Chaffee Trail Elementary School -

Dear Mustang Families,

This week our fourth-grade Mustangs will take their district Diagnostic Monitoring (DM) assessments in Math TOMORROW (Monday 3/2) and Reading (Tuesday 2/24).

These assessments are important. They provide powerful information that helps us design intentional, targeted support plans as we head into Florida state testing in April and May.

When reviewing our most recent data from December, we noticed that some students who began the year reading on grade level showed a drop in performance mid-year. This tells us two important things: we must continue strengthening daily reading habits, and we must ensure students are consistently applying the strategies they have learned. We need your partnership in supporting strong habits at home — monitoring blended learning progress, practicing math facts regularly, and encouraging nightly reading. The more students read, the more their vocabulary, comprehension, and content knowledge grow — which directly impacts achievement across all subjects.

This Diagnostic Monitoring assessment is the final full diagnostic we will receive before state testing. We need students to truly show what they know so our support can be precise, strategic, and personalized.

At Chaffee Trail, we do not shy away from challenges — we Level Up.

We are reminding students to approach these assessments with focus, determination, and Mustang confidence. When the work feels tough, that is their signal to lean into the strategies they have practiced all year:

• Use scratch paper for reading and math
• Annotate passages and questions
• Read passages more than once and make sure they understand what is truly being asked
• Go back into the text to find evidence instead of guessing
• Show all work in math — simple computation mistakes can happen when we try to do everything in our heads

Effort matters. Perseverance matters. Finishing strong matters.

Sometimes students rush or lose confidence when work becomes challenging. When they know it matters to you, it matters to them. Your encouragement at home carries incredible power.

You can help by ensuring they:

• Get a good night’s sleep
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Receive a strong pep talk the night before and the morning of testing
• Are reminded that their effort today builds their future tomorrow

We will use these results to continue targeted small-group instruction and ensure every Mustang is supported, challenged, and growing.

And don’t forget — students who make the required gains from last year’s FAST May score will earn the opportunity to attend our Level Up Celebration. We hope this incentive provides an extra boost of resilience and motivation as they tackle these assessments.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue Buzzing with Purpose and Blooming with Pride all the way through testing season.

Once a Mustang, always a Mustang.

With pride,
Principal Doyle

Dear Mustang Families,

This week our fifth-grade Mustangs will take their district Diagnostic Monitoring (DM) assessments in Reading (Monday 2/23), Math (Wednesday 2/25), and Science (Thursday 3/5).

These assessments are important. They give us powerful information so we can design intentional, targeted support plans as we head into Florida state testing in April and May.

Fifth grade is a pivotal year. Spring FAST scores help determine middle school course placement. Results may open doors to advanced and enrichment pathways, or identify areas where additional support is needed. Those middle school placements influence high school coursework, which can ultimately impact college and career opportunities.

This DM is the final full diagnostic we will receive before state testing. We need students to truly show what they know so our support can be precise, strategic, and personalized.

At Chaffee Trail, we do not shy away from challenge — we Level Up.

We are reminding students to approach these assessments with focus, determination, and Mustang confidence. When the work feels tough, that is their signal to lean into the strategies they’ve practiced all year:

• Use scratch paper for reading and math
• Annotate passages and questions
• Read passages more than once - make sure they know what is actually being asked
• Go back into the text to find evidence instead of guessing
• Show all work in math (simple mistakes when doing math in our head can be the difference in success)

Effort matters. Perseverance matters. Finishing strong matters.

Sometimes students rush. Sometimes they get discouraged. But when they know it matters to you, it matters to them. Your words at home carry incredible power.

You can help by ensuring they:

• Get a good night’s sleep
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Hear a strong pep talk the night before and the morning of testing
• Are reminded that their effort today builds their future tomorrow

We will use these results to continue targeted small-group instruction and ensure every Mustang is supported, challenged, and growing.

And don’t forget — students who make the required gains from last year’s FAST May score will earn the opportunity to attend our Level Up Celebration. We hope that incentive gives them an extra boost of resilience and motivation as they tackle these assessments.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue Buzzing with Purpose and Blooming with Pride all the way through testing season.

Once a Mustang, always a Mustang.

With pride,
Principal Doyle

Bus 110 Parents: There is still no bus driver for bus 110. Please bring a valid ID or car tag to pick up students.

Bus 847 Students: The bus was involved in an accident and there will be major delays on students getting home. Please bring a valid ID or car tag to pick up students from the school.

Thanks

Reminders for tomorrow:

Wear shoes for jump rope for heart

Tomorrow is our final day for raising funds for Jump Rope for heart! Thank you to all who supported the cause!