Fall 2009
Dear Arnold Families and Friends,
The 2009-2010 school year is now successfully underway. With over 600 students, 29 teachers and over 30 other support staff, Arnold Elementary is a very busy place. We continue to boast outstanding academic accomplishments. As a California Distinguished School we understand the importance of adding rigor and relevance into the instructional program. This year Arnold made a 12 point gain in our Academic Performance Index, putting us at 878. This number exceeds the state goal of 800, and is higher than the district average of 844. One of our school-wide goals for this year is to strive for a 900 API – something we believe we are very capable of achieving!
In addition to the excellence in instruction and high test scores, Arnold is a wonderful place in many other ways. We are fortunate to have a strong partnership with parents and the community. Our very supportive PTA helps us create opportunities for families to come together to achieve our school goals. Just since September we have had our Welcome Back Social, the Reflections Contest, a very successful Red Ribbon Week, and a Family Fun Night. Keep reading your Alleycat Times and weekly emails to learn more about upcoming activities.
December 4th will mark the end of our first trimester. Report card time is an important time for families. We believe it should be a time for celebration and if necessary, problem-solving. Please consider the following tips that will help foster a positive and constructive outcome to reviewing student achievement:
· Talk frequently with your child and child’s teacher about his/her academic performance. Communication before report card time lessens the anxiety and creates more opportunities for improvement.
· When you receive the report card, look at it with your child.
· Begin discussion with something positive. Good effort, citizenship, and attendance are all part of student success. This can be noted even if an academic area is weak.
· Talk with your child about each area and ask how you can support your child in reaching his/her potential.
· Attend the parent/teacher conference to discuss a plan with the teacher for improvement, if necessary.
I encourage you all to stay connected by signing up for the PTA E-Mail and by regularly visiting the Arnold website at www.arnold.tusd.org. I am looking forward to another successful year with your children.
Educationally Yours,
Mrs. Jane Tasker