Pine Lane Crew,
I have some incredible news to share with you and a huge thank you to all of you who support our mission to empower excellence in character, achievement, and contribution to a better world. This week we received our School Performance Framework (SPF), essentially the school report card and the tool the state uses to hold schools accountable. It is also one of the main factors in the Great Schools Website’s rating algorithm. Last year in spite of many challenges, Pine Lane was able to earn 71.2 out of 100 points. This is a personal best for our Crew and is a credit to our students, teachers, and your hard work and commitment. Thank you!
We have a couple of other celebrations within this data to highlight too. Our English as a Second Language students exceeded expectations on their path to English proficiency and the mean scale achievement score for students with IEP increased by about 10 points in achievement above any past performance. Additionally, in 2018 we set a goal as a school in collaboration with staff and our SAC to achieve 70 points on our school SPF by spring of 2022. We achieved this very goal in the time frame we laid out and it is very fulfilling to see our efforts bear forth tangible results.
Thank you all for your participation in our Fall Fundraiser! We earned just over $24,000. We are earmarking these funds for classroom furniture. Funding needs continue to be an issue even at Pine Lane. We are still working to hire several Education Assistant positions. As we recruit, interview, and offer the position we are frequently turned down when receiving from HR their starting pay. Lack of staffing creates gaps in coverage and stretches thin our fantastic staff who always pull through and do what is necessary. For more on funding needs across the district check out this video from our Superintendent: DCSD Funding Needs. Also, if you are interested in any of our positions please apply through Workday linked here: Workday.
Each week is full of activities and new learning. This week we were able to access the field at North. It was great to see the kids run, play football, kickball, soccer, and some students just lay on the grass. We have been able to regain the use of this incredible space. We are so grateful for this much needed upgrade. Kindergarten dabbled in some gymnastics in PE, learning body control. Our grade levels have made it through the Foundations Unit of our Language Arts Curriculum and are now launching into unit 1. My favorite from quote from this week was from a 6th grader who said, “This math looked really confusing until my teacher explained it. Now it is easy!” He then demonstrated accurately how to divide numbers with decimals. We hope that we can continue this joy of learning throughout the year.
Here are a couple of upcoming events. Next week we will kick off Chaparral High School’s homecoming week with an assembly on Friday led by Chaparral’s Student Council. On Monday, September 19th is the Chaparral Feeder Homecoming Parade. We hope to see you all out along the parade route by Chaparral High School. Next Tuesday, September 13th we are also holding our Room Parent Meeting. This meeting will be held in our North Building at 2:30 pm. Lastly, please be aware that your child does not have school on September 23rd. This is a Professional Development Day for staff.
Have an amazing weekend!
Chris Stairs
Principal
Pine Lane Elementary