Eisenhower Edition can also be found online at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us on the Eisenhower page.

The Monthly Newsletter of Eisenhower School

April/May 2008

The

✎May 1Star Night (Formerly Spring Exhibit)

★Early Dismissal (12:45)

✎May 8Cultural Arts Day

(Happy B-Day Pittsburgh 250)

✎May 12Achievement Tests/Grades 4

✎May 15Spring Musical (7:30 @ Eisenhower)

✎May 20Elementary Strings Concert @ H.S.

(7:30)

✎May 26 NO SCHOOL/Memorial Day

✎May 28Elementary Band Concert @ H.S. (7:00)

✎May 294th Level Farewell @ H.S.

✎June 2Kindergarten Move-Up Day

New Kindergartner Spring Tour

✎June 3K Field Day (Rain Date/June 5)

✎June 6Grades 1-4 Field Day

Save The Date

The Eisenhower Edition is written and edited by Principal Mark Miller with contributions from Eisenhower staff, PTA President Carole King, and other PTA members.

If you have any comments or suggestions please direct them to mmiller@uscsd.k12.pa.us.

EISENHOWER EDITION

HOW EXACTLY ARE STUDENTS PLACED WITH NEXT YEAR’S TEACHER

Understandably parents have concerns or hopes about whether their kindergartner will be placed in an AM or PM kindergarten session. Each year I get many requests regarding this issue. The AM/PM sectioning is based solely on neighborhood enrollment numbers and bus routes.

At the building level I do have the ability to change a few placements based on exceptional cases of individual need. However, this can only be done if parents are willing to transport during the midday. This means parents would have to either pick up their child at the end of the AM session (10:55) or bring their child to school for the PM session (12:05). Students can be moved from session to session only if class size numbers allow. Our goal is to keep classroom enrollment numbers at 20 or less.

HOW DOES KINDERGARTEN SECTIONING HAPPEN

Important discussions and decisions regarding student placement begin to take place at this time of the year. A great deal of time and thought go into this process, as it is one of several critical aspects to children enjoying a successful school year.

Many things are taken into account when completing this important process. To help accomplish the creation of a positive mix of children in each classroom, a placement team (resource teachers, guidance counselor, and principal) take into account many variables that will help facilitate a positive school experience for children.

Areas of focus include:๏ A balanced ratio of boys to girls๏ A mix of students with varying academic abilities๏ A positive group of peers with regard to social interactions๏ Student learning style in relation to teacher instructional style๏ Additional parent information received throughout the year

Because so many variables must be taken into account, being able to achieve positive homeroom placements can at times be difficult. We have found that the outcome is more effective when the people who work with our students every day are involved in the process. Input comes from many different professionals at Eisenhower. Including as many teachers as possible helps us gain a better understanding of our students’ needs.

A step-by-step walkthrough of the process includes:1. Input is gathered from the current homeroom teacher. (Input consists of

academic strength/need, peer/social interactions, learning style, and additional parent information.)

2. Our placement team composes initial homeroom drafts.3. Current grade level teachers and specials teachers review the proposed

classroom rosters for the next school year, without seeing the proposed homeroom teacher.

4. The team makes necessary adjustments based on the feedback from homeroom and other teachers.

5. During the summer, lists are adjusted based on additional information received over the summer such as possible change of teacher assignments, and new students who enroll over the summer.

The process is very deliberate and designed to place children in the most effective way possible. It is never perfect, but as a whole works very well when you think about how many kids are placed every year.

If you have any questions regarding the process, as always, please do not hesitate to contact me at (412) 833-1600, Ext. 8001. If you have any additional questions regarding any of the information discussed in the article, please feel free to contact me at Ext. 8001 or Dr. Walters at Ext. 8010.

Pictures from our Rebuilding Together-Pittsburgh Project

Eisenhower Edition can also be found online at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us on the Eisenhower page.

April/May 2008

PTA NEWS... PTA NEWS... PTA NEWS Carole King, President

Dates to remember Throughout April there are many exciting PTA events.

‣4/28 – 5/2 Teacher Appreciation Week‣4/29 – 5/1 Scholastic Book Fair‣5/1 Star Night‣5/8 Cultural Arts Day‣5/9 PTA Meeting‣5/17 Community Day‣5/29 4th Level Farewell

Eisenhower School100 Warwick Dr.

Upper St. Clair, PA 15241Phone:(412) 833-1600, Ext. 8000

additional April & MayPTA sponsored programs/events★ Spring Fashion Show★ Market Day ★ Birthday Book Club

community dayAs part of Community Day, Eisenhower PTA helps sponsor the Fun Run that starts at 9 am on May 17. If you would like to help out with registration or timing on the day of the race, contact Heather Slinger at 412-851-9196 or hrslinger @verizon.net.

Thank you to the many volunteers who make every PTA event a great experience for kids!

Home/School Connection• May Edition of the Home/School

Connection

• Help Your Child Get OrganizedMost kids generate a little chaos and disorganization. Yours might flit from one thing to the next — forgetting books at school, leaving towels on the floor, and failing to finish projects once started. You'd like them to be more organized and to stay focused on tasks, such as homework. Is it possible?

Eisenhower Edition• April/May Edition

Rebuilding Together-Pittsburgh

...And much more!

http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/ees/site/default.asp

On the web...Please take a minute to access these articles and web pages on the Eisenhower web site.

Save the date!May 9: Final PTA Meeting @ 9:30 in

Room #118 – Come vote on the 08/09 Budget!

May 16: Kennywood Ticket Sales in Café Ike from 8:15 – 8:50 AM

June 8: Eisenhower Family Day at PNC Park @ 1:35 pmJune 12: PTA Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon from 11:30 – 1:00

http://www.uscsd.k12.pa.us/ees/site/default.asp

Our first “Hammertime” project is nearly complete. We hope it is the first of many such projects for the Eisenhower team.  With only flooring and some window flashing to go, we can certainly call our first project with Rebuilding Together-Pittsburgh a smashing success. Many families and Eisenhower staff members contributed valuable time and skills during several days in April. Jeanne McNamara and Susan Wagner organized and lead the Eisenhower team in helping to paint throughout the house, complete general property clean-up, landscape front and back yards, and install kitchen cabinetry.  Working along with the Eisenhower team, various tradesmen donated their time to provide skilled labor in replacing windows, fixing roof and chimney leaks, and upgrading the electrical system.

Also contributing to the success of the “Hammertime” project were many corporate, family, and individual donors from the Eisenhower community. Their donations made it possible to purchase many items that will improve living conditions for the couple living there. For a list of corporate donors please see the front page of the Eisenhower website.

The homeowners, Nathaniel and Alma Pope, expressed their gratitude to all who participated in the project. They said that because of the project their home will be a healthier, warmer, and more enjoyable place to live.

Thanks again to everyone who played a part in making a positive difference!

As you know, the school district has embarked on communicating and implementing a revised attendance policy. The plan is an attempt to raise awareness with parents of the importance of consistent student attendance and our compliance with the state’s NCLB (No Child Left Behind) act.

We are encouraged that parents are beginning to understand the need to send in absence excuses. Providing attendance such as excused/unexcused absenteeism data to the state is a large piece of the NCLB act.

Thanks for your help in working together to provide a positive and successful elementary experience for your child. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to call Dr. Jane Walters, our school Guidance Counselor, or me at (412) 833-1600.

ATTENDANCE THANKS

Rebuilding together - pittsburgh

A GREAT BIG THANKSA special thanks goes out to Committee Chairs and their volunteers who helped make April & May PTA programs and events possible. Spring Fashion Show: Teresa GodwinTeacher Appreciation Week: Sue Murphy & Marci HecklerCultural Arts Day: Carrie CollinsCommunity Day: Heather Slinger & Deb White4th Level Farewell: Claire Mays & Stacie de la ParraBirthday Book Club: Caroline SeetonMarket Day: Michelle DeLeo

Positively PTAThings paid for by the PTA

in April & May★ Teacher Appreciation Week★ Cultural Arts Day★ Community Day★ 4th Level Farewell★ REEC Trips