It's ISTEP Time Again!

During the 2008-2009 school year, students in grades three through eight will take the ISTEP test during two testing windows in the spring, in addition to the fall assessment of 2008. The first testing window is coming up soon! The week of March 2nd, all third through eighth grade students will take the Applied Skills Assessment portion that will focus on constructed reponse and extended response to specific standards. In math at all grade levels, test items will focus on problem solving and grade level standards relating to geometry, measurement, computation, and number sense, as well as algebra and functions at the 6th-8th grade levels. In English/Language Arts at all grade levels, students will be assessed on specific grade level standards related to constructed response to a writing prompt. Grades four and six will be tested on specific science standards, and grades five and seven will be assessed on specific social studies standards.

At Evansville Christian School, we use the Indiana Academic Core Content Standards as a guide for curriculum decisions and to drive instruction and assessment in the classroom. The ISTEP assesses student learning on these standards.

We appreciate parent support in preparing students for testing weeks, and student attendance is very important. Also, the prayers of the ECS community on behalf of our students and teachers means so much. The partnership of parents and teachers is such a benefit to ECS students.

Teachers are learners too!

Professional development is very important at Evansville Christian School, since teachers know that student learning and progress is impacted by teacher preparation. Teachers have a lot of student data available to them and careful analysis of this data can help teachers improve instruction for all students. During our professional development session this month, teachers and administrators discussed the "global achievement gap" and how critical thinking and problem solving are survival skills that students need in school and later in the work place. ECS teachers carefully connect professional development to our school goals, focusing on critical thinking skills, technology, and student ownership of their learning. The teaching staff is constantly looking for innovative ways to engage students in learning and to assess students by using a variety of assessment strategies. As a team, we discussed the North Central Association Accreditation Standards #3 on "Teaching and Learning" and #4 on "Documenting and Using Results". By evaluating what we are currently doing well and where we need to improve, the faculty and adminstration focus on being a constantly improving school. We are blessed to have a faculty of professionals who devote their time to study and preparation to be the best teachers they can be, providing excellence in the classrooms at ECS. Thank you ECS teachers!

Welcome to a New Semester and a New Year!

A new year and a new semester offers the opportunity for a fresh start and a renewed commitment to do our very best for Christ in the coming year. ECS welcomes several new students this semester, and we are grateful for each new family. It will be a busy semester with two ISTEP testing sessions this spring and plenty of student activities in the coming months.

Two honor roll breakfasts will be held soon: January 8 at 7:30 a.m. at the North Campus and January 9 at 7:30 a.m. at the East Campus. Report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, January 7th, and students who have earned honor roll either first or second grading period are eligible to attend the breakfast with their family. It is a pleasure to recognize students for their hard work.

Please be in prayer this semester for the students, staff, and families of Evansville Christian School. ECS strives to be an encouragement to the families it serves and to the community.

God bless you in the New Year!

ECS Welcomes International Guests

Students at ECS were thrilled to welcome special visitors to our school this week. A family from China, who work at our sister school in Kabul, Afghanistan, visited classrooms to thank students for supplies ECS students have sent to their school over the past three years. Students also had many questions about life in Afghanistan and what they liked about their first visit to the United States. One second grade class is experiencing China first-hand, as the young son of this family is enjoying an American school and loving it!

December continues to be a time for celebration, as ECS posted outstanding ISTEP scores again this year. Thanks to the teachers, parents, and students for their commitment to excellence!

Merry Christmas!

What's Happening at ECS in December

At the beginning of December at ECS, you can find kindergarten students preparing their songs for the Christmas chapel they will lead on December 17th. Several area preschools and ECS families will join ECS students in worship as we honor the birth of Jesus. Elementary students are practicing for the upcoming Christmas musical on December 18. There will be a 9:00 a.m. matinee and a 7:00 p.m. performance. Middle school bands and performing groups will also be part of the program.

Teachers are busy reviewing ISTEP data and planning instruction that interests and challenges the students as we count down the days to Christmas break (yes, we are counting days!) School is a joyous place to be during the holiday season, as students are always full of the excitement and anticipation of Christmas. This season is a reminder to be thankful for our Savior, God's Gift to us.