Message from the Principals 4/25/2025

Today's Topics:

1: Important Reminders

2: Curriculum Focus: MAP Test

3: House Points

4: Learning Highlights & photos

1: Important Reminders

• Today: High School Fundraising (1:45-3:45)

  • Will also be on May 2nd and May 9th!

    • The fees will help reduce the total cost of the upcoming HS field trip to Hiroshima.

• April 29th - OPEN SCHOOL!

  • The Friends of Hope will open the Uniform Resale!

  • Visit the Library (202) to meet with other families

  • 8:30-11:30

    • Everyone is welcome to visit. Please ensure to leave the classroom from 10:00-10:10 to allow for students and teachers to have a short break.

• May 5-6 - NO SCHOOL (Golden Week)

• May 23 - Celebration of Learning: Action Ambassadors

2: Curriculum Focus: MAP Test

At Hope, we utilize the NWEA Map test as a tool to promote student growth and academic achievement. The NWEA Map test is an adaptive assessment that provides valuable insights into each student's abilities and progress. This also provides external validation of our learning.

Each semester we provide the MAP Test Family Report alongside the report cards. The MAP Test Family Report is a user-friendly document that provides parents with an overview of their child's performance on the MAP test. It is designed to help parents understand their child's progress, strengths, and areas for growth. We will discuss the information found within the family report and how you can use it at home to engage with your child's learning.

1. Overall Performance: The report provides an overview of your child's performance across subject areas, highlighting their overall achievement level.

2. RIT Scores: The report includes RIT scores, which are unique scores generated by the MAP test. These scores measure a student's academic growth and achievement level on a consistent scale across grade levels.

3. Grade-Level Equivalent (GLE): The report may include a Grade-Level Equivalent, which indicates the average performance of students at a particular grade level who took the same test.

4. Growth and Projection: The Family Report may display your child's growth over time, showing how their performance has changed from previous MAP test administrations. It may also include a projection of their future growth based on their current performance.

Here are some ways families can make the most of the Family Report:

1. Review the Report Together: Sit down with your child and review the Family Report together. Take the time to explain the information presented and discuss their performance in a supportive and encouraging manner.

2. Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your child's accomplishments and growth shown in the Family Report. Highlight areas where they have excelled and commend their efforts.

3. Identify Areas for Focus: Identify areas where your child may need additional support or improvement based on the Family Report.

4. Set Realistic Goals: Collaborate with your child to set realistic goals based on the insights from the Family Report. Help them understand the importance of setting achievable targets to foster a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

5. Communicate with Teachers: Teachers can provide additional guidance, suggest specific activities, or recommend strategies tailored to your child's needs.

6. Encourage Reading: Encourage regular reading habits and discuss books or articles with them to enhance comprehension and vocabulary skills.

7. Celebrate Effort and Resilience: Emphasize the importance of effort and resilience in the learning process. Encourage your child to embrace and develop a growth mindset.

The MAP Test Family Report serves as a valuable tool for parents to gain insights into their child's academic progress, set goals, and support their ongoing learning. It promotes parent-teacher communication and collaboration to ensure the best possible educational experience for each student.

We will conduct our Semester 2 MAP tests on from May 28 to May 30.

3: House Points

Dragon - 4410

Hydra - 4075

Phoenix - 3947 (Tough competition! Phoenix returned to 3rd place this week)

Basilisk - 3934

This week I am trying something new in the blog. Rather than posting a bulk of photos, each photo set will be accompanied with a description of the unit and activity. I hope this provide interesting context and shows how learning takes place at Hope. Please see below for amazing learning from various classes throughout the school!

-Mr. Brandon

4: Learning Highlights - so many great things!

This week, Grade 1 started a new IPC unit called "Time Travelers." The students became History Detectives and had a mission briefing from "General R" (Mr. Romel plays different characters in the various units!) Their job was to find out the owner of a lost diary!

To solve the mystery, they needed to unlock a secret box and look at clues to help them. They talked about what makes a good detective and the Personal Learning Goals they will use such as: "Thinker – I use my brain to solve problems and make good choices".

Grade 2 students began their woodworking project titled “My Amazing Wooden Robot” as part of the IPC Unit on "Inventions that Changed the World". This project emphasizes the skills needed to safely cut wood using a hand saw and to apply finishing touches according to the design process.

For the unit "What's On The Menu" by grade 3, students have to identify

geographical features on a map. They researched an area and drew a map of the area. including a legend. The focus was tuned to food establishments and to make predictions on who might visit those establishments.

In Math G3 started on their unit - Lines (Perpendicular and Parallel). The kids learned how the knowledge is applicable in design and even driving. They also discussed how the word "parallel" can be used in science like circuit arrangement and the popular concept of a "parallel" universe.

The new G6 Unit is "Consequences", the Big Idea is "Very few actions are neutral, most actions create impact or change that then have to be dealt with." Ms. Anja demonstrated the basic concept by throwing a stone into the ocean causing ripples (effects of an action). The class walked around the beach and park, and students recorded visible human actions and their negative/positive affects. The following task was to create action VS consequences web, that we placed on their classroom wall. G6 students came to understand that all actions have consequences that can be positive as well as negative. They focused on their PLGs "Collaborator" and "Thinker".

Grade 7 completed their Knowledge Harvest for the unit "Curiosity". They had a brainstorm wall and wrote what they were curious about; places, space, time etc. The added what they wanted to know more about and reasons why they think people explore. The learners were able to discuss different reasons why they think people explore and provided insights about what they wanted to learn more about.

Grade 7 continued their unit by working on their map skills using digital and physical resources. They focused on different regions and how people live or travel to these regions. Currently, they are researching and comparing these regions.

Grade 8 had their entry point activity for the Entrepreneurship Unit. As part of the activity, they created a business plan, designed a logo, and collaborated on a product. The whole class worked together, bringing in diverse ideas and strongly connecting them to the Action Ambassadors Projects and their focus SDGs. They thoughtfully considered the use of materials, the final product output, and potential environmental challenges. They also chose a name for their business, keeping in mind the upcoming Celebration of Learning and how their project will be presented. They continued to experience endless collaboration in creating their company for Entry Point. As they start to finalize their product and Company design, they began allocating jobs for each other from CEO to Chief SDG officer.

For the past four years, our high school has partnered with the local cat shelter, and our student volunteers have been an incredible help in caring for the cats and maintaining the facility. Here are some photos shared by the shelter’s manager.