Dear Parents:

Now that we have been involved in "high-stakes" testing for a few years, it is important to clarify the role of parents in the total school/home academic connection.

For those youngsters who are experiencing difficulty with the work of the grade, it is urgent that parents follow through on the suggestions of the classroom teacher. These suggestions are contained in the report card supplementary reports; in telephone conferences; in scheduled school-wide conferences; in notes home and through general communications.

Parents are often amazed at the amount of work expected at the elementary level. As a result of the NYS Standards, not only has the amount of work increased; the expectations regarding problem-solving, critical thinking and higher level skills are built into both the curriculum and the assessment program.

Our staff has engaged in many in-service activities to enhance their own instructional programs, strategies and knowledge base. New York State has "raised the bar" for every one of us. The involvement of parents is definitely part of the overall effort.

Sincerely,
Dr. Sally Evans
Principal