-------January 2010-------

January 14, 2010
en español

Dear McCall Families,

With the lights, sounds, and scents of the holiday season behind us, we look forward to a bright new year filled with good health, happiness and academic growth for our students.

As bone chilling temperatures abound us, it is important to make sure your students are dressed appropriately for the weather. We do have outdoor recess if the temperature is above 10 degrees, as physical exercise stimulates and rejuvenates the mind and body, not to mention it promotes good health and it’s just plain fun!

Also weather related, as well as safety related, please remember our new drop-off area in the morning effective Tuesday, January 19th. We highly recommend that your student ride the bus if he/she is entitled to bus service. This will cut down on the traffic congestion substantially.

Our ultimate goal is to have an exit on the north end of the current parking lot; however it is not possible to complete such a project at this time as it involves outside entities (not solely the school district.)

As I reflect on my first four months at McCall, I can say under no uncertain terms that we are very fortunate to have such a dedicated, caring, child-centered staff. As a staff, we have undergone a major makeover to include:

• Full implementation of PBIS
• Student of the Month
• Admiral Club Luncheons (monthly)
• Response to Intervention – small group reading instruction daily
• Formation of study groups to research best practices
• Fall and winter MAP testing
• Fall and winter DIBELs testing
• Use of DIBELs and MAP data to target instruction
• Use of Odyssey Learning (computer-based instruction to compliment MAP)
• Formation of Problem Solving Team
• Student Council
• After school book clubs
• After school math club
• New maps in all classrooms (Thanks to PTO)
• Puppet Show Assembly – Walk and Roll to School
• Marriachi Assembly
• Radio Disney Assembly
• Ravinia Quatro Assembly
• All School Field Trip to Genesee Theatre – Hispanic StoryTeller
• All School PBIS Movie – Polar Express
• Reading Night
• Winter Program

While we are confident that our students are on the pathway to success, we must stay focused as we continue to use data to guide instruction. There are major assessments to be administered over the next three months to include:

• DIBELs – Dynamic Indicators of Early Literacy Skills
• ACCESS – the state assessment to measure language acquisition for English Language Learners
• ISAT – Illinois Standards Achievement Test – all students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are tested.

As the McCall Aviators, we will soar to new heights...but we can’t do it without you! You are the wind beneath our wings!!! Your support is vital to the success of your student. Please stay involved with your child’s education. Look through their backpack daily. Go through homework together, and most importantly encourage reading nightly.

Important announcement…Friday Night at the Movies is cancelled for this Friday due to weather conditions. We will reschedule and keep you informed of new date.

Dates to remember...

• January 15 – No School – end of 2nd Quarter
• January 18 – No School
• January 26 – SOUP-er Bowl Night – 6:00 p.m. – details to follow
• February 9 – No School
• February 15 – No School

I am looking forward to a promising New Year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda Meczyk
Principal

-------October 2009-------

Dear Parents,

By now all students are onboard McCall Flight #3215 as we have taken off for an exciting school year. We anticipate a smooth flight full of learning experiences as we move above and beyond to reach new heights!

This year 55% of our student population is new to McCall. Upon review of the Spring 2009 ISAT results, the overall scores for students in our current 4th and 5th grade classes are charted below:

As we mapped our plan for improved student achievement, we began the year by collecting baseline data on all of our students. We administered two assessments:  DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), and MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). Teachers are using the results of these assessments to differentiate instruction based on student needs.

Professional development plays a key role towards improved student achievement. According to Research Points, published by the American Educational Research Association, “Good teachers form the foundation of good schools, and improving teachers’ skills and knowledge is one of the most important investments of time and money that local and national leaders make in education.”  At the onset of the year, the McCall staff met to discuss where we are as a school, and where we need to be.  We formed study groups whose members will meet regularly to figure out the details of how we will get there. The ultimate goal is improved student achievement.

One of the outcomes of the PBIS study group was a PBIS rotation that took place on October 15th where all students rotated to different locations throughout the building for a presentation regarding our school-wide expectations based on our PBIS matrix. The three “Big” expectations are

• We care about ourselves.
• We care about others.
• We care about our property (environment).

The PBIS matrix may be found on our McCall website. Please feel free to add a column with an “at Home” heading. We will be handing out “wings” as incentives, as we become the McCall Aviators, “soaring to new heights.”

We welcome 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Bilingual classes to complete the continuum of Bilingual classes grades one through 5 now housed at McCall. All Bilingual students are fully integrated into general education classes for art, music and intervention. Special education students are also integrated and mainstreamed at various times throughout the day.

Congratulations to Nurse Spires and the Wellness Committee as they received the “Walk and Roll to School” grant that afforded us the opportunity to enjoy a very entertaining assembly regarding safety education.

On another note, last week we had the pleasure of being entertained by a Mariachi Band in celebration of Hispanic American Heritage Month. Thank you to our PTO and to the English Language Learner Department from the district office for co-sponsoring this event.

The end of the first quarter is quickly approaching. Please take time to speak to your child(ren) daily about how school is going, look through their backpacks when they arrive home, keep in contact with their classroom teacher, and stay involved. Even if you are unable to come to school, consider joining the PTO. There may be ways to volunteer from home such as making phone calls, etc. It is so important for your child to know that we are working together in his/her best interest in order for them to meet with success.

Dates to remember…

Picture Day  - October 20
November 4 and 5 (evening)  - Conferences
November 6 – No School
November 11 - No School
Nov 25 – 29 – Thanksgiving Break

We will see you at conference time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda Meczyk
Principal

-------August 2009--------

On behalf of the staff, I welcome you to McCall Elementary School. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve the needs of your child. We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment while delivering the core curriculum through an enriched literacy program. Using data based instruction, the staff is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of all students by addressing unique learning styles of each student. We will continue to stress the importance of sound character education throughout the school community.

Reponse to Intervention (RtI) is a state mandate as well as a district initiative that we will fully implement at McCall this year. Simply stated, it is solid classroom, data driven instruction. RtI is designed to help each child be successful in their educational journey. Students will be assessed using DIBELS and NWEA MAP periodically throughout the year to monitor growth and guide instruction. Detailed information will be forthcoming.

Meeting the educational needs of your children is a responsibility we readily accept; however, you are a key player in our success. Education must be a cooperative enterprise between home and school. With your help and support, we look forward to an exciting, rewarding and profitable year.

We welcome you to call or visit us when you have questions. Get to know your child’s teacher. We would like to keep open lines of communication between home and school. If you do request a conference with your child’s teacher, please keep in mind the needs of other students in the classroom during instructional time. It’s helpful to schedule a conference at such a time when the teacher will be free to talk with you without the worry of what the class is doing, or having your conference interrupted. A telephone call to set up an appointment would be most beneficial for both you and the teacher.

We are looking forward to a great year at McCall School. You will be working with many helpful, cooperative staff members. Visit school when you can and do not hesitate to contact us should any problems or questions arise.

Sincerely,

Linda Meczyk, Ed.D.
Principal