October 08, 2019

Dear Dixon Families,

From time to time, I will reach out to you with specific information about our campus in order to keep you informed and continue our efforts to improve communication. Important information will be included under specific categories, below, so you are able to refer to the topics quickly and effectively.

Thank you for being a part of our Dixon Campus and our ISL community and for everything you do to work with us so we can be better each day for our students. 

IMPORTANT CAMPUS REMINDERS & STUDENT SAFETY

• Check the Blue Connection Folder every day. Notice which documents are labeled “Keep at home” and which are to be signed and to “Return to school,” such as the Bi-Montly Academic Report. These bi-monthly reports may include practice work as well as assessment results (foci) and behavior updates. 

  • Please schedule a meeting with the teacher if you have concerns in the academic progression or behavior of your child and or if you need to understand grading or any other aspect that is not clear to you.

• Safety is our priority. Please be mindful not to park on the opposite side of our car drop off area at Ogden street to walk your child to the drop off gate, if you arrive between 7:45-8:00 A.M. Stay to the street crossings at the corners. 

• Update your pick-up contact information and remember that if you have an emergency and are in need to send someone who is not registered as a contact pick up person, email Ms.CatalianColbert(ccolbert@isl-edu.org) and Mr. Benjamin Sanchez (bsanchez@isl-edu.org), and inform the appropriate teacher. 

  • Your email must include the complete name of the person picking up your child. This person will need to present a formal identification at the front desk in order for us to release the child to this person. 

  • For parents of students who ride our school bus, contact Mr. Benjamin Welman at bwelman@isl-edu.org.

CURRICULUM 

Kindergarten-Second Grade: 

• Language Arts in K: Your child is blending consonants and vowels, learning specific weekly vocabulary and high frequency words, practicing writing in their target language  and fine motor skills. It is expected that all our students in Kindergarten will write in cursive at the end of the school year. In First and second grade, your child is reading and writing at grade level expectations. 

• Math: Your child access math curriculum via lessons found in Eureka Math. I encourage you to explore the below resources to be more familiar with the content and strategies our teachers use in math to teach your child. In addition, your child begins each day  by practicing mathematical skills found in the Every Day Counts Program. Your child ends the week of math-learning by participating in interactive activities that bring real life examples during Fun Friday. Please check the below resources found in the LDOE: Family Support Toolbox

  • Eureka Math Parent Guide (Kindergarten)  Module 1 PDF, 

  • Eureka Math Parent Guide (1st Grade) - Module 1 PDF

  • Eureka Math Parent Guide (1st Grade) - Module 2 PDF

  • Eureka Math Parent Guide (2nd Grade) - Module 1 PDF

  • Eureka Math Parent Guide (2nd Grade) - Module 2 PDF

  • Eureka Math Parent Guide (2nd Grade) - Module 3 PDF

• Science and Social Studies These two core subjects are very important in your child's education. At Dixon, teachers teach these subjects in two or three weeks rotational schedule. At the current moment, both core subject’s sequence are being revised and your child’s homeroom teacher will send you information about changes, if any. In Science each unit is built around an anchor phenomena and standards.  Take a look at your child’s corresponding grade year overview: First Grade Science Unit Sample Overview, Second Grade Science Unit Sample Overview and Kindergarten Science Unit Sample Overview

• Please explore the Kindergarten Social Studies Sample Scope and Sequence, First Grade Social Studies Scope and Sequence, and Second Grade Social Studies Scope and Sequence, to gain a greater understanding about the different units/lessons your child will be learning at school.

• ELA:  Your child learns to read in English in Second Grade. Ms. Kyla Debarbieri and Katie Mezzic are currently working in blending sounds and writing vocabulary words and simple sentences. They are introducing standards for literature and informational text. They are teaching their students in using information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate an understanding of its characters, setting, or plot and to explain how specific images (e.g., diagrams and pictures ) contribute to and clarify a text. 

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Do not forget to check our Dixon Campus Community Page to stay abreast of our school activities and to  view your most recent Tid-Bits  click here. Specific class activities is shared by teachers via Home School Connection Folder and/or Ms. Catalian, our Family Liaison.

ABOUT ISL

ISL is a unique community. Each month, I want to share a special tip, articles, resources, or other information that can help you learn a little more about our rich cultural and international community. Understanding that we all come from different backgrounds and places can help us communicate better and gain more acceptance for each other. This time I would like to address language barriers and Hidden rules.

1. Some of you may have experienced language barriers when communicating with your child’s homeroom teacher. As you may know our ISL immersion teachers are not required to be native English Speakers and sometimes teachers literally translate words/thoughts from their native language into English however, the word or phrases chosen may not be the right ones to carry out the meaning of the thought the teacher is trying to convey. Please have in mind, that literal translation may interfere with having a clear communication and understanding and do not hesitate to reach out to Catalian or to me if you are in need to have a fluent English speaker in attendance of a meeting to ameliorate this challenge.

2. Another challenge in a multicultural and diverse schools  is to navigate “Hidden Rules”. Hidden Rules is a term used to describe the unwritten social rules and behaviors that most of us seem to know without ever being taught, such as respecting those in a position of authority, acknowledging others' personal space, speaking at an appropriate volume, paying attention to body language, and more. Each of us come from a different background or  educational experience and therefore hidden rules may play a role in making communication effective. By being aware of the existence of hidden rules and avoiding assumptions about language usage, behavior, and actions in our daily interactions makes our community stronger. Take a look at Rita Pierson’s video about hidden rules in My Mamma Said. In this video, we are exposed at the two different set of rules our children need to learn to navigate the home and school environment. 

IN CLOSING…

Do not miss the opportunity to engage with your child and their education. You can help them make real world connections with the concepts/skills currently taught in the classroom. Parents who get involved in their children’s education form strong family bonds, trust, inspiration, and respect.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education. We hope to be able to continue working together for a successful year.

Sincerely,

Rosa Alvarado

Principal- Dixon Campus & Westbank Campus

International School of Louisiana