To: All Certified Teachers Grades Kindergarten - Fourth

From: Jay Marino, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction & School Improvement

Date: July19, 2002

Re: Science Curriculum Materials Adoption/August 5 & 6th Orientation Meetings

Teachers,

As you are aware, the Rock Island School District science review committee has been meeting for the past two years to update and revise science curriculum in our district. After intensive review of many different science materials and programs, McMillan/McGraw-Hill science and FOSS (Full Option Science System) were selected for use in our District. As a result, the Board of Education approved the committees’ recommendation to purchase the updated materials that would better meet the instructional needs of students and staff. These materials have arrived and are in the process of being distributed to schools for implementation this school year.

The Illinois Science Learning Standards serve as the backbone to the RISD science curriculum. To assist staff in teaching to the standards, the committee has completed a science curriculum alignment document that clearly delineates the standards and establishes the standards that are to be taught at each grade level. In addition, activities and assessments (aligned with McMillan/McGraw-Hill and FOSS materials) have been identified and are included in the curriculum alignment document. The curriculum alignment document is posted to our web site (http://curriculum.risd41.org) and will be made available at the orientation meetings scheduled for August 5th and 6th.

Lastly, the committee recommended the implementation of a new initiative to build internal capacity and support for science programs in our District. This initiative is called the Science Point of Contact. Every school has identified (or will identify) a teacher who will assist your school in the implementation of the new science program. The identified science P.O.C. in each school will provide assistance to staff in the following ways: 1.) Sharing and dissemination of information to staff in the building; 2.) Mentoring/support in the area of science instruction, and 3.) Facilitating materials management. The science P.O.C. will also assist the district in the long-term evaluation of the new science program and its effectiveness through the Plan, Do, Study, Act process.

All K-4 certified teachers must attend the scheduled orientation meeting. Please see the posted schedule on the reverse side of this letter to determine which meeting to attend.

*Note- FOSS training will occur in early September. Detailed information will be sent out as soon as final arrangements have been made.

*Note- Science materials for grades 5-6 will be purchased at the end of the 02-03 school year with training to follow in August of 2003.

McMillan/McGraw-Hill Science Orientation Meetings

Lincoln Elementary School Cafeteria

Monday - August 5th, 2002 2:00-3:30p.m. K-4 Staff Audubon Denkmann Earl Hanson Eugene Field Frances Willard Monday - August 5th, 2002 3:30-4:30p.m. K-4 Staff Horace Mann Grant

Tuesday - August 6th, 2002 2:00-3:30p.m. K-4 Staff Hawthorne-Irving Lincoln Longfellow Ridgewood Thomas Jefferson

*Please bring your McMillan/McGraw-Hill Teacher’s manual with you to the training session. Please contact Jay Marino if you have any questions.