Viewlands Elementary

Principal Wheeler’s Weekly Update 11-15-24

Principal Wheeler’s Weekly Update 11-15-24

Hello Viewlands Families!

November family conferences are quickly approaching. Our goal is always to have conferences with 100% of our students. The conference is an opportunity for the teacher to share your child’s learning profile within the learning standards, while also discussing your child’s goals and how you can support their skills at home. 

A few highlights from my visits in classrooms and with students this week: helping the Green Team 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders support our school by cleaning up garbage from our playground and campus area; listening to 2nd graders describe what they were doing while coding; reading in the library with some 4th and 5th graders; and hearing from the kindergarteners about their walking fieldtrip and the record number of salmon they saw on their walk.

Your children are bright, inquisitive, and creative thinkers. We will continue to seek ways to make every student feel known, valued, and empowered through the year.

In Partnership,

Carrie Wheeler | Viewlands Principal


November Family Conferences and Fall Elementary Progress Reports

Teachers have been reaching out to families to schedule your family conference. We are offering in-person conferences at the school, but if your family prefers or if it is easier for your family to have a virtual conference on TEAMS or phone, the teacher can accommodate this. If you haven’t already scheduled your conference, please reach out to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Our goal is to have 100% participation in the fall family conference.

A reminder that the fall elementary progress reports will be sent home Wednesday, November 20 in the red home-school folders. Viewlands completes the fall elementary progress report a little earlier than the end of the 1st trimester to align it with November conferences. This allows families an opportunity to see the format of the progress report, ask questions, and create that connection between conferences and the progress report as tools for communicating about student learning progress.

What does the standards-based scoring mean?

All of Seattle Public Schools elementary students receive the same progress report with standards-based scoring in skill areas. Standards based scoring means evaluating a student’s learning towards the specific common core standards in the different subject areas. Our state and national standards establish high and challenging performance expectations for all students.

What does each score (4, 3, 2, 1) mean?

  1. = Exceeding grade level standard. Demonstrates advanced level of knowledge and understanding.
    • What does this mean for families?
      A “4” indicates that your child has advanced understanding and exceeds grade level expectations in that area at this time of the school year. A child receiving a “4” demonstrates academically superior skills in that specific area/standard. Your child is applying learning and concepts in new and varied ways as related to this standard at this time of the year, challenges him or herself to think deeply to make connections, and demonstrates this advanced knowledge at school.
  2. = Meeting standard. Demonstrates solid knowledge and understanding
    • What does this mean for families?
      A “3” indicates your child has proficient understanding and meets grade level expectations in that area at this time of the school year. We want all of our students to reach a level “3” in all skill areas by the end of the year. A student receiving a “3” is right on track with at grade level learning.
  3. = Approaching standard. Demonstrates progress toward grade level standard, but not yet at standard. Demonstrates some knowledge and understanding.
    • What does this mean for families?
      A “2” indicates your child has basic understanding and is partially proficient at meeting grade level expectations in that area at this time of the school year. A student receiving a “2” understands the basic concept or skill but has not yet reached the proficient level. A “2” should indicate that your child’s performance varies in consistency with regards to accuracy, quality, and level of support needed.
  4. = Well below standard. Not meeting grade level standard.
    • What does this mean for families?
      A “1” indicates your child has minimal understanding and does not meet grade-level expectations. Performance is inconsistent with guidance and support.  Students receiving “1” will need additional support from the teacher and/or interventions to learn the materials and progress toward meeting standard. Children receiving a 1 in a standard or skill means that they are working below grade level in this area and are considered high risk for not meeting end of the year standards. Students that have 1’s in the majority of standards in a content area require additional learning supports from the teacher, that may be in differentiated small group or other learning supports.

¿Qué significa la puntuación basada en estándares?

Todos los estudiantes de primaria de las Escuelas Públicas de Seattle reciben el mismo informe de progreso con puntajes basados en estándares en áreas de habilidades. La puntuación basada en estándares significa evaluar el aprendizaje de un estudiante hacia los estándares básicos comunes específicos en las diferentes áreas temáticas. Nuestros estándares estatales y nacionales establecen expectativas de desempeño altas y desafiantes para todos los estudiantes.

¿Qué significa cada puntuación (4, 3, 2, 1)?

  1. = Exceder el estándar de nivel de grado. Demuestra un nivel avanzado de conocimiento y comprensión.
    • ¿Qué significa esto para las familias?
      Un “4” indica que su hijo tiene una comprensión avanzada y supera las expectativas del nivel de grado en esa área en este momento del año escolar. Un niño que recibe un “4” demuestra habilidades académicamente superiores en esa área/estándar específico. Su hijo está aplicando el aprendizaje y los conceptos de maneras nuevas y variadas en relación con este estándar en esta época del año, se desafía a sí mismo a pensar profundamente para hacer conexiones, y demuestra este conocimiento avanzado en la escuela.
  2. = Cumplimiento de la norma. Demuestra un conocimiento y una comprensión sólidos
    • ¿Qué significa esto para las familias?
      Un “3” indica que su hijo tiene una comprensión competente y cumple con las expectativas del nivel de grado en esa área en este momento del año escolar. Queremos que todos nuestros estudiantes alcancen un nivel “3” en todas las áreas de habilidades para fin de año. Un estudiante que recibe un “3” está en el camino correcto con el aprendizaje a nivel de grado.
  3. = Acercándose al estándar. Demuestra progreso hacia el nivel estándar de grado, pero aún no en el estándar. Demuestra cierto conocimiento y comprensión.
    • ¿Qué significa esto para las familias?
      Un “2” indica que su hijo tiene una comprensión básica y es parcialmente competente para cumplir con las expectativas del nivel de grado en esa área en esta época del año escolar. Un estudiante que recibe un “2” entiende el concepto básico o la habilidad, pero aún no ha alcanzado el nivel competente. Un “2” debe indicar que el desempeño de su hijo varía en consistencia con respecto a la precisión, la calidad y el nivel de apoyo necesario.
  4. = Muy por debajo del estándar. No cumplir con el estándar de nivel de grado.
    • ¿Qué significa esto para las familias?
      Un “1” indica que su hijo tiene una comprensión mínima y no cumple con las expectativas del nivel de grado. El rendimiento es incoherente con la orientación y el apoyo.  Los estudiantes que reciban “1” necesitarán apoyo adicional del maestro y/o intervenciones para aprender los materiales y progresar hacia el cumplimiento del estándar. Los niños que reciben un 1 en un estándar o habilidad significa que están trabajando por debajo del nivel de grado en esta área y se consideran de alto riesgo por no cumplir con los estándares de fin de año. Los estudiantes que tienen 1 en la mayoría de los estándares en un área de contenido requieren apoyos de aprendizaje adicionales del maestro, que pueden ser en grupos pequeños diferenciados u otros apoyos de aprendizaje.

VEPTSA

Updates and Messages from our VEPTSA Partners:

Mr B farewell tributes – Send in by Monday, Nov 18!

Let’s honor and celebrate Mr. B, our beloved art teacher, as he prepares to say farewell to Viewlands. We are collecting tributes to share with him. Please submit any photos of artwork from Mr B’s class, a special notes for Mr. B, or a brief video message by this Monday, Nov 18. Upload files to this shared folder. If you have any questions or issues submitting, please reach out to hello@viewlandsptsa.org.  

Salmon Celebration and Walk – Saturday, Nov 23, 11am – Next week!

Join us for our annual salmon celebration at Carkeek park. This year we will visit with the Carkeek Salmon Stewards on Saturday, November 23. The event starts at 11am. You can walk with a group from Viewlands starting at 10:30am or meet us at the event at 11am. And…Ollie the Viewlands Orca will be visiting from 11:30am-12:30pm. 

Give Big at Chuck’s & Winter Drive – Wednesday, Dec 4, 5-8pm – Save the date!

Save the date! Our annual Give Big at Chuck’s fundraiser is Wednesday, December 4, 5-8pm. Chuck’s Hop Shop Greenwood will be giving a $5k match for donations made that day. We are also combining this event with our annual Winter Drive, to collect grocery store gift cards and new books for Viewlands families in need. Stay tuned for the Amazon book list and grocery store gift card donation page.

Important Upcoming School Calendar Dates

  • Saturday November 23 11AM Salmon Celebration and Walk
  • Monday November 25-Tuesday November 26 -No School, Family Teacher Conferences
  • Wednesday November 27-Friday November 29 – No School, Thanksgiving Holiday
  • Friday December 20 – EARLY DISMISSAL at 1:25PM
  • Monday December 23-Friday January 3 – No School, Winter Break