Even though this did not happen in one of our schools, news of this nature may be disturbing for students. If your children express concern, please reassure them that they are safe.

Please know that our staff members are committed to keeping our school safe and providing your children the best education possible.  In the event of an emergency, APS and Mrachek Middle School have strong safety measures in place:

• Current lockdown and evacuation plans
• Regular lockdown and evacuation drills
• Strong visitor management policies
• Security cameras in strategic places
• Participation in emergency drills with local agencies

In the event of a school emergency, we will use our messaging system to reach parents via phone, e-mail, and text message.  Please be sure that we have your current contact information on file.

Thank you for your support.

SPANISH

Tal vez se han enterado del incidente que ocurrió en la secundaria Deer Creek Middle School en el distrito escolar de las escuelas públicas del condado de Jefferson. Nos da mucha lástima los que han sido afectados por este evento.

Aunque esto no sucedió en una de nuestras escuelas, noticias de este tipo pueden ser inquietantes para estudiantes. Si sus hijos expresan alguna inquietud, por favor asegúrenles que ellos están seguros.

Por favor estén conscientes de que los miembros de nuestro personal están comprometidos a mantener nuestra escuela en forma segura y a proveerles a sus hijos la mejor educación posible. En caso de alguna emergencia, el distrito escolar APS y la escuela Mrachek Middle School tienen establecidos firmes medidas de seguridad:

• Planes, actualizados, para cierres de emergencia y evacuaciones de planteles
• Ejercicios regulares de cierres de emergencia y evacuaciones de planteles
• Firmes políticas en cuanto a la administración de visitantes
• Cámaras de seguridad en lugares estratégicos
• Participación en ejercicios de emergencias en conjunto con agencias locales

En caso de una emergencia en la escuela, usaríamos nuestro sistema de mensajes para comunicarnos con padres de estudiantes por teléfono, correo electrónico y mensajes de texto. Por favor asegúrense que tengamos su información de contacto, actualizada, registrada con nosotros.

Gracias por su apoyo.

Sixth grade galaxy has spent some time studying dinosaurs.  Each student selected a different dinosaur to research.  Once the research was complete, the students wrote a research paper for Mrs. McDonough in language arts class.  While they were working on the papers in LA, the students began creating their dinosaur out of clay and making a poster in science class for presentation of their dinosaurs.  The goal is to take a walking field trip to one of the elementary schools and have the students present to classes there.

 KNOW WHY CSAP IS GIVEN

The state of Colorado has set State Performance Standards that say what students should know and be able to do at each level of their education. CSAP tests ask questions about those standards. The tests help educators see how each student is meeting the state standards.

CSAP tests are given to students to:

v  Evaluate what a child knows and needs to learn

v  Evaluate what groups of children know and need to learn

v  Evaluate what and how well schools are teaching what students should learn

KNOW WHAT CSAP COVERS

Reading:          Students read a variety of texts and answer questions about the text.

Writing:            Students answer questions with short answers, sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

Math:               Students solve multi-step problems by writing the steps to their problem-solving process.  Calculators are not to be used on any portion of CSAP testing.

Science:          5^th, 8^th, and 10^th grade only.  Students solve multi-step problems and must show each step of the process.

KNOW THE RULES OF CSAP

√    Each subject is tested in a separate session

√    Sessions last approximately 1 hour to 1 ½ hours

√    Students take no more than one test in a day

√    Breaks are not allowed during testing sessions

√    No talking or making distractions is allowed

√    Students are not allowed to ask questions

KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER CSAP

      √    Once the results have been established, the teacher will send home information about your                                  child’s  score, areas of academic strengths and areas to focus learning on.

      √    The school will provide a School Report Card that explains how the school as a whole is

                        performing compared to other schools in the district.

KNOW HOW TO PREPARE FOR CSAP

At school, preparing students for the CSAP testing continues year round as a natural part of the

standards-based instruction. At home, you can assist your child to succeed in school and on

test days by using the following suggestions.

Colorado Parent Information and Resource Center

www.cpirc.org 

Know How You Can Help Your Child Prepare

Feed Them

Our brains need fuel to operate. On test days, a good breakfast is very important. Students who eat a good breakfast have better focus and attention.

Water Them

Encourage your child to drink lots of water all day long.

Set Good Sleeping Habits

Kids need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep per night. Adequate sleep allows for deep refreshment which makes us mentally sharper.

Build Stamina and Independence

Provide opportunities for your child to start and finish a task without interruptions.  Make tasks increasingly longer each time. Examples include chores, homework, games, etc.

Build Confidence and Self-assurance

Recognize what your child is doing well by telling them and showing off their work. Tell your child to try their best and to practice over and over what they want to accomplish. Let your child know that a good education is important to you and your family.

Exercise

Physical activity releases “feel good” hormones in the brain; it calms nervous energy; it relieves muscle tension; it heightens alertness. Encourage your children to spend a minimum of 15 - 20 minutes a day in active physical exercise of some sort.

Role Model

• Provide a positive parental attitude to promote a “can do” student attitude.
• Don't be overly anxious about test scores, but encourage your child to take tests seriously and to try their best.
• Remind your child that tests do not determine the outcome of their future. Tests are a tool and like any tool, the more you use it, the easier it gets.
• Ask the teacher how you can help your child at home to support learning.

Keep Stress in Check

Some stress is positive, but stress can also be overwhelming. Help your child learn different stress management techniques:

a Positive self-talk: “I know I can do this”

a Avoid being rushed in the morning

a Talk about hopes and fears

a Think about long term goals

a Use humor to ease tensions

a Take slow, deep breaths when anxious. 

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