Central Elementary News and Notes

Some of our 3rd grade classes were able to go on their field trip to the Shaw Nature Reserve last week. The students that went last Thursday had great weather and were able to enjoy and interact with a natural playground. The learning on the field trip fit nicely with our life cycle science units from earlier in the school year. The tour guides were knowledgeable and were able to answers all of the students' questions. The rest of the 3rd grade classes will get to on their adventure this Friday as long as the weather cooperates.

Mrs. Kluesner's 1st grade classroom got to visit with a Quail Forever group and learn about how pollinators are important to us and how they give us native wildflowers. Quail Forever also donated seeds and supplies to help grow Milkweed in their classroom.

Our Field Day is scheduled for Friday, May 20 for all 1st-5th grade students.

• Kindergarten students will go to the park on this day
• T-Shirt orders are due THIS FRIDAY--$10 for a shirt

We are looking for parents/guardian volunteers that would be able to help make our Field Day run smoothly. If you haven't already completed the application to be a volunteer, you will need to do that as soon as possible. Applications can be picked up in our office.

Reach out to Coach Coons if you are interested in volunteering on Friday, May 20. ryan.coons@unionrxi.org

Now that winter is over, our lost and found has a nice collection of winter gear. If you are missing clothing items, please have your child(ren) or you take a look through the lost and found. Our lost and found is just inside the entry of our building.

End of year FAST Assessments have begun. The FAST assessments measure progress made throughout the school year in both reading and math. These assessments are given three times a year--fall, winter, and spring.

We begin our MAP assessments on May 10. More information to come regarding MAP assessments. The MAP Assessment is given annually to 3rd-5th grade students. The MAP assessments test students’ progress toward mastery of the Missouri Show-Me Standards. MAP assessments cover reading and math standards for grades 3-5, an additional writing assessment for 4th grade, and an additional science assessment for 5th grade.

We use both of these assessments to assess student growth and learning for the school year. We also use this assessment data to better our instruction and improve the way we teach.

Some of our kindergarten classrooms went on their field trip to Powder Valley last Friday. Students enjoyed looking through their homemade binoculars at all the sights on their hike...they even got to see a turkey. They also enjoyed learning about several different birds, walking through the nature center, and learning from the naturalists. The rest of the kindergarten students will go to Powder Valley next week.