May 2023 Family Newsletter

Did You Know… As a district we are proud to celebrate the diversity of our learning community! These are some traditions and holidays celebrated and acknowledged in our community this month. This month we begin by celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. If you’d like to learn more, click on the links: Don’t hesitate to reach out and share it with our Language Services Department to add to our resources!

Panorama SEL Surveys

Students are important partners as we work to improve our communication, academic program and overall experience for everyone.

In order to learn more about student experiences at school, we will be asking for feedback from students in grades 3- 8 via an online survey they will be completing at school. The survey shouldn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to complete.

We are asking that all students in grades 3 – 8 participate in the surveys, as their feedback will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs.  The survey content will ask students to self-reflect on:

Emotion Regulation –  How well students regulate their emotions.

Self Management – How well students manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations.

Social Awareness – How well students consider the perspectives of others and empathize with them.

Supportive Relationships – How supported students feel through their relationships with friends, family, and adults at school.

If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s principal.

Join Us at The Indian Trails Library:

Check out the calendar of events for specific activities and times for the month of May.

Advanced Learner Programing 23-24

After completing our inaugural year of new elementary programming, we felt it would be a great time to review current and preview upcoming programming for the 2023-2024 school year.

High Achiever Programming

Elementary

Though students are differentiated in all of their classes, the specific High Achiever programming is made available to identified students in reading and math.

Teacher delivered specific differentiated reading instruction begins with 3rd grade book clubs. Younger students (K-2) may be involved in book clubs as well, depending on the differentiation needs of the class. Identified 4th and 5th grade students will be pulled daily for an hour of  literacy instruction by the Information Literacy Enrichment Teacher. This class is designed to enrich and extend students with higher level texts and more rigorous expectations for thoughtful participation as they meet grade level expectations at a pace similar to that in the regular classroom setting.

Accelerated math programming begins in 5th grade. Identified students will be bussed daily to their feeder group’s middle school for math instruction from the Math Enrichment Teacher. Students in the accelerated math class will complete a compacted 5th grade Everyday Math with instruction targeted to be completed roughly mid-year  Students will then be using a new math curriculum entitled Desmos 6th grade for the remainder of the year.

Middle School Language Arts Courses

• Accelerated Language Arts Classes/Cluster-Accelerated pace, higher text level, additional reading & writing content. Depending on the numbers of students eligible, this will be taught either as a separate class or as a small differentiated group in the regular classroom.

• Advanced Language Arts Class-Higher text level, additional reading & writing content, pace of curriculum matches that of core classes

Middle School Math Courses

Curricular structure -Click this link for the course sequence.

• Single Accelerated Class

• Double Accelerated Class

High Achiever Identification Process

Elementary Identification Process

Middle School Identification Process

A data team meets each spring to identify students for the following school year. Identification and parent notification will be completed by mid-June. The process and data profiles can be seen in the document linked above. Data is looked at again trimester 1 and 2 to be sure all eligible students are included in the programming. Teachers may also reach out to the Advanced Learner Specialist in instances where linguistic or other concerns are barriers to identification.

For more information please visit our website: https://ccsd21.org/equity-learning/advancedlearners/

Parent Group for Advanced Learners

In the Fall, we are looking to start an Advanced Learner Parent group. This group would meet once a trimester to discuss topics generated by the members about the needs of these learners.

If you are interested in joining this group, please fill out the attached Google Form so we can invite you in the Fall. Hope you will join us.

Looking for some fun and educational opportunities for the summer: Check out the Summer Advanced Learner Parent Newsletter

Talented Programming (New for 23-24)

In order to provide all students the opportunity to show their talents, we have begun implementing “exposure” activities so that all students will have the opportunity to build their skills in the areas of art, coding, engineering, and photography by the time they graduate from D21 schools.

Elementary Exposure Opportunities

For 5th grade this year, students will have the opportunity to delve into both 3-D art and coding. They will learn about coding and develop their skills through opportunities in STEM class. Students will also be able to explore and create 3-D art in art class. These exposure activities will be built upon  through new middle school opportunities that will be rolled out for the 2024-2025 school year.

Elementary Club Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to join many district-sponsored clubs next year. Every elementary school will offer the following for students to participate in:

• STEM club

• Engineering Club

• Robotics Club

Through these clubs students will have the opportunity to develop talents and skills in STEM.

Middle School Exposure Opportunities

Students in 6th grade will take a mini-unit on photography through art class next year.This exposure activity will be built upon through new middle school opportunities that will be rolled out for the 2024-2025 school year.

Middle School Club Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to join many district-sponsored clubs next year. Every Middle  school will offer the following for students to participate in:

• Engineering Club

• Robotics Club

Through these clubs students will have the opportunity to develop talents and skills in STEM.

Like previous summers, all students returning for the 2023-2024 school year will be taking their District issued Chromebook home for the summer. We are happy to be able to provide this learning tool to students and families over the summer to allow for expanded learning opportunities at all times. We do ask that you please keep the device in a safe place and provide care for it over the summer, as this device will be needed and used for the upcoming school year. If you have any specific questions regarding this process, please reach out to your child’s Principal. Further information on the CCSD21 1:1 Chromebook Program can be found here which will include links to our 1:1 Chromebook Parent and Student Handbook and our Student Care Presentation.

As a reminder, students that will NOT be returning for the 2022-2023 school year, will need to return their Chromebook to their school prior to leaving for the year.