Dear Parents,
Here we are in one of the busiest times of our school year, and considering the normal pace at TAS, that is saying something. Not only does April and May bring the baseball season, but here on the fourth floor, it brings testing season. This entire week mainstream teachers are administering the CTP4 tests. The best thing you can do to support your child is to make sure s/he gets a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast. It is impossible to study for these tests and so the best preparation is to be positive with your child and say “Just do your best.” Please note that make up tests are not possible with the CTP4 tests.
Next week is a week off from testing, but features the PTA Spring Book Fair. The first week of May brings more testing upon us with the WRAP writing test on Tuesday May 3 and Wednesday May 4. This is a two day test where students brainstorm and write a draft for the first fifty minutes. They return on Wednesday with another fifty minute time period to put the polish on their final draft.
Our testing season concludes the following week, May 9-13 when Grade five ESL students will be taking their semester ESL tests. In years past, all ESL students in Grade 3-5 would take the tests on the same days. This year due to Camp Taiwan conflicts, we are testing on different days. Please see the testing dates below.
Please let me remind you that a strategic summer plan is essential for your child to consolidate all the linguistic gains s/he has made over the year. There are still spaces in the second session in the Grade 6 English literacy class I am teaching at the TAS Summer Academy. If you will be on island at that time, it is a great opportunity for your child to continue raising his/her English skills to get ready for the official beginning of your child’s TAS middle school career in August.
As at any time, please feel free to contact me at the email address below. This is my outlook email which I use for parental correspondence. My Gmail account is used exclusively for communicating with students. Hope you have a great week.
Warm regards,
Mark S. Gurecki
gureckim@tas.edu.tw
CTP4 Testing April 18-22
WrAP Writing Test May 3, 4
Grade Five ESL Testing May 9-13
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Welcome to TAS Summer Middle School
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the first session of TAS Summer School 2009. We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to teach your child in middle school for the next two or four weeks. With this communication, we would like to briefly introduce ourselves and the middle school program.
Naden Rowe has been teaching in international schools in Asia for the past ten years including the last five years here at TAS as a Grade 6 Humanities teacher. His background and experience give him excellent insight into what your child needs to know to make a smooth transition through a middle school literacy program at TAS or any other fine international school. Naden is responsible for the Grade 7 and 8 students; however, since we have a great deal of team teaching going on every day, your child will work periodically with both middle school teachers over the course of this session.
Mark Gurecki has been teaching at TAS as the Grade 5 ESL teacher for the past eight years. Before that he accumulated 20 years of experience in highly regarded schools on four different continents. Mark and Naden enjoy combining their expertise in these summer school sessions to support your child’s learning in the middle school literacy program.
This year the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will be working on a multi-genre venture entitled: "The Music Agency Project." Students will be given the lucky break to create their own music agency in order to develop, manage and promote artists in the music industry. We will be using all the resources in the middle school library, including books, music magazines, the Internet, and assorted software applications for your child to individualize his/her instruction on this topic with the express intent to raise his/her English reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in a format of fun.
The Middle School would like to keep you up-to-date and informed as to what is happening in your child’s summer school life. We would also ask for your assistance in preparing your child for each fun-fulfilled day:
☻Please send your child to school with a bottle of water and a healthy snack every day
☻Please ensure your child is dressed comfortably to combat the heat
☻You might want to make sure your child has ample sun block each day
☻Please let his or her teacher know who will be responsible for picking your child up each day
☻If your child will be absent, please contact the Summer School Office (phone 2873-9900 Ext. 892)
Please be aware that the middle school library opens at 7:45 for a prompt start to class at 8:00 am.
Here is a basic outline of your child’s day. Please remember, however, that it is only an outline and does not include specific activities.
Schedule:
8:00 - 10:25 Instruction
10:25 - 10:45 Snack & Recess
10:45 - 12:00 Instruction
12:00 Dismissal
Thanks for your participation and support of our summer school program. It will be a great experience for everyone involved.
Sincerely,
Naden Rowe
Grade 7&8 Teacher
Middle School Literacy Program, TAS Summer School
Mark Gurecki
Grade 6 Teacher
Middle School Literacy Program, TAS Summer School
Welcome to the first session of TAS Summer School 2009. We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to teach your child in middle school for the next two or four weeks. With this communication, we would like to briefly introduce ourselves and the middle school program.
Naden Rowe has been teaching in international schools in Asia for the past ten years including the last five years here at TAS as a Grade 6 Humanities teacher. His background and experience give him excellent insight into what your child needs to know to make a smooth transition through a middle school literacy program at TAS or any other fine international school. Naden is responsible for the Grade 7 and 8 students; however, since we have a great deal of team teaching going on every day, your child will work periodically with both middle school teachers over the course of this session.
Mark Gurecki has been teaching at TAS as the Grade 5 ESL teacher for the past eight years. Before that he accumulated 20 years of experience in highly regarded schools on four different continents. Mark and Naden enjoy combining their expertise in these summer school sessions to support your child’s learning in the middle school literacy program.
This year the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will be working on a multi-genre venture entitled: "The Music Agency Project." Students will be given the lucky break to create their own music agency in order to develop, manage and promote artists in the music industry. We will be using all the resources in the middle school library, including books, music magazines, the Internet, and assorted software applications for your child to individualize his/her instruction on this topic with the express intent to raise his/her English reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in a format of fun.
The Middle School would like to keep you up-to-date and informed as to what is happening in your child’s summer school life. We would also ask for your assistance in preparing your child for each fun-fulfilled day:
☻Please send your child to school with a bottle of water and a healthy snack every day
☻Please ensure your child is dressed comfortably to combat the heat
☻You might want to make sure your child has ample sun block each day
☻Please let his or her teacher know who will be responsible for picking your child up each day
☻If your child will be absent, please contact the Summer School Office (phone 2873-9900 Ext. 892)
Please be aware that the middle school library opens at 7:45 for a prompt start to class at 8:00 am.
Here is a basic outline of your child’s day. Please remember, however, that it is only an outline and does not include specific activities.
Schedule:
8:00 - 10:25 Instruction
10:25 - 10:45 Snack & Recess
10:45 - 12:00 Instruction
12:00 Dismissal
Thanks for your participation and support of our summer school program. It will be a great experience for everyone involved.
Sincerely,
Naden Rowe
Grade 7&8 Teacher
Middle School Literacy Program, TAS Summer School
Mark Gurecki
Grade 6 Teacher
Middle School Literacy Program, TAS Summer School
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