Parents,

Our new grading system (My Student Progress) should be up and running next week.  With the new program, we will be able to email and blog directly from the site, which will make it easier to have communication coming from one source.

We have been working on year long procedures in all classes--what to wear for class, how students are graded in grades 3-8, seating charts, how to enter the gym and leave the gym, expectations during class, etc.

We have started President's testing in grades 3-8. The testing consists of a series of Physical Education tests that gauge muscular strength, muscular endurance, speed and quickness, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. The tests include pull-ups, curl-ups, flex arm hang, shuttle run, pushups, sit and reach, mile run (jog) and I have added an additional test and that is the pole climb on the playground. Returning students will be told their results of last year and the idea is they show improvement from their fourth quarter results as they perform the tests in the first quarter this year (middle school has a journal that previous year's results are a part of, so they can physically see their results). We will be testing the next few weeks (usually one test a class period depending on class size). We will test again in the fourth quarter to gauge improvement over the course of the year.

Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade have started working on the balance beam. We have a beam on the playground that will be used when the weather is appropriate to go outside and we use a portable one in the gym when we cannot go outside. We have been talking in classes about different ways that we can stay balanced and we will be putting those ideas into practice as we perform on the beam.

Once the new grading system is up and running, I will attach what the students are being graded on in class.  In the meantime, you can ask your students in grades 3-8, they should know.

Have a great week and Good Luck Sports Teams!