Principal Madden’s Weekly Message—Week of March 7, 2022

Hello Caregivers,

I hope you are all doing fine! Maybe spring is really on the way.    

Northampton Public Schools Caregiver Survey! 

Please take this caregiver survey regarding family engagement, so that we can hear your voice!

https://forms.gle/i3rBrLfAsx15TNFo7  English 

https://forms.gle/vZxsbsTer1XL18F49 Spanish 

https://forms.gle/AEPfWedanLQkwSfLA  French 

https://forms.gle/2GpTTV4XeLppzibJA Swahili 

https://forms.gle/sK4Jq3rbfQSwuzQS8  Kinyarwanda 

https://forms.gle/QizHD36TeonxXCSC7 Chinese 

https://forms.gle/eDREhajF44BJWv9E7 Burmese 

Photos

This week’s photos show some of the fun we had during Read Across Ryan Road last week as we celebrated reading and Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The 4^th and 5^th graders enjoyed hearing the Honorable Elizabeth Katz and daughter Lexi (former Ryan Road student) read Turning Pages, My Life Story, the autobiography of Justine Sonia Sotomayor.

MCAS Testing this Spring

Our students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking MCAS tests this spring. The English Language Arts MCAS will take place in April, and the Math MCAS will take place in May. All of the MCAS assessments are now online.  It is very important that students be present for testing and arrive to school on time.  We encourage families to avoid making appointments for students on testing days.

It is important to remember that any test is only one measure of a child’s performance at school. Teacher evaluations through the years, day-to-day work, and other types of performance assessments and projects are additional ways to evaluate learning. However, these tests are important, and we will be doing all we can to prepare our students to take these tests with calm confidence.  

Some parents have asked for more information about MCAS tests. Here is a resource link to practice tests that we will be using at school, but you can also take a look at them at home if you wish.

(CBT references Computer Based Tests and PBT references Paper Based Tests.)

MCAS Testing 2022 Dates for Ryan Road School

Grade 3 (ELA)  – April 6 & April 13

Grade 4 (ELA)  – April 5 & April 12                  

Grade 5 (ELA)  – April 7 & April 14 

Grade 3 (Math)  – May 4 & May 13

Grade 4 (Math)  – May 3 & May 10                      

Grade 5 (Math)  – May 5 & May 12 

Grade 5 (Science)  – May 17 and May 19 

COVID Updates:

Pool Testing Update: As you might have seen in district communication, all of our pools last Thursday. Yea! Let’s hope we can stay on a roll. We are doing additional testing if necessary and communicating with caregivers if there is a positive case in your child’s class. We continue to be very careful at school so that we do not have any in-school transmissions. 

Many of you have asked about masks since the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education lifted their mask mandate for grades K-12. I know many people are very eager to take the masks off, but please be advised that the City of Northampton and the Northampton Public Schools still have an indoor mask mandate in place. Therefore, all students, staff, caregivers, and visitors must wear a mask while in the school building. Thank you for your cooperation.

Also, Superintendent Provost, recently called with information about at-home testing. Here is the link to that information and links to sign up:

Home tests went home with students who signed up for home testing on Thursday. 

And, here is an updated Testing Resource Document that Nurse Karen created in case you are looking for outside testing spots.

Call (587-1557) or email our wonderful nurse, Karen Schiaffo, if you have any health questions.

kschiaffo@northampton-k12.us

Thank you for keeping your child home if they are ill. Here is a link with some guidelines to help you make the decision: http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/illness-prevention/ 

Important Upcoming Dates

March 8 from 2:30-5:30: Kindergarten Registration here at Ryan Road

March 11: Early Dismissal (11:30) for Teacher Work Day

March 16: PTO at 6:30

March 21: Vernal Equinox Celebration

March 25: Report Cards (Grades 1-5) sent home

April 18-22: Spring Vacation

Stay up to date with all of our school calendar on our School Website’s Calendar!

I hope that all families and caregivers feel welcome, comfortable, and valued at our school. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. I am happy to meet with any of you after school hours (when I can allow you inside!) or can talk on the phone anytime. 

Sincerely,

Sarah Madden, Principal