Welcome to John Muir Elementary School where our mission is learning and preparing ALL kids for college and career! Our Professional Learning Community is filled with excellent students and staff who work hard each day in a warm and challenging academic environment. The primary focus of our school is student achievement, in both academics and behavior. John Muir Elementary School provides academic excellence and opportunity in a safe, respectful and responsible learning environment. We help our students achieve high standards ensuring we provide the educational foundation that students need to be successful. Through focused instructional strategies and teamwork, we meet the individual and group learning needs of all our children. John Muir Elementary School, in partnership with family and community, teaches effective communication skills, provides knowledge of how to learn, and encourages students to experience the joy of learning. Please make sure you read our Timberwolf Tracks newsletter here on our website 6 times during the school, view our school calendar of events and teachers websites before you exit our site. We welcome you to our school and welcome you to contact us at any time!
Lauran Hawker, Principal
The latest happenings @ JME Kaiser and STAR Testing!
THANK YOU KAISER PERMANENTE!!!
The Kaiser gang came out and performed for the kids a wonderful skit called "The Best Me" in the MPR. Wow... everyone had a lot of fun and the kids learned how important it is to exercise regularly and to eat & drink healthy foods & beverages. Lots of fun, loud singing & dancing, some student participation... a good time was had by all. They performed two shows so all the grades got to see them ROCK THE HOUSE!
They even brought gifts of soccer balls and fridge magnets... we can't thank you enough Kaiser!
Starting the week of May 1st and ending the following week May 10th the Students will be taking their statewide annual STAR test. This testing is for 2nd through 5th grade and includes English-Language Arts, Math & Science. STAR stands for Standardized Testing And Reporting. We are all excited and know that the Students are going to do SUPER this year... maybe even better than last year!
Under the STAR program, California students attain one of five levels of performance for each subject tested: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic, and far below basic.
The State Board of Education has established the "proficient" level as the desired achievement goal for all students. That level represents a solid performance in which students demonstrate a competent and adequate understanding of the knowledge and skills measured by the assessment at a particular grade, in a particular content area. This achievement goal is consistent with school growth targets for state accountability and requirements of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The state target is for all students to score at the proficient or advanced level.
In the nine years since all the CSTs have been completely aligned to the California content standards, the percentage of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level increased by 19 points in English–language arts, or from 35 percent to 54 percent; and 15 points in mathematics, from 35 percent to 50 percent.
Since last year, the percentage of students at or above the proficient level increased by 2 points in English–language arts and 2 points in mathematics.
The STAR Program consists of the following exams:
- California Standards Tests (CSTs), standards-based tests that measure the achievement of state content standards for English–language arts, mathematics, science, and history–social science.
- California Modified Assessment (CMA), designed for students with disabilities whose individualized education program team determines that the CMA is appropriate and who meet State Board of Education-adopted eligibility criteria. The CMA is designed to provide students an accessible assessment of their achievement of the California content standards for English–language arts, mathematics, and science.
- California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA), for students who have significant cognitive disabilities and assesses them in the content areas of English–language arts, mathematics, and science.
- Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS), for Spanish-speaking, English learner students who either receive instruction in Spanish or have been enrolled in a school in the United States for less than 12 months. The STS assesses these students in reading/language arts and mathematics. Students who complete the STS also complete the CST and/or CMA for their grade level.
The results of these exams, with the exception of the STS, are included in state and federal accountability reports. Students who complete the STS also complete the CST and/or CMA for their grade level.
This section is maintained by the JME "Lab Rats"... our volunteer 5th graders that take time out of their lunch recess to help Mr. Romo and younger classes in the Computer Lab. All of the staff here at JME is VERY thankful for their generous donation of time and skills! The Lab Rats ROCK! (Mr. Romo)
This update was brought to you by the JME Lab Rats! AK CW AD & AR
