MARCH 2011 FALCON FLASH.......

Principal’s Message – Preparing for STAR

Each year students at Excelsior Middle School take the California Standards Test called STAR. This is a standardized test designed to measure each child’s level of academic proficiency on education standards. Your child’s performance on this test is important. We use the STAR test results to help determine your child’s schedule for the following year. In addition, Liberty High School uses the results of the STAR test to develop schedules for incoming freshmen. There is much you can do to help prepare your child for the STAR test. We have discovered a website that provides detailed information about the STAR assessment. Sample test questions are provided. The website is:

http://starsamplequestions.org/starRTQ/search.jsp

Please help us prepare your child for this important assessment. Thank you.

Charles Miller, Principal

Science Fair Winners

Congratulations to our Science Fair winners.

7^th Grade Winners:

1^st place Margan Bannert

2^nd place Fazion LaMarque

3^rd place Thato Mkhwanazi

4^th place Dillion Williams

Honorable Mention: Mariah Lucero, Monica Motta

8^th Grade Winners:

1st Place: Conner Shapiro

2nd Place: Wade Musgrove

3rd Place: Zander Newman

4th Place: Brandon Do

Honorable Mention: Cole Johnson, Jayna Ponco

Top Projects: Cole Deupree, Emilio Alaniz, Taylor France, Jason Harpole, Michael Fancey, Alex Hull, Lacey Cope, Nick Diccico

Important Websites

Checking your child’s homework assignments: http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/sd3l1.aspx

Checking your child’s grades:

http://www.byron.k12.ca.us/Pinnacle/PIV

Excelsior’s Website:

http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/sdhp1.aspx

STAR Test Practice:

http://starsamplequestions.org/starRTQ/search.jsp

Leaving Town? Independent Study!

Please keep in mind that if you are going to be out of town for five days or more, your child needs an Independent Study Contract from our school office. The Independent Study Contract is important because it keeps your child learning while also helping us recoup funding from the State of California. If you are going out of town, or you know in advance that your child will be absent, please let us know.

Soroptimist Citizenship Award

Congratulations to Emily Paolini who was unanimously elected by the EMS staff to receive that Soroptimist Citizenship Award. In addition to Emily’s outstanding academic achievement, she is also being recognized for her participation in school/community activities, peer and adult relationships, and responsibility. Emily will be honored at a Soroptimist dinner in April.

Parent Information Night for 8^th Grade Students

Wednesday, February 2^nd is parent night for incoming freshmen parents from 7 – 8pm in the Performing Arts Center. Also, we will hold our first Promotion Planning Meeting on Wednesday, March 9^th at 6:00 pm in the MP room. If you are the parent of an 8^th grade student, please plan on attending. Thank you.

Revisions to our Cell Phone Policy – Reminder

The Byron Union School District reserves that right to search any cell phone brought to school and used during class time or on campus in violation of our cell phone use policy as outlined in the parent-student handbook that was distributed at the start of the school year. Inappropriate verbal or text messages, pictures or other material found on the phone may be grounds for disciplinary action. “Inappropriate verbal or text messages, picture, or other materials” includes but is not limited to harassing statements or any communication that creates a hostile environment based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability; discriminatory statements; sexual statements or pictures; and messages to organize activities that may cause harm to any students, involve drugs and/or alcohol, or that spreads false information about any other students or employee of the school district.” Cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off while students are in classrooms.

FEBRUARY 2011 FALCON FLASH.........

Principal’s Message – Curriculum Alignment

The Excelsior Middle School staff has devoted considerable time and effort to developing curriculum alignment documents that describe our academic program. These documents include essential standards, important grade-level content coverage, assessments, and activities that will occur in your child’s classroom throughout the course of the year. Our curriculum alignment documents are now online and available for your review and reference. A link to these documents can be found at our school’s website or by going to http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/apt17.aspx . Please note that these curriculum documents are a work in progress and will likely change as we make improvements to our instructional program. Finally, thank you to Tina Duncan for formatting these documents.

Charles Miller, Principal

Revisions to our Cell Phone Policy

The Byron Union School District reserves that right to search any cell phone brought to school and used during class time or on campus in violation of our cell phone use policy as outlined in the parent-student handbook that was distributed at the start of the school year. Inappropriate verbal or text messages, pictures or other material found on the phone may be grounds for disciplinary action. “Inappropriate verbal or text messages, picture, or other materials” includes but is not limited to harassing statements or any communication that creates a hostile environment based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability; discriminatory statements; sexual statements or pictures; and messages to organize activities that may cause harm to any students, involve drugs and/or alcohol, or that spreads false information about any other students or employee of the school district.” Cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off while students are in classrooms.

Parent Information Night for 8^th Grade Students

Wednesday, February 2^nd is parent night for incoming freshmen parents from 7 – 8pm in the Performing Arts Center. Also, we will hold our first Promotion Planning Meeting on Thursday, March 3^rd at 6:00 pm in the MP room. If you are the parent of an 8^th grade student, please plan on attending. Thank you.

Geography Bee Winner

Congratulations to our Geography Bee winners.

School Champion: Garrett McCulley (Grade 7)

Second Place: Kaiy Bigley (Gr. 7)

Third Place (Tie): Sammy Bell (Gr. 8) and River Boswell (Gr. 8)

Traffic Reminder

We would like to enlist the help of all parents to improve the traffic situation during the afternoon pick-up. We request that parents find a parking space in our parking lots rather than lining up on the new road. This will help avoid the problem of excessive congestion on the road. So, if you get here early, please park! Please do NOT load students anywhere on the new road. This is unsafe. Only use the loading zones for picking up students. Consider using both exits to get out of the school. We are allowing cars to turn right when they exit the old entrance. Finally, please keep in mind that the area is congested and that we all need to exercise patience, understanding, and common sense. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!

Immunization Reminder

Please ask your child to produce the letter that went home this week regarding new immunization requirements. The State of California is now requiring all 7th-12th graders, must have proof of having had the Tdap booster shot (also known as the whooping cough booster) before next school year, 2011-2012. Please contact your health care provider to ensure that your child has these immunizations.

Important Websites

Checking your child’s homework assignments: http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/sd3l1.aspx

Checking your child’s grades:

http://www.byron.k12.ca.us/Pinnacle/PIV

Excelsior’s Website:

http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/sdhp1.aspx

STAR Test Practice:

http://starsamplequestions.org/starRTQ/servlet/../search.jsp

Going online to track your child’s progress is a great way to help them be successful!

Excelsior Falcon Flash December, 2010

Principal’s Message – Maintaining a Positive Learning Environment at School

In order to ensure that all students have an opportunity to learn, we have created systems and process to maintain a positive learning environment at school. This includes clearly stated and enforced classroom and school rules. All school rules were sent home at the beginning of the year as part of the Student-Parent Handbook. Please take some time to review that document. Also, we remind parents and students that tobacco, alcohol, drugs, weapons (including knives), and explosives are never allowed at school. Also, we do not tolerate bullying or threats of any kind. If you feel that your child is being harassed, please make contact with your child’s teacher or the school office. We will put a stop to any bullying! Finally, please make sure we have all of your updated contact information in case of an emergency. Thank you.

Charles Miller, Principal

Responding to a School Behavior Issue

A key component of our positive behavior support system is clear rules and consequences for misbehavior. As part of this process, teachers will be making contact with parents to discuss student behavior and to enlist your support and involvement. Here are some suggestions that may be helpful if you are contacted by your child’s teacher:

• Return the teacher’s call or e-mail. They need your support and want to keep you informed.

• Believe the teacher’s description of behavior. If your child tells you a different story, talk with the teacher. A conference with the teacher, student, and parent can help clear up any confusion.

• Discuss the teachers concerns with your child. Make sure that there are logical consequences for misbehavior. Find ways to reward and reinforce appropriate behavior.

• Stay in regular communication with your child’s teacher(s). Use a daily behavior journal or log (teachers have this available) to get daily reports on your child’s conduct.

• Establish reinforcements for desirable behavior and progressive consequences for misconduct.

• Consider attending part or all of a school day with your child. This will give you a good sense of the climate in your child’s classroom.

• As behavior improves, focus on academics.

Congratulations

Congratulations are in order for Erica Hornnes. In addition to being identified as Excelsior’s Teacher of the Year for our school district, Erica was also nominated as a Teacher of the Year for Region Four of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Nice work Mrs. Hornnes!

New Traffic Conditions

December 2^{nd marks the opening of our new access road for Excelsior Middle School. The entrance to this road is on Byer Road. All vehicles entering our campus must enter from Byer road. The two former entrances to the school from Byron Highway are now exits. Also, please note that our bus drop-off area will now be in front of the school office. Please keep in mind the following:}

• The drop off areas are still the same, just some are now facing the opposite direction.

• Please do NOT park in front of the campus in the drop-off lanes and leave your car, especially during drop-off and pick-up times. We have a parking lot and crossing guards for that.

• Please do not let your children out of the car in the left-hand lane; it is unsafe and unexpected, and other drivers may not see your child.

• Please pull up as far as possible before stopping to let your child out. Do not stop at the curve if there is not stopped traffic in front of you.

• Please do not drive past a teacher with a STOP sign who is in the crosswalk.

• Do NOT let your child out of your car anywhere on the new access road and be mindful of students crossing that road once school is in session. Go slow and be careful.

• Most of all, please be patient.

Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!

Important Websites

Checking your child’s homework assignments: http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/sd3l1.aspx

Checking your child’s grades:

http://www.byron.k12.ca.us/Pinnacle/PIV

Excelsior’s Website:

http://teacherweb.com/CA/Excelsior/SchoolHomePage/sdhp1.aspx