Report Writing Tips For 5th Grade

Torrington elementary, middle school CMT scores up; high school scores are down

“The CMT scores achieved by our Vogel Wetmore 5th grade students, under the guidance of their teachers, are the highest we have seen to date,” Vogel Principal Pam Dzurilla said. “The aptitude shown by our 4th graders is also very impressive. We continue to work diligently with each student’s rate of learning from Kindergarten right up through the fifth grade. It takes attention, perseverance, and a lot of hard work to meet the new three-year AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) expectations in the first year.”

“While there is hope and promise in the gains at the elementary and middle school levels, there is obvious continued disappointment and concern in the results coming from THS,” Leone said. “The growth in reading at TMS and Vogel demonstrated that progress can be made when accountability plans are designed and followed. It is clear that THS has come to an instructional cross road on standardized assessments.” In August, Torrington will once again release school-based report cards to all of its families. These documents will share grade level and cohort growth on assessment results. They will also measure the schools against the ERG (Educational Reference Group), the state, and examine progress in relation to making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Early data analysis shows that the district surpasses the state average in elementary and middle school math and reading while there is still an achievement gap to be closed at the High School level. “The CMT scores achieved by our Vogel Wetmore 5th grade students, under the guidance of their teachers, are the highest we have seen to date,” Vogel Principal Pam Dzurilla said. “The aptitude shown by our 4th graders is also very impressive. We continue to work diligently with each student’s rate of learning from Kindergarten right up through the fifth grade. It takes attention, perseverance, and a lot of hard work to meet the new three-year AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) expectations in the first year.” Despite measured gains at the lower level grades, Torrington High School saw declines in all four areas of the CAPT test. Declines were shown in math (-1.7 points), reading (-6.4 points), writing (-0.4 points) and science (-6.7 points). While the declines in math erased the increases from 2010, the declines in reading and science were of greater instructional concern and continued a past up and down cycle.

Princess Alethea Kontis - Redneck Ninjas

Destined for greatness, not just me, like the psychics had said. We were going to be doctors and lawyers and surgeons and politicians and artists, and we were going to rule the world. Our ovens just hadn’t preheated yet.

Drew Bates and I didn’t know each other very well back in middle school, but I think we went on a couple ALERT trips together, and we had a few really good friends in common. We talk a lot more now than we ever did. Thanks to Facebook, I discovered that we share the same birthday. (Something about us 1-11 babies…) I also discovered that in 2007, Drew was in a car wreck that left him a quadriplegic . Has that stopped him from making things happen? Of course not. Because we are amazing, and we always have been.

Earlier this year, Drew took advantage of the Kickstarter program to pitch his animated series REDNECK NINJAS to Hollywood. He ended up getting far more than the $8000 he’d planned for (Go, Drew!) and then used the money to work up the art and animation necessary. Here’s the pilot teaser for your watching enjoyment:

Drew Bates was a dreamer, always with his head in the clouds. His friends and family described him as…Unique. Then one day, he discovered he could make a really cool robot voice by speaking into his drinking cup. With sounds bellowing in his ears, he thought, “I want to do this everyday.” He watched countless science fiction movies, and cartoons, played video games, read Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, and National Geographic, until he found a sci-fi book at a school book-fair about robots.

Drew bought that book, devouring its content. He took it to school, showing it to everyone that would look. Alas, since most 5th graders weren’t into it, he tried sharing it with his teachers; only his English teacher responded. “Do a book report about it,” she boringly replied. So he set out to writing his report, and when he got to the end, he realized that it wasn’t enough. After collecting his thoughts, he searched the house for supplies, and went to his father’s garage possessed, like a hell-bent mad-scientist in his laboratory. Using a cardboard box, a shoe-box, wood strips, coat-hanger wire, wooden dowels, wagon wheels, Plexiglas, nuts, bolts, nails, silver and red spray paint, even a light-switch, bulb and receptacle, he created a robot.