Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. –Franklin P. Jones

Overwhelming evidence of your incredible hard work: we are the Central Zone Elementary Site CELDT leaders in students meeting the state guidelines! In 2004, 2005, 62.1% of our students met the AMAO (Annual Measurable Achievement Objective) for annual growth of 1 level on the CELDT (the goal was 51.5%). Also, 39.3% of our students attained English proficiency, which surpassed the goal of 30.7% that was set by the state. Congratulations!

Calendar reminder: If you want to refresh your memory about Freedom’s upcoming events, don’t forget that you can access the Freedom School Calendar through public folders on Microsoft Outlook (remote access, too).

Attention all certificated staff: Please fill out the CSIS PAIF (Professional Assignment Information Form) and return to my box by this afternoon.

Translation assistance for conferences: Please give Liz your conference schedule ASAP, if you will need assistance with translation. Help us to help you by noting migrant students, students with behavior, risk of retention, or other sensitive issues.

Safety tips of the week--student movement about campus: #1: A student must have a pass from a teacher/staff member in order to come to the office. #2: Students should walk either on or outside of the yellow lines when in the hallway (so as not to get hit by opening doors). #3: When traveling from classes, students should walk in a single file line and be supervised at all times by the teacher.

Cafeteria update: Thank you teachers, Juliana and Emily for successfully implementing the new “visual” cafeteria system. The line is moving much more smoothly! Teachers, please remember to arrive at the cafeteria at your grade level’s appointed time—this allows your student to be able to eat calmly and ensures that all classes have the table space they need.

Reading Challenge Contest: We've gotten some great entries! All entries are due to Liz by this Friday, 10/21. Student Leaders will make their choice of the top 3 entries on Friday. Staff will have an opportunity to select their top 3 in the coming week and Freedom Even Start parents will select their top 3 entries. After that all students while have a chance to vote (during library time). Thanks again for encouraging participation and generating excitement around reading!

The first student leader meeting was held on Friday. We have representatives from all but 2nd grade, but are still recruiting members. If you have a student that you think would make a good leader, let Liz know and she'll follow-up with the student and his/her parents. The next meeting is this coming Friday from 12:30-1:45. Meetings will be held Fridays after school. Students have a lot of great ideas for making Freedom School an even better place for learning! Student concerns include re-visiting the uniform policy and updating yellow slips. Student leader "homework" during this week is to poll their fellow students regarding participating in the parade (4/5), to ask other students for school improvement ideas and to collect songs/song suggestions to create a playlist for the upcoming attenDANCE.

Carnival Update: While 5th grade students and teachers are “key driving” the Fall Carnival on 10/29 (as a fundraiser for Science Camp), all teachers are invited to participate. If you are planning to organize and run a booth as a fundraiser for your class or grade level, please see Liz or Alicia Laing ASAP. This is going to be a great event!

Conference tip of the week: If possible, call parents to remind them of their conference time. This is especially important for the parents who have scheduled later in the day or evening. You don’t want to wait around for a parent who has forgotten about the appointment. Also, please post your daily conference schedule outside of your classroom. It is also very helpful for the office to have your daily schedule of conferences because parents often come to the office if they don't find you in your room. Thank you!

This week at Freedom School:

SST's: This week SST's will take place during some parent/teacher conferences by prior arrangement.
Wed. 10/26: 2:45 only. Mrs. Schell
Wed. 11/2: Ortega

October 17: Central Zone Site Council Network Meeting 6:30 at Cesar Chavez MS
October 17-21: Conference Week
No SSTs during Conference Week
October 18: GATE parent meeting in the library 6:30
Literatura Infantil in the cafeteria 6:00
October 19: Listos parent workshop in the cafeteria 6:00 p.m.
October 21: Recycling goes out

Upcoming Events:
October 25: NOT a restructured day: the scheduled staff meeting will be an OARS (language arts) data meeting that will last for one hour. Snacks at 3:00 (hosted by 1st grade), meeting from 3:15 to 4:15.Snacks at 3:00, meeting from 3:15 to 4:15.
10/26: School Site Council Meeting in Library at 6:30
10/28: Freedom School Halloween parade. Do you have your costume yet?

Upcoming CRLP Frontloading Trainings:
November (18) 29 and December 13
Susana Brown
Veronica Fernandez
Megan Martin
Lola Martin-Atilano
Gloria Puga
Gilbert Ramirez
Craig Rayburn
Maria Rios

Upcoming AB 466 Math Trainings:
4th Grade: November 1,2,8,9,10
These trainings will be held at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Let’s have a great week!