December 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy Holidays!
By the time you read this we will have almost completed our
first trimester. Boy how time
flies! Our students have been busy
taking the Math and Reading Language Arts State tests, and having fun at extra
curricular activities such as the Halloween Social and basketball. We are looking forward to upcoming
musical concerts, and of course, our Book Fair in early December, with proceeds
supporting literature in our media center. We are very pleased about scoring "Outstanding" in all
categories: achievement index, attendance rate, participation rate, and overall
school rating on our School Report Card.
Be on the lookout for the School Report Card in your child's trimester
one grade envelope mid December.
During this holiday period I like to reflect on what I am
thankful for. Specifically around
our great school, I am thankful for our talented, dedicated staff, our
supportive parents, and our eager, hard working students. We have a fantastic school community
that contributes to our school improvements each year.
Below find a few general pre-test strategies, adopted from
The Parent Institute, 2007, to help get your children ready for their upcoming
unit tests.
Pre-Test Strategies:
* Make sure your student knows what the test will cover.
* Ask your student's teachers to suggest activities you can do at home to help him/her prepare for the test.
* Help your student develop a study plan.
* Experiment with having your student study with a friend.
* Show your student how to create a practice test.
* Help your student develop good test-taking skills. Have them practice reading and following directions.
* Have your student write key words, facts and definitions on flashcards and use them to test himself.
* Have your student review his/her notes and the textbook chapters that will be covered.
* Make sure your student has everything they will need - pencils, erasers and paper, along with any special items such as a dictionary or a calculator.
I would like to thank all of you for making Cascade such a
wonderful place. Have a wonderful
month, enjoy the time with your family, and remain healthy. Please feel free to call me at 383-6230
with any questions or concerns.
As Napoleon Hill once said, "Desire is the starting point of
all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire, which
transcends everything."
Have a great month and a wonderful holiday.
Michael Hecker
