e-news gr 6-9 conf ssign

SPECIAL ISSUE OF E-NEWS
FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-9
October 26, 2009

From John Cunningham:
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES – ON-LINE SIGN UP INFORMATION

From Liam Considine:
THE CTP 4 (ERBs) TESTING AND SCHEDULING

Note the 12:30 p.m. dismissal/ pick-up time for Middle School on November 5 & 6.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES – ON-LINE SIGN UP INFORMATION & DIRECTIONS

Dear Parents,

Parent-Teacher Conferences for Grades 6-9 are scheduled for:

• Thursday November 5, 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Friday November 6, 1:30 p.m. – 5: 30 p.m. and

• Thursday, November 12, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Parents can expect to receive Interim checklists for academic subjects, as well as advisor reports, before conferences begin. We expect to mail these by the end of this week (Oct 29).

This year, conference sign-up is on-line – beginning this Wednesday, October 28, at 8:30 a.m. Once again we are using the pickAtime program that worked so effectively at Foote last year.
All conferences will be held in the Hosley Gym.

Please schedule only one 10-minute conference per teacher and/or advisor for each student, following the step-by-step Conference Scheduling Directions below. Note that Bill Manke, Edie Flagg and Julian Schlusberg should only be signed up for advisor conferences.

On Nov. 5 and 6, all Middle School students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. Please make arrangements for pick up.

If you have any questions or would like some assistance from Foote staff in scheduling your conferences on-line, please contact Becky McGuire (777-3464 ext. 208). Note that our librarians are ready to help you if you stop by during library hours (Mon. - Thurs. 7:45 to 5 p.m.; Fri. 7:45 to 4 p.m.)

Sincerely,

John A. Cunningham

CONFERENCE SCHEDULING DIRECTIONS

Click on this link: https://www.pickatime.com/client?ven=11601758, which takes you to Foote's page at pickAtime, and follow the steps below. (This link is also on the Parents page of the Foote Web site.) The illustrations are intended to assure you that what you see on the pickAtime site is what you are supposed to see.

Step 1: Register

• Enter your e-mail address and password; then click on Login/Create Account.
Please only use one e-mail address to create conference times.

• Make a note of the e-mail address and password you have chosen in case you want to login again to edit your appointments.

• Fill in the required fields and register.

Step 2: Pick a date

• Click on the conference for which you would like to schedule an appointment.

Step 3: Make Appointments

• You will see a list of teachers. Select the box next to the name of each teacher with whom you would like to schedule a conference. Do this for ALL teachers you want to meet with that day. You will then see the schedule of available times for those teachers.

• Each colored square represents an available meeting time. The legend shows which teacher corresponds to which color.

• When you click on the time you would like, you will be prompted to type in your child's name.

If you would like a reminder e-mail sent to you a day before your appointment, check the corresponding box, and indicate when you want the reminder e-mail sent. If you do not want to receive a reminder e-mail, be sure to leave the box unchecked. Then click on "Create Appointment."

• Repeat this process for each appointment.

Step 4: Print your Schedule

After you have scheduled all your appointments, you may go to the top right corner of the screen and click on the "Print Schedule" icon.

Note:
If all slots for a given teacher are taken, please contact the teacher directly for an appointment.

If you have any questions please contact Becky McGuire (777-3464 ext. 208).

INFORMATION ON THE CTP 4 (ERBs)

Dear Parents:

Students in Grades 6-8 will be taking the CTP 4 (ERBs) during the mornings of November 5 and 6. The CTP 4 measures achievement and reasoning ability in various areas of math and language arts. We administer these tests primarily to provide practice for our students who intend to take the ISEE or the SSAT as part of the application to independent secondary schools and for our students who will take standardized tests in public high school. The CTP 4 is not a criterion for admission to secondary school.

Because the CTP tests a variety of skills that are appropriate to your child's grade level, studying is not a useful preparation. A good night's sleep and an adequate breakfast are the best way to ensure that your child is a relaxed and well-rested test taker.

As you peruse the testing schedule below, please note that while snack is provided mid-morning between subtests, a lunch period is not scheduled prior to the 12:30 p.m. dismissal. Additionally, please note that calculators are required for the Math II subtest on Friday morning. If you are unable to provide your child with a calculator, please have your child contact his/her advisor before Wednesday, November 4.

Thank you in advance for your help in administering the CTP 4.

Sincerely,

Liam Considine

DAILY SCHEDULE FOR CTP 4

November 5 & 6, 2009

Grade 6            Level 5
Grade 7            Level 6
Grade 8            Level 7

Thursday, November 5

  8:10 - 8:40     Students assemble & sharpen pencils; teachers take attendance,
                        facilitate completion of students' answer sheet grid, give out books &
                        scrap paper.
8:40 - 9:15     Verbal Reasoning                     35 minutes
9:25-10:10     Quantitative Reasoning           45 minutes
10:10-10:30     Recess/Snack
10:35- 11:20    Math 1                                      40/45minutes*
11:30 -12:25    Writing sample draft :              5 minute presentation +50 to write
           12:30    Dismissal for Middle School Students

            1:30     Parent Conferences in Hosley Gym


Friday, November 6

8:10 - 8:40    Students assemble & sharpen pencils; teachers take attendance, give
                        out answer sheets, books and scrap paper.
8:40 - 9:20    Reading Comprehension          40 minutes
9:30 -10:15    Math 2 (calculator required)     40/45 minutes*
10:15 -10:35    Recess/Snack
10:40- 11:00    Vocabulary                                20 minutes
11:10- 12:05   Writing sample final copy:         5 minutes to return drafts +50 to write
             12:30 Dismissal

1:30 Parent Conferences in Hosley Gym

* Time depends on level of test taken