MAP Testing Schedule

MAP Testing Schedule

The annual MAP testing window will begin March 30^th and end May 22^nd.  Below is the schedule Reed will be following.

·      April 21^st & 22^nd = 4^th Grade

·      April 29^th & 30^th = 3^rd Grade

·      Testing may occur other dates during those weeks for students that are not able to complete the tests on the days scheduled

All of us, including students and staff, are prepared.  The students have worked extremely hard to master the curriculum.  The Reed Staff has participated in professional development activities to help our students perform their best.  We at Reed have also appreciated all the support you have given the staff and the students this year to help students reach their potentials.  We have a few requests during the testing windows.

·      Please avoid scheduling any events that may pull your child out of school during the testing window.

·      Please let your child’s teacher know if you have already scheduled events that would require your child to miss school. 

·      Please continue having your children follow a consistent routine that allows for plenty of rest. 

·      Please continue having your children eat healthy meals, especially breakfast.

For the first time the MAP Tests will be administered online.  Students will be able to listen to specific information using headphones and/or ear buds.  Although we have headphones available at school, we are allowing students to bring their own from home if they feel they are more comfortable.  Please know that we cannot ensure the safety of any headphones that come from home. 

Open House

Dear Parents,

On behalf of the students and staff at Reed School, I would like to invite you to attend our annual Open House scheduled for Tuesday, March 31^st, 2015, between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Parking is limited, therefore, we suggest carpooling.  Please refrain from parking along neighboring streets.

Open House provides your children with an opportunity to take you on a tour of their school.  Some highlights will be classroom exhibits, student artwork, and science projects.

We look forward to this informal opportunity for parents to see the wide variety of educational opportunities available to Reed students. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Chris Schreiner

Principal

Reed’s “Less is More” Olweus Kick Off was a HUGE Success

One of our major initiatives this year is implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.  Although bullying is rare at Reed, we adopted this program to be proactive and prevent any future bullying from occurring.  Class meetings are the foundation of the program.  Teachers and students engage in weekly class meetings that focus on defining, preventing, and addressing bullying behaviors.

On January 30th we kicked off the program.  Instead of having an overly active kick off where the students focused on the festivities instead of the program, we had a short, simple, and mysterious kick off that captured the students' attention and left them wanting to learn more.

As the students arrived they were greeted by the Reed Staff, Dr. Jahnke (Superintendent), various Ladue School District Staff Members, a Fire Fighter, Police Officer, community members, and a Reed parent.  They also noticed positive messages posted on the walls.  Students quickly figured out that the day was going to be unique and special.

The students were called to the gym and were surrounded the the staff and those that greeted them in the morning.  Each adult read a line to a poem that focused on the adults being here for each student.  Then students returned to their classrooms and engaged in their first class meetings.  Although simply, the energy in the gym was very powerful. 

Make sure you ask your children what they are learning about during their class meetings. 

Mrs. Zahm Presented with a Well Deserved Award

On February 23^rd, Dr. Jahnke, Ladue School District Superintendent, and the Ladue School District Board of Education presented Mrs. Zahm with the Excellence in Education Award.  Mrs. Zahm is a Reading Specialist at Reed, or as we like to call it, a Reading Learning Lab Teacher.  She works closely with students who find reading challenging.  Although she has proven to be a highly effective reading teacher, what sets her apart is her willingness and ability to seek help for all types of learners.  All of us at Reed our proud of Mrs. Zahm and honored to be working next to her.  

           

Springing Forward to the 2015 – 2016 School Year

All of us at Reed are beginning to plan for the 2015 – 2016 school year.  To highlight some of our efforts, we are working towards ordering materials, developing schedules, reviewing teacher assignments, finalizing transition activities for our fourth graders, and creating class lists.

During the next two months we will begin working on class lists.  I can assure you that our goal is to place each student in a classroom where he/she will be successful.  The process that we use is very thorough and time intensive.  Each staff member participates in the process to ensure that we are looking at all aspects of a student’s education.  We specifically consider each student’s achievement level, learning style, strengths/talents, special program needs, motivation level, and peer relationships.  Another one of our goals is to create balanced classrooms across grade levels that will enable staff to meet the needs of all students.

Parent input regarding class placement is welcomed but not required.  We at Reed acknowledge the important role parents have in their children’s education and the success of Reed.  Therefore, you are more than welcome to submit information you feel is relevant and unique about your child(ren). Since every child has different needs, requests that focus on another parent’s opinions or experiences are generally not helpful. 

Because we review teacher assignments each year, requests to have or not to have specific teachers are not helpful and will not be accepted.  When a parent requests a specific teacher, his/her perception of that teacher is usually very unclear.  Therefore, the most helpful information you can submit relates to your child’s learning style, strengths/talents, motivation level, and peer relationships.  If you feel the need to submit information, please email me at cschreiner@ladueschools.net by March 27^th for it to be taken into consideration.