Friday Fiske News

Dear Fiske Families,

Next  week parents/guardians of fourth and fifth grade students will be receiving their child’s 2017 Next Generation MCAS scores.  A message from  Massachusetts Acting Commissioner of Education Jeff Wulfson reminds us when looking at these scores consider that :

• 2017 is the baseline year — the first year of a new assessment — and we expect that over time, more students will score Meeting Expectations or above. (When the original MCAS debuted in 1998, relatively few students scored Proficient, but that changed as students and teachers adjusted to the new expectations.)

• The next-generation MCAS is a new test with a different approach to assessing student performance in grades 3-8, and this year’s results cannot be compared to last year’s.  

• MCAS results are only one measure of your child’s growth and achievement. Your child’s teacher can also talk to you more broadly about your child’s academic growth and about his or her social and emotional development.

• In some subjects and grades, fewer students scored Meeting or Exceeding Expectations this year than scored Proficient or Advanced in previous years. This does NOT mean that students learned less; it reflects the fact that the next-generation MCAS measures more rigorous standards in a different way.

A presentation of the  Next Generation MCAS results will be held at the Fiske PTO meeting scheduled for Monday, November 6th at 6:30p.m. Please join us to hear more about this new assessment.

To read more information about the Next Generation MCAS please visit  http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/parents/

 

This week at school the children were engaged in class discussions focusing on  the “respect triangle.”  This triangle symbolizes the expected respectful behaviors between student-to-student, teacher-to-student, and student-to-teacher.  During our Wednesday school assembly the teachers presented skits that demonstrated examples of these respectful behaviors.  The children loved having the teachers perform and had countless ideas of what respectful behavior looks like at Fiske. Please make sure to ask your children about the triangle and what respectful behaviors they see and demonstrate at school.  Thank you

 

Halloween Parade

The Fiske students are excited to welcome parents, guardians and friends to join us for our annual Halloween Parade on Tuesday, October 31st at 9:00 a.m. Please inform your child’s classroom teacher if your child will not be participating in the parade. There will be a fall activity in the library for students who will not be participating in the parade.

Please be aware that students should refrain from:

• wearing masks

• using face paint or makeup

• bringing props

Halloween can be a fun time of the year.  When creating costumes please consider our K-5 audience.

The parade route is as follows;  

• Students will exit the building from the school lobby and walk along the sidewalk to the left of the school

• Students will follow the sidewalk to the primary playground.

• Students will then  proceed from the primary playground to walk around the back field

• To conclude the parade students will reenter the building through their recess doors.

The parade route will be marked by cones.  Fiske’s Student Council members will be leading the parade. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

 

Fiske Collections

Each fall the Fiske community engages in several collections that enhance the lives of people near and far. Your children often look for ways to help those in need.  Over the next three weeks we have four collections that your families can help with.

1. Children will be bringing UNICEF boxes home to collect money during trick-or-treating.  UNICEF is collecting money this year to help with hurricane relief. Please return the boxes to the office from November 1st-17th

2. On November 1st-8th Fiske  will  be collecting extra candy from Halloween for 10th annual candy drive sponsored by the Wellesley Dental Group.  This candy is sent to U.S, troops overseas.  Children are also encouraged to write notes to the soldiers that will be sent with the candy. Please bring your extra candy and notes to the Fiske Front Office.

3. During the week of November 6th-9th the Fiske PTO is collecting items for Cradles to Crayons.  This is a great opportunity to clean out the closets and donate gently used items.  Items can be dropped off in the Cradles to Crayons bin in the Fiske front entrance. Please see below for a list of items they will be accepting.

Most Needed Items:

• Boys and girls clothing (youth sizes 0-7/8)

• Diapers, size 6

• New hygiene items for infants and children (shampoo, soap, baby lotion, brushes/combs)

• Diaper wipes

What we accept:

• Clothing and coats (youth sizes 0–20 and adult sizes small & medium)

• New socks, underwear, and pajamas (only accepted in new condition)

• Shoes, boots, sneakers, and sandals (infant/child sizes 0–13 and adult sizes 1–10)

• Books, especially baby board books

• Brand new arts and crafts/school supplies

• Baby supplies and bedding (up to size twin)

• Diapers, all sizes

• Baby equipment, especially strollers and car seats within five years old

• New and like-new toys (new toys are used for birthday gifts. Gently-used toys must have all pieces. We do not accept stuffed animals, ride-on toys, or plastic play structures)

• New hygiene supplies for ages 0 to 12

• New batteries

4. When looking through your gently used  items please keep Fiske Cares boot and coat collection in mind. Fiske Cares is collecting these items to assure all our students have the proper winter gear. Snow boots (from sizes 1-6 Youth) and snow pants (Sizes 7-14) are especially needed. Items can be dropped off in the “Fiske Cares Donations” bin located inside our school’s front entrance from Oct. 26 through Nov. 16.  Your donations are greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your participation in these collections.  

 

Picture Retake Day

It’s Picture Retake Day on Tuesday, November 14th.  If your child needs their picture retaken, please send  back their original photo package with their name written on the envelope. Children should  hand the envelope to the photographer on the day of the retake. Children  can keep their class picture. If your child was absent on picture day  they can bring the original order form on retake  day. If you have any questions please contact: Nancy@haywardphotography.com

Have a wonderful weekend!

Important Dates:

• Tuesday, October 31st – Halloween Parade – 9:00 am

• Wednesday, November 1st – METCO Stay Day

• Wednesday, November 1st – Walk to School Day

• Monday, November 6th – PTO Meeting – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – MCAS presentation

• October 26th-November 16th – Fisek Cares Boot and Coat collection

• November 1st-17th – UNICEF collection

• November 1st-8th – Candy collection for Wellesley Dental Group

• November 6th-9th – Cradles to Crayons Collection

• Tuesday, November 7th – Early Release -PreK – 5 – Parent /Teacher Conferences – Noon Dismissal

• Friday, November 10th – Veteran’s Day -No School

• Tuesday, November 14th – Picture Retake Day

• Tuesday, November 14th – METCO Stay Day – 3:04-4:15 p.m.

• Wednesday, November 15th – Fiske Turkey Run: 9:00 a.m. on back fields