Monday, April 26, 2010

Reach For The Stars Literacy Campaign

To ensure that our students are exercising their brains at home during the NJASK testing season, Pride Academy is launching the "REACH FOR THE STARS" Literacy Campaign.

Students are being challenged to read at least 30 minutes a night for two weeks. Students are also being asked to get pledges from sponsors. Students will use the money that they collect to purchase their own books to read over the summer vacation. Other incentives include certificates, trophies, and a dress down day.

Teachers are getting the students motivated to read by challenging the whole student body to read for a total of 72,000 minutes. If the students reach this challenge, the teachers will perform the "THRILLER DANCE" for the school community. Students are encouraged to read beyond the 30 minutes a day in order to ensure they reach their school-wide goal.

Let’s work together to reach for the STARS and READ for life and leisure!

NJASK Testing for 7th and 8th Graders

NJASK tests will be administered to all 7th and 8th graders this week during the mornings of Tuesday 4/27, Wednesday 4/28, Thursday 4/29 and Friday 4/30.

As you know, these tests are very important for your children, and our teachers have been working hard with your children all year to ensure their success on the tests. Now the testing time has arrived and this is your children’s time to SHINE and show you and their community their talents and brilliance. We have made it to this final NJASK academic championship and we are excited about the outcome!

YOU can help support us as we work to continue to prepare your children for success on the NJASK tests by encouraging them to:

Sleep well! Please ensure that your children get a good night’s rest before testing days.

Eat breakfast! Please ensure that your children eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast on testing mornings.

Be on time! Please ensure that your children arrive to school on time by 8:00 am on all testing days.

Be Prepared! Please reinforce the importance of your children following all testing directions and being prepared to be SILENT and focused during the test, place their book bags in a designated area in the classroom, and hand in their cell phones so that they can be removed from the classroom during the test and stored in a safe place until the testing is over.

Be Brain-Sharp! Please ensure that your children READ every night to exercise critical thinking skills, condition their brains, and build their vocabulary and reading comprehension strategies.

Be Comfortable! Please ensure that if your children suffer from seasonal allergies, that they use eye drops or take non-drowsy medications before they come to school in the morning.

Be Confident and Courageous! Remind your children that they have nothing to be anxious or fearful about –they are prepared and ready for the tests!

Be Determined! Remind your children to not put their heads down during the tests or give up because some questions may be difficult. Ask them to promise you that they will write complete and full answers to ALL the open ended questions.

Be Proud! Remind your children how much you love them and how proud you are of their accomplishments.

Thank you for your continued support and for your faith in Pride Academy. Please reach out to Mrs. Thomas or Ms Dumenigo if you have any questions about the testing.