Community outreach

Grading and the Standards-Based Report Card

Students at Liberty Hills will receive evidence of their growth and learning via a standards-based report card (SBRC).  This type of report card communicates a student’s current level of progress on grade level essential standards. While all learning standards will continue to be taught, only those learning standards deemed to be “essential standards” will be graded on the report card.

Performance levels are based on how well a student has met success criteria for these standards.  Performance levels are reported as a 1, 2, 3, or 4. A “3” performance level indicates mastery and independent application of a grade level essential standard. This is the goal for grade level mastery.  Scores do not indicate an average or a percentage. Rather, they tell when a student meets success criteria for that standard. Students who receive a “4” are working independently beyond grade level skills and demonstrate a deeper level of understanding and application than required by the standard.  As “3” is the goal for grade level mastery, any child that receives a “3” on the report card should be celebrated, as this indicates that he/she is meeting grade level expectations. 

The standards based report card allows parents, students, and teachers to have a clear idea of how a student is progressing.  You will still be able to track student assignments on Skyward, and you will be able to see if a student has already mastered a particular standard. 

While elementary grades are not calculated into GPAs or considered in the college admissions process, they are strong indicators of student progress and can alert you as to trends and patterns that, if not addressed, will likely continue into junior high and high school.  Any grade report should be viewed in tandem with on-going forms of authentic assessment and observations of daily work. Be sure to contact your child’s teacher for his/her added perspective and insight into your child’s performance. 

Homework

Homework affords students with opportunities to practice skills learned at school to develop automaticity and improve retention.  It is also an effective way for parents to be made aware of their children’s academic progress. Generally speaking, students are provided time to complete many tasks in class.  However, as homework is a natural part of school that helps students develop good study habits, students can expect some homework assignments. Teachers continually strive to explain and clarify their homework expectations and to send home constructive assignments with specific purposes in mind.  If your child has trouble completing a homework assignment, or if you have questions about the homework given to your child, please contact your child’s teacher.

Communication via Family Representatives

Communication between the school and home is essential.  General school notes will be sent home with family representatives (the youngest member of a family attending Liberty Hills).  Please reiterate with this child the importance of bringing notes home. Classroom notes will be sent home with the appropriate students.

Parent/Teacher Association (PTA)

We are pleased that the PTA is part of our school organization.  The PTA hosts many events and activities throughout the year to bring the community together and to enhance the learning experiences of our students.

The dates/times of PTA meetings are listed on the Liberty Hills calendar.  These meetings provide an excellent avenue for parents to be a part of the school through service.  The public is always welcome to attend these meetings. 

Room Parents

Room parent volunteers are an important part of our school.  Room parents are organized through the PTA and help teachers with holiday parties and other needs.  We are grateful to the many parents who give of their time for our students. Thank you for your service to the school.

Skyward Family Access

Skyward Family Access is a powerful tool that allows parents to stay current on their child’s progress. As teachers input information into their grade books, you will be able to view this information online in real-time.  You can access the Skyward login portal through our school website. We are committed to keeping assignments and grades up-to-date at least weekly in students’ Skyward accounts.  For more information, please refer to our Skyward Family Access Instructions Document.

Speech and Language Services

It is the purpose of the Speech and Language Program to provide help to students who have communication disabilities that may adversely affect their learning.  Such problems might include:

• Articulation (saying sounds accurately)

• Language delay (immature sentence and/or conversational expression, verbal organization or low vocabulary use and understanding)

• Fluency problems (such as stuttering)

• Voice problems (abnormally prolonged hoarse or unusual sounding voice)

If you feel that your child may have a speech disability such as these or others, please contact the school to begin the speech referral process.

Student Progress Reports

Progress reports are given at the time of each SEP Conference session and on the final day of school.  Individual teachers may send home additional reports at other times if they so choose. You are welcome to contact your child’s teacher for progress updates whenever you wish.  You may also view your child’s current grades using Skyward (see also Skyward Family Access).

Student Insurance

Alpine School District makes low-cost student insurance available to all students each school year.  Parents purchase the insurance from a private company selected by the District after careful comparison with other companies for cost and benefits.  Parents without other health or accident insurance are encouraged to purchase the insurance to help defray costs if an accident should occur, as Alpine School District does not carry an accident insurance policy on students.

SEP Conferences

Parent/Teacher Conferences (also known as Student Education Plan or SEP conferences) is a short meeting between you and your child’s teacher to talk about your child’s academic performance and experience at school. Parent teacher conferences are held two times a year--once in October and once in February.  

SEP Conferences can help you understand what your child is experiencing and learning at school and what you can do to support them. If your child is having trouble, parent teacher conferences also give you and the teacher time to plan how you can both help them best.

Here are some questions that may help you have a productive conversation with the teacher:

• • What is my child expected to learn, know, and do at this grade level?

  • What does my child do well, and what does my child struggle with? Can you give me examples?

  • How do you know when my child is making progress and when they need additional help?

  • What are you doing to support and motivate my child?

  • How do you challenge my child when they are already doing well at something?

  • What does my child get excited about learning?

  • What can I do at home to support my child?

  • Are there times when my child is more or less engaged?

  • Has my child made friends?

  • How does my child get along with classmates and adults?

  • Does my child participate in class discussions and group activities?

SEP Conferences will be scheduled through Skyward prior to each conference period.

Volunteers

Volunteers are always welcome in our classrooms!  Every year we have great success stories to share about the countless hours of volunteering that take place at our school. Volunteers need not be limited to parents alone; we have had tremendous success with grandparents and community members who wish to become involved at the school.  We invite you to contact the school for ways you can volunteer in the classroom.  

For the safety of our students, all volunteers that will have direct and exclusive access to children are required to pass a background check prior to their volunteer service.  Contact the school office for more information about this process. Upon arriving at the school for your volunteer service, always be sure to always check in at the office before entering the classroom.