Class Placements for 2017-18

Dear Orchard Families,

Each year at this time, the school staff begins the very important process of placing students in classrooms for the next year.

Our goal each year is to ensure that all of our children have the best possible learning environment.  The staff spends many hours and gives much thought and consideration to making the appropriate placements for each of our students for the following year.

We ask for your adherence to our policy that we do not take requests for specific teachers for the following year into consideration and ask that you do not make such requests of our staff.  It is our professional obligation to meet the needs of all of our students. Rest assured we have our students’ best interests at heart. We consider student placement one of the most important things we do and we spend much time getting it right. 

The process we use at Orchard takes into consideration numerous factors and areas of input: 

• Academic & social needs
• Parent input
• Staff input
• Special needs
• Language ability (English Learners)
• Compatibility with other students
• Equalization of class loads
• Overall class balance

As you can see, a lot of care, consideration, and thought are put into this very important task.  If you feel there is additional information we need in order to best place your child, please fill out a Student Profile Form.  The Student Profile Form will give you a chance to list specific educational considerations; however, again we will not accept any requests for specific teachers.  This form can be picked up in the school office or online at orchardelementary.org.

Look for this button on the website:

The Student Profile Form must be returned by April 3^rd.

Orchard has a very strong teaching staff that will do a fine job of educating your child with your cooperation and support. 

You can expect announcement of your child’s placement in mid-August.  Please be assured that with or without input from you, we will review each child's needs individually and select the classroom in which we believe he/she will learn best.

Sincerely,

Robert Broecker, Principal

November Issue of WhooNews now Online!

The November Issue of WhooNews, our School Newspaper is brought to you by Mrs. Hubbard's 5th Grade Class.

Check it out HERE 

Orchard Club Calendar

Ever wonder what clubs are happening when? We've started a new Club Calendar as part of our website.

Just go here: www.orchardelementary.org/clubs

It's continually being updated!

Welcome to Orchard's Second Year!

Dear Parent or Guardian of an Orchard Student:

Our second year at Orchard is about to begin! On behalf of Assistant Principal Alysia Arsanto, welcome to all of our Orchard families, new and returning. Parents are children’s first and most influential educators. We look forward to collaborating with you in providing your children with the best education possible. We have been busily preparing for the new school year. Many of our teachers have used the summer break to gain training in various disciplines. Parent volunteers have done much work around the school and our custodians, have worked hard cleaning up the school and getting it ready for another year.

Our professional goals for 2016-2017 include:

•  Continuing to implement Balanced Literacy, specifically Readers & Writers Workshop in all classrooms.
• Continuing to implement Common Core Math, specifically: Constructing Viable Arguments & Critique the Reasoning of Others; Making Sense of Problems and Persevere Solving Them; Modeling with Mathematics
• Continuing to use Caring School Community resources to sustain a welcoming and sound social-emotional learning environment.
• Continuing to provide a welcoming environment for all of our Orchard Families!

We encourage you to communicate with us. We have an open door policy; however, we are often not in the office during school hours, since we spend much time with teachers and students. If you want in depth time, we ask you to please request a meeting so we can give you my full attention. Mrs. Keenan and Mrs. Conley, our school secretaries, have a copy of our calendars in the office. For any concerns about your child’s class, we encourage you to first contact your child’s teacher. She/he will be in the best position to help you. But please, ask questions and communicate concerns so that we can build a partnership which will ensure student success.

Since we recognize that parents are their children's most important teachers, we need your cooperation and involvement to provide them with the best education possible. Your interest and concern in your child’s school progress, and the learning they receive at home, will motivate them to do their best.

Important Dates:

• School Supply Drop-Off | Open House | Meet your Teacher: Monday, August 29, 2:30-3:30

• First Day of School for Grades 2-5: Tuesday, August 30, 8:45-3:15

• Kinder & 1^st Grade Family Connection Conferences: Tuesday & Wednesday, August 30 & 31

• First Day of Kindergarten & First Grade: Thursday, September 1, 8:45-3:15

Other Important Reminders:

• Visit our website: www.OrchardElementary.org for important information about:

• School Supply Lists

• Student-Parent Handbook

• School Calendar and other important dates

• PTO information and much, much more!  

• Supervision of students will begin at 8:30 and end at 3:30 p.m (2:30 on Fridays).  Please arrange for drop-off and pick-up. 

Sincerely,

Robert Broecker & Alysia Arsanto