March 2019

CAASPP Testing Information

Feb 26, 2019

Dear Donlon 3rd-5th Grade Parents/Guardians:

During the months of April and May, your child will be participating in the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment (SBAC), which is part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System.

Why is this test important?

This test was created with teacher input to…

Measure how well your child has mastered the skills and content in mathematics and English language arts at his or her grade level
Align with the instruction that takes place in the classroom everyday
Match the learning goals of each grade level
Assess critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem solving skills, which are needed for success in college and a 21^st century career.

The test has different kinds of questions, including traditional multiple-choice questions as well as ones that require students to explain their answers, show their work, and compose essays.

What should I expect after my student takes the test?

As you may remember from last year’s score report, each subject will be broken down into areas. The report shows how students are doing in each area and where they need improvement. Depending on the student’s needs, teachers can use this information to provide targeted support to students to address their needs.

Keep in mind, the results from this test aren’t meant to tell the whole story. Your child’s scores are meant to be one of several ways for you and your child’s teacher to see how your student is progressing. Test scores, along with student report cards and teacher’s observations of your child’s performance in the classroom, are used together to form a complete picture of your child’s achievement. All test scores will be mailed home to families in late summer/early fall.

California Science Test This year, the CAASPP exams also include the new California Science Test (CAST). The CAST will be administered to students in grades 5, 8 and one time during high school.

Where can I learn more?

For additional information about the SBAC and CAST tests, I encourage you to take a look at a practice test for your child’s grade level. The practice tests are posted on the California Department of Education’s Smarter Balanced Practice Tests Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/practicetest.asp. To find out more details about the Smarter Balanced test, visit the “Be a Learning Hero” Web site at http://bealearninghero.org/classroom/smarter-balanced.

As the parent or guardian, you have the option of excusing your child (“opt‐out”) from all or any part of the CAASPP exams. If you would like to excuse your child, you must submit your request in writing to Donlon’s principal, Ms. Gates. If your written request is received after the CAASPP exams have begun, any exam(s) completed before your request is submitted will be scored and results reported to you and included in the student’s records. [California Code of Regulations, Title 5, § 852.]

At Donlon Elementary School, our goal is for all students to achieve their full potential. The Smarter Balanced tests are just one way that we are able to better understand if we are meeting that goal. Thank you for all you do to partner with us in your child’s education.

Our school schedule will be as follows:

3rd Grade: 4/11 - 5/10
4th Grade: 4/29 - 5/10
5th Grade: 4/29 - 5/10

Dates will vary for particular classes, so check with your classroom teacher for more detailed information.

If you have any questions regarding your child’s participation in statewide assessments, please contact Alex Ramirez at aramirez@pleasantonusd.net

Sincerely,

Janet Gates

Principal, Donlon Elementary School

Special General PTA Meeting - Wednesday, March 13th, 7 pm. - Donlon Library

The PTA has been working with Mrs. Gates and the district to order an approved shade structure for the playground and schedule it to be installed. The total amount it would cost is more than what was approved by the PTA to spend. We have recently been informed of a deadline and so we need to schedule a Special General PTA meeting to vote on the options. The Special General meeting will be held on March 13th at 7pm in the library and all are welcome. It will be a brief meeting.

Dear Donlon Families,

As always, safety is a great priority at Donlon. This week we experienced a “Lockdown” for a situation that was occurring off campus. I want to share how proud I was of our students, our staff and our parents/guardians. Donlon has always practiced, and will continue to practice, safety drills on a monthly basis, including intruder drills, fire drills and earthquake drills. I believe that it is because of these drills that our students and teachers knew exactly how to respond, and did it quickly and quietly. I want to assure you that our school and our district have routines and protocols in place that our staff follows in order to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.

In the event of an emergency where we would need to release students to adults (for example, an earthquake or fire that resulted in unsafe buildings), please be aware that it would take as much as 5 hours for all children to be checked out. Please know that we can only release children to adults that you have listed as emergency contacts in Q, and that we would need to check for identification of these adults. If you feel the need to update your emergency contacts in Q, you have the ability to make changes at any time (to add people, delete people, and/or update phone numbers).

It is also important that parents follow the protocols and guidelines that the school has established. If you are a volunteer, you must have your clearance on file. If you are unsure if you have been cleared as a volunteer, please check with our office staff. Once you arrive on campus, please make sure you sign in and get a volunteer badge. We need to account for every person on campus.

I also want to remind parents and adults to always be aware of situations around you. If for example the campus was to go into another “Lockdown” scenario, please be aware that the classroom doors will be closed and locked and no one will be able to get in until the situation has passed. Parents/guardians should move quickly to a safe place or stay in your cars.

Please rest assured that we are doing everything we can to keep all of our students safe. Thank you in advance for your support in following our guidelines.

Sincerely

Alex Ramirez

Vice Principal Donlon

Free Bike education and repair! 1st come, 1st served - Tuesday 3/12/19

BMB-Promo-Flyer.pdf

Thinking about working at our school district? Watch for more information!

PUSD Job Fair Video 2019.mov

Parents Supporting Parents

TIPS FROM YOUR SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

DONLON'S FAVORITE WEBSITES: Did you know that we have over 50 website links that help support student learning? You can find them on our Donlon Website (http://donlon.pleasantonusd.net/) under the "STUDENTS" tab, the "PARENTS" tab, "Quicklinks" on the home page, or you can access it right here! Take a look...we think you'll find them to be wonderful resources for your students to use at home:)

Quick Reminders from the Donlon Office

If you miss a phone call from the school, please CHECK YOUR VOICEMAIL before calling the office. Donlon staff will ALWAYS leave a message if we call you. It will help us expedite the process of transferring you to the right person when you do call back:)

If you would like to attend Springtime/End of Year parties, programs or activities in your student's classroom this year, please make sure you become a CLEARED VOLUNTEER NOW! It takes several weeks to get clearance from the district office, and we don't want to turn you away from these wonderful opportunities to participate at Donlon because you haven't become a cleared volunteer first. Click here to fill out the clearance request.

If your child will be missing school due to illness - even if you email the teacher - please be sure to call and leave a message on our 24 hour ATTENDANCE LINE. We check the messages on our attendance line every morning, and our teachers expect that you are leaving a message there as well. The phone number for the attendance line is 925-426-0403.

financial planning flyer.pdf

YOUR ARTWORK COULD BE ON THE COVER OF THE 2018/2019 YEARBOOK!

It’s time to start creating! Open to all Grades!

This year we are looking for entries that show what Donlon represents for you! It could be what place on school grounds means the most to you, like the buddy bench or the front of the school. It could be your drawing of a Donlon Cub! It could be a drawing of your friends favorite things to do at recess! It could be your favorite class with your favorite subjects to learn.

FRONT COVER: One (1) Winner selected anonymously by Mrs. Gates and Mr. Ramirez

BACK COVER: Seven (7) Grade Level Winners selected anonymously by grade level teachers.

Submit Art On:

1. 8.5 x 11 sheet of white paper

2. Vertical Orientation ONLY (like this flyer – portrait style)

All entries MUST include:

1. Your first and last name, Grade and Teacher in PENCIL ONLY on the BACK of the artwork

2. Somewhere on the front within the artwork – these words should be included:

“Donlon” and “2018 - 2019”

Tips for a good entry:

1. NO Typos! Misspelled artwork is immediately disqualified

2. Avoid a lot of white space – use lots of color! (including the background)

3. Use up the whole sheet of paper. The bigger the better!

4. Do NOT use any 3D items (glitter, string, etc.) Picture must be flat.

5. If using crayons or pencils, ensure you color very darkly. Markers are best.

**Please return artwork to front office by 3:15pm on March 20^th, 2019**

Questions – please email yearbook4donlon@gmail.com

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