Your child has been given a Specials calendar that is specific to his or her band instrument. The students who do not play an instrument (non band) also have a calendar. Please high light your calendar so that your student will know on which days he or she will need to bring his or her instument or sneakers. Friday is a full band rehearsal, so all band students will need their instrument every Friday. READING GROUPS Yes, we have started switching for reading classes. Let me tell you how we decided to place the students in groups. Since September we have been collecting data about each student. We started with their 3rd grade CMT scores in reading, then we also looked at last year's May DRA score. We administered a new universal screening for the whole grade which included a DRP (degrees of reading power) and a reading comprehension test. Based on their scores, along with teacher input, we made decisions regarding each child's placement. Ms. Bedard and myself will be teaching the "at grade level" classes. We are the "middle" groups. Neither one of our sections is a " different" level from the other. However, we did decide to have Ms. Piatek's students join my room, and Mrs. Person's students join Ms. Bedard's class to better manage grading. Ms. Piatek and Mrs. Rijs will co-teach the above grade level group, while Mrs. Persons and Mrs. Mattessich will co-teach the below grade level students. Mrs. Radin will also be available for support a few days each week. These will be flexible groupings, and if a student progresses in the " on grade" level enough, they will be moved to the "above grade" level group. Likewise, if an "on grade" level class proves to be too difficult, a student can move into the "below grade" level group for reinforced skill practice. We will monitor student growth, and challenge all students at their appropriate levels.