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Update from Rindge Avenue Upper School | March 15, 2018
Published on Mar 15, 2018 14:37
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Greetings from Julie Craven
Dear RAUC Families,
We hope your families all safely weathered the Nor’Easter. The winter storm certainly threw a wrench into our best laid plans! I hope you received notification that evening conferences have been rescheduled for next Wednesday, 3/21, same time slots. Wednesday was also a planned infrastructure trial for the upcoming computer-based MCAS tests--that is rescheduled for this coming Monday (see further in newsletter for more MCAS information). Finally, I am sure a number of our students will be disappointed to have not been able to join in the walkout that many students across the nation participated in to lend their voices to calls for action to curtail gun violence. Teachers will use this as a teachable moment, reflecting with students on what they heard about the walkouts that did happen and how, if they had intended to participate, they might direct their energy moving forward.
Thank you for your flexibility and support for our shifting plans in response to the weather. Here’s to hoping the longer days send the snow quickly on its way and usher in the spring we are all ready for!
Best,
Julie Craven, Head of School
RAUC Unity Week | March 19-23
During the week of March 19th, RAUC students will participate in UNITY WEEK 2018! Throughout the week, students are encouraged to celebrate their school pride by dressing up according to a specific daily theme! This year the themes are as follows:
–Monday 3/19 - Pajama Day
–Tuesday 3/20 - Twin Day
–Wednesday 3/21 - Character Day
–Thursday 3/22 - Flag Day/Culture Day
–Friday 3/23 - RAUC Black Out
There will be posters and conversations in advisories as the days approach.
7th Grade Learning Previews
See what our students are going to be studying this month! Read more >>
Learning Partners Conferences this Week & Rescheduled for Next Wednesday
–8th Grade conferences are happening today as planned.
–Specials: Friday, March 16, 8-8:40AM
–Evening Conferences for ALL Grades and Specials: Rescheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 5:30-7:55PM
Bring your student to the conference so everyone hears the same message!
MCAS Starts in April
All Cambridge students will take the MCAS 2.0 this spring. All RAUC students will be taking the test on the computer. The design and content of the MCAS 2.0 is a combination of the PARCC assessment and the legacy MCAS that students have taken previously. MCAS tests will start the first week of April with 7th grade ELA. See below for our current MCAS schedule (note it is subject to change).
On Monday, March 19, all students will engage in an infrastructure trial. Teachers are also planning time for students to engage in practice tests over the next couple of weeks. These opportunities will familiarize students with the test interface and the different tools available to them during MCAS 2.0. ELA and Math teachers will also spend a few days before the assessment familiarizing students with the design and layout of the exam. We do not spend a lot of time reviewing for the assessment in classes; we feel confident that our standards-based curriculum provides students with an excellent, rigorous education that will prepare them well for the state assessment and beyond.
Some important features to know:
- It is untimed - students can take as much time as needed.
- The ELA and Math sections are both 2 test sessions each for all students in grades 6-8.
- The Science and Technology/Engineering section is also 2 test sessions for students in Grade 8 only.
- The ELA exam consists of reading passages, multiple choice questions, essays and text-based narrative writing.
- The Math exam consists of multiple choice questions, short answer/fill in the blank questions, open responses and multiple select questions.
- The 8th grade Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) exam consists of multiple choice questions and open responses.
Current RAUC MCAS Schedule:
- April 4th and 5th: 7th Gr ELA
- April 11th and 12th: 6th Gr ELA
- April 26th and 27th: 8th Gr ELA
- May 8th and 9th: 8th Gr Math
- May 10th and 11th: 6th Gr Math
- May 15th and 17th: 7th Gr Math
We RAUC-ed World Language Week!
These were the Friday morning greeters at RAUC - Ishraaq (Urdu), Emma (Chinese), and Jahkari (Jamaican Patois). Throughout the week students greeted their classmates in Arabic, Portuguese, Gujarati, Amharic, Tigrinya, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Swahili, to name a few! Students had so much fun speaking their home languages around school and wearing name tags to identify the language(s) they spoke. We even developed a healthy competitive spirit as to who could speak more languages and who spoke best! RAUC definitely showed its appreciation for multilingualism and pride in all the languages we speak at home and at school! RAUC-on! We’re grateful to Flatbread in Davis who showed how much it appreciates RAUC’s multilingual students by giving each RAUC world language week student greeter a complimentary Flatbread pizza! Special shout out to French and Spanish teacher, Sarah Bilodeau, who helped organize the greetings, supported by district World Language coach, Angela Green.
New Opportunities
All flyers and registration forms are available at RAUC. Students or families can contact Justin McNulty.
Learn more about opportunities outside school via the Middle School Network!
Sing in Somerville this Summer (see flyer)
When: Mon-Fri, July 2nd - July 13th
Where: West Somerville Neighborhood School
Time: 9AM-12PM
Ages: 7-10 years old
Cost: $190
Contact: Joanne Crowell, 978.505.3956
Curbside Compost Pickup (see flyer)
When: Bin Delivery -March 26th
Paid Summer Teen Internship @ the Aquarium (see flyer)
When: July 5th - August 18th
Ages: 14-18
Wages: $11
Register by: March 17 @ neaq.org/teen-internships
Contact: [email protected] or 617.973.6745
SHINE for Girls (see flyer)
When: Thursdays for 9 weeks, 3:30-6PM, starting March 15
Where: MIT
Cost: Free
Contact: [email protected], shineforgirls.org/massachusetts
Let's Connect!
Stay in the loop by joining our social media communities.
RAUC Facebook >>
District Social Media >>
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RAUC EVENTS
Conferences
Through March 21
See details below.
RAUC Unity Week
March 19-23
See details below.
Spring Clubs Begin
March 20
School Dance
March 23
Upper School Math Night
March 26
See details below.
RAUC LOGO T-SHIRTS & SWEATSHIRTS FOR SALE IN THE OFFICE
T-shirts $10
Sweatshirts $35
Cash or check made out to Rindge Ave. Student Agency. Get them while the supply lasts (stop by after your conference)!
MATH MCAS TUTORING
If you are interested in your student getting extra support in math in the weeks leading up to the MCAS, please reach out to Sara Carhart, our math coach, [email protected], or call the school to leave a message for her, 617.349.4060.
COMMUNITY MARKET THIS THURSDAY!
Reminder that everyone is welcome to come and shop at this market in the cafeteria after school. All the food is free! There are fresh fruits and vegetables (seasonal), grains and pastas, milk and eggs, and usually some sort of meat or other staples. The market always appreciates volunteers to help set up, run and clean up the market. Here is the link to the sign up sheet >>
UPPER SCHOOL
MATH NIGHT
March 26 | 5:30-7PM
Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St.
See flyer >>
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SCREENING CLINICS
FREE consultations with an immigrant attorney every third Wednesday of the month. Details >>
More resources >>
HEALTHY SNACK OF THE WEEK
Here's Cambridge in Motion's Healthy Snack of the week suggestion:
dried apricots & cheese stick.
MOBILE APP
Stay informed via our FREE mobile app!
Details >>
FIND IT
Looking for things to do in Cambridge? Take a peek at Find It Cambridge!
www.finditcambridge.org
IN OUR COMMUNITY
See a list of programs and events in our community.
Details >>
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
School Calendar
District Calendar
RINDGE AVENUE
UPPER SCHOOL
70 Rindge Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
617.349.4060
School's Website
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