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SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS:

September 1

PTO Board Meeting

September 5 Labor Day – No school

September 9

Fall Fiesta

September 13-15 Picture Day

September 28-29 Parent/Teacher

Conferences

Book Fair

Early out days

September 30 Teachers Comp Day- No school

PATRIOT NEWS August 31, 2016

A NOTE FROM MRS. SWAN:

As the new school year begins, I would like to explain some important things about how leveling is done and what it means. I spoke about leveling at Back to School Night. The leveling process is very complex and dynamic. If we didn't level, I could just put everyone's name in a hat and pull them out to form a class and that would have saved me weeks and weeks of time. But that is not how it works. Mrs. Seminario, Mrs. Gonzalez, and I do the leveling together each year; it takes a team. It has taken us weeks to get the class placements done as correctly as possible, adding the new scholars who have tested in the past two weeks. Here are some key points: 1. Yes, we are still leveling. And there are several data points

that determine class placements each year, not just one single score.

2. The PURPOSE of "leveling" of any kind is to provide scholars with more support if they need it or more of a challenge if they have more background knowledge or if they are quicker learners. None of that has changed. Every scholar will receive the small group instruction they need to be successful, regardless of grade or class placement.

1. Leveling scholars for me has always been data-driven and based on ALL 425 scholars and their

scores- not just one group of scholars. The leveling is very dynamic when scores of several scholars rise in one year. It makes it more difficult to put a full class of "high" scholars together when maybe only 10 score higher than the rest. Likewise, we cannot make a full class of "low" scholars for the same reasons. So depending on the grade level, and how many classes we have at that level, determines HOW much we can physically separate scholars. When 80% of scholars score within a small spread of points, it changes HOW scholars are placed in classes. The leveling just looks different, but we are still leveling for more specialized instruction. The way it looks could of course change the next year, depending again on scores at the end of the year. My goal is to have ALL scholars at WPA successful and proficient, not just the top 10%.

2. Currently, there are three classes in grades 3-5 and so we have “advanced" classes in each of those grades, as well as an "advanced" class in 6th grade for both literacy and math. Scholars test into those classes. But we can (and will) always go deeper into content at ANY grade level. So if a student in is 5th grade and is in the advanced class this year, receiving 6th grade curriculum, then when this student is in 6th grade, they will not get 6th grade curriculum again, they will get 7-8th grade curriculum. We always teach what scholars need. There is always more to learn.

3. We have high-quality instruction at WPA, which is why scholars’ scores are rising yearly. This is my ultimate goal as the Principal: PROFICIENCY!! As these scores rise, the spread of scores is smaller from highest to lowest, thus reducing the need for distinct “hi” or “low” classes. The real “leveling” occurs within the classroom in small group instruction where scholars receive the help they need or the challenge they need to do more complex tasks. We are teaching at a deeper level, pushing our scholars to think more deeply and be able to do more complex tasks. These are really important skills that will transfer from year to year and across all content classes.

4. I meet monthly with each grade level team. Any decisions to change placements is data-driven and based on the best interest of the scholar who may need a change of placement. Parents will be notified if there is a change during the year.

5. This is how leveling has been done since I have been here. I do not know how the formula or process for determining placements was decided before I arrived. If you have further questions, please see me directly. We make every effort to provide the challenge and/or support your child needs, regardless of class placement or grade level.

Why I think WPA is different from district schools: We are deliberate in our focus to have ALL of our scholars successful. Our instruction is focused on the most current research-based best practices that will yield the greatest impact. We are teaching our scholars skills for life. No longer is “getting the right answer” enough. Our scholars must be able to explain what they know, and how they know it, in greater detail. They must be able to solve their own problems, write extensively, and collaborate with others for a common goal. They need to be able to ask their own questions, find answers in multiple locations, and synthesize information. We are teaching every scholar how to be deep thinkers and expert readers and content experts. These are lifelong learning skills and we are teaching them here! Our teachers are incredible learners. They have worked this summer to prepare for this year. They read and are studying current research books and we focus professional development during the year, as a team, to keep our focus on the instructional needs of our scholars. Schools that have such a cohesive group of talented and competent teachers is rare; I have worked with many schools in many states. Additionally, we have competent instructional aides in every classroom, providing support for our teachers. This level of instruction does not typically happen in district schools. Our teacher ratio is 1:12. District schools have anywhere from 30-37 scholars in one classroom without any teaching assistance.

Our SPED department is top in the state and our Reading Specialist Mrs. Roderick has a Master’s degree and a Level II Reading Endorsement. These specialists make such a difference in student success. We are so blessed to have such a team of experts at WPA! We are thrilled to begin a new year and look forward to your children getting smarter and smarter and being able to articulate to you how they are learning and what they are learning. Their learning will be more visible to you this year; you will love it.

School Land Trust Committee Volunteers We are asking for volunteers to serve on the School Land Trust Committee this year. If you have been serving and want to continue OR if you are interested in serving on this committee, please email me at eswan@wasatchpeak.org by Friday, September 9th.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

It's time for FALL FIESTA Friday September 9, 4:30-7:30 pm.

Enjoy games, bounce houses, facepainting, music and dinner for

the family!

Teens, grandparents, etc... can sign up and work toward

completing your volunteer hours.

Please sign up at the link below to volunteer https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ox_9tjfW7i64bAYoEdudOrK6iEJjVck8OIpQBZxZkXs/edit?ts=57bc683

6#gid=1361422639

The PTO is needing volunteers to help with school pictures.

Please sign up at the link below. https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20f0c4fafac2aa3fc1-wasatch/43101662

If you had free or reduced lunch last year, please be sure to feel

out a new form for this school year. You can find the online form

under your ASPIRE parent login, or pick one up at the office.

Also, only one milk or water bottle are included with each student

meal. Every extra milk or water bottle the students get is

.25 cents each. Thanks!

Fall Fiesta Class Baskets-2016 Dear Parents— This year for Fall Fiesta our goal is to raise a LOT OF MONEY for our school for SOUNDBOARDS for our GYM. We need these soundboards to help improve the sound in our gym and make our school play more enjoyable. One way we plan to meet this goal is by raffling class baskets that contain engaging activities and books. Each class basket has a “theme” that is focused around a particular book. We are asking parents to donate items that will contribute to each Homeroom classroom’s specific theme (a list of possible items to donate for each classroom is provided). You may donate to ANY class basket, but we hope you will donate to your child‘s grade level, since you will not know homeroom assignments until August 8. Also, if you would like to donate an item that is rather expensive (gift cards, costumes, football jersey, game tickets, etc.) please feel free to collaborate with several parents to purchase the item. Classroom teachers will accept donated items. When you donate items, please indicate to WHICH BASKET you are donating so we can keep track of items. Donations will be accepted from August 22—August 31, which is the absolute deadline for items to be received. Baskets will be on display at school (and on the website) on Tuesday, September 6 until Friday, September 9 Fall Fiesta pesos & raffle tickets will be $1 each and will on sale IN THE FRONT OFFICE from Tuesday, September 6 until the evening of Fall Fiesta on September 9. Your child can put as many raffle tickets as they want into any basket(s) they are interested in winning. After you purchase tickets, write your First and Last Name on the back of the ticket with a phone number IN PEN. (If you purchase 10 tickets, your child can put all 10 into one basket or they can put 2 tickets into 4 baskets, etc.). Winners will be announced on Friday, September 9 at Fall Fiesta at 7:00 P.M. The following are the THEMES for the class baskets by grade level. Please feel free to DONATE to any class basket. NOTE: All items must be new, with original packaging and/or tags on them. Please do not donate anything used for these baskets; we will not accept any used items.

Homeroom Class Book Title/Theme Basket item ideas for donations: AM Kindergarten Miss Sano

Goodnight Construction Site

Cars, trucks, diggers, moon sand, small road signs, a hard hat, tool belt, toothpaste and toothbrushes, night light, bubble bath, towel, anything for night-time or trucks and toys.

PM Kindergarten Miss Sano

Fancy Nancy Girly stuff. Dress up items. Play shoes, jewelry, bows, crowns, anything fancy.

First Grade Ms. Kriger

The Day the Crayons Quit

Art supplies: pens, crayons, paper, construction paper, play-doh, clay, paint brushes, etc.

Mrs. Freckleton Where the Sidewalk Ends

Outdoor toys and fun things to do outside: Frisbees, kites, footballs, Nerf guns, water guns, jump ropes, etc.

Second Grade Mrs. Curtis

Animalia Hogle Zoo pass, stuffed animals, beanie babies, books on animals, pass to the Aquarium, etc.

Mrs. Clark Stone Soup Cooking supplies, mixing bowls, mixing cups, apron, wire whisk, recipe cards & box, soup mix, pasta, cookie

tins, cupcake decorating supplies, cupcake holders, etc. Orson Gygi gift card, etc.

Third Grade Mrs. Christensen,

How Things Work Anything you can BUILD: Legos, Lincoln Logs, blocks, tinker toys, puzzles, any science kits, Discovery Gateway certificate

Mrs. Gonzalez Ghost Stories Halloween decorations, napkins, paper plates, black and orange things, Halloween masks, etc. FUN!

Ms. DeMille Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues

Everything for a sleepover: popcorn, movies, movie tickets, caramel corn, treats, books, pillow pet, toothpaste & toothbrush, night light, etc.

Fourth Grade Mrs. Hertel

Matilda BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS! This will be a basket filled with books!

Mrs. Smith The Giving Tree Money tree. Money basket—piggy bank, cash in any and all denominations.

Mrs. Rumsey Upside magic Magic wand, top hat, magic tricks, magician’s cape, certificate for a hired magician for a party, Discovery Gateway gift certificate, etc.

Fifth Grade Mr. Carlson

BYU Basket Anything BYU!! Sporting event tickets, hats, t-shirts, mugs, stuffed cougar, etc.

Mrs. Pawlowski John, Paul, George & Ben

Patriotic—all things Americana: baseball glove and ball, sparklers, In and OuEt Burger gift cards, etc.

Ms. Badizadegan The Westing Game Spy gear, Games, Puzzles, brainteasers, rubik cubes, etc. Sixth grade Mr. VanSycle

Star Wars Star wars stuff- Legos- action figures

Mrs. Tabery

UofU basket Anything U of U!! Sporting event tickets, hats, t-shirts, mugs, license plate frames, car stickers, etc.

YourphotopackagesmustbePREPAID.

PaymentisdueonSeptember6.NOTE:EverysinglechildmusthaveayellowformfilledoutandgiventotheirHomeRoomteacher.

Pleasewriteyourchild’sID#(lunchnumber)ontheyellowform!Allchildrenwillbephotographed,evenif

apackageisnotpurchased.ClassphotoswillbedoneasaGROUPphoto.

Threewaystopay:

1. Bycheck.MakecheckspayabletoPhotographybyLaurie(putcheckinenvelopewiththenamesofchildrenpaymentisforandpackagesselect—attachedtoyellowform.)

2. Cash(putcashinenvelopewiththenamesofchildrenpaymentisforandpackagesselected.—attachedtoyellowform.)

3. PayOnline.Goto:https://squareup.com/store/photography-by-lauriea. Clickonthepackageyouwanttopurchase.Youcanaddasmanyofthesepackagesasyouwanttoyourcart.

b. Afteryouaddyourcreditcardinformation,pleasewritethefollowingintheCOMMENTBOXbeforeplacingyourorder:

• WasatchPeakAcademy• Yourchild’snameandHomeroomTeacher.• Pleasedothisforallofthepackagesyoupurchaseifyouhavemultiplechildrenattheschool.

c. Printoutyourreceiptandstapleittoyouryellowform.d. GiveYELLOWFORMtotheHOMEROOMTEACHER.

THANKYOU!

SCHOOLPICTUREDAYSARECOMINGSOON!September13,14,&15

ODE TO THE VOLUNTEERSJust what makes Wasatch Peak AWESOME and GREAT?Both the teachers AND parents are truly first rate!

Please remember the pledge to which you did agree:Your volunteer hours must total THIRTY!

To help you succeed we've got something for you:TARGET GIFT CARDS to help you serve all the year through!

If your hours total 10 by the first of NOVEMBER,You'll be entered in a drawing for a prize you'll remember!

With 20 hours in FEBRUARY, then once again,Your name might be chosen--yes, you just might win!

And when you meet 30 hours by the end of the year,If your name is drawn, you'll for sure give a CHEER!

So, get volunteerin', and please don't forget--*RECORD* your hours, and make this the BEST SCHOOL YEAR YET!

*Please go to helpcounterweb.com/volunteer to create a login (see post below for details on how) and to

UPDATE YOUR PROFILE INFORMATION and VOLUNTEERING INTEREST FORM. (These need to be updated at the start of each school year. )

Also, be watching for our TARGET VOLUNTEER HOURS BULLETIN BOARD in the hallway near the cafeteria. You will see your name move toward the center of

the target throughout the year as you meet your volunteer benchmarks!

Welcome or welcome back to WPA! Our incredible volunteers are one of the reasons WPA is such an amazing school. To be successful, we need EVERY FAMILY to fulfill their 30 volunteer hour commitment and be sure to RECORD those hours throughout the year. If the hours are not recorded, they don’t “count” for you or for our school! Many grants our school applies for look at our volunteer involvement, so there is money tied to recording our hours!

Below is a brief tutorial on how to record volunteer hours.

We would like to encourage families to have ONLY ONE ACCOUNT on HelpCounter for all volunteers from that family. This will help simplify things and ensure that your family’s volunteer hours are accurately represented. So, as you login, feel free to list husband and wife teams or other family teams as a single entry (see Step 2 below.)

Please go to www.helpcounterweb.com/volunteer (or, from the WPA website, click on Quick Links/Volunteer) to create your user name. This is also the site where you will record your volunteer hours.

It's fairly intuitive and painless, but in case you have any trouble, here are some quick steps to creating your user name:

1.Click on “Create User Name.”

2.Fill in the New User Name Form. Again, please list husband and wife teams or other family teams as a single entry (i.e., Smith, Mary and John-- enter “Mary and John” under “Your First Name.”) Or, if multiple individuals will be volunteering from one family, feel free to list something like, “Smith, Mary and Family.”

3. Type “Wasatch Peak” in the box and click on "Find School." When the school shows up in the list below the box, check it.

4.Verify the email address. If it finds your email address at the school, HelpCounter will then send a confirmation email to you.

5.Open the email, click on the confirmation link, and you’re done!

You'll only have to do this step one time and then you will be able to quickly login at www.helpcounterweb.com/volunteer and record your volunteer hours.

If you have any questions at all, please contact the PTO Volunteer Coordinator, Kristi Burgess (kristi.burgess@gmail.com).

Thank you so much for your service to WPA!!

Wasatch Peak Academy

2016-2017

After School Intramural Sports

Every Tuesday

2:30 – 3:30

3rd – 6th Grade

$15.00 Per Term

26 Spots Available

Sign up and pay at the front desk at the beginning of each term.

Term 1 Start Date: September 6th through October 25th.

Term 2 Start Date: November 1st through January 10th.

Term 3 Start Date: January 24th through March 21st.

Term 4 Start Date: March 28th through May 16th.

What Are Intramural Sports?

The Intramural sports program at Wasatch Peak Academy is very structured,

organized, and offers individual, dual, and team sports for male and female

students. An individual does not have to be highly skilled to participate.

Intramural activities range from traditional sports such as flag football,

basketball, and soccer to non-traditional sports such as ultimate frisbee, 4

square, and badminton.

As a parent I hope you will really consider getting your student involved in the

intramural sports program. It is a great opportunity for your student to compete

with their friends as well as make some new friends.

OBJECTIVES

1. To provide wholesome and healthy activities for recreation.

2. To encourage wholesome participation in a large number of sports

activities.

3. To develop an interest in athletics and recreation through a high quality

program.

4. To provide an opportunity to develop sportsmanship of the highest order.

Everything that sportsmanship implies should be developed on the playing

field and in the gym of Wasatch Peak Academy.

5. To provide an opportunity to learn the important values developed through

team spirit and cooperation.

6. To provide the opportunity to belong to a group.

8. To provide the opportunity for every student regardless of his/her ability to

realize the joy and fun of participation in their favorite sport.

WASATCH  PEAK  ACADEMY  Board  of  Directors  Position  

The  Board  of  Wasatch  Peak  Academy  (WPA)  is  currently  seeking  to  fill  a  vacancy.  Wasatch  Peak  Academy  is  a  public  K-­‐6  Charter  school  located  in  North  Salt  Lake  City  Utah.    WPA  strives  to  inspire  its  students  with  a  genuine  appreciation  for  community  and  country;  a  perpetual  enthusiasm  for  learning;  leadership  opportunities  and  individual  academic  excellence.    This  is  achieved  through  rigorous  academic  standards,  leveled  learning,  language  education  and  service  learning.      We  are  looking  for  a  Board  member  to  join  our  team  and  take  our  amazing  school  to  the  next  level.    We  are  looking  for  someone  who:    • Works  well  on  a  team  • Can  commit  to  high  expectations  for  student  achievement  • Has  a  strong  belief  and  value  about  students'  ability  to  learn  and  the  school's  

ability  to  teach  all  children  at  high  levels  • Can  help  oversee  a  budget  • Is  willing  to  attend  meetings  regularly  and  attend  school  functions  as  needed  • Help  to  oversee  our  Charter  as  approved  by  the  State  Board  of  Education  • Will  support  and  encourage  the  school  director  • Will  act  in  the  best  interests  of  the  students,  the  families  and  teachers  of  

WPA  • Community  and  Technology  minded  individuals  are  a  plus    If  you  would  like  to  be  considered  for  this  position,  please  send  your  resume  

and  letter  of  intent  to:    

Krystal  Taylor  at  Academica  West  krystal@academicawest.com  

 801.444.9378.