Welcome to the Primary Magnet Takoma Park Elementary School

Agenda  Welcome, Introductions  All about TPES  TPES Magnet Program Framework  How does the Primary Magnet Program fit in?  Application Process  School Tour  Q & A Session

What is our vision? Parents, staff, students and the community will work to achieve a safe and positive learning environment through high expectations and diverse learning experiences.

What is our mission? Think positively, work hard, and do your BEST.

Welcome to Takoma Park ES  K-2 Elementary School  Primary Magnet Program  Reduced class size initiative  Feed into Piney Branch ES

All About TPES  Classes  8 kindergarten  8 first grade  8 second grade  Facilities Include:  Main building with gymnasium  8 relocatable classrooms

By the Numbers…  394 Total students Demographics  Asian 7.4%  Black 36%  Hispanic 8.4%  American Indian.3%  White 47.9%

Scheduled Addition/Renovations Addition and renovations at TPES will begin in July Students will attend Grosvenor Elementary in Rockville, Maryland from July 2009 – August 2010.

Sample of a daily schedule  Reading/Language Arts (90 minutes)  Math (70 minutes)  Writing (50 minutes)  Science/Social Studies (50 minutes)  Special (40 minutes)  Art  Music  PE  Media Center/Computer Lab  Lunch/Recess (60 minutes) Plus: first and second graders attend interest based ENRICHMENT CLUSTERS once a week for 60 minutes.

Takoma Park Elementary School Magnet Program Framework: The rationale and program goals that direct the course of studies and instruction for a program.

Rationale  Accelerated, compacted and enriched to meet the needs of highly able students.  Promotes the thinking skills and instructional strategies that encourage risk taking and creative expression to help highly able students realize their full potential

Program Goals  Successful completion of William and Mary Literature Unit (Grade 2)  Inquiry-based language arts program, Junior Great Books  Flexible groupings for instruction of Reading and Language Arts  Accelerated Math classes  Interest-based Enrichment Clusters

Primary Magnet Program Design  Students will be heterogeneously grouped for homeroom based on reading levels  Included in the reading programs will be  Junior Great Books  William & Mary  Lucy Calkins Writing Program

Primary Magnet Program Design  Students regrouped for math  Curriculum compacting in all math classes  Curriculum acceleration in some math classes  Flexible grouping in Reading and Language Arts  Differentiated instruction  tiered lessons

Primary Magnet Program Design  Science/Social Studies will be taught daily in homeroom classes  Extension activities for social studies and science classes will be incorporated into all classes  All students participate in hands-on- science investigations in the science lab (rotation)

What does this mean for students participating in the Primary Magnet Program?

Primary Magnet Program  The magnet program is one tool for providing educational opportunities for students  Teachers plan instruction specifically for advance learners to provide challenging content, assignments, and instructional grouping within the classroom

Magnet Enrichment Clusters  Clusters meet weekly  Clusters will be project-based or performance task oriented  Students will have the opportunity to change clusters at the end of the semester It is during this time that magnet students have the opportunity to work together exclusively.

Enrichment Clusters By the end of Grade 2 the Takoma Park Elementary Enrichment Clusters will develop critical thinking, creative thinking, and problem solving by providing opportunities for students to master the following skills: (1) Develop and showcase authentic products, performances and/or services to adult and peer audiences (2) Experience how expert speakers answer questions and broaden students’ conceptual understanding of various topics, areas of interest and fields of study (3) Develop and investigate a scientifically testable question (4) Share scientific findings and defend research with a community of peers (5) Apply creative approaches to solve authentic problems (6) Compose informational, persuasive, and fictional writing pieces independently (7) Develop aesthetic appreciation and express learning in creative formats

Enrichment Clusters First Grade TopicsSecond Grade Topics Using the Language of Sign to Communicate Poetry School Store $$$ A Study of Insects Communication Through Animation Backyard Bird Watching Recipes for Healthy Eating Building Number Sense through Math Games Water Power! Reader’s Theater School Store $$$ Partners in Reading Reader’s Theater Backyard Bird Watching Cultures and the Arts They Produce The History of Takoma Park Using and Making Maps Trees in Takoma Park Water Power! Recipes for Healthy Eating

By the Numbers… st grade2 nd gradeTotal Total # Students Magnet Percentage69%48%55% Out-of- Boundary Percentage24%28%27%

Welcome to TPES! Tour Guidelines To maintain continuity of instruction for our students, we ask that you keep the following points in mind:  Be respectful of ongoing instruction for our students and staff.  Limit your time in any one classroom. If more than four parents are already observing in a class, please visit another room and return to the first room when space is available.  Keep conversations in hallways at low levels. Part of the pleasure of the open house is having the opportunity to talk with both prospective parents and current parents.  The Open House will end promptly at 3:00.  Ask questions !

Smaller Group Sessions  Red and Blue Groups 1 st - (2:00 -2:30) Tour School 2 nd - (2:30-3:00) Questions and Answers Yellow and Green Groups 1 st - (2:00-2:30) Questions and Answers 2 nd - (2:30-3:00) Tour School

Primary Magnet Program Application and Screening Procedures

What should I consider before making the decision to have my child screened for the TPES Primary Magnet Program? Is this program, the change of environment, and commute the best thing for my child? Ask:  What programs for enrichment and acceleration does our home school provide?  How well does my child adjust to change? Will he or she be unduly upset if separated from friends at the home school?  How much time will be spent on the bus each morning and afternoon? If your child is invited to the TPES magnet program, the expectation is that he/she WILL attend unless unexpected circumstances arise.

Nomination & Testing Procedures Spring 2009  Complete the Parent Survey form  Teacher survey will be completed by current teacher  Participate in testing at TPES  Students who meet the screening criteria will be entered into a pool for possible placement  If selected, complete a transfer application at home school Your child will be screened this spring for the TPES Primary Magnet Program

Application Form  Print or type all information on the application  Sign permission slip for testing  Submit application before February 27 th directly to TPES  Faxes will not be accepted

Teacher Survey  Meet with your child’s teacher regarding your interest in the Primary Magnet Program  Teacher should send form directly to TPES by March 20, 2009

Screening Process  February 27, Application Deadline  March 21, Magnet Testing  March 20, Deadline for teacher survey  By May 18, Parents Notified of Selection  May 29- Deadline for selected students to accept

Screening Instruments  Current Teacher’s Survey Form  Parent Survey Form  Norm-referenced Student Assessment  Math and Reading Levels

Welcome to Takoma Park!