Amberly Elementary School Newsletter
PAWSOME EXPECTATIONS: RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, CARING
Feb/March 2013
Volume 11, Issue 3
Parent Input on 13-14 Class Placement
Contents
Class Placement Info
1
Online Survey
2
Conferences
2
No School Days
3
Father/Daughter Dance
3
Kindergarten Registration
3
ASE Theatre Night
4
Pick Up On Time!
4
Tiger Trek is Coming!
4
Upcoming
Events

ConferencesFeb. 19 & 20

No School –MidWinter Break
Feb. 22 & 25
Placement
Forms Due –
March1st


Father/Daughter
Dance– March 8,
6-8 p.m.
Most parents/guardians are very concerned
that their child is placed with a caring and
competent teacher. It is little wonder
parents/guardians often feel strongly about
having a voice in the selection of their
child’s class placement. However, there are
many things that need to be considered in
order to create successful classrooms. I
would like to share the process the staff of
Amberly follows when assigning class
placement for the upcoming school year.
Hopefully, this will provide you with a
better understanding of how complex a
balancing act this can be.
student behavioral skills, identifying those
who are strong leaders with peers, in need of
peer support, or challenged by group
interactions. Teachers also consider those
children who may need to be separated from
one another.
Parent/Guardian Placement Input Forms
will be available in the school office and
on the Amberly Elementary School
Website between February 18th and
March 1st. All Parent/Guardian Placement
Input Forms to be considered for the
upcoming school year are due to the school
office on hard copy paper format by Friday,
March 1st, 2013. Email and/or faxed forms
will not be accepted.
Once new students have been registered and
we know more regarding which students may
not be returning, the class lists are reviewed
again and may go through some adjustments.
By the beginning of August, class placement
is fairly finalized. Letters from the
principal and upcoming year’s teacher
along with registration materials will be
mailed by the second week of August to
notify families of their child(ren)’s class
placement.
When the initial information gathering tasks
have been completed, your child’s current
grade level teacher and resource teachers
meet with the principal to draft the
upcoming year’s classes. The objective is to
match student learning styles to teacher
strengths and areas of talent, while creating
classrooms that have a balanced number of
Parent/Guardian Input
students who are strong, self-directed
learners, with those who need some support.
Via the Parent/Guardian Placement Input
It is important that students learn to work
Form, parents/guardians are invited to
and socialize in environments of diversity.
share in writing observations regarding their
This not only prepares them for “the real
child’s learning style and any educational
world” but also allows individual talents to
needs that should be considered. Written
shine.
requests for specific teachers will not be
accepted. Passing conversations with
As staff work together in developing balanced
teachers will also not be formally
classrooms, they factor in all student
considered. A child’s current teacher is
information gathered from the variety of
open to hearing your concerns, however,
sources. Creating balanced classrooms which
the teacher cannot guarantee placement,
focus on meeting all students’ needs is our
particularly in an informal conversation.
top priority!
All grade level and resource teachers go
through their list of current students and
provide input on student academic
performance, behavior, and special learning
characteristics. Teachers identify if a
student is academically strong, average or
challenged by grade level curriculum. This
identification is based on performance
scores as well as general impressions.
Teachers also identify students who may
need special assistance, whether it is
remediation or extension of the grade level
curriculum. In addition to academic
performance, teachers also make note of
The Portage Public Schools and all public
schools throughout the country have a legal
and ethical requirement to provide students
with balanced classrooms based on gender,
race, ethnic & language groups, and
academic achievement. I hope that by
sharing this process, you will understand
parent/guardian input is one of the many
sources used to make informed decisions
regarding class placement. Amberly
Elementary School strives to create vibrant,
excellent classrooms that serve the needs of
all children.
PAWSOME EXPECTATIONS: RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, CARING
Parent/Guardian Online School Survey
In an effort to improve system practices, Amberly Elementary
School is conducting a Parent Survey. We value your opinion and ask
that you take the time to complete this survey. In order to complete
the survey, please go to:
http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/7747533
Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be
anonymous. Your honest opinion is appreciated.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Parent – Teacher Conferences: February 19th & 20th
Initial parent/guardian sign up for Winter Conferences for Young Fives through Fourth Grade
occurred during Open House. If you have not yet signed up for conferences, please call the
Amberly ASAP at 323-5900 to sign up for a time to meet with your child’s teacher. Winter
conferences will be held on:
Tuesday, February 19th: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 20th: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Two Household Families & Conferencing:
Meeting Together with Separated or Divorced Parents
Living in a two-household family (shared custody) presents its own share of challenges and
learning experiences for students (transporting items from one house to the other, informing both
parents of events, etc.). Divorced parents who share legal custody of a child have a right to be
kept informed of their child’s progress and involved in their education, including conferencing
with teachers.
To insure both parents hear the same information and to serve as positive role models of
cooperation for their children, the staff of Amberly Elementary will conference with parents who
share legal custody TOGETHER. Different conferences for the mother and father will not be held.
Only in extreme situations will separate conferences be held for two-household families. If you
feel you have a situation that warrants separate conferences, please contact Mary Daoust,
Principal.
Note: Joint legal custody is assumed unless the school is provided with a court order restricting
legal custody of a parent(s).
PAWSOME EXPECTATIONS: RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, CARING
Page 3 of 4
No School on Friday, February 22nd & Monday, Feb. 25th–Mid Winter Break;
Half Day March 27th; Spring Break: March 28th – April 5th!
There are a number of non-student days coming up in the near future. Please mark
your calendar and plan for supervision of your child for the following dates:
Friday, February 22nd & Monday, February 25th – NO SCHOOL – MID WINTER BREAK
Wednesday, March 27th – ½ day of school: 11:57 dismissal – Teachers Records Day.
Thursday, March 28th through Friday, April 5th – Spring Break
Monday, April 8th – School Resumes!
Chemistry – It REALLY Matters: Feb. 20th
The excitement and enchantment of the world of chemistry will come
to life in our science assembly on February 20th. Students will be
treated to an array of experiments which will enable them to develop a
thorough understanding of the foundation of all matter: solids, liquids,
and gases. Be sure to ask your child about the exciting Chemistry
concepts s/he learned on February 20th!!
Father-Daughter Dance: March 8th, 6-8 p.m.
Mark your calendar for the annual Amberly Father Daughter Dance to be
held on Friday, March 8th from 6 – 8 p.m. This is a night for Amberly
girls (Amberly Students ONLY) to spend a special night with a positive
male role model in their lives. Further information regarding this
event will be forthcoming from the PTA.
2013-14 Kindergarten Registration!!
Children who will be five on or before November 1, 2013, are eligible for kindergarten during
the 2013-14 school year. We would appreciate your assistance in estimating the number of
kindergarten students who will attend Amberly next school year. If you have a child who will be
eligible to enroll in kindergarten during the 2013-2014 school year, please contact our school
office at 323-5900 to register him/her. Current Young Five students need not register. If you
have a neighbor who has a child who will be five prior to November 1, 2013, please encourage
them to contact the Amberly office.
On March 14, 2013, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. a Kindergarten Screening Information Meeting will
be held for parents/guardians of students eligible for enrollment in kindergarten during the
2013-14 school year. Further information regarding this meeting will be sent to
parents/guardians who have contacted the Amberly Elementary Office and registered their
child.
PAWSOME EXPECTATIONS: RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, CARING
Day Light Savings Time Begins March 10th!
Most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second
Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. Please
remember to turn your clock FORWARD one hour on SUNDAY, MARCH 10TH!
Irish Step Dance Assembly – March 15th!!
On Friday, March 15th, Amberly students will be treated to some lively Irish
Music and Dance by Quinn School of Irish Dance. This will be a fun
enjoyable presentation (including some of our own Amberly students) that
will expose students to Irish culture.
After School Enrichment Theatre Presents:
Stone in the Road - March 21st @ 6 p.m.
The After School Enrichment Theatre Troupe will be presenting “Stone in the
Road” on Thursday, March 21st at 6 p.m. in the Amberly School Gym. The show
is guaranteed to be exciting and will star many of our talented Amberly students.
We are asking those who would like to attend to bring a canned good or nonperishable food as the price of admission. These items will then be donated to a
local food pantry.
Be At School to Pick Up Your Child On Time – 3:47!
Since school has started we have had an increase in the number of students who
are not picked up from school on time. A number of students have been left at
school until 4:30 p.m. or later. This is a burden to office staff that is forced to
choose over the care and welfare of students and/or the care and running of
their own families after official work hours. Please realize the school office
closes at 4 p.m. IT IS THE PARENT/GUARDIANS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE
APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION FOR STUDENTS BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
HOURS. The school day ends at 3:47. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE PICKED UP
FROM SCHOOL NO LATER THAN 3:50 P.M
Tiger Trek Is Right Around The Corner – April 26th!
Amberly’s PTA’s Major Fund Raiser – Tiger Trek - is right around the corner and will take place on
Friday, April 26th! The focus of the Tiger Trek is to promote a fundraiser that actively involves
students, encourages physical fitness and raises funds for our school!
We are in need of many volunteers to make this fundraiser a success for our students and school.
Volunteers are needed to seek “celebrity walkers”, donations of water from businesses, promote the
activity, and assist with monitoring the walking course, along with set up and clean up. Please contact
Lori O’Brien at lorijon1005@yahoo.com or at 216-3942 if you can volunteer.
Students will receive pledge sheets after Spring Break; however, pledge sheets will be on the Amberly
webpage starting March 25th, if students would like to obtain pledges from relatives they may see over
Spring Break. Let’s get ready for a fun day of fund raising and exercise!