, students who are not on benchmark are administered a deeper diagnostic assessment. This diagnostic information provides teachers and specialists with the specific skills needed to target in intervention. Those interventions are started immediately, working to close the gaps. This diagnostic assessment does not diagnose for reading disabilities, nor dyslexia. A change in intervention curriculum, group size, level of intensity, frequency, and/or duration may be needed. More intensive time, duration, and frequency in intervention may be needed and can take place with the classroom teacher or a specialist, such as a reading interventionist. This is considered intensive Tier 3 intervention. The progress of all students receiving intervention is closely and frequently checked. Parents are essential to this entire process. Following the Universal Literacy and Dyslexia Screener in addition to diagnostic assessments, you will be notified if your child is not at grade level.
Arizona’s Move On When Reading (MOWR) legislation places great importance on this process beginning in kindergarten. This ensure all students remain on track to be reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. Arizona Revised Statute §15-701 states that if a student scores below the cut score on the reading portion of the 3rd grade statewide exam, he/she will not be promoted to 4th grade until the student makes sufficient progress in reading proficiency. It is understood that each child is unique, therefore exemptions have been established for students to be promoted to 4th grade. Those exemptions are available at www.azed.gov/mowr.
A variety of factors, in and outside of school, can influence a child’s educational path and progress. It is important for parents to share in the educational journey, through constant communication and continued involvement. We encourage you to continue to highlight and celebrate your child’s strengths and share difficulties if they occur. Please reach out to us if you have any questions and we look forward to a successful school year.
Sincerely,
Deanna Woerner, M. Ed.
ES Asst. Principal