August 29, 2014 Dear Northstar Families, Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! As we all gear up for our return, we have a number of new developments to share with you. From a renovated media center to the finishing touches on our new turf football field, the school has taken on a new look. Not only are there physical changes to our school, but we have a number of new educational opportunities that we are excited to share. Teachers and other staff have been working throughout the summer in order to expand upon our already high quality learning experiences for our students. Students this year will have greater opportunities for personalized learning, reflection, and application of real-world skills. Students are creating ePortfolios of their work that they will take with them throughout their high school experience and beyond. These ePortfolios will provide students with the opportunity to display their mastery of content, reflect on their progress, and open up a greater dialogue between students and instructors. These ePortfolios will be facilitated through our Academic Excellence sessions. Some of our teachers and classrooms are taking the next step in the journey of standards-based grading by expanding upon practices that have proven successful in classrooms throughout the district. These classrooms are utilizing a proficiency-based model as the basis for student learning. In order to ensure that all students are able to be successful, a proficiency-based learning model uses personalized learning choices, flexible pacing, extra student learning support and enrichment opportunities, and increased student responsibility. Ultimately, the goal of a proficiency-based course is to ensure all students can demonstrate high level thinking and skills in order to prepare them to be career or college ready. Student opportunities and responsibilities will vary from course to course. Individual teachers will communicate their expectations in writing, but if you have specific questions, please attend the Parent/Student Welcome Back Night on Monday, September 8, from 5-7:30pm. Yours in educational excellence, Northstar Administration and Faculty
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:27:53 +0000
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