February 28th,
2019
Dear Horace
Mann Families:
Every year,
each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card.
Just as your child’s report card shows how s/he
is doing in different subjects, the school’s report
card is designed
to show families how our school performs in
different areas. A link to our school’s report card is available at http://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2018/02070075.
The report
card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS
scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing
information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning
opportunities, and more.
Report cards
are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families
can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the
school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and
education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support
students and our school.
You will
notice on our report card that we had strong growth in our MCAS scores from the
previous year. Notably, we were one of
52 schools in the state recognized for our growth scores. Despite this,
we are continuously striving to improve outcomes for all students, both on
standardized test scores, and in our daily work with children. We are
continuing to employ a variety of systems and practices that we believe will
help all of our students achieve at a high level. These include:
- A commitment to differentiated instruction in all
academic areas.
- A tiered system of academic interventions in our
early literacy programming, including Title 1 services.
- Establishment of a positive school-wide culture
that embraces diversity, inclusion, kindness, compassion, and a growth
mindset.
- A commitment to becoming a more culturally
responsive school that ensures equitable access to pedagogy, curriculum,
and school-wide practices that are reflective of the diverse cultures that
we welcome into our community.
Finally, if
your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have
the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your
child’s classroom teachers:
·
Whether your child’s teacher is
licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,
·
Whether your child’s teacher is
teaching under an emergency license or waiver,
·
The college degree and major of your
child’s teacher, and
·
Whether your child is provided
services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you have questions about
our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement
activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of
your child’s classroom teacher, please contact
mark_nardelli@newton.k12.ma.us. To see our district’s report card or to
search for other schools’ report cards, visit http://reportcards.doe.mass.edu.
Sincerely,
Mark
Nardelli
Principal
