May 15, 2012

Dear Families,

This week I have many thank yous to acknowledge! Thank you to the grade 5 team who hosted our Arbor Day assembly. The students sang their song with gusto and performed their play with lots of enthusiasm! The tree planting was successful and the clouds held off as the sun came out. Thank you too to those of you who knew Bentley Seifer and stayed for that celebration as well. The morning was quite memorable! 

The following students from grade 5 left following their performance to compete in the district spelling bee: 

Ada Case

Meagan Keefe

Julian Harris

Anna Halladay

Lillian Shaw

Isa Bloch

Champlain students tied for first at the end of the first round and went through two rounds of sudden death before getting stumped by the word "carom."  Thanks to Vivian Esparza for coaching our students and thanks to all of our teachers for explicitly teaching word study so that our students could participate with confidence!

Thank you families for completing our Family School Partnership survey, (Welcoming Report Card). The survey results have been compiled and reflect both strengths and areas to focus our Action Plan on for next year. Our strong areas came out as follows: 

Items with 95% + Agreement

COMMUNICATION

Families get information early and are reminded often about school events and activities, through updated calendars (print and web), phone calls, newsletters, flyers, mailings, posters, websites & emails. 98% agree

Families are introduced to their child's teacher (at an event, in a letter) and teachers share some information about themselves (example: their experience, educational approach, hobbies) 96% agree

FAMILY PARTNERSHIP

Champlain invites families to classrooms and school events to see what students are learning (examples: literacy breakfast, music concerts, math night, poetry readings, curriculum night, assemblies and student presentations). 98% agree

Champlain has a family-school partnership committee, PTO, and other parent groups to help connect all families with the school. 96% agree

BUILDING ENVIRONMENT

Champlain is physically accessible to all students and families. 95% agree

Items with a Disagree over 25%

COMMUNICATION

Families are invited to ask questions, offer suggestions and express concerns about their children and the school. The school regularly collects feedback from families about school events, communication, activities, and student progress reports (through interviews/meetings, surveys, comment cards). 34% Disagree 

BUILDING ENVIRONMENT

The entrance to the building is inviting. There are welcome signs and directions in multiple languages to explain how to get around the building. 28% Disagree  

There are welcome signs located outside each classroom door with the teacher's name, a picture of the teacher, and the grade level. 34% Disagree  

There is adequate parking for visitors and handicap access from parking area. 45% Disagree 

Our Family School Partnership Committee members will write next years’ Action Plan based on these results and other areas generated by the group. Thanks again for sharing your input.

Thank you everyone for all you did to honor all of us during Teacher Appreciation week! We sure are fortunate to have such caring families! 

Sincerely, Leslie