8/7/2019 Swanton School News 2.08.2011

1/2

February 2011

Volume 10, Issue 6 Swanton SchoolNews868-5346/868-4920

www.swantonschool.org

Education has moved to a model

which recognizes that some studentsneed extra time and support to reach

grade level standards. In order to providethese supports, schools need a way tomonitor all students against a normed

group. This is often referred to as

benchmarking. In Swanton, this

monitoring occurs 3 times per year inreading, spelling and mathematics. This

is part of our Response to Intervention

model. We have just finished ourJanuary monitoring. The idea is to do

quick check in tests that are

standardized and based in research tomake sure that no child is falling behind.

We use the information from these tests

along with other information from our

own local assessments, student writingand classroom work. During meetings

with classroom teachers,

interventionists, special educators andcontent specialists, this information will

be analyzed to plan for instruction, with

the goalof each child getting what they

need to be successful.Instruction is structured in tiers

referred to as Tier I, Tier II and Tier III.Tier I is classroom level instruction for

Meeting the Needs of Our StudentsThrough TieredInstruction

all students. Tier II is a second dose of

intervention in the area of need and canoccur in the classroom or in the math

and literacy labs. Tier III is for studentswho have been identified through theSpecial Education process and have a

need for very individualized instruction.

All tiers of instruction are based on

research practices. Tier II interventionshappen during a time when students do

not have another academic class, so that

they dont miss key instruction time.Some of the Tier II interventions you

may hear about include: Fundations,

Study Island, Lexia, and ReadNaturally. Some Tier II intervention

also occurs in the classroom to support

small group work or class projects.

Small group instruction is targeted for4-6 weeks. This process concludes

with post assessmentand furthercollaboration. While there is no onetime that Tier II level interventions

occur, it really takes the school and the

family working together to ensure

positive outcomes. Thank you for yourcontinued support as we find ways for

every student to be successful.

Watch for the upcoming Red Barn fundraiser! All funds fromPTO fundraisers go toward field trips, playgroundimprovements, and other improvements for our school. Orderforms will arrive home on February 16th!

8/7/2019 Swanton School News 2.08.2011

2/2

The annual winter Instrumental

Music concert was amazing what awonderful turnout we had! It was

such joy to see our students dressed

so nicely and hear them perform so

beautifully. We are very lucky tohave the support of the community

and parents music is such a valuable

part of our overall educationalprogram here in Swanton. Thank you

to Mrs. Messier for planning such a

wonderful celebration of our studenttalent!

Exciting Events at SchoolWe hope to see many of you

at the annual Family Night next

week, on Thursday, February 10th

from 6:00 7:00 p.m. Our

Technology Bee will feature ways

that we are incorporating technologyinto our curriculum and programs.

Our classroom teachers, librarian,

interventionists, special educators andstudents will showcase how we use

PCs, Macs, netbooks, Smartboards,

Kindles, iPads, and Wiis. Come see

how we use Study Island, Lexia,Read Naturally, Pivot, GoogleDocs

and other online resources to enhance

our learning!

CalendarFebruary 4th: NOSCHOOL. Inservice forteachers.

February 10th FamilyNight, Technology Bee6:00-7:00 pm

February 14th, SchoolBoard meeting inCentral Library, 6 p.m.

February 16th RedBarn fundraiser orderforms arrive home

February 18th NAEPTesting for 4th grade

February 21st March

1st: No School. WinterBreak.

February 22nd Community BudgetInformational Meeting,Village Complex, 7 pm

March 1st: VOTE. AllSwanton residents voteat the Village Complexfrom 7 a.m. 7 p.m.

March 2nd PTOMeeting, CentralCafeteria, Topic:Literacy, - 6 pm.

March 14th SchoolBoard meeting inCentral Library, 6:00pm.

March 17th (4:00-8:00pm) and March 18th

(day-No School):Parent-teacher

conferences

March 17th Spirit Day Wear Green!

So, what would you think ifyou came to school one day and saw

your favorite educator with BLUE

HAIR? On February 18th, Ms.

Rouelle, Mrs. Belrose, Mrs. Sullivan,or Mrs. Kneebone will come to school

with their hair dyed royal blueand itwont be the temporary spray on hair

color it will be permanent!

This is part of a fundraiser for

the Swanton Odyssey of the Mindteam. Odyssey of the Mind is an

international, educational program that

provides creative problem-solvingopportunities for students. Team

members apply their creativity to solveproblems that range from buildingmechanical devices to presenting their

own interpretation of literary classics.

They then bring their solutions to

local, state and world competitions.The money from the fundraiser goes to

pay for future

Who Will Be Blue?

membership fees, competition fees

and costs to attend the nationalcompetition if the team wins at the

state level. The Swanton OM teamis made up of 5th and 6th graders whohave been recommended by their

previous and current teachers and

have no behavior referrals.There are jars for each of the

4 educators in the lobbies of both

buildings. Students and staff put

money into the jar of the person theywould most like to see with blue

hair. The person with the most

money on February 17

th

will showtheir school spirit by having their

hair dyed in time for the

Faculty/Student basketball game onthe 18th. If you would like to make a

donation, checks will also be

accepted (made out to Swanton

Elementary School). Thank you foryour support!