BACK ISSUES January 31, 2005 Learning Curve is a useful source of accurate, current information, enabling parents and others to understand important issues, keep abreast of what’s happening in our District, and generally, be in the know.  It is e-mailed xxxxx. SUBSCRIBE FEEDBACK contact@scottsdaleparentcouncil.org

Volume 3, Number 1    .PDF VERSION
January 6, 2006

Welcome to the first 2006 issue of Scottsdale Parent Council’s E-newsletter.   Learning Curve is intended as a useful source of current information, enabling parents and others to understand important issues, keep abreast of what’s happening in our district, and generally, be in the know.  Feedback is always welcome and we encourage you to send questions and concerns to us at contact@scottsdaleparentcouncil.org.

In this issue:

Purpose and goals of SPC

New website www.scottsdaleparentcouncil.org

Legislative Agenda

On the Elementary Level

Wellness Committee update

Galileo

Purpose:

Our purpose is to promote communication and cooperation between representative parent groups, district administration and staff, to monitor district services, and to advocate for the highest quality of education for all students attending school in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

Goals:

1. To improve internal and external Communication and Education

2. To be a Legislative Force; and

3. To support Learning for All   

New website:

The Executive Board is excited to present the new website for Scottsdale Parent Council, www.scottsdaleparentcouncil.org. We hope that you will find it to be an informative and “user friendly” tool. Our primary goal is to provide a resource for parents of SUSD students to obtain the information they need to be informed parents. This is a new website and although it has been closely vetted the possibility of mistakes exist. If you are having any difficulties please contact webmaster@scottsdaleparentcouncil.org for assistance. Your feedback is also welcome.

On another note: many of the email addresses that have been provided to the SPC are bounced back. Firewalls and internet security is important for your protection but it may also be filtering out our emails. If you are not receiving our emails you may need to “allow” emails from contact or webmaster @scottsdaleparentcouncil.org. Contact Glenda Schillinger, Communications Director, for assistance as needed.

Legislative Agenda:

The Scottsdale Parent Council Legislative Agenda was adopted on 1/9/06.

As approved by the executive board for the legislative session beginning January 2006:

1.      Advocate for parents of Scottsdale School District who want to improve the quality of public education in Arizona.

2.      Advocate for increases in K-12 per pupil spending.

3.      Oppose legislation that effectively reduces funding for K-12 public education.

4.      Advocate for preservation of local control.

5.      Support adequate funding for educating English Language Learner students.

6.      Oppose unfunded mandates.

7.      Support statewide funding and implementation of full day kindergarten.

8.      Continue participation in APPLE, Arizona Parents for Public Education.

9.      Support efforts designed to attract, support and retain quality teachers.

10.  Provide ongoing education of parents on legislative actions affecting public education.

For more legislative information go to the “Legislative Watch” section of the SPC website or contact Amy Besing.

On the Elementary Level:

The Elementary level Representatives and Administrators had a very informative meeting with Sue Bettenhausen and Bob Flach regarding food and fundraising.  We discussed the impact the new "Junk Food" Bill may have on events and fundraisers at the elementary level.  While the bill is designed to regulate food offered during the regular school day, the governing board will be asked to approve new district policies that may have far reaching impact on any and all activities held on campus.  Look for more from the district offices in February regarding these pending policies.  If anyone wants to volunteer for the committee that will be writing, formulating or developing these policies and the recommendations sent to the Governing Board, please contact Sue Bettenhausen's office. 

When planning any event or fundraiser on the campus, all are welcome to contact Sue Bettenhausen with food related questions, and Bob Flach regarding contract and insurance questions.

Christine Roadifer

Elementary Level Liaison

Wellness Committee Update:

Our children are getting fatter. Today there are twice as many overweight children as there were in 1980. Childhood obesity has reached an epidemic. Schools are a great place to start to combat this epidemic. Schools can provide healthy meal choices, reinforce good eating habits, offer opportunities for physical activities, and educate children about health and nutrition.

The federal government requires all public schools to establish standards for diet and health for its students. Mandated through the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, the law requires school districts to form community committees to develop policies that address the quality of meals served at schools, nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.

The Scottsdale Unified School District Wellness Committee, formed in June 2005, is comprised of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members including representatives from Scottsdale Healthcare, LINKS Community Collaborative, and Charros.

The Wellness Committee recently reviewed and commented on the “Junk Food Bill” nutrition standards proposed by the Arizona Department of Education. Subcommittees have formed to review the health, nutrition, and wellness curriculum taught in the schools, the nutrition standards of school meals, and the nutrition standards of snack foods and foods sold at fundraisings.

For more information, please contact Bob Flach at rflach@susd.org.

Collaboration Counts

If you think that you alone cannot do much to improve your school, you are probably right. However, if you collaborate with other parents and organizations, you can make a difference. There is strength and power in numbers.

Galileo:

Who Is Galileo and Why is He Testing My Child?

Most of you have probably heard your child talk about “Galileo testing” recently. Galileo is the district’s assessment software that measures how well your child has mastered the state learning standards for the quarter identified by the District as “Essential Standards”.

Students will take a reading and mathematics assessment each quarter and writing assessments for three quarters.  Galileo offers the option to test students both online as well as using paper and pencil tests.  Most students will take at least one of the reading and mathematics tests online. Students will still perform the writing tests with paper and pencil although the results of the test are entered online to track the results. This means that information about your child’s learning are available immediately to his or her teacher.

The District’s Benchmark tests are new every time they are given.  The goal is that these assessments will be used both as a diagnostic tool as well as an instructional tool in the classroom.  ATI, the company that develops the District’s benchmark assessments writes test questions that are based on the state standards. These questions are then reviewed by a committee of teachers from across the district before these assessments are given to students.

While Galileo is currently used to measure learning in reading, writing, and math, in the future Galileo testing in science and social studies will be added. One day, Galileo testing will cover all areas including foreign language and physical education.

Next year, parents will have access to Galileo testing results. Parents will be assigned a user name and password and will be able to see their child’s test results online. Your child can do this already. So if you can’t wait until next year, ask them to log on to www.ati-online.com and show you their scores. 

Did you know…

About Capital Overrides?

v      They are November only ballots

v      Can last up to 7 years

v      The possible uses

§         Program specific upgrades such as science labs, music labs, art labs

§         Administrative software and hardware

§         Teacher management software and hardware

§         Classroom furniture and equipment upgrade

§         Maintenance and custodial equipment upgrade

§         Equipment for parent access to student progress information

§         Communication equipment and technology upgrade

§         Equipment, software, and technology to improve site security

v      Annual Report due each year between September 1 and October 31

v      90% of the funding must be used for purposes as specified in the Governing Board approved plan

v      Subsequent Capital Overrides can be placed on the ballot before the expiration of the previous override

That the Desert Mountain Complex is having a meeting?

v      April 12, 2006

v      9:30 – 11:00am

v      Anasazi Elementary School

v      Topic: LionsQuest program

The next newsletter will highlight the proposed technology plan. Hopefully, it will have been approved at the next SUSD Governing Board meeting. www.scottsdaleparentcouncil.org