February 2020 POST THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR OR REFRIGERATOR Vol.8 Issue 5

Message from the Principal Happy One Year Anniversary McPherson Community!

Dear McPherson Parents/Guardians,

January 30 marks the end of the second quarter and the halfway point of

our school year, I would like to take a moment and share some updates about

school wide attendance. While we give many assessments to track student

progress, the most critical indicator of student academic success is a child’s

average attendance. Unfortunately, our attendance has recently dipped to 94.6%,

as compared to 95.6% in the previous school year. Attendance is also our most

important metric on our school report card. As we all set new intentions for the

new year, please join us in committing to attending school every day. Together

we can ensure your child’s academic, social and emotional success.

All students have completed NWEA testing. Your child takes NWEA

Math( K-8) and Reading (2-8) to determine grade level growth and attainment

as compared to national student performance. Average national attainment is the

50th percentile. Expect to receive a mid-year update on your child’s growth and

attainment on the NWEA test along with Quarter 2 grades February 7th. Finally,

our English language learners are taking an annual assessment called ACCESS.

ACCESS is also a nationally normed test that determines students’ language

proficiency across the four domains of communication: listening, speaking,

reading and writing. ACCESS testing began the week of January 15 and

continues through February 14.

Report cards are being sent home on Friday, February 7th. Please keep

in mind that when you and your child receive 2nd quarter grades, it is a great

opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the learning process,

and how they see themselves as a learner. Regardless of the grade that your

child gets in a particular class, be sure to focus the conversation on the areas of

strength and discuss setting goals in areas where your child may want to

improve. This will help your child to work to continue to keep a growth mindset

as he or she approaches school work, studying, and assessment during the

second semester.

Throughout my years as an educator, I have noticed a few common

traits that all successful students have in common. My hope is that you can

incorporate them into your conversation with your child...

ATTENDANCE- Most students who do extremely well, have great attendance.

They are here almost every day and they are here on time.

PARTICIPATION-Students who are performing well in the classroom are

actively engaged. I can see it in my visits to classrooms. I encourage you to

discuss active participation in class with your child.

PERSEVERANCE-The ability and willingness to take on a challenge and stick

with it is so important. We want to encourage all of our students to do their best,

even when things are challenging - this is how they will accomplish great

things! Our most successful students continue to work hard when things are

challenging. We hope you will encourage and inspire this at home as we do the

same here at McPherson.

Yours in Service,

Debbie Nikokavouras

PreKindergarten 106 – Tessa; 110 – Lesley;

111 - Titus

Kindergarten 115 – Salim; 116 – Maya;

118 – Vienna

First Graders 117 – Rey; 219 – Makayla

Second Graders 207 - Janeisy

Third Graders 200 – McKenzie; 202 - Natalia

Fourth Graders 206 – Beckett; 307 – Lexani

Fifth Graders 303 – Michael

6th Graders 209 – Kevin; 320 – Jasper; 324 - Israel

7th Graders 316 – Mauricio; 322 - Diana

8th Graders 315 – Dominique; 318 – Emmanuel;

List features names submitted by press time.

We encourage you to come to visit. For more information about our programs, please call the main office...773.534.2625 or speak to our IB MYP coordinator, Mrs. Marianne Turk.

For weather related closings or

information check CPS

Social Media or sign-up

for CPS emails. We

will do our best to

post as we find out.

Looking to get involved with FOM?

Next meeting:

Feb. 10th @ 6:30

in parent Room 103. Use entrance #1

If you have any clipped boxtops please turn in by Feb 21st for February

submission. Keep in mind to keep clipping ALL YEAR or better yet use the APP and snap your receipt. Any questions see Mrs. Warnicki or main office. Thank you for your continued support. Don’t forget to ask family & friends to download too.

Did you read like DEMON! Did you complete your Wintrust Bank and DePaul University scorecard?

Mail it in by February 14, 2020. Contact Roger Uy at wintrustreads@depaul.edu

for more information or to submit your completed scorecard.

Completed scorecards may also be submitted via mail to: Roger Uy, DePaul Athletics 2323 N.

Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL 60614

The deadline for K thru 6th

Read to Succeed forms is

Friday,

Feb. 7, 2020.

Annual Congratulations

to Revy,

Room 316, 7th grade

and runner-up David, Room 318, 8th grade

Attention 3rd

– 5th and

6th – 8

th grade girls

Girls on the Run Registration available online by Feb 14th at

www.gotrchicago.org The program will begin March 17th.

Questions contact Mrs. Sosa.

Attention 4th – 6th graders

Annual Battle of the Books begins Feb. 4th in Room 315

Meetings will be Tuesdays 2:45 - 4

See Ms. Touras for more information

International Night 2020

Thank you, thank you, thank you, To the coordinators, staff, students, and families that helped make this inaugural International Night a huge success. Also, thank you to our talented 4th grade ballroom. dancers.

International Baccalaureate

McPherson students are global citizens of today and tomorrow. Part of the IB MYP program is developing learners that have the ability to take their place as responsible, successful, effective and confident citizens that take thoughtful and responsible action, personally, locally, nationally, internationally and globally. Our MYP students are in the process of developing an understanding of a shared common humanity; we are interconnected.

In the classroom, teachers are developing young citizen who demonstrate tolerance of, and respect for, people of other cultures, faiths and worldviews and have an understanding of global issues and trends. There are six themes of “Global Significance” that will be addressed. They are:

• Identities and relationships – Who am I? Who are we?

• Orientation in space and time – What is the meaning of where and when?

• Personal and cultural expression – What is the nature and purpose of creative expression?

• Scientific and technical innovation – How do we understand the world in which we live in?

• Globalization and sustainability – How is everything connected?

• Fairness and development – What are the consequences of our common humanity?

Some global issues can revolve around the following: environment/health, equity/rights/social justice, gender, distribution of wealth/power, peace/conflict and race/culture. Use the above questions to talk about issues at home. Watch the news or

read an article and encourage your child to explore and develop creative solutions.

The We Are the World song was recorded by several artists to help countries in Africa. One line from the song says it all about global citizenship “Let us realize that a change can only come when we stand together as one.” Where do you stand? -Excerpts from www.ibo.org and www.lyrics007.com

I.B. Learner Profile for February: Reflective

Character Ed Trait for February is

Honesty & Truthfullness

Career Ed for February is

Careers in Field of Business & Finance

February is............

African American History Month

Children's Dental Health Month

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and

Prevention Month

3-7 National School Counseling Week

17-21 Random Acts of Kindness Week.

National School Counseling Week

2020, “School Counselors: Helping

Build Better Humans,” will be

celebrated

from Feb. 3-7, 2020.

We Celebrate Giovanna Atteo, the

McPherson School Counselor since

2001. You can reach her at

gatteo@cps.edu.

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