Structured language is one of the most essential components of every Craig School class. We know that breaking language (both written and spoken) will help all learners access the information at hand better. All language is classified into receptive (reading, listening) and expressive (speaking and writing). The faculty understands that our students need help with one, if not both, of these areas. We use direct instruction in classes like Orton-Gillingham Reading, Language Arts, and Speech, but all teachers are breaking down the language they use to teach in order to reach all learners. As you hear more about the progress your student is making in their classes, you may hear the teacher use some of the terms in the chart below. Knowing these terms will make it easier for you to understand how our faculty teaches. You may even hear your student use some of these terms regarding what they do here at Craig! Many teachers use various games and other creative ways to allow students to “play” with and “manipulate” language to teach how language is structured. We take language apart so that we can put it back together!
Busy but exciting upcoming week at CHS! Last Thursday, students attended our FALL ELECTIVE FAIR where they were able to speak with elective course instructors, ask questions, and sign up for the fall elective of their choice. This week, electives will start up.
Also this week, we begin our Afterschool Art Workshops on Monday (still time for artists to sign up) and we also start our fall MAP Growth Testing. Below you will find more information on the MAP Growth Tests. In addition, the NOVEMBER LUNCH DELIVERY window opens up today so get those lunch orders in for November (www.myfooddays.com).
And if that's not enough, we will be testing our PARENT OUTREACH PHONE SYSTEM this Monday, October 16th at 7PM. This is our primary communication tool to announce any change in school status so we thought we should give it a test run to make sure we have all the right contact numbers in place before the word “snow” becomes part of the conversation. If you do not receive the call on Monday night, please email Mrs. Mershimer at DMershimer@craigschool.org and let her know that you did not get the call and what number we should make sure is in our system.
Finally, this Tuesday, October 17th, the Parent Association of the Craig School (PACS) will be hosting its first PARENT-PACS coffee of the school year. It will be held after morning drop off (8:30 AM) in the cafeteria on our Mt. Lakes campus (15 Tower Hill Road). It is a great opportunity to connect with other Craig parents and learn more about PACS and how they support our kids and the school we love. Here is to an amazing week,
Dr. Cap
CHS Program Spotlights
MAP Growth Assessments at Craig High: Last week, Mrs. Schmitt shared a little about the MAP Growth Assessments that we are implementing throughout the Craig School Program. MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress which is in a sense, the foundation that Craig High is built on. The test itself is a computerized adaptive assessment that individualizes the challenge level for each student as they progress through the test. When they get an answer correct, it gradually raises the challenge level. When they get a question wrong, it adjusts the levels to acknowledge that and then progressively begins to build up the challenge level as they move through the test.
We will be testing in both the fall and the spring. This will allow us to gauge various levels of academic growth, identify areas of strength, and game plan in specific content areas both now (fall results) and for the next school year (spring results). All students, grades 9-12, will be taking MAP Assessments in Math, Reading, and Language Arts. Most tests will be completed in one class period.
Being the first time we have administered these tests, there will be a learning curve for us all but based on its educational reputation and the focused and individualized data that it produces, we are excited to add this component to the Craig High program. For more information specific to parents, you can visit https://www.nwea.org/resource-center/resource/family-guide-to-map-growth/
Fall Electives Start Up This Week: Last week, our students had the opportunity to hear about their fall elective options, ask questions to the teachers who created and are leading the electives, and based on those conversations, sign up for the fall elective courses of their choice.
These exciting, credit-bearing, courses will meet twice a week during Mid-Day Support (Tues and Thurs) and will run through the 1st trimester. Below are course descriptions of our fall electives:
Weight Lifting 101: In this course, students will learn how to efficiently perform the basic weight lifting movements- squat, push, pull, and hinge. This course is open to students who have attended prior Weightlifting electives as well as any other student who is interested in learning how to lift weights safely and properly.
3D printing has opened up inspiring and exciting opportunities to go from an idea to a physical object for items previously only possible using complicated and expensive processes. Students at Craig High School can now explore the use of computer-aided design to turn their ideas into reality. Please join us in this elective, where your creativity can become a reality. No prior experience is needed. Just arrive eager to learn and explore.
School Newspaper: The Craig Times! In this newspaper, students will write a column assigned to them based on their interests. Students will get a chance to interview other students and teachers as part of their column. At the end of the trimester, we will have produced at least one issue of the Craig Times.
Intro to Psychology: The course content will cover a basic introduction to the world of psychology. We will explore what we know about human behavior, various historical viewpoints/schools of thought in psychology, and the basic principles involved in the process of learning. We will also discuss high-interest topics such as abnormal psychology and states of consciousness with a specific focus on sleep and dreams. Our course will wrap up with a study of the application of psychology to various career paths and other professions.
American Battlefields: Virtual Tours - Take a visual tour of some of America's most crucial battlefields. What happened? Where were they fought? Who won? What was the experience of the common soldier? Which commanders were great? Who weren’t? This class would also discuss conservation efforts so that future generations can visit and learn about America's important battles that have shaped our history.
Sculpture and Fabrication: What CAN'T be made into art? We are going to answer that question in this exciting sculpture and fabrication course! During this elective, we will come together to make some wacky and unique individual artworks as well as one communal installation that will grace our hallway this Winter! If your inner artist has been dying to create something weird and unusual, then this is the elective for you!
The Art of Blogging & Content Creation: For those who enjoy writing, photography, and videography and want to unleash their creativity! In this elective, students will create their own individual blogs and write posts each week. Students will also work on content creation to post on social media to go along with their blogs. Each student will choose a niche based on their interests and work within this theme to create content over the course of the trimester. Some examples may include blogs and content in various categories, such as food, the arts, sports, fashion, cars, travel, etc.
Parent Coffee with PACS, Tues Oct 17th (Mt. Lakes: Come join PACS for coffee and conversation on October 17th 8:30-9:30am in the Lower/Middle School Cafeteria. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing all the ways to get involved with PACS.
Craig High Halloween Bash-Candy Collection for Our Annual Hallway Trick or Treating: The Craig High School will be hosting our annual Halloween Bash on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31. The teachers have each selected their favorite Halloween candy and students will go room to room to Trick or Treat! Please sign up HERE to bring some candy for the festivities. Please drop off by the end of day MONDAY, OCTOBER 30. Thank you!
CHS Student Spotlight
TICKETS ARE GOING FAST-CHS 12th Grader Nate in a November Production of “Mean Girls”: Craig High Senior, Nate, in conjunction with the Pebble Players in Summit NJ, will be performing the classic teen musical, Mean Girls, mid-November.
Tickets are going fast so don’t wait on this family fun show. You can get tickets at https://stonyhillplayers.ludus.com/index.php. Show dates are the weekends of November 10, 11, and 12, as well as November 17, 18 & 19. The Friday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 PM and the Sunday shows are at 2:00 PM. All shows will take place at the Oakes Center which is located in Summit NJ (120 Morris Ave).
CHS Reminders
CHS Afterschool Art Studio Starts Up This Monday: It's Afterschool Art Time!!! Starting this MONDAY, October 16th from 3:15- 4:15 PM, Mrs. T will be opening the Craig High Art Studio for after-school workshops.
In addition to this Monday, the 4-week program will meet the Mondays of October 23, and November 6 and 13. Pick-up will be at the first-floor middle doors. Interested students should see Mrs. T. For Any questions email Mrs. T at KTartaglia@craigschool.org
Ordering CHS Lunch Delivery-November Lunches: It is that time of the month when we need to start planning our Lunch Deliveries for November. Our lunch ordering window for November will open up on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13th, and close on midnight TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24th. To register or to re-order, go to www.myfooddays.com If you have any questions, reach out to our CHS Lunch Program Chair, Amanda Jahn at ajahn@craigschool.org
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