Dear Canyon View Families,
As we head into the final two weeks of 2015, the classroom teachers are busy completing various formative and benchmark assessments in the areas of literacy and mathematics. The data collected will be used to gauge the effectiveness of our instruction, interventions and extensions up to this point in the school year, and we will also be using the data to guide our academic planning and instruction as we charge into the second semester. Assessment plays an important role at Canyon View and throughout CFSD, and we are deeply committed to making data-driven decisions to continually support the needs of each and every one of our students in order to prepare them for college and career pathways.
Next, Friday December 11th marks the end of our annual Adopt-A-Family project, which has been led by Canyon View’s Student Advisory Board (SAB). Last week, you received a sign-up list from your child’s homeroom teacher indicating the wish list items that are being requested by their adopted family. All wish list items are to be sent to school by Friday, December 11th so that the final inventory can be completed. On Tuesday, December 15th, each grade level will bring their box of donations to awaiting delivery trucks that will transport the goods to the families in need. These grateful parents will then be able to wrap the gifts for their children just in time for the holiday.
On Friday, December 18th at 8:15AM, we will conclude our character-building project by having a special presentation during our quarterly Spirit Assembly. Thom Melendez, the marketing and outreach director from CODAC, will be in attendance to share with our children the impact that their generosity has made in the lives of the adopted families. At Canyon View, we are deeply committed to teaching our students the meaning and value of the Six Pillars of Character, and the Adopt-A-Family Project is a great way to instill these important traits in our children. We sincerely appreciate your support of this important project. Parents and family members are invited to join in our Spirit Assembly celebration on December 18th, and we hope to see you there!
Finally, as mentioned in the September 11th edition of Canyon Views, CFSD was selected as a finalist for the P21: Partnership for 21st Century Learning - Exemplar Program Award. This week, P21 has named Catalina Foothills School District an exemplar school district, as part of their nationwide program that identifies models of exemplary educational practices that are preparing students for success in the United States.
CFSD was one of three school districts from across the United States selected for this honor. In addition, sixteen individual schools were named as exemplar schools.
P21 cited CFSD as a district that has “successfully transformed student learning through innovative and transformation practices that include collaborative teaching and learning, distributed leadership, student voice and choice, engaged community partnerships, a climate of achievement, and evidence-based practices.”
When we look at the bigger picture, we know that our successes are the result of everyone working together, from highly committed educators to supportive parents and voters. CFSD has a remarkable community that works to support the learning experiences and opportunities we provide for our students.
To recognize Catalina Foothills as a P21 Exemplar, a written case study will be developed in the spring and featured on the P21 website, http://www.p21.org/Exemplars, as well as social media and print channels. Our Exemplar Designation is specific for the 2015-2016 school year and we will display the exemplar badge on our websites.
P21 has let us know that they plan to recognize and celebrate the excellent work that CFSD has accomplished. We will keep our community tuned in on those future opportunities.
On behalf of the entire Canyon View Elementary staff, I want to thank each and every one of our families for your continued support of our school and district!
Sincerely,
Rob Henikman
Principal
