Greetings Del Sur Explorers!

February 2010

During the month of January, all of our students’ academic progress in reading, language, and math were assessed with our district’s computerized Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). We are excited to report that our students are effectively increasing their mastery and skills on the California content standards. Parents, please ask your child to share their results with you. I would like to thank our incredible parents for your support of your child’s academic progress by helping with homework, getting your child to know their math facts via flash cards, and celebrating and motivating your students to read as much as they can. Indeed, the educational process is dependent on a strong home school relationship.

For students in grades two through five, this month these students will have the opportunity to work with Compass Learning in the area of English Language Arts. Compass Learning is a software program that can be utilized both at home and at school. The key benefit of Compass Learning is that it individually provides practice on various standards based on each individual student’s performance on the MAP assessment. This is a proven program that truly aids students in their academic progress. Our teachers will be assigning students to work on Compass Learning as part of their homework. Further information about this program and how parents can access Compass Learning at home will be sent home before the February break. We would like to thank the 4S Ranch- Del Sur Foundation and the Del Sur Educational Foundation for their financial support in procuring this resource for our students.

On Saturday, March 6, our Foundation will be sponsoring our first silent and live auction at the Ranch House. This is an extremely important event for our school. With the dire news of our district’s budget for next year, we are hoping to ascertain some much needed funds so we can continue to provide our students with an optimal educational experience. Our Foundation is hoping to be able to fund our art and music teachers’ salaries. Additionally, they are hoping to support the purchase of Compass Learning for our kindergarten and first grade students as well as to purchase the math component. This organization is also hoping to support the development of a science lab and the services of a physical education specialist. Your support of this event is vitally important. The details of the event are outlined in this edition of The Compass. Tickets will be available beginning February 1st.

Thanks for your continued support of our endeavors. We continue to build an outstanding school focused on exploring the richness of the past, the opportunities of the present, and the infinite possibilities of the future.

See you on campus,
Mr. Johnson