Skyview Middle School 6350 Windom Peak Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80923

Telephone: 495-5566 District Web Site: www.d49.org

Attendance Line: 495-5560 FAX: 495-5569

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The Viewpoint February 2015

Happy New Year! We are all thrilled to be back with your children and our wonderful staff! As our semester takes off, so does our Standardized State Assessments! As Colorado implements new standards and assessments, adjustments to the state’s accountability system are needed. The greatest impact is with us now in the transition for the reading, writing and mathematics Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) to the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments, that include the Partnership for Assessments of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) incorporates more rigorous learning expectations for all students. This is all in an effort to ensure our students are college and career ready. New Standards require new assessments. These new assessments provide valuable feedback to students, parents, teachers and administrators on student learning. Standards and assessments go hand-in-hand. Good instruction based on standards and assessments that represent student learning becomes an intentional effort to improve student achievement to better prepare students for career and college success. By incorporating higher-level questioning, assessments and performance tasks provide a snapshot of how teachers can better align curriculum and instruction to prepare students for lifelong learning and achievement. CMAS/PARCC – What is the difference? CMAS is a Colorado-developed assessment for Science and Social Studies. At the middle school level, 7th graders take the CMAS Social Studies and 8th graders take the CMAS Science. PARCC are the nationally developed assessments for math and language arts given to all middle school students in March and May. March exams are performance based and May exams are end of the year assessments. The timeline is as follows:

o March – PARCC Performance Assessment for English/LA and Math (all grades) o April – CMAS Social Studies for 7th grade only o April – CMAS Science for 8th grade only o May – PARCC End of Year Assessments for English/LA and Math (all grades)

All assessments are on-line. Last year, most students who completed the Pilot for CMAS reported that the on-line tests were more engaging! According to The Colorado Department of Education (CDE), the new tests provide parents with “peace of mind, letting you know how your child is performing and growing over time and how that compares to his/her peers.” Additionally, “higher standards and aligned tests to measure learning along the way will help you and your child make informed choices throughout your child’s schooling, helping pave the way to desired colleges and careers.” We, at Skyview Middle School, greatly appreciate your support, patience and understanding as we continue to strive to increase student achievement. Some ways you can help us:

o As always, please ensure your student comes to school well-rested. o Eat a nutritious breakfast* o Be at school every day and on time o Help us to maintain a positive “assessment” attitude with students o Please encourage your students to bring their headphones (only if the

headphones do not have radio capability). Headphones are allowable for use during testing.

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*Please note that the school cafeteria offers a nutritious breakfast for $1.50 per student or it is free for those students who qualify for the free and/or reduced lunch program. Parents, please be aware that teachers are actively proctoring during all testing sessions and will not have their computers on. This means that there will be no grading, no email communication, etc. during the testing days. Please contact Lisa Fillo lfillo@d49.org or 719-495-5567 if you have any questions and or concerns regarding State Assessments. Speaking of assessments, last week our school completed WIDA Testing. WIDA is an assessment given to our English Language Learners to assess comprehension and communication skills. I would like to recognize MARI HOLT, ANNIKA MOORE AND JENNIFER WILLIAMS for the success of our WIDA Testing! These ladies put forth great effort on scheduling, training and administration of WIDA. Thanks to this Assessment Team, WIDA was a great success at Skyview!

Other news:

Our Winter Sports are off to a great start! Please come cheer on our fine athletes and enjoy snacks at our Snack Bar operated by Student Council! AS MISS REGINA SAYS, “GO EAGLES!”

We are excited about our Partnerships with STEM-supported organizations! Next month, a few students

will participate in “A Day at Shriever Air Force Base.” Students will learn about the benefits of GPS and other space-related technologies.

In an effort to support our local university, UCCS and to promote the process of educating new teachers to

our profession, SMS would like to thank Ms. Sangiorgi, Ms. Thorhauer, Ms. Doorack, Ms. Sandel and Mrs. Moore for welcoming student teachers into their classrooms. Our new student teachers will gain knowledge, professionalism and instructional strategies that will make them well-prepared professional teachers! UCCS is always pleased to send new teachers our way, as they know that their students will receive a top-notch student teaching experience. Please watch for your Team Newsletter which will include an Introduction Letter from our student teachers.

ATTENTION: Families of 8th grade students! Please keep your eyes and ears open to all the upcoming

activities and celebrations taking place 4th quarter! Sand Creek and Vista Ridge will be coming soon to our school to present academic programs, activities, clubs and sports offered at their high school.

SMS SAC (School Accountability Committee) meets again February 3rd from 6:00 – 7:00pm in the Library.

We welcome all new members! We work collaboratively to support our SMS School Community.

We are always looking for PTSA members! Please contact Patty Gioscia, Assistant Principal, for more information.

Our Anti-Bullying Committee continues to work hard to address Bullying concerns. This group is

comprised of students, teachers, counselors and administrators. We ask that you encourage your student to report any bullying incidents. When we are aware of it, we can combat it!

Our Cultural Capacity Book Study is underway! All teachers, counselors and administrators are

participating in a district-wide training on Cultural Capacity. We hope you had a restful Holiday Break! Respectfully, Lisa Fillo Assistant Principal Skyview Middle School

2/2 6th Girls Basketball vs. Fountain @ SMS 7/8th Girls Basketball @ Fountain (4:00 PM) 2/4 6th Girls Basketball @ CMJH 7/8th Girls Basketball vs. CMJH @ SMS 2/5 8th Grade Orientation @ SCHS 2/9 6th Girls Basketball vs. Carson @ SMS 7/8th Girls Basketball @ Carson 2/10 Parent-Teacher Conferences (Format TBA) PTSA Board Meeting—5:00 PM 2/11 7/8th Girls Basketball Tournament (TBA) 2/12 Wrestling vs. Falcon @ SMS Valentines Day Dance 2/13 Professional Development—NO STUDENTS 2/16 Presidents’ Day—DISTRICT CLOSED 2/17 PTSA General Membership Meeting—6:00 PM 2/18 Wrestling @ Elizabeth (4:00) 2/19 Spring Pictures Wrestling @ Harrison (Canon City) NO HOMEWORK HELP 2/20 Skate City Night 2/24 Wrestling vs. Carson @ SMS Band Concert—6:00 PM 2/25 8th Grade Orientation @ VRHS 2/26 Wrestling @ CMJH 2/27 Professional Development—NO STUDENTS

8th GRADErs/PARENTS

8th Graders are assigned to the high schools by their address listed on

Infinite Campus. If you need to verify your address, please call our

Registrar, Mrs. Marry at 495-5579 or view demographics on Parent

Portal. If you have an address change, please bring in proof of

residence documentation.

The “School of Choice” application window closes February 13th.

Other than pertinent documents and testing paperwork, 8th grade

student files are not sent onto the high school level. Remaining files

will be sent home with students.

8th Grade Orientation Dates

Sand Creek High School : Thursday, February 5th—6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Vista Ridge High School: Wednesday, February 25th—6:00 to 8:00 PM

Handicapped Parking

Just a reminder that handicapped parking spaces in

Skyview’s parking lot are for those that have either a

permanent plate or a placard that is clearly visible.

Thank you!

Report Cards

Please note that report cards are not mailed home.

Electronic report cards are available on Parent

Portal via the following link. If you have difficulty

logging in or need a password, please click the “Help” dropdown

menu from Portal.

https://falconco.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/falcon.jsp

Friday, February 13th & 27th

NO STUDENTS

(Professional Development Days)

Monday, February 16th

DISTRICT CLOSED

Monday, March 23rd—Friday, April 3rd

SPRING BREAK

Thursday, February 19th

Order forms will be sent home with students

through their REACH classes.

Tuesday, February 10th

4:00 PM—7:30 PM Invitation only for 6th & 7th Grades. 8th Grade will be student-led by

appointment. Please see specific Team Newsletters for details.

Thursday, February 12th

3:30—5:30 PM

Cost—$3.00

Tickets will be sold in the cafeteria during lunches.

Please note: Only Skyview students may attend!

Friday, February 20th

6:00—10:00 PM

Discount coupons will be

available in the office.

Parents please help support the PTSA fundraiser that is taking place February 2nd thru February 12th. PTSA is trying to raise money for teacher grants, students incentives and classroom equipment. Our goal is to raise $5,000.00. Please ask your children about the catalogs that they received at school. Thanks again for your support!