Weekly Communication

Hello Mustang Families!

There is no Mustang Express this week because there is simply too much information I want to make sure you know about! Please take a few minutes to check out this week's updates and opportunities below.

Join Our McSwain Committees!
We are looking for parents, guardians, and community members who are interested in participating on one of our McSwain committees. Our committees include administrators, parents, community members, and staff, and your participation and input are valuable to our school community.

School Site Council (SSC)

The SSC plays a vital role in developing and reviewing school policies and ensuring our students have access to the best educational resources. The council collaborates with administration, teachers, parents, and students to help create a well-rounded and effective learning environment.

Members of the SSC will also serve on the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), helping to support and advocate for our English Learner students and their families. Meetings will be held primarily after school and outside of school hours.

Wellness Committee

The Wellness Committee is dedicated to promoting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our students and staff. The committee helps plan and implement wellness initiatives to ensure McSwain remains a healthy and supportive place for everyone.

Meetings will be held after school.

Safety Committee

The Safety Committee focuses on maintaining a safe and secure environment for all members of the McSwain community. The committee reviews safety protocols, conducts drills, and works to prevent and address potential hazards on campus.

Meetings will be held after school.

If you are interested in participating in one or more of these committees, please fill out the attached Committee Interest Form.

NWEA MAP Assessment Window: September 9–23
Our first NWEA MAP assessment window of the school year will take place September 9–23.

NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments help determine students' instructional levels and measure academic growth throughout the school year and from year to year.

Students in grades 1–8 take MAP assessments in Reading and Math during the fall, winter, and spring. Kindergarten students take MAP assessments during the winter and spring. Students in grades 4–8 also take the MAP assessment in Science.

MAP assessments are adaptive and are taken on a computer. This means the assessment adjusts based on a student's responses. When a student answers questions correctly, the questions become more difficult. When a student answers a question incorrectly, the questions become easier. This allows each student to take an assessment based on their learning level.

MAP results are reported using RIT scores rather than a traditional percentage correct. The RIT scale allows us to measure student growth in learning over time and helps teachers identify areas on which to focus attention for student learning.

MAP results are an important tool for monitoring student growth. We also use the results to help identify students for intervention and to measure overall student growth and mastery throughout the year.

McSwain Birthday Book Club

The McSwain Birthday Book Club is a fundraiser that helps support our school libraries!

During their birthday month, students will receive a packet with information about the Birthday Book Club. Families who choose to participate donate $25, and their student gets to select one of our brand-new library books. A sticker is placed inside the book recognizing that the student donated it for their birthday.

Participating students also get to choose a birthday pencil and bookmark, have their picture taken for our Birthday Book Club bulletin board, and are invited to a special library birthday party at the end of the year.

The Birthday Book Club helps us add new books to our McSwain libraries for all of our students to enjoy.

Please see the attached Birthday Book Club flyer for additional information, including how to register online.

Thank you, Mustang Families, for your continued support and involvement in our school community!

Have a wonderful weekend!