February 14th, 2014

February 14, 2014

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Happy Valentine’s Day. I want to thank our PTO for bringing in coffee, chocolate and all of the other treats today for our staff. I appreciate all that you do for us.  I know our staff enjoys the lunches, treats, dinners etc. that you do for them all throughout the year. You are a wonderful group of parents to work with.

I want to remind parents that when you pick students up after school please do not use the west parking lot entrance. This lot is reserved for buses only after school, having parents pick up students or cars in the lot poses a danger to our students so please use the east lot or the Salvation Army parking lot.

I have several attachments this week. I am attaching a letter regarding our T-CAP testing and the TCAP schedule itself. We will also post the schedule on our website so please visit our website for specifics regarding the testing schedule. We will begin testing on Monday, March 10^th. We will not test eighth grade science in March. The state has now moved to two testing windows and we will be implementing a new social studies test this spring. Our eighth grade science test and the new seventh grade social studies test will be given in April. I will have further details regarding those two tests as we approach that testing window.

You will also find a letter from the district regarding student perception surveys that several of our teachers will be giving to students. This is a segment of the new evaluation system regarding the state law SB 191. If you have further questions please let me know.

Newton will be hosting the eighth grade basketball tournament on Saturday, February 22^nd. Please check with your player regarding the time our teams will play. This will be dependent upon final games played and standings within the district.

There will be no school on Monday, February 17^th due to president’s day. Have a great three day weekend.

Respectfully,

James O’Tremba

Principal, Newton Middle School