Bear Cub Digest #17

Posted Date: 12/15/25 (08:51 AM)

Bear Cub Digest

Parent & Community Newsletter

December 15, 2025

Significant Growth on FAST PM2 Assessment!

We are so proud of the growth and progress we continue to see from our NCES Bear Cubs! Although we have a few make-ups to go, we are seeing great progress on our FAST progress monitoring 2 (PM2) assessment. The majority of our students met their Level Up goals and made the necessary growth! Here is a quick summary of the growth:

Grades 3,4,5 ELA

PM1 - 40% Proficient to PM2 - 58% Proficient

Grades K-2 Reading

PM1 - 24% Proficient to PM2 - 51% Proficient

Grades 3,4,5 Math

PM1 - 13% Proficient to PM2 - 34% Proficient

Grades K-2 Math

PM1 - 19% Proficient to PM2 - 42% Proficient

We challenged our students with a Level Up party and pizza with the principal if they met their goals! Based on these results, we have a lot of pizza to buy for our kids!! Level Up parties will take place when we return from break.

We will continue to analyze PM 2 mid-year results to plan instructional adjustments for January. We have one final assessment (PM3) in late April and May. I will deliver more specific information about this data during our upcoming SAC meeting. I thank each and every one of you for working with your children and supporting their learning. Stay tuned for information about our Parent Resource Fairs coming up in February.

Please encourage your children to complete the WINTER CHALLENGE! This is a chance for children to practice and stay fresh in their reading and math skills during the winter break. See the flyer below.

December Events

We have had an amazing start to the month of December! See all the things we have planned for this month below.

12/15, 16, 18 - PBIS Dance Parties 1:30-3:00

12/16- SAC/PTO @ 7:00 am in Media Center

12/17- Oasis Orientation at 3:00 in Media Center

12/22 - Winter Break Begins!

*Classes Resume 1/5/26

Holiday Dress Up Days

We are having a little fun for the holidays this week with our Holiday Dress Up days. See the information below.

Attendance Matters

The holiday season is in full swing. Our Average Daily Attendance dropped from its characteristically high percentage 94% to a low 92% (below the district average and goal). As we prepare for the upcoming December winter break, we want to share how grateful we are for each of you. Together we have worked to establish routines of showing up to school and create a school community for everyone.

We know the winter season is busy, and we appreciate your efforts to avoid taking extra days off around the winter break. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning right up until vacation starts on 12/24/25 and the first day back on 1/5/26. Every school day matters. When students are healthy and able to attend, it gives them the chance to keep learning, connect with friends, and grow both socially and academically.

Please use the school calendar in this newsletter and on our website to help plan your vacations. Your support makes such a difference in helping children feel connected and prepared.

If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to us for help.

We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on January 5, 2026.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Pre-K Fire Fighter Visit

We want to thank our local fire department for visiting NCES and giving some information to our pre-K students. Students enjoyed the lessons and demonstrations. Our school superintendent was visiting the school and had a chance to take part in the fun!

Superintendent Visits PE

Our superintendent also made a visit to our PE department. Our PE team and 4th grade students enjoyed his visit!

Academic Focus- Tier I Instruction

Tier 1 instruction — or high-quality, evidence-based classroom instruction — is the heart of the MTSS framework. Strong Tier 1 instruction is the general instruction that all students receive from their classroom teacher. This instruction includes proactive strategies for all students, focusing on high-quality curriculum, clear expectations, positive reinforcement, and building relationships. Examples of these strategies include clear objectives and feedback, active and collaborative learning strategies, differentiated instruction, and other best practices. The goal is to implement solid Tier I instruction and support students that show a need for intervention with Tier 2 and possibly Tier 3 interventions as needed. Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention is usually implemented in small groups during Bear Cub University (BCU) time.