
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who celebrate!
As we kick off another week, we’re reminded that Wednesday’s Early Release Day might just be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – if that gold were extra planning time and professional development! 
Thank you all for your hard work and dedication as we move through March – the longest shortest month of the year! Let’s make it a great week!
Early Release Day – 3/19/25
Please refer to this document for a detailed overview of the school day, including the Grade 3/4 STEM fair and lunch schedules.
For the PD sessions in the afternoon, all teachers and paraprofessionals will attend two workshops. Workshop choices were sent out last week, and everyone should have already registered.
- Click here to view the choice workshop descriptions (Sokolowski choices are on the Late School tab).
- You must enroll in your two sessions in Vector before March 19 in order to sign in that day and receive PDPs.
If you have any questions, please reach out to coordinators, coaches, or leads.
Important Reminder: Allergy Awareness and Lunch Expectations
Recently, the other three elementary schools in the complex have had emergency situations related to food allergies. One incident was caught by a paraprofessional who noticed a student eating something shared with them in the cafeteria. Although the item did not contain peanuts, it was manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, triggering a reaction. Thanks to the para’s attentiveness, the student received their medication promptly at the nurses office, and emergency services were alerted in time.
With this in mind, we are asking all staff to take a moment to refresh their familiarity with the allergies in their classrooms. Additionally, please remind students about our nut-free policy and reinforce our no-sharing food expectation.
- Teachers, to ensure students understand the importance of these policies, please take five minutes before lunch on Monday to review these expectations with your class.
- Paraprofessionals covering lunch should continue to actively monitor students and reinforce these expectations in the cafeteria.
Below are district-provided resources with additional information about food allergies and best practices:
Also, please refer to a previous blog post about SOKO Guidelines for Celebratory Events and Birthday Treats.
Thank you all for your diligence in keeping our students safe.
Report Cards – Trimester 2
Grades due in Aspen for admin review on Wednesday, 3/19. Remember to POST each rubric for admin to view and print.
For detailed resources and guidance, visit the Elementary Standards-Based Report Card Website. Additional Aspen resources, including Keys for Grade-Level Standards, Comments/Goals, and a recorded Gradebook training, can be accessed HERE.
Important Reminders:
- Every T2 standard should be graded in alignment with assessments/data collected throughout the trimester.
- Mastery Grading Key for T2:
- O (Green): On Track
- T (Yellow): Working Toward the Standard
- B (Red): Working Below the Standard
- M (Blue): Meeting the Standard (only for standards assessed exclusively in T2).
- Comments and goals should align with grades when possible. Each student should receive 3 comments and 2 goals from the menu.
- Reading Foundational Standards: Use DIBELS 8 Benchmark and Progress Monitoring Data, iReady Diagnostic Data, and From Phonics to Reading formative assessments to determine mastery levels.
- For special circumstances (e.g., new students or students who changed classrooms), discuss grading with admin.
For any questions or assistance, reach out to Laura Hubert (hubertl@chelseaschools.com) or Katie Schubmehl (webberk@chelseaschools.com).
Panorama Surveys are Coming Up!
The next student panorama survey window will be April 1-12. As a reminder our focus areas are learning strategies for grade 1 & 2 and self-efficacy for grades 3 & 4. Both of these areas can be boosted by utilizing the HOMies, swagtags and reminding students of strategies to use when stuck in certain content areas. Below are more specific ways to measure these focus areas:
HERE is a google survey that can be used to measure 3rd/4th grade self efficacy.
HERE is a link to a seesaw that can be used to measure 1st/2nd grade learning strategies.
Please reach out with any questions.
SEL Team
PLT this Week
Regular Grade-Level PLTs are canceled this week so we can focus on Strategy Study work and complete our vertical observations by March 24.
With that said, Grade 3 and 4 teachers and accommodations providers will meet for their annual MCAS training on:
- Tuesday (3/18) – Grade 3
- Thursday (3/20) – Grade 4
Important Dates
- Week of 3/17 – Common Writing Assessment #3: Math (Grades 3-4)
- 3/19/25 – T2 Grades Due in X2
- 3/19/25 – Early Release Day and STEM Fair for Grades 3 and 4
- 3/21/25 – HOMies and World Down Syndrome Day School Meeting (1:50 – 2:30 p.m.)
- 3/25/25 – Soko Staff Meeting (3:00 – 4:00 p.m.)
- 3/27/25 – Parent Conferences Night (5:00 – 7:00 p.m.)
- 3/28/25 – Send Report Cards Home
- 4/1/25 – ELA MCAS Grade 3 – Day 1
- 4/2/25 – ELA MCAS Grade 3 – Day 2
- 4/3/25 – ELA MCAS Grade 3 Make Ups (Day 1/2)
- 4/4/25 – ELA MCAS Grade 3 Make Ups (Day 2/2)
- 4/8/25 – ELA MCAS Grade 4 – Day 1
- 4/9/25 – ELA MCAS Grade 4 – Day 2
- 4/10/25 – ELA MCAS Make Ups (Day 1/2)
- 4/11/25 – ELA MCAS Make Ups (Day 2/2)