March, 2010,

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Students in grades 3 through 8 will take the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) beginning the week of March 2, 2010. Our students and staff have been preparing all school year. As we begin testing, parents remain mindful of the many ways you can continue to support your child. Make sure your child is at school and on time each day.  Make sure they get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast. Encourage your child to read for 30 minutes nightly. Motivate your child to do their best. Parents, it takes a village to educate our children. Thank you for your support.

The results from the Winter Learning First Benchmark Assessment are back. Parent reports will be sent home. Parents, go over the results with your child and speak to them about his/her strengthens and weaknesses. Encourage your child to study in their areas of weakness. Teachers will continue to send home practice activities aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards which will help prepare our students academically.

The 2010 Local School Council election nomination period ends March 11, 2010. Foster Park School will host a candidate’s forum on Thursday, March 25^th. LSC elections will be held on Report Card Pick-Up day Wednesday, April 21, 2010. For more information call the school’s office, ask to speak to Mrs. Milon.

Parents, lets continue to monitor our student’s safety. Encourage students to walk in groups. Ensure your child arrives to school on time. Be prompt when picking children up from after school programs. Parents that have not completed updated emergency information forms and returned the forms to the classroom teacher must do so immediately. The school must have accurate information in case we need to contact parents in an emergency. Thank you for your support in our effort to keep our children safe. 

As we continue to encourage students to read more, we rewarded classrooms who read the most books with a pizza luncheon. Students with perfect attendance for the month received certificates. Our crossing guards and perfect attendance students for the semester were rewarded with an outing to the DuSable Museum. Also, for citizenship students participated in a skating outing. Congratulations to all of our students who were honored for the month of February.

Congratulations to all our students that participated in our school-wide “Know Your Heritage” program. Teams competed answering questions about African Americans. The winning team consisted of R’leecia Carroll, Jasmine Smith, Maxwell Wesley, Deja Hopper, Johnathon Hemphill and Marquis Hudson. Congratulations to the winning team.

Congratulations to Camille Jackson and Camille Harper, who represented Foster Park in the Area 16 essay competition. Camille Jackson came in third place in the intermediate competition.

Our Annual ISAT Pep Rally/African American History assembly was held on Friday, February 26^th. Students read dramatic readings, poems and performed African dances. Students were motivated by listening to ISAT essays and the ISAT Rap. The drum line performed beautifully. Thank you to all the students that performed and made the assembly special. Parents, please read the ISAT parent brochure attached to this newsletter.

Parents, be mindful of the many events and activities that are listed on our school calendar which you can click on in the upper right corner of this page or from the menu on the left under News and Events. Students should use the ISAT practice websites listed on Foster Park’s website. These websites can be accessed from home.

Educationally Committed,

John Webb

Principal

Foster Park Fine and Performing Arts

Magnet Cluster School

Let's encourage our children to READ!

Accelerated Reader Books Read This Month!