CHAPARRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
"A California Distinguished School"
CHAMPION PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 1, 2008

Our Mission is Learning. We are partners with you to help every child “Learn Like a Champion!”

Please click here for a copy of Chaparral's School Accountability Report Card

STAR TESTING STARTS MONDAY FOR GRADES 2-5

It’s time for our Chaparral Champion students to show everyone what they know! Our young scholars will be participating in the California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program beginning this coming Monday, May 5 and will test for a portion of the day each day for a week or more.

The STAR Program is designed to provide students, parents, teachers, and the community with information about student achievement throughout California. The tests your child will be taking are called the California Standards Test (CST) and California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition (CAT-6). All 2nd through 11th grade students who are attending public school in California will be taking these tests. It is important that students do their best to increase the accuracy of the results. Parents will receive detailed reports of their child’s testing results in the mail over the summer.

Moms and dads, you are a vital part of the testing process and you can help by making sure your child has plenty of rest the night before testing, providing a healthy breakfast; making sure your child sees the test as an opportunity to show what he or she has learned, encouraging your child to do his or her best, and scheduling/rescheduling appointments outside of the testing window. 

The California Department of Education posts released test questions by grade level and content area on their website so that you and your child may familiarize yourselves with the kinds of questions that have been asked in the past. Go to: www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/css05rtq.asp to get a feel for the kinds of questions that have been asked and to get an idea of the format of the tests.

Chaparral STAR Testing Schedule:

Grade 2

Testing Monday, May 5 through Monday, May 12 from 7:45 to 9:40 a.m.

Grade 3

Testing Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9.

Monday and Wednesday, testing from 7:45 to 9:40 a.m.

Tuesday and Thursday, testing from 7:45 to 11:25 a.m.

Friday, testing from 7:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Grade 4

Testing Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9 from 7:45 to 10:05 a.m. Fourth graders do not take a test on Thursday next week, as they already took the STAR writing test last month.

Grade 5

Testing Monday, May 5 through Monday, May 12 from 7:45 to 10:05 a.m.

DEADLINE ONE MONTH FROM TODAY: HELP SAVE 20:1 CLASS SIZE REDUCTION

Due to the California budget crisis, ten Chaparral teachers recently got “pink slipped” meaning there is a good chance that they will not be back next year.  Across our entire district (and throughout the state of California), even more teachers stand to lose their jobs as class sizes are increased.

Join us as we work together to preserve class sizes in CUSD.  Your donation to the CUSD Foundation will keep our 266 CUSD teachers employed while maintaining current class sizes in Grades K-12.  If 35% of our 50,000-student population donates $400 per student, we will reach our total goal of $7 million.

HELP PRESERVE OUR CURRENT CLASS SIZES IN CUSD (Continued from page one)

If total monies raised are less that $7 million, CUSD will restore class sizes one grade level at a time (grades 1-2-3) and will hire back as many teachers as they can in grades 4-12 to mitigate class sizes.

Many employers have an Employee Matching Program – please ask your employer! The deadline to raise the money is one month from today: June 1, 2008.

CUSD teachers deserve our support – not pink slips.  Our kids need teachers.  Our teachers need you.

Donation boxes are in the front office at Chaparral. You may also mail your donation directly to the CUSD Foundation or use PayPal or Google Checkout. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, go to: www.cusdfoundation.org

The CUSD Foundation is a non profit 501(c)3 corporation, Tax: ID# 95-3766911. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. The CUSD Foundation is an independent organization designed to support the students of the Capistrano Unified School District.

SCIENCE FEST COMING ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

Students at all grade levels are encouraged to participate in Science Fest. Please read the specific grade level information that has already been sent home to you. Our PTA is again offering the opportunity to purchase a discounted Science Fest backboard for only $4.00 in one of four colors while supplies last. Questions about Science Fest?  Contact your child’s classroom teacher.

PTA ELECTION AT MEETING ON MONDAY, MAY 5 AT 2:30 P.M. IN THE HALL OF FAME

Please join us this coming Monday at 2:30 p.m. for our PTA meeting. The agenda includes the election of officers for our 2008-09 Chaparral PTA Executive Board.

Proposed Slate of Officers for the Chaparral PTA Executive Board 2008-09:

President: Beth Diacono

Executive Vice President: Laurie Van Winkle

VP Ways & Means & VP Programs: Jeri Rizzi

VP Membership: Laurie Lynch

Secretary: Jenny Craig

Treasurer: Melissa Kim

Financial Secretary: Barb Kocourek

Auditor: Debbie Daugherty

Historian: Tammy Rood

Leg. Rep.: Gail Grigaux

Hospitality: Kim Alexander

PIZZA WITH PARENTS AND A MOVIE, “THE GAME PLAN,” NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 9

Make plans to join us for our PTA-sponsored Family Fun Night beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the grass field. See the last chance flyer in today’s Champion folder for all the details and RSVPs are due back tomorrow.

LAPTOP PARENT INFORMATION MEETING: WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 AT LRMS MPR

Parents of current 2nd grade students and those at other grades 3-5 interested in perhaps getting your child involved for the very first time in our successful and popular voluntary learning with laptops program -- please join us for a parent information meeting on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the MPR at Ladera Ranch Middle School. Representatives from the Apple Store at the Shops at Mission Viejo will be here, too. Following the presentation, the Apple Store and the principals from all four schools in our Ladera Ranch community will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

SUMMER READING LISTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE

Books promote a love of reading as well as give families time together. The reading department of CUSD has put together summer time reading lists to help you select good books for the child(ren) in your life. Enjoy and happy reading! www.capousd.org/reading.htm#reading

From the desk of Dr. Kevin Rafferty, Principal: krafferty@capousd.org

We’re 147 days into our 180-day school year. Still 18.3% of our school year to learn, grow, and improve.

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