FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Update on ACADEMY
Last year, an alternative scheduling opportunity was provided by the Texas Education Agency which would provide intensive educational focus for students in need at the end of this 07-08 school year. The District has chosen to participate and is now calling the last two weeks of school “Academy”. Academy will consist of two weeks of individualized student instruction for students who do not pass their course work for the year, for students who do not meet mastery standards of their mandatory state assessments, and for students who do not have enough attendance to promote to the next grade level or to graduate. I thought it appropriate to remind parents of this opportunity at this time as grades and absences start accumulating.
There are three things students need to do in order to get out of school on May 16th. First, students need to keep their grades up. There are tutorials built into the school day. Contact your student’s teacher(s) if you think your student needs extra help in a subject. All teacher schedules, contact information, and planning periods are printed on the report cards that went out last week. The second thing students need to do is take the benchmark exams seriously. Benchmark exams are given to students to better pinpoint specific student needs and to focus on needed areas of instruction. The results of the benchmark exams will be used to place specific students in specific tutorials. The student mindset of “well, they don’t count” is counterproductive. Much time and effort will be taken in order to provide the very best curriculum and instruction for all students based on the results of this practice testing. The third thing a student needs to do is to come to school. The 90% rule still applies for the receipt of credit for a class.
The best news is that the Parent Portal is up and running successfully. Parents, (and students) now have full access to all their student’s grades and attendance through the use of the Internet. This system is updated daily for grades and several times a day for attendance and can become an important communication asset for parents.
I do need to say something to parents of the students who will be attending Academy. Academy will be a wonderful educational opportunity. If your child meets the criteria to attend, it is not a “bad” thing. Students attending Academy will be involved in an in-depth educational experiences not regularly possible with a whole classroom or school of students.
Is this a change from the way things have always been done? Yes, a big change. Change for the sake of change is not a good thing. Change to make things better for students is a necessity.
Respectfully Submitted,
Laura Zanchettin
Superintendent – Claude ISD
FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Claude Elementary and Claude Junior/Senior High School Make TBEC Honor Roll
Both CISD campuses made the 2007 Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll for 2007. Schools selected make up less than 5% of the 8,000 Texas public schools. The TBEC Honor Roll is the most prestigious award for sustained, academic excellence in Texas. It recognizes schools that have demonstrated three years of consistent, high performance in all subjects compared to other schools serving similar student populations. TBEC Honor Roll schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state’s most rigorous standard – commended – in every subject. Both schools have earned a place on the Honor Roll through hard work and student achievement.
Representatives from both schools will be traveling to Austin, Texas on October 22, 2007 to accept this award.
Parent Portal Update
The District is almost ready to provide parents with information and training on accessing their student’s grades and attendance information on the web. CISD staff has been working with the Region 16 Education Service Center personnel on working out the unknowns in the new student services software system being implemented this year. Plans are currently underway to send initial information home in this upcoming 6 weeks report card mailing.
Respectfully Submitted,
Laura Zanchettin
Superintendent – Claude ISD