Weekly Update

MAP Growth is the most trusted and innovative assessment for measuring achievement and growth in K–12 math, reading, and Spanish reading. It provides teachers with accurate, actionable evidence to help inform instructional strategies regardless of how far students are above or below grade level. Wegner students will begin MAP testing on January 17, 2023.

Here are resources for families to learn more about the NWEA/MAP assessments:

English: https://www.nwea.org/family-toolkit/

Spanish: https://www.nwea.org/kit-de-herramientas-de-la-familia/

At Wegner, we use the following assessments:

Kindergarten: MAP Reading Fluency

1st-5th: MAP Growth Math; MAP Growth Reading; MAP Growth Spanish (dual language only)

Charge your child's school device (Chromebook or iPad.)

If your child comes to school with a device that isn't charged, he or she will need to use a loaner device to take the test. This can cause anxiety for students.

Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep!

Research shows that children perform better in school when they get at least nine hours of sleep at night. Please help children disconnect from technological devices (gaming systems, phones, etc.) and head to bed early!

Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast!

Breakfast is provided at Wegner daily beginning at 8:15am. Consider sending your child to school early for breakfast on testing days!

Make sure your child attends school!

When children are absent from school, they have to make up the test when they return. Make-up tests are not done in children's homeroom. Children will test separately from their classmates. This can often cause anxiety for students which lowers test achievement. If your child is healthy enough, please send them to school everyday!

Set goals with your child!

Children do better in school when their families talk to them about their learning. Ask your child's teacher for their fall test scores and consider setting a goal for winter testing with your child!

Stay calm!

As adults, we always want our children to be successful on assessments. Staying calm and positive can help ease your child's testing anxieties and set them up for success!

Events

• K/1 Music Performance - Tuesday, May 16 - 1:30pm
• Kane County Cougars Game - Wednesday, May 16 - 9:30am-2:15pm
• High Interest Day - Tuesday, May 2 - 1:00-3:00pm
• Wegner Wild Day - Friday, June 9
• 5th Grade orientation (for students) - Monday, June 12, 9:00am-2:00pm
• K-4 awards ceremonies - Monday, June 12, 9:30am, 10:15am, and 2:00pm
• 5th Grade Step-Up Ceremony and Luncheon - Tuesday, June 13 - more information to come

This month, we had A LOT going on! We presented our Attendance presentations to 3rd-5th grade classrooms in small groups. Our goal is to encourage students to WANT to come to school & help them understanding how important it is to come to school!

We also prepared in grade level groups for the May 4th board meeting. We cannot wait to bring all things “APAC” to district employees & board members!

Our 4th grade Superintendents for the Day joined the Board of Education to talk about the things they learned from Superintendent Davis! During their visit with our Superintendent, they learned all about the duties and expectations of her position. They visited their own classrooms and talked to their classmates about their reading Power Goals and then reported their data back to Superintendent Davis and Principal Kenney. The Superintendents for the Day took their positions VERY seriously! We are proud of these Eagles!

Kindergarten is having a blast with the kickoff of our last literacy unit - entomology! We took our classes outside for an insect scavenger hunt to see the bugs we’re learning about in real life. Try asking your kindergartner what makes an insect an insect.

In math we have been learning about teen numbers! Can you say 17 the “say ten way?”

Thank you for your continued support!

Second grade is currently working on a money and measurement unit. Working with rulers and coins are a part of our daily lessons and centers.

We have completed our animal short stories and have now moved on to learning about jobs in our community. We will be learning about several different professions, but students will choose one profession they will research and present.

As we near the end of the school year, please don’t forget to continue your daily readings and Freckle practice at home!

Third graders have been working really hard all month! Students this year took the IAR tests and did a fantastic job! In reading, they have worked on their fairy tale stories. Soon we will be moving into our last unit which focuses on sports and society!

In math we have been working on our geometry unit which focuses on shapes, perimeter and area.

In science we have been learning about animal adaptations and traits. Students worked on a butterfly camouflage activity and have even been using a fun website to create their own animal!

We had a wonderful turnout for our 2nd and 3rd grades music concert. The students did an excellent job performing a variety of music. They sang songs from different cultural backgrounds, performed simple dances, and played musical instruments. The Wegner Ensemble and the Wegner Chorus also participated and shared music that everyone enjoyed. Thanks so much to all who attended the concert.

Our next concert will take place on May 16 at a 1:30 PM. Kindergarten, first grade, and Ensemble students will perform delightful music that everyone will enjoy. Hope to see you at the concert.

Innovation Center- In April, we learned the results of the Monarch and Bluestem voting. After spring break, I take time to review library expectations and book care with all grade levels. All grade levels also read books about Earth Day. Kindergarten read about why it is important to do small things that help the Earth like not wasting water, picking up trash, recycling, etc. 1st and 2nd graders read a beautiful book by Henry Cole called One Plastic Bag to emphasize the importance of reusing items when we can. 3rd graders learned about all of the plastic in our oceans through reading Ducks Overboard! and what we can do to prevent further problems. 4th grade read about a girl named Julia Butterfly Hill who lived in a redwood tree for over two years to keep it from being chopped down. 5th grade read about a recycled orchestra in South America where all of the instruments are made from garbage. All students also had fun creating with Keva Planks and Building Blocks. K-2 students also studied birds. 3rd graders read about a Curious Garden that is inspired by a real life garden in New York City called, the Highline. 4th and 5th graders started a Tinkercad project making 3-D ships which they will decorate with a design based off of the book, Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion. This project is being co-taught with our Lead Technology Teacher, Carol Barsotti.

Students in grades 3-5 have been working on hockey skills, while our k-2 students have been doing parachute activities.

We will be having Wegner Wild Day on Friday, June 8th. This is a fun activity day for students. We rely on parent volunteers to help run different activity stations. Notes will be going home in May looking for volunteers. If you think you may be interested, please keep this date in mind.

All grade levels have been finishing up learning about our body systems and how to keep ourselves healthy. Throughout the rest of the year, we will be focusing on Teamwork/Problem Solving and also Personal Safety.