March, 2012

Dear Parent or Guardian:

In the fall your student took the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test. It is possible that through various channels you have heard about dramatic changes to the way MEAP results are categorized. Each year, MEAP tests are scored then, depending on the score, a student is assessed as Advanced, Proficient, Partially Proficient, or Not Proficient.

This year, the Michigan State Board of Education has adopted new standards and raised the "cut score" that a student must receive in each of the rating categories.

Due to the higher standards, we recognize that these new scores may create concerns about your child's progress. The MEAP is but one measurement of your child's learning. We use multiple measurements, such as district and classroom assessments, to determine how your child is progressing, and we would be pleased to discuss them with you.

Please take a few moments to review your student's results. If you would like to discuss them, please feel free to contact me or your child's teacher.

Sincerely,

Teri Thompson
Principal 

August, 2011

Welcome to Johnson for the 2011-2012 school year! We look forward to getting to know our new families and are excited to reconnect with our old friends. It is going to be a great school year with continued emphasis on Readers and Writers Workshop.Specific focus will be given to enhancing student writing as we increase non-fiction writing expectations and have students write using compare and contrast throughout the school year. In addition, we continue with Everyday Math, will increase utilization of technology and will continue integration of Making Meaning which reinforces comprehension skills. All are district and building level endorsed programs; therefore, are embedded in the Johnson School Improvement process.

On another note, as you return to Johnson, you will notice the completion of Phase I construction such as new paint, renovated restrooms, new dining tables and benches and improved traffic flow along with additional parking. Next summer, Phase II will include: new flooring, new base trim and paint throughout the remaining areas of the building. Please note, we have flipped student drop off/pick up with the bus area. If you are dropping off/picking up your child at the beginning and end of day, you will use the drive east of Johnson, directly in front of the building. This is a no parking area, so like the former parent circle, you will need to continue the traffic flow. The bus area will now be the first drive where the former circle drive was. You are able to park here between 9:30 and 3:30 PM. There is no parking prior to 9:30 so that buses can enter and exit, and safely drop off children without nearby moving vehicles. If you are dropping off/picking up your child and need to enter the building, continue to use the south parking lot. There is no time limit to you parking in this area.

As far as staffing, due to our delightful challenge of increased student enrollment, we will continue to have 3 sections/teachers per grade level, and no class is at contractual maximum. New to Johnson Elementary is Mr. Mark Frasier who will be teaching 3rd grade. Mr. Frasier taught at Kurtz Elementary last year. Also coming from Kurtz Elementary is Mrs. Leigh Ann Varilone to Kindergarten. Mrs. Varilone taught half-day K at Kurtz and Baker Elementary, and has also taught PE in Huron Valley Schools. Also new to Johnson for the 2011-2012 school year are the following staff: Janet Powell for art, Lynda Foote for tech time, Karen Drilich as learning specialist and Breanna Lendhart as school psychologist.

Looking to the future, please mark your calendar for the following events:

• PTA sponsored Meet & Greet/ Ice Cream Social: Wednesday, August 31, 2011-3:00-5:00 P.M. This is a great way for students to see their classroom and meet their teacher prior to the first day of school.

• PTA sponsored Welcome Back- to- School Picnic, Friday, September 23, 2011-4:04-7:00 PM. This is a great way for children and families to socialize outside the school day, reconnect with old friends and hopefully, meet new.

• We also look forward to seeing our parents at Curriculum Night, Wednesday, September 28. We will hold two, 45 minutes sessions in case you have multiple children at Johnson or one time works better than the other.

Session 1- 6:00-6:45

Session 2- 6:45-7:30

• Parent Teacher Conferences will be held October 20 & 27 from 4:15-7:45. Please be sure to sign up for your preferred time during Curriculum Night.

Again, I am looking forward to another outstanding school year. Your partnership and investment in your child's education is valued and I welcome, and encourage you to make contact should you have any questions or concerns.

Enjoy the year of learning with and from your child!

Fondly,

Teri Thompson, Principal

Johnson Elementary is hard at Work on District Initiatives

There is much excitement in the air at Johnson Elementary as we continue our great work on District indicatives. Over the past two months, we have reviewed best practice strategies, specifically with the Reader's and Writer's Workshop programs and have worked in grade level teams to align our practice to district initiatives. With Reader's Workshop, we understand the importance of students reading "just right" books to assist in closing the gap on reading. Given the closing of Baker Elementary and students relocating to both Johnson and Kurtz; we have been supported by the district in putting thousands of Baker books to good use in the K-5 classrooms. On November 2nd when teachers entered Johnson Elementary for an afternoon of Professional Development, I surprised teaching staff by having grade level books organized in bins for classroom utilization. We are very appreciative of our new books as all students will now have access to books at their reading level within the classroom which is in alignment with Reader's Workshop and the District Initiative. Also exciting at Johnson Elementary is our new technology plan which aligns with the Huron Valley Schools Phase III, Strategic Plan, to integrate technology with curriculum. As we know, our children are entering school with much more sophistication in using technology than ever before. With this being said, our Parent Teacher Association has recognized educators are better able to engage children in the learning process by using technology, and therefore have worked very hard to raise money. Thus our Parent Teacher Association has earmarked $20,000 to assist in classroom technology purchases to include Smart Boards and Elmo technology. These Smart Boards or interactive white board, allows students to be more engaged with their learning, another alignment to best practices in technology.

Another systemic process used at Johnson Elementary as we support the main district initiative of GRAD 100 has been to identify our programming, both academic and behavioral, that supports children to be successful in school. In doing so, at Johnson, we have been working in Professional Learning Communities to review programming and data that influence what our grade level SMART goals need to be. In the coming month, grade level teams will continue working on Action Plans which align to SMART goals to ensure we get as close to the target goals as possible, or exceed. In the near future, as you visit Johnson, please stop by our Data Center highlighting some of our good work at Johnson Elementary including our SMART goals, Points of Pride, Opportunities for Enhancements and our building Demographics.