Previous Next Page PRINCIPAL'S CORNER We are off to a blazing start, and it’s so good to have our happy bunch back!  So much is already going on in September.  I longingly think of the week I sat on the beach in Tahoe soaking up the rays, the sounds of summer, and feeling that cool breeze knowing there was no agenda, no emails, no night meetings, no phone calls.  But here we are, back in the saddle ready to do great things for our kids.  Let me brief you on some immediate thoughts about the start of school. Our goal for this year is to complete the self-study for School Improvement under the criteria provided by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Western Catholic Education Association.  These are the accrediting organizations.  We will share with you further at Back To School Night what your role will be in this self-study.  It’s a lot of work for us, but we feel our school is in very good shape and are anxious to see how we can improve, and proclaim our pristine program to the world! Math:  Our School Improvement Plan, known best as the SIP Plan, is to improve general math procedures by 2 national percentile points over the last year’s current baseline average in the Stanford standardized test results.  This means that we desire to have our children showing more accuracy by using basic math functions. Writing: Our second School Improvement Plan reads as follows: Through use of Six + 1 Traits of Writing, students in K-8 will improve development of written expression and writing conventions as evidenced by annual comparison of student writing samples, student self-evaluation, use of level rubric, and increasing our standardized test scores in Language Arts by 4 percentile points.  We have already seen a very positive result from using Six + 1 Traits of Writing. Learning Specialist: Colleen O’Mahony was hired three years ago to help us form a special needs department that will allow us to better serve all students who enter our doors.  She has successfully established a process for referral, provided additional testing as a certified evaluator, collaborated with teachers to provide individual learning plans, conferenced with parents and teachers to set these plans in motion, provided in-service for our faculty to understand and apply Differentiated Instruction, and understand the various modes of learning and special needs.  Adding this department with Mrs. O’Mahony’s expertise has helped strengthen our program significantly.  We look forward to helping all of our children, but especially those who sometimes find learning difficult, or who find they need a more accelerated approach.  Dress Code: We appreciate your involvement in checking to see that every student is in proper uniform before he/she leaves for school in the morning. In advance, I thank our kids for not challenging the dress code and testing my response to the latest trends in fashion!    Back To School Schedule: We hope every parent is able to attend Back To School Night.  We’ll start with K-5 grade parents in their child’s classroom.  Here is the schedule: 6:30 – 6:50: 1^st Session with K-5 parents in their child’s classroom 6:50 – 7:10: 2^nd Session with K-5 parents in their child’s classroom 7:15 – 7:45:  Presentation in the church by Sr. Moe and Teachers 7:50 – 8:10: 1^st Session with 6-8 parents in their child’s classroom 8:10 – 8:30: 2^nd Session with 6-8 parents in their child’s classroom 8:30 - 8:50: 3rd Session with 6-8 parents in their child's classroom It would be impossible for me to put a price tag on the many happy faces we welcomed back to our school last Friday.  I keep saying what nice kids we have, and we really do.  They exude a spirit that shows hard work, cooperation, helpfulness, and an overall esprit that makes St. Clare unique.  The camaraderie between teachers and students engenders an enviable relationship that says we care a lot about each other.  It’s a great mission to be a part of, and we appreciate all you will do as parents to assist your child in having a successful year.