March is here and the end of the quarter is near. This will mark the end of the 3rd quarter and grade cards will be sent home with your child on March 26.
In a middle school, academics are of course very important. Students at this age are establishing a foundation for future study and future success; the more solid the foundation, the more successful they will be in the future. Having said this, however, it is also important to bear in mind that middle school is also a time for tremendous personal growth and learning important life lessons. During these three years, students are changing from children to young adults and the lessons they learn in middle school will have a large influence on their later success, both in school and in life. Thus, an effective school must be structured in such a way that students feel supported, encouraged and free to take risks.
This notion of balance leads me to a few words about grades and what parents can do to help make report cards a growth experience for their children. Here are a few suggestions on how to help your child learn the important life lesson from his/her grades.
First of all focus on what grades mean for your child. You are in the best position to know what that B+ on the report card means. Did you spend hours and hours working, putting in his best efforts, so that he could be truly proud of that B+? Doe your child have difficulty taking tests, but worked really hard, so that the B+ she earned represents outstanding learning and an improvement in her test taking skills? Or does academic achievement come easily to your child, so that the B+ represents too much time socializing and sloppy work on homework? Only you and your child know the answers to these questions. I would suggest that your response to your child’s report card reflect your knowledge of your child’s efforts and work habits, and include a dialogue with your child about the relationship between his/her efforts and the results on the report card. Helping a child learn to draw a connection between effort and results, without judgment, will help that child succeed in life, as he/she learns to regard failures as learning experiences rather than as judgments of his/her worth.
My final point focuses on the continuing conversation about bullying and inappropriate language that is occurring here at Eisenhower. We have had several presentations to the student body about these topics. We believe here at Ike that we are working hard to try to resolve some of these issues and we would like your help as well. We believe community involvement is very important in our students’ lives. We would appreciate if you could take some time and speak to your child about these topics. We are trying our best to protect our children but we have to work together in order to solve problems and be solution-based. Again, let’s work together and make Eisenhower a GREAT place to be.
As always, don’t hesitate to email or call if you have any questions or concerns.
Patriot's Pen Essay Contest
Eliljah Fernandes, a seventh grader in Mrs. Bing's language art's classes, won first in the district Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest. He was recognized as fifth in the state on his essay entitled, "Honor Our Troops: They Bleed Red, White, and Blue" at a reception held on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Our congratulations to Elijah. We are proud of your accomplishment.
With Their Eyes
The eighth grade gifted and talented students just finished With Their Eyes. The novel is a student-created piece from a high school located about one-half mile from the World Trade Center. The students and staff of Stuyvesant High School witnessed the tragedy of September 11, 2001, from their classroom windows. As a way of healing, the students interviewed staff, faculty and students and wrote their monologues as a dramatic novel. After reading the book, the students conducted their own interviews and each created and performed his/her own dramatic monologue.
As a group, the students produced a thirty-minute excerpt of the drama for their parents, teachers and the eighth grade students. The excerpt included monologues chosen by the students. The entire drama was student-produced with Sam Ledzianowski as the producer, Sierra Gargac as the director and Chelsea Miller as the technical director. Working with Chelsea were Payton Cufr as the technical assistant for costuming and props, Chelsea Hornyak as the technical assistant for lighting and sound and Sam Arbogast as the technical assistant for the set design. The actors included Morgan Bourdo, Erin Gyurke, Jennifer Lucas, Rachel Nelson and Kasey Volpitta, Robert Chung, Troy Graham, Sammy Jaquillard, Sam Miller and Lexie Saffran worked as the tech crew.
Sports Banquet
The 2010 Eisenhower Middle School Winter Sports Banquet will be held in the school cafeteria on Thursday, March 11th beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please bring your own table service and a covered dish large enough to feed ten hungry people.
Ohio Achievement Test Information for Parents
Information is available to help parents learn more about the state achievement tests. The Ohio Department of Education or ODE (www.ode.state.oh.us) has information listed under hot topics. Another site (www.success.ode.state.oh.us) is designed to help families understand more about the reading and math achievement tests. This website will give you information about at test questions and answer keys for the April test.
Reading about these tests with your children will help both of you become more familiar with the format of the tests. It will also help your child feel more confident and know he/she has your support when taking the tests.
