March 13, 2015

Dear Parents,

Progress reports were sent home today. Our first impression of the PARCC test is that is much more demanding of students than ISAT was last year. The format for both paper based and computer based assessments are not what students are used to – and therefore I am glad that we have this year as a test-run (no pun intended). Our sixth graders will test next week and the second round of PARCC testing will occur during the last week of April. To learn more about PARCC, please visit http://parcconline.org/.

Yearbook personal dedication pages and business advertisements are available for purchase right now – If you order on-line before Spring Break you will get a 10% discount. Please visit our website for more details.

We want to recognize Dr. Chipain, Ms. Kupinski, and Mr. Robles – they presented at the national conference for the National Science Teachers Association at McCormick Place. We are proud of the strides we have made in our hands-on science program.

Saturday School for selected 6th and 8th grade students will continue tomorrow, Saturday, March 14 from 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. After School All Stars (ASAS) will have all academic classes, coding, and media sessions run until April 3rd.

Friends of Thorp:
With Taste of Thorp around the corner, we are looking for volunteers and donations! If you have even a little bit of time to help us set up on April 24 or during the event – we need your help to make this event the best yet! Please sign up at http://vols.pt/M6ZU7a. This fundraiser will make a huge impact at Thorp with the auditorium improvements we are working on! The deadline for donations for the Taste of Thorp is March 27th and we are still looking for big ticket items like vacation house rentals, sports tickets, hotel stays and unique experiences. If you or anyone you know has items they could donate, please contact Bindu Alexander atfotevents@gmail.com. Tickets for the event on April 24th will be on sale soon, so get that babysitter booked now! Please RSVP to friendsofthorp@gmail.com if you will join us.

PTA News and Information
Our Spring “Under the Sea” themed book fair is March 16 – 20. We will have a special family night on Wednesday March 18, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The PTA is looking for parent volunteers to help students choose the perfect book during the school day. You can volunteer for part of a day, an entire day, or whatever your schedule allows. If you are available to help, we would love to see you there! Please visit the link below and let us know your availability in the comments box section for the day(s) you pick, so we are sure to have coverage. Thank you for your support. http://vols.pt/ShaTxW Please keep collecting and sending in your Labels for Education, Coke Rewards, and Box Tops for Education. The winning classroom for the PTA membership drive is Room 105. 201 came in 2nd place and 104 is 3rd place. Thank you!

Local School Council – Our next Local School Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 13th, at 6:15 p.m. If you have a question or a concern you would like our LSC to address, please feel free to visit: http://goo.gl/SbfMIg or you can email the Thorp LSC at thorpacademylsc@gmail.com

Enjoy the warmer weather this weekend,

Efren Toledo