Chief Joseph School Newsletter

1100 E. Chateau Dr, Meridian, ID 83646

Phone (208) 350-4200

Absence Reporting Line (208) 350-4201

Gretchen Hart, Principal

hart.gretchen@westada.org

Jamie Gates, Head Secretary

gates.jamie@westada.org

Oct 3-5 - Hearing (K,1,3) Screenings

Oct 5 - Sign Up Closes (at end of day) for Parent/Teacher Conferences - make sure you've signed up!

Oct 11 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (regular school day for students)

Oct 12 - Parent/Teacher Conferences, No School for Students

Oct 13 - No School for Students/Staff

Oct 19 - Fall Photo RETAKES (for students who missed Aug photo date or need retake)

Oct 19 - PTO Family Night at Farmstead

Oct 25-31- Fall Book Fair, Library

Oct 26 - Juntos Podemos/Together We Can Parent Mtg, 4:00 (free childcare in Gym)

October - Vision (K,1,3, 5) Screening

Dear Chief Joseph Families,

Our year is off to a great start, and we’re so happy to be working with you and your wonderful kiddos! Thank you to parents and guardians who attended our August 31 Back to School Night...if you weren't able, please contact your child's teacher for the information that was shared. Thanks, too, to all who attended our Sept 29 PTO-sponsored Fall Family Dance - so much fun!

Thanks, too, for making the effort to get your children to school every day, and ON TIME at 9:05 (9:20 on Wednesdays). None of us wants to lose a minute of instructional time, and we LOVE days without tardy slips!

If interested, the quick, easy and confidential application for free or reduced price meals is on the district site: LINQ Connect - Making Schools Stronger Families must apply each school year for free or reduced price meals. You’ll learn within a day if your child qualifies; let our school office know if help is needed.

Oct. 11 and 12 are the dates of our Parent/Teacher Conferences, and NOW'S the time to sign up! Our goal is to have 100% of our students represented by a caring adult! If haven't yet, please use the online link sent by your child's teacher to select the conference date and time of your choice. Your being here is testimony to your support and interest, and helps make children more successful at school!

At your Conference, you'll receive (amongst other info) a Progress Report letting you know how your child did on his/her Fall iReady Math and Reading Diagnostics and Sept IRI (Gr K-3) literacy skills assessment. Please let your child know that we're proud of the effort shown - with work and perseverance, more growth will follow! Keep in mind that you can ask your child’s teacher for a conference at other times as well; we want a strong partnership with you!

As always, our staff looks forward to a year of growth and improvement for ALL students! Parental involvement and great attendance help make that happen, and we welcome your questions, visits, and volunteer interest!

Best wishes,

Gretchen Hart, Principal

As you may know, West Ada elementary schools use standards-referenced instruction and scoring to help determine and report if students have learned key skills/knowledge for a content area (i.e., math, rdg, science, music, etc).

• Standards-referenced instruction focuses teaching and learning on the priority standards, which are the key skills/knowledge for a content area (i.e. math, reading, science, music, etc).

• Goal is to provide teacher, student, and parent with accurate feedback on where the student is right now in relation to mastering the standard, skill, or learning target. The student is encouraged to show improved learning over time.

• Proficiency Scales are used to determine where student is in relation to mastery of the priority standard.

• Grades are not averaged; instead, teachers assess proficiency at every level of learning. A student may get every item correct on an assignment or assessment and receive a score of ‘2’ if the items measure only level 2.0 skills, or if student is only demonstrating level 2.0 proficiency on a particular standard.

If your child is absent from school, please call the Chief Joseph Absence Reporting Line by 9:30am on day of absence: #208-350-4201. Thank you!

Cuando su hijo vaya a faltar a la escuela, llame a la Línea de Asistencia: #208-350-4201

The vision screening uses a no-contact 'spot screener' that takes a photo of the eyes and can detect signs of possible eye issues.

If any sign is detected of a possible vision or hearing issue, our nurse provides a report to parents.

If you have any questions, please contact our Health Office (#350-4200).

HUGE thanks to our PTO for organizing the active event and to ALL parent volunteers who took time to join us and cheer for our kids!

Our teachers THANK YOU for helping to minimize the disruption of calling students out of class early!

Classroom or field trip volunteers must have completed and turned in a Volunteer Form; that form must be completed annually. Happy to have you, and appreciate you checking in!

All students must be signed out at the front office using our district Raptor system. Parents must show their driver's license or other ID to office staff in order to check out their child.

If someone other than parent or the PowerSchool emergency contact is picking up your child, the school must have a written note or phone call from the parent to allow that release. The person picking up your child will also need to show his/her driver’s license or other ID.

It may take a few minutes to locate your child and get them to the office for release...thanks for your patience and understanding!

Please notify our school's Health Office (Nurse Jeneille or Health Tech Sabina) if your child has an allergy that could affect him/her at school.

If a provider has ordered emergency medication for your child's allergy, please provide that properly labeled medication to the Health Office.

If a food allergy requires a meal substitution, please have provider complete the following Medical Meal Accommodation Form and Medical Authority Checklist and return to our Health Office.

- Check school menus

- Make online payments to their children's meal accounts

- Remotely monitor their children's account

- Set up automatic recurring payments and low balance alerts

- Submit an online application for free or reduced meals

Hope you'll take a look: LINQ Connect - Making Schools Stronger

If you have an Orchestra or Band instrument that's still in good condition that you would be willing to donate, please contact our Band Teacher Emily Allis (allis.emily@westada.org) or Orchestra Teacher Luke Koenig (koenig.luke@westada.org).

Thank you for helping our students make beautiful music!

Is anyone available to help Steffany maintain the garden, and/or start an afterschool Garden Club for Chief Jo students?

If willing, please let our school office know!!

Recycle bins are in every classroom and office, and students have been reminded of the role they play in keeping our school - and our planet - in best condition!

This additional time allows our teachers a full 45-min of 'PLC' (Professional Learning Community) opportunity before students arrive...time to work in teams to plan lessons based on the Idaho Standards, analyze data from student assessments, and discuss best strategies to meet student needs. Teamwork accomplishes great things for kids!

West Ada has partnered with Tutor.com to provide individualized tutoring and homework help to all West Ada 3-12th grade students on demand!

• 24/7 support: Students can log in through Clever anytime by clicking on the Tutor.com icon, selecting the subject they need help with, and then clicking CONNECT NOW. They will typically be paired with an expert tutor in about a minute.

• Safe and secure connection: Tutors undergo a rigorous vetting process, and sessions are recorded and reviewed by a dedicated quality control team. Students’ identities are also anonymized.

• Wide range of subjects: Students can get help in math, writing, world languages, AP® subjects, and more. Instruction is provided online, in an interactive classroom.

• English and Spanish tutoring: Expert tutors are available to tutor students in English as well as Spanish for math, writing, science, social studies, and study skills subjects.

• Text-chat or two-way voice: Students can opt to text-chat or speak with their tutor—whichever is more comfortable for them. Younger learners may opt to use voice, whereas older students may prefer text chatting.

• Empowering help: Tutors show students how to figure out problems themselves—never providing the answers— in an encouraging, judgment-free environment.

• Drop-off writing review: Students can drop off their essay drafts for expert review and get detailed feedback within a day.

Chief Joseph has been awarded a grant to allow teachers to serve fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to students 2-3x/wk – a great way to try new foods and learn healthy habits!

If you’d prefer that your child not be given a fresh fruit or vegetable snack, please notify his/her teacher. Students whose parents have noted allergies to fruits or vegetables in Powerschool will not be served those particular foods.

The vast majority of our school-to-home communication is done via EMAIL; we also occasionally send TEXT MESSAGES. Please make sure Powerschool shows your CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS(es) and your CURRENT PHONE NUMBER(s).

Parents must update School Forms within their Powerschool parent account each school year, or whenever there is a change in contact information. If you don’t remember the username or password for your PS parent account, please contact our school office!

In Chief Jo's Computer Lab this month, K-5 students are ready to improve their tech skills!

Kdg - In Kindergarten, we're using printed keyboards to practice locating different keys and using a mouse; this practice helps our youngest students learn to successfully and independently log onto their Computer Lab desktops. We're also discussing how to be safe when on the computer and how best to navigate an 'online neighborhood'.

Gr 1 - First graders are practicing typing short sentences in Word docs to help increase typing fluency. We're also talking about the importance of being safe when online, as well as what private information is.

Gr 2-5 - Second through fifth grade students are using different typing programs and blank Word docs to help increase typing speed and accuracy. Students took their first typing assessment last week. We're also having conversations about 'device distraction' and how to overcome it.

Please review the West Ada One-to-One Device Handbook (w/in the Elementary Handbook) to learn more about their child’s role in using his/her device safely and keeping it in good working order.

The $25 ‘Optional Tech Device Protection Plan’ is available for purchase until Oct 2; follow the link below: Device Protection Program | West Ada School District

Please note: Gr 1 and 3 Parents are welcome to stop at the Counselor's Office during Oct 11-12 Parent/Teacher Conferences to preview the Personal Safety Curriculum.

Back to school has been great, and I'm super proud of how well students are remembering music concepts learned last year!

In Music classes, students in most grades have been reviewing beat and reading rhythms. Kindergartners have picked up the meaning of music beat very quickly - so fun to see! We're also studying a different composer each month; September's composer was Cecile Chaminade. Which composers do you know?

In Gr 4-5 and Gr 5 Choir, we're preparing for our November 10, 9:45 Veteran's Day program...hope to see Gr 4-5 parents there!

Ask your child to share something they've learned about our Sept composer or a new note/rhythm. Sharing helps the information remain in the brain😉!

Our Gr 4-5 Band and Orchestra programs, under the direction of Ms Allis and Mr Koenig, are also off to an excellent start! Students spent the first four wks of school learning the fundamentals - proper care and handling of instruments, reading musical notes, and learning how to collaborate and work together to make music. Thanks to families for their support and donation of gently used instruments!

It’s a busy and creative time in the Chief Joseph Art Room!

All classes have begun the school year by reviewing art class procedures and creating beautiful art projects for our school's gallery hallways. After display, completed artwork will become part of each student's art portfolio that will go home at end of school yr. In the meantime, feel free to get a visitor's badge and come check out our hallway art!

Kindergarten - All Kdg classes are learning about the routines and procedures that artists use when in art class or studio; they're also learning about lines, shapes, and self-portraits!

Gr 1 - First graders are learning about the secondary color ORANGE. All students are creating their own orange paint, which they'll use to paint autumn-themed artwork!

Gr 2 - Second graders are learning about the artist Alma Woodsey Thomas. All students are making their own Alma Woodsey Thomas-inspired collages!

Gr 3 - Third graders are learning how to make their own tints and shades of paint. All students are creating tint and shade paintings that are fall-inspired!

Gr 4 - Fourth graders are learning about the Pop artist Peter Max. All students will paint their own Peter Max-inspired heart painting!

Gr 5 - Fifth graders are learning about the Pop artist Jim Dine. All students will paint their own Jim Dine-inspired painting using a variety of paintbrushes and rainbow colors!

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year and PE (Physical Education) at Chief Joseph School! I'm excited to kick off the new year with students!

During the first several weeks of PE, students in K-2 worked on fundamental locomotor movements including running, galloping, jumping, side slide (side shuffle), skipping, hopping on one foot, and leaping. We also worked on stopping and starting on a signal and the concepts of general and personal space. In addition, students learned about the body’s physiological responses to exercise (increase in heart rate, increase in body heat/sweating, muscle fatigue, and increased breathing rate).

All grades have been participating in cooperative/team building activities and games. These activities are designed to emphasize cooperation among the students, communication, sharing of jobs, and including all members for a successful outcome. The ability to work with others is a vital skill for students to have as they work with partners, in small groups, and on teams (in PE and beyond)!

Please make sure students are dressed properly for participation in PE; the most important item is proper footwear. Students are highly encouraged to bring refillable water bottles to PE.

Thanks for encouraging movement and active play at home as well!

This year, we're using a new program that allows students to scan their individual QR code card on an iPad to record their laps. Students can choose to run/walk laps around our track and accumulate laps to reach new goals. Students are rewarded for every 10 miles completed.

Lap Attack is a great way for students to add physical activity to their school day! We're looking for parent volunteers to help supervise our Kdg students as they complete Lap Attack (12:15 until 12:35 daily). If you can help, please contact the main office!

Each elementary school student who completes 20 hours of exercise outside of school during October and November receives a FREE Wahooz Fit for Fun ticket. This ticket is good for a 4-Hour Ultimate Unlimited Fun Pass including Ropes Course, Ballocity, Clip ‘n Climb, Twister, Frog Hopper, Bumper Cars, XD Dark Ride, Laser Maze, Laser Tag, Go-karts, Mini Golf, Bumper Boats (when open), Bowling and $5 Game Card ($39.99 Value!).

Students must return their completed Fitness Log, with their parents’ signature, to Mr. Schabot or the main office by FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023. Good luck and let's exercise!!

In the Chief Joseph Library, all students are now checking out books, and we've reviewed how best to enjoy and care for them!

Thanks for reminding your child to keep his/her water bottle closed when a book is close by, and to not draw or color on pages; library books should also be kept away from younger siblings and pets who may do damage. If a page does rip, please do not try to fix at home; instead, return the book to our library so it can be repaired with special book tape. Books that are lost or damaged must be paid for before a student will be allowed to check out another.

If books are not returned or renewed after three weeks, a reminder letter will be sent home. Thanks for encouraging responsible book-borrowers!

I encourage students to check out both fiction and nonfiction books! Because of their popularity and because we want students to experience various genre, only one graphic novel may be checked out at one time.

I look forward to teaching your child more about the library and love when students tell me about great (or even not so great!) books they've read. I always encourage students to challenge themselves or try something new. Looking forward to a great year!

Did you know that reading comprehension requires the same processing systems as spoken language?

Print is simply spoken language written down. Therefore, reading comprehension begins by listening to the words on the page and understanding them.

As a parent, you can provide opportunities for your child to grow their oral language by resisting the urge to shy away from bigger words during conversation. Using strong vocabulary can make young kids feel respected and will plant the seeds for language growth. Reading aloud to your student, particularly books that are above their reading level and rich in vocabulary, also helps develop comprehension. Last, storytelling with the use of big, bold vocabulary, can help develop a child’s ability to comprehend.

In short, research shows that reading comprehension begins with oral language understanding. Nourishing the development of oral language will help ensure reading comprehension success in later years.

(from Shifting the Balance, Burkins & Yates)

The IRI, or Idaho Reading Indicator, is a test given to K-3 students to measure their literacy growth and progress. The ISAT, or Idaho Standards Achievement Test, is a test that our Gr 3-5 students take to determine their progress toward meeting Idaho Standards in Math, ELA, and Science (Gr 5). At all levels and in all tests, our school's scores far surpassed the state average.

When comparing Spring 2023 IRI and ISAT scores of Chief Joseph students to students in West Ada schools with similar demographics and programs, our kids scored highest in nearly every category...a testimony to students' hard work and the skill and dedication of our teachers and staff!