Assessment Days
The school year will begin with two assessment days. Children will attend one of these days for a 90-minute assessment period. This start to the school year is dedicated to meeting the teachers in a one-on-one and small group setting. Kindergarten students are scheduled for a 30-minute assessment time with their teacher. For kindergarten students, it will look very similar to our preview days where students are asked to recite their letters and numbers, letter-sound recognition and to write their names. This time with students is a benchmark for us and will allow us to monitor their growth over time. We will also learn where our kindergarten students are on the developmental continuum of skills when they start school. Please do not feel pressured to work with your children to prepare them for these “snapshots of their learning,” instead have fun with your children and read, read and read with them this summer in an enjoyable manner. First through third grade students will take a reading running record or Qualitative Reading Inventory (QRI) based on their previous reading level and a quick math assessment during their assessment time. Fourth and fifth grade students who are on an Individual Literacy Plan (ILP) will also receive the QRI assessments and students reading at grade level or above will complete a modified QRI assessment with a teacher. The reading assessment will not take the entire 90 minutes, so students will also provide a journal or writing sample, math assessment or other activities planned by their grade level teachers. You will find your child’s assigned assessment time in their report card and incoming kindergarten students will receive their time in their June letter. There will also be a reminder letter mailed home in early August. If your children are unable to attend at their assigned time, we are unable to make changes and they will be assessed at a later time during the beginning of the school year. There will be a social gathering in the cafeteria for parents to meet with PTO and School Improvement Team representatives while they are waiting for their children to be assessed.