1. Welcome to Dorn School’s Parent Orientation

2. Food Policy No food items are allowed to be brought in as birthday treats. Some alternatives could be: a t-shirt for all students to sign stickers pencils a book donation to the classroom library

3. Food Policy PTA hosts 4 parties throughout the school year. For these parties, food may be sent in but it must be store bought with the ingredients listed on the packaging. There may be a special occasion here or there when the teachers give the students some food (ie: pizza party, freeze pops). If that occurs, you would be notified ahead of time with the option to deny permission.

4. Pick Up/Drop Off Procedures AM Drop-Off: Door #2 11:30 Pick-Up: Door #2 3:15 Pick-Up for Pre-K and K: Door #1 3:15 Pick-Up for First Grade: Door #2 You must have the fluorescent card to pick up your child!!!

5. Safety for our Students at Dorn We will ask you your name and business before we buzz you in. All visitors/volunteers MUST enter through Door #1, sign in and receive/wear a visitor’s badge. All outside doors are locked during the day. All classrooms, including the lunchroom, are locked during the day.

6. District-wide Safety Changes Based on First Responder Feedback More stringent building guest policies More security at events utilizing HHPD and PHPD Additional building modifications to address safety concerns

7. District-wide Safety Additional Changes for 2013-14 New volunteer guidelines which may include fingerprinting and background checks New building visitor procedures which may include driver’s license scans Building modifications to address entrance security (Conrady and Oak Ridge only)

8. ISAT Subscale Score Adjustments In January, the Illinois State Board of Education approved raising the Grades 3 - 8 ISAT performance expectations in reading and math. This was done after it was determined that the proficiency expectations did not give an accurate picture of a student’s ability to succeed in college and the workforce.

9. Assessment Transition Change from ISAT to PARCC Assessment In 2014-15, the state is replacing the ISAT with a new test called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The PARCC assessment will align with the new Common Core State Standards and provide information to ensure students are mastering the appropriate skills and content benchmarks for college and careers.

10. Interpreting ISAT Scores Based on the New Criteria These new expectations do not mean that our students know less than they did before or are less capable than they were in previous years. ISBE is simply expecting more of students going forward to show their progress toward college and career-readiness targets.

11. Common Core State Standards In 2010 the Common Core State Standards were adopted by 45 states. This is an effort to improve educational outcomes for students by developing a set of common, internationally-benchmarked academic standards in mathematics and English Language Arts.

12. District 117 Transition Grades K-7 implemented the Common Core State Standards in mathematics during the 2012-2013 school year. All grades, K-8 will implement the math standards this school year.

13. English Language Arts Common Core Standards Key features of these standards include: Reading: text complexity and growth in comprehension. Writing: text types and responding to reading and research. Language: conventions (grammar), effective use and vocabulary.

14. English Language Arts Shifts for Students Read as much nonfiction as fiction. Content area teachers emphasize literary experiences. Read more challenging materials closely. Discuss reading using evidence. Write nonfiction using evidence.

15. District 117 Classrooms This school year all reading and language arts classrooms will begin to incorporate some of the Common Core Standards for reading and writing into their lessons. Full implementation will begin 2014-2015.

16. Next Generation Science Standards Illinois is among the 26 lead states that have worked collaboratively to update science standards, called Next Generation Science Standards. These internationally-benchmarked standards provide a new vision for K-12 science and engineering education and set the stage for a significant shift in how those subjects may be viewed and taught in Illinois and across the nation. Illinois is expected to adopted these standards Fall 2013. Conrady Science teachers will begin re-align the current curriculum to these new standards this year.

17. Forms to Sign/Survey to Fill Out There is an important form for you to look at tonight. It asks you a variety of things and by signing each section, you are giving permission. Please listen carefully as your child’s teacher explains each section. You will also get a paper asking you to fill out an on-line survey when you get home. We like to gather feedback from you, our parents, on how you feel things are going in NPD117 and what you would like to see happen in the future.

18. Visiting Other Areas When you are done in your child’s room, please take a few minutes to visit: Your Child’s Bilingual Teacher (if applicable) Mr. Boam (PE Teacher) Mrs. Crummie (Media Specialist) Our Beautiful Courtyard Music/Fine Arts Room and Computer Lab PTA Table (spiritwear and other things…)

19. Contact Me! Feel free to call or e-mail me at any time with questions or concerns. emccaffrey@npd117.net 708-233-5600