MCAS This Week

A huge thank you to our entire school community for making last week’s MCAS testing a success for our 3rd and 4th-grade students! Your flexibility, teamwork, and support ensured a smooth testing experience for our students.

While most of our students are done with MCAS for this year, we still have a few make-up sessions happening this week. Please refer to the MCAS Make-Up Schedule for details on which staff members and locations are impacted.

Instructional Rounds Feedback

Following our most recent Instructional Rounds, district leaders provided feedback highlighting our strengths and areas for continued growth. This feedback reflects our effort and offers insights on how to further enhance teaching and learning at the Soko. These insights will help guide end-of-year instruction and inform our goal-setting for next year.

The CO-TEACHER CHALLENGE 🏆 by the Teaching & Learning Team

This week we are putting our co-teaching teams to the test to see which duos can rise to the top! The Co-Teacher Challenge is all about relationship-building through a series of light, meaningful activities that promote collaboration, trust, and laughter. Below there is a menu of challenges that you and your co-teacher(s) can complete together to earn points. At the end of the week, we’ll celebrate (with prizes!) the teams who’ve risen to the top — and all the stronger partnerships built along the way. Let’s grow together and make teamwork our superpower!

Here’s how it works:

• Make a copy of these slides and add your names to the title (ex: Co-Teaching Challenge Pictures Machado & Fuller)
• Throughout the week your co-teaching team can pick and choose what activities you want to do to earn points. Each time you complete an activity you need to take a picture to document it.
• At the end of the week drop your slide with pictures into this folder
• The top teams will receive prizes!!

**If you do not co-teach in your role you can complete the challenge with someone you work closely/plan with. (Ex: Specialist w/ other specialist; reading teachers w/ other reading teachers, etc).

More details here: Co-Teacher Challenge. If you want to complete the “How Well Do You Know Your Co-Teacher?” Survey you can print yourself or find copies of it in the main office.

If you have any questions, reach out to a Teaching & Learning Team member!

MLE Visit – Wednesday, May 21, 2025

This Wednesday, we are thrilled to host yet another MLE Visit at Sokolowski as part of the district ongoing effort to support our multilingual learners and strengthen instructional practices. Classroom visits will be conducted in 15-20 minute blocks. MLE DLT members, MLE Coaches, and district leadership will conduct non-evaluative learning walks designed to help us reflect on our practices, identify areas of strength and growth, and ensure that we continue to provide culturally and linguistically sustaining instruction for all students.

Thank you in advance for your flexibility and support.

Regular PLTs this week with regular coverage. PLTs will be facilitated by Joel and D with the goal of enhancing our practices around the HOMies.

Important Dates:

• 5/19/25 – 5/23/25 – Math MCAS Make-Ups
• 5/19/25 – 6/6/25 – iReady Diagnostic 3
• 5/21/25 – FA Field Trip
• 5/21/25 – 1st Grade Field Trip (2 classes)
• 5/21/25 – MLE Rounds
• 5/23/25 – 1st Grade Field Trip (2 classes)
• 5/23/25 – HOMies School Meeting
• 5/27/25 – Student Council Field Trip
• 5/27/25 – Staff Meeting
• 5/28/25 – 3rd Grade Field Trip
• 5/29/25 – Multicultural Night – 5:00 – 7:30pm (SAVE THE DATE)
• 6/6/25 – Soko Spring Concert (SAVE THE DATE)
• 6/9/25 – Soko Field Day (SAVE THE DATE)

Math MCAS This Week

Third and Fourth Grade Math MCAS begins this week:

• Math MCAS Grade 3: Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14

• Math MCAS Grade 4: Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16

Classroom teachers and anyone directly involved in testing will receive more detailed information via email, but it’s important for the whole building to be aware that MCAS is a school-wide effort.

You can find finalized testing locations for this week in this spreadsheet.

Schedule changes for testing grades are listed on the last page of the Soko MCAS Admin Plan. First grade specialist block is also changing for the testing days (first grade and specialist teams have already been notified).

A few building-wide reminders:

• Bathroom usage: Please do not send students to the bathrooms between 8:30–8:50am on testing days. During this window, testing grade will be using bathrooms on all three floors for whole class bathroom breaks before starting the test.

• A hallway monitor will be stationed on the testing grade floor to log testing student entries/exits for accountability.

• Keep transitions quiet: Students will be testing in classrooms, offices, and other small flexible spaces. Help maintain a calm, quiet environment by reinforcing hallway expectations throughout the morning.

Thanks again for helping create a smooth testing experience for our students.

Vision Clinic Visit – May 23, 2025

We are excited to share that, thanks to a recent grant boost, we have secured a visit from Classes2Glasses, a mobile vision clinic that will provide on-site vision screenings and services for our students. This is a fantastic opportunity to support student health and ensure our kids have the tools they need to see and learn clearly.

Details:

• Friday, May 23, from 8:00am to 2:00pm at the Stage

Who will be seen:

• Students who were referred for further vision evaluation during the Fall screenings and have not yet returned a form.

A form will be sent home soon. Parents only need to sign and return the form if they wish to decline participation for their child. The clinic schedule will be coordinated, and more details will be shared soon. Please direct any questions to our Vision Specialist, Angela Tavares (tavaresan@chelseaschools.com).

iReady Assessment [ACTION NEEDED]

We know May brings many assessments with MCAS and final iReady Diagnostics. Here are the iReady Assessment Scheduling Guidelines to help you plan.

• Schedule:
  • Use the content area block on two consecutive days (ELA – use Read and Write Together, Math – use math block).

• Testing window: 
  • Week of 5/19: 1st & 2nd ELA + 3rd & 4th grade Math 
  • Week of 5/26 (4 day week): 1st & 2nd Math + 3rd & 4th ELA

• Make ups:
  • All make ups should be done by 6/6.

• ACTION NEEDED:
  • Once testing dates are determined, submit them using this Google Form by 5/15.

• Make-ups and Extra Time:
  • Use flex blocks (Math to Grow/Read to Grow) or other minimal disruption times for make-ups.
  • Ensure students finish a test once started to regain access to My Path.

• Scheduling Changes to Keep in Mind:
  • The Reading team will NOT be pulling Read to Grow or phonics groups the week of May 26th. Instead, they will be completing End of Year DIBELS Benchmark assessments for Grades 1, 2 and 3. 

Reach out to the ILT (Cam, D, Mercy, JZ, Katerina, Merri, Gina) for support or questions.

PLTs This Week

No regular PLTs this week due to MCAS testing. Grade 4 will meet tomorrow, Monday, for a PLT and students will have chorus practice in the cafeteria. Regular PLT coverage for 4th grade tomorrow.

Important Dates:

• 5/13/25 – Math MCAS Grade 3 – Day 1
• 5/13/25 – Staff Meeting
• 5/14/25 – Math MCAS Grade 3 – Day 2
• 5/15/25 – Math MCAS Grade 4 – Day 1
• 5/16/25 – Math MCAS Grade 4 – Day 2
• 5/19/25 – 5/23/25 – Math MCAS Make-Ups
• 5/19/25 – 6/6/25 – iReady Diagnostic 3
• 5/21/25 – FA Field Trip
• 5/21/25 – MLE Rounds
• 5/23/25 – HOMies School Meeting
• 5/27/25 – Student Council Field Trip
• 5/27/25 – Staff Meeting
• 5/28/25 – 3rd Grade Field Trip
• 5/29/25 – Multicultural Night – 5:00 – 7:30pm (SAVE THE DATE)
• 6/6/25 – Soko Spring Concert (SAVE THE DATE)
• 6/9/25 – Soko Field Day (SAVE THE DATE)

Reminder: Sub Plans

As a refresher, please review our When You Need to Be Absent blog post. A few additional requests based on recent feedback:

• Include any student accommodations (IEP, 504) relevant for the day.

• Add individual bathroom or medical plans for any students who require them.

• Include a list of student allergies in your classroom.

These details are especially helpful for ESS Substitutes or Paras who may not know your students that well.

Instructional Rounds on Friday

This Friday, 5/9, district leaders will visit Soko for the final round of Instructional Rounds to observe and provide feedback on instructional practices. Instructional Rounds are a professional learning process designed to identify school-wide trends rather than evaluating individual teachers.

The district look-fors for this visit include:

• Objectives posted and relevant to what students are doing.
• DOK (Depth of Knowledge) levels of student tasks.

The Soko look-fors for this visit include:

• Are we designing lessons that leverage student academic discourse to build ideas, organize thoughts, and improve the quality of their writing? (In connection to our AIP)
• Are we asking questions that are aligned with the lesson’s learning objectives and guide students from simple understanding to deeper critical thinking? (In connection to our AIP and following up the strategy study work done in March)

Math MCAS Testing Begins This Week

We’re officially kicking off Math MCAS season! Our Foundational Classes (312 and 201) will test this week:

• Day 1: Wednesday, May 7

• Day 2: Thursday, May 8

• Make-Up Day: Friday, May 9

While only two classrooms are testing, students will also be using additional small group locations throughout the building. This means we all still need to be mindful of hallway transitions, especially around key testing areas.

Although school operations won’t shift much this week, this is a great opportunity to practice a calm and quiet environment in preparation for the following week when all of Grades 3 and 4 will be taking their Math MCAS. Thank you for helping maintain a supportive environment so every student can focus and do their personal best!

ACCESS Scores are In

If you’re curious to see how your students performed, you can view the ACCESS Score Summary HERE.

This year, 42 students met the criteria to exit ML services and are now officially considered Former English Language Learners (FELLs). These students and their families have been invited to our ACCESS Celebration this Tuesday to recognize their achievement.

Please take time to connect with your grade-level MLE or Merri to review your students’ individual scores and reflect on progress made this year.

Teacher Appreciation Week is Here!

It’s time to celebrate everything you do for our students, our school, and each other. You show up every day with heart, creativity, and grit, and now it’s our turn to show some love back. We’re keeping the details under wraps for now, but here’s your sneak peek. Each day brings something to brighten your morning, lighten your day, or just remind you that you matter. Here’s what you need to know:

Keep an eye out for signs with more directions. Some surprises will come to you, others you’ll need to find, but all are meant to celebrate YOU.

PLTs This Week

Monday (5/5):

• Specialists PLT 
• Teaching & Learning Team
  • Coverage:
    • 318 – J. Guy
    • 205 – G. Ramirez
    • 102 – P. Tercero

Grade Level PLTs will take place on their respective days with respective coverage. The SEL team will be guiding us in looking at our recent Panorama Survey Results.

Important Dates:

• 5/7/25 – 5/8/25 – Math MCAS Foundational (312 & 201)
• 5/9/25 –2nd Grade Field Trip
• 5/9/25 –Instructional Rounds
• 5/13/25 – Math MCAS Grade 3 – Day 1
• 5/13/25 – Staff Meeting
• 5/14/25 – Math MCAS Grade 3 – Day 2
• 5/15/25 – Math MCAS Grade 4 – Day 1
• 5/16/25 – Math MCAS Grade 4 – Day 2
• 5/19/25 – 5/23/25 – Math MCAS Make-Ups
• 5/19/25 – 6/6/25 – iReady Diagnostic 3
• 5/21/25 – FA Field Trip
• 5/21/25 – MLE Rounds
• 5/23/25 – HOMies School Meeting
• 5/27/25 – Student Council Field Trip
• 5/27/25 – Staff Meeting
• 5/28/25 – 3rd Grade Field Trip
• 5/29/25 – Multicultural Night – 5:00 – 7:30pm (SAVE THE DATE)
• 6/6/25 – Soko Spring Concert (SAVE THE DATE)
• 6/9/25 – Soko Field Day (SAVE THE DATE)