This Time of Year....

Every year, the signs of Christmas appear sooner and sooner- this year it was before Halloween!  But I can't think of Christmas yet as the cold days, all the maple leaves collecting on our lawn, the first time we use the wood stove, and the dark evenings all remind me that this time of year is really about being thankful.  With all the dangers in the world and the nightly horror stories on the news, I am so grateful to be where I am and with the people who matter most to me.

My wish is that all of you can say the same.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

"End 68 Hours of Hunger" Program Expanding

The successful "End 68 Hours of Hunger" program is expanding to the middle school (I originally wrote about this program in a blog on September 8.)  This program has been very successful with our littlest students and it is time to help out our older students.  Thanks to generous donations of food and money, we are able to do this. (Currently the Police Explorers Club is accepting donations for this cause.)

If you do not have students at the elementary school, here is how it works.  A family will call the nurse at the middle school to become part of the program.  On Friday before they leave school for the day their child will receive a backpack of food to take home.  This food is to help cover the time between school lunch on Friday until they receive their breakfast on Monday morning.  The child returns the empty backpack on Monday and it is refilled again for the next Friday to go home with the child after school.  This cycle continues throughout the school year.

If you would like your child to be a part of this helpful program, please call the middle school at 603-895-3394 ext. 4186 (nurse).  She will keep track of any allergies and make sure the request is honored.  Please be assured that no embarrassing questions will be asked and all names are kept confidential.

If you would like to donate food, they are looking for these kinds of donations:

6-10 serving package of nutritional cereal
2 serving can of soup or pasta
peanut butter- 18 oz. plastic jar
jelly- 20 oz plastic jar
canned tuna/chicken
cans of fruit
crackers
macaroni and cheese (boxes)
ramen noodles (no cups)
nutrition bars

If you would like to donate your time, any of the above items, or money, please call our Program Coordinators:  Sara Gates or Tanya Martin at 603-706-2584. The District's collaboration with this program is just one small way in which the Raymond School District supports our families. To learn more about this program go to: end68hoursofhunger.org

I would also like to encourage any eligible families to apply for our confidential free and reduced lunch program.  Forms for this program can be found at:      2015-16 Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

Smarter Balanced Results

This week our students will receive the results of the Smarter Balanced Assessments they took last spring.  The delay in getting the final results was due to the larger districts who took the test using paper and pencil rather than a computer.  Those results took much longer to score.  (We have been told that next year's results will be ready in August as all schools will be using computers.) We are in the process of printing out each child's report and information.  All reports will be mailed to families this Friday, November 13. 

Here are some things you should know about these new state assessments:

• We are committed to preparing all students for success at each grade and after high school whether it be college or a career.  The Smarter Balanced Assessment provides us with a clear picture of where every child is:  both strengths and weaknesses.
• The student results on these tests establish a new baseline- we will use these to measure each students progress going forward.
• The Smarter Balanced test replaced the previous statewide NECAP test.  The new test is a more accurate tool for educators, students and parents as we work together to ensure our students' success.
• The assessment scores for this year should not be compared to previous scores.  The Smarter Balanced test emphasizes real-world skills and is very different from the NECAP.
• No parent, student or teacher should be discouraged by scores- they will only be used to focus on the needs of each student.
• The new Smarter Balanced Assessments are computer based, interactive and engaging and are more effective measurement tools than paper and pencil tests.
• This assessment is just one measure of a student's knowledge.  Teachers are the experts about what is happening in their classrooms and are an invaluable resource for parents. Please reach out to your child's teacher for more information on how they perform in class.  There are open-house events at each school that will provide you with this opportunity, or, call your child's school to set up an appointment with your child's teacher.
• This school year, all juniors will be taking the SAT assessment instead of Smarter Balanced.  Grades 3-8 will continue taking Smarter Balanced.

Again,these test results will establish a base line for your child and will serve as an important starting point for families and teachers.  Each year we will be able to measure growth in specific areas, as well as, focus on those areas of weakness. We are posting more information on our website www.sau33.com to answer some of your questions. Please also contact your child's teacher for help in understanding specific results or to arrange an appointment.  The schools can be reached by calling:  895-6616 (High School), 895-3394 (Middle School), and 895-3117 (Elementary School).

Our Students and the New SAT

This year our juniors will be taking the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Tests) instead of the Smarter Balanced Assessments.  It has long been known that high school juniors are not engaged or interested in the state-wide assessments as they perceive these tests as having no value for them (unlike the lower grades where teachers can use these assessments to build a learning plan based on a student's results).  While the state is looking for growth, juniors are more apt to be thinking of life after high school.

Last year, Londonderry High School had their juniors take the SAT as a pilot.  This was so successful, that the Department of Education and Commissioner  Barry wrote this into our waiver.  This year, in addition to New Hampshire using the SAT as their mandated state-wide test, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine will be also.  There has been nation wide interest in this model with several other states also changing to the SAT for student measurement of juniors.

Raymond students have a unique opportunity.  The Raymond School District offers our juniors an SAT "Boot Camp" through Academic Approach.  This company has a sterling record of preparing kids for this high stakes test with an average raise in score of 200 points!  (We are the only public high school they service- thanks to the efforts of the Reach High Scholars organization.)  The training begins in December with a practice test, then, in January, weekly classes start.  The students will have about 4 classes before the required SAT test on March 2, 2016 when all juniors will take the SAT during the school day using school staff as proctors.

Academic Approach classes will continue after this March 2 test date with about 7 more classes.  This provides our students with an opportunity to have a base score (from the mandatory March test) and then a new, improved score by taking the test again in May or June.  Remember that colleges will use the highest of the test scores.  Our students have been shown to have wonderful results by following this same pattern- and now, one of the tests will be taken during the school day.

The new SAT is redesigned with two sections:  Math and Reading.  The essay will be optional but students are encouraged to take this, too.  One section of the math requires a calculator, while another section does not allow the use of a calculator.  Students will need to answer questions about grammar and punctuation as well as analyzing longer reading passages.  The new SAT is said to have more relevant questions.

I am thrilled that we can offer this "Boot Camp" for our students so that they are able to do their best on these tests.  An SAT can help a student find the best after-high-school course of action by learning more about their academic strengths. It also helps choose a college or school with the right fit and opens the door for scholarships.  If you or your student have any questions about the Boot Camp, please call the high school or talk with our College and Career Counselor, Tricia Wentworth, at 895-6616.