Thursday, March 7, 2013
N/Warren Town and County News
Page Eleven
OVIATT ELEMENTARY
By Dr. Laura Sivadge, Principal
and
Rodney Martinez, Dean of Students
Elivia is served by Shannon Chase. Skittle toppings
were a big hit!
Josh, Trinity and classmates celebrate their DIBELS
reading successes! Photos submitted.
The importance of educating the whole child is noted
in the Oviatt Elementary Mission Statement: At Oviatt
Elementary our primary mission is to work collaboratively to
develop the academic, social, emotional, and physical self of
the child so he or she is a self-directed, life-long learner.
Two Oviatt Elementary articles highlight examples
of Oviatt children's academic and social development:
1) fall semester reading achievements; and 2) how chil-
dren responded to an opportunity to practice the stu-
dent learning goals of personal and social responsibili-
ties. See Leigh VanderHolt's article on the children's
donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(JDRF).
Fall Semester Reading Achievements
In the fall, the teaching staff wrote the following
building-wide goal for our Oviatt students" reading
O
achievement: By May 2013, 90 of the elementary students
at each grade level will achieve at or above the benchmark
goal of the DIBELS Next Composite Score.
Once the above goal was established, the teachers
wrote subgoals for the fall semester that addressed spe-
cific essential reading skills for each grade level. The
largest percentage of our children's school day is focused
, on reading/language arts. Ninety minutes are set aside
for explicit or direct instruction opportunities. An ad-
ditional thirty minutes each day are devoted to spelling
and grammar skill development. ,
The children participate in whole group and small
group reading instruction. It is in the small group set-
ting that lessons are targeted to the specific skill level of
the child. In addition to our in-class instruction, some
children participate in the Title I Reading program
which is available for students who benefit from addi-
tional daily small group instruction.
From August through mid-Januar36 teachers kept
their 'eye' on the winter benchmark scores of the Dy-
namic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy (DIBELS) As-
sessment, which is a criterion-referenced reading skills
test that is administered individually to each Oviatt child
to measure gains made throughout the fall .semester. If
gains were not evidenced in the weekly or biweekly
monitoring assessments, teachers would revise instruc-
tion with the intent to better meet each child's literacy
learning needs.
Fall DIBELS group achievement results follow:
Kindergarten
100% of the children demonstrated benchmark skills
in identification of first sounds.
98% of the children were proficient in segmenting
letter sounds.
First Grade
83% of the children achieved benchmark skills in
identification of correct letter sounds in a nonsense
word.
Thirty-nine students demonstrated exemplary gains
by moving to the benchmark level of correct letter
sounds when compared to their fall scores in the inten-
sive or strategic levels. 14% of the students made move-
ment from below and well-below benchmark to bench-
mark.
Second Grade
85% of the children read passages with 96% accu-
racy. In the fall, this same group of students was expected
to read passages with 90% accuracy. Not only did the
percentage of children achieving at benchmark increase
from fall to winter, these children also increased their
accuracy by 6%.
In the fall, 34 children did not achieve the benchmark
expectation of recoding a minimum of 13 nonsense
words in one minute. Knowing this is a foundational
skill for reading fluency and accuracy, the teachers con-
tinued to progress monitor the growth of these 34 stu-
dents and all were successful.
Second semester goals are set and the work for all
continues. We appreciate our parents and family mem-
bers who listen to their children read at home, practice
spelling words, encourage children's writing and read
to their children! Working as partners benefits our chil-
dren in so many ways. We thank you for your efforts,
too!
Celebrations! Included with this article are a few
photos taken during the PTO-sponsored celebration of
the children's reading achievements! The PTO treated
the students to a scoop of ice cream on which they could
add two toppings of their choice. We believe it is im-
portant to celebrate such great accomplishments and
thank PTO for making this possible. Our Watch D.O.G.S.
pitched right in serving the ice cream alongside PTO
members!
What's Next in Reading?
Second semester reading goals are set and the work
for all continues. We appreciate our parents and family
members who listen to their children read at home, prac-
tice spelling words and encourage their child's writing
and reading at home! We also thank our Watch D.O.G.S.
and community members who volunteer to listen to our
children read during the school day. Working as part-
ners benefits our children in so many ways!
Now Accepting Applicatiors
NORWALK 2 APARTMENTS
1, 2 Bedrooms, Newly Remodeled
Community Center, 24-7 Maintenan
Rental Assistance Available
515-210-8983
wmnN.NationaI-Management.con
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NORWALK
SERVICES
BOOSTER CLUB MINUTES
Concluded from p. 9
only had two seniors on more are important to
the 14-person varsity line- * have.
up. Right now they are just
Work is getting ready asking for groups to con-
for spring sports, sider contributing to the
Sam George was nomi- purchase, so those dollar
nated for the All-Shrine amounts can beinserted in
Bowl. Allison Taylor and the grant, which will dem-
Courtney Maher were onstrate community sup-
nominated to cheer at it. port for the AEDs. That
Public Relations grant is due March 7. The
Nancy LaVellereported group discussed a $900
that she sent congratulato- contribution but will hold
ry cards for participation a formal discussion and
in the Shrine Bowl and she vote next meeting.
will send out cards as win- There was initial dis-
ter seasons wind down. cussion about creating a
Old Business Norwalk Athletic Hall of
No old business Fame. Further in-depth
New Business discussions will follow.
Dianna Duffy and Adjournment
Laura Johnson gave a brief Motion was made by A1
presentation on AEDs, au- Lammers to adjourn the
tomaticexternaldefibrilla- meeting, seconded by
tors. They, along with oth- Nancy LaVelle. Motion
er school nurses, are writ- carried. Meeting was ad-
ing a grant to purchase two journed at 7:55 p.m.
additional AEDs to house The next NABC meet-
at Eastview/Performing ing will be held Wednes-
Arts Center and the new Feb. 27, 2013 at 7p.m.
stadium. They cost $1,800 at the Norwalk High.
each. The school has four School Library.
now, near each gym, but
given the size of our school Respectfully Submitted,
and accessibility challeng- Lori Vaske
es of those AEDs, two
Activities
at the ....
NORWALK
1,IBRA
1051 Noah Ave. 981-0217
Monday, March 11
Tiny Tots with Debbie Doo Wop, 9:30 a.m. Mon-
days until April 8, we welcome Debbie Doo Wop back
to the library to lead the Tiny Tots Music Class. Join us
for songs, instruments and fun! Ages 1-5. Registration
is required (space is limited).
Tuesday, March 12
Pre-School Story Time, 10:30-11 a.m. For 3-6 year-
olds, join us for stories, finger plays, songs and flannel
boards! Parents, expect some interaction with your little
ones and some helpful tips on early literacy skills you
can use at home. This storytime is also a good fit for
parents attending with several children and for daycare
groups.
Norwalk History Project, 6:30-8 p.m. Join us in ex-
ploring the history of Norwalk and the surrounding
area. Bring your own photos, documents or artifacts to
share and help us design a virtual museum. No techni-
cal skills required - we will do all the website work. We
do need your input for what kinds of historical areas
we want and we need volunteers to help us find arti-
facts to scan, photograph or record. We also need sto-
ries and memories of the area. Feel free to join us or at
the meeting March 21.
Wednesday, March 13
Wee Ones Story Time, 10:30-11 a.m. For infants to
18 months, join us for lapsit stories, finger plays and
songs! Parents: expect full interaction with your little
one and some helpful tips on early literacy skills you
can use at home. This storytime is designed for a one-
one or one-two parent to child ratio.
Thursday, March 14
Toddler Time, 10:30-11 a.m. Join us for stories, fin-
ger plays, songs and flannel boards! Parents: expect lots
of interaction with your little ones and some helpful
tips on early literacy skills you can use at home.
American Girl Club, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Join us for crafts,
games and stories. Second grade and up. (Participants
do not need an American Girl Doll to attend.)
Friday, March 15
Breakfast & Books, 9-10:30 a.m. Join us on the 3rd
Friday of each month for this fun activity. This is a chance
to simply share what you have been reading, learn about
new and upcoming titles or best-sellers and enjoy a
breakfast of donuts or muffins on us.
