You may have seen in the news recently (e.g. Washington Post) an alarming national decline in student proficiency in math and reading. The disruptions imposed on schools and families in the last two years have been costly in many ways.
When parents chose Challenger during this time, trusting us to figure out how to continue providing a Challenger education despite the restrictions, we redoubled our efforts.
Our students’ Iowa Assessments results demonstrate that your trust was well-placed. The 2020–21 year was challenging, but Challenger students are right on track to regain pre-covid expected high proficiency this year.
Parents, thank you for entrusting us with the education of your exceptional children.
The American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10 will take place on November 10. Challenger students in grades 5–8 who qualified during the 2021–22 academic year will be invited to participate in this year’s AMC 10 competition.
Hosted by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and designed for students in grade 10 and below, the AMC 10 is a twenty-five question, multiple-choice examination in mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills.
Students can prepare for, and parents can find more information about, the competition by visiting the MAA website.
Elementary students will commemorate Veterans Day this month. Some students will have the opportunity to write to military personnel currently serving overseas. Others will read or hear first-hand accounts of veterans throughout U.S. history. The purpose of these activities is to honor the American men and women who have defended freedom around the world.
Feast Day is a Challenger tradition and an opportunity for students to celebrate Thanksgiving with traditional Thanksgiving food.
For grades 1–8, the lunch caterer at many of the campuses will be offering a special meal that you can order for your child and/or yourself. Due to campus visitor and space restrictions imposed on Challenger, parents in California will not be able to participate in the on-campus feast; however, the Thanksgiving lunch will still be available for purchase for students, if desired. You will receive additional information from your campus soon.
If you won’t be purchasing a Thanksgiving lunch for your child, please remember to send a lunch from home.
Our preschoolers and kindergartners will learn about the first Thanksgiving and celebrate with their own in-class snack feasts. Feasts will vary by program and campus. A notice with details will be sent home with your child soon. Remember to provide a lunch for your child that day. The preschool and kindergarten feasts are a large snack, but it will not be replacing their lunches for the day.
Challenger School will not be in session November 23–25. We hope that your family enjoys a happy Thanksgiving!
Beginning November 28, grade 3–8 classes will hold in-class spelling bees. Class bees will feature spelling and vocabulary words students have learned or will learn in class during the year. Class finalists qualify for the campus bee, which utilizes words and vocabulary from the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Good luck to our stellar spellers!
Students are excited to present their Christmas Sings and Christmas Concerts next month. As we get closer to the performances, check our website for schedules, and watch for invitations to these festive events.
Due to state restrictions, California campuses will not be able to host Christmas Sings or Concerts; however, students will still celebrate the season with plenty of fun activities.
As the weather gets cooler, make sure your child is dressed appropriately in outer clothes that he or she can handle with little assistance. Please don’t send an umbrella with your child; when combined with backpacks and lunch boxes, an umbrella is difficult to manage.
We will go outside every day possible, despite the cold weather. Label all outerwear pieces just in case items end up in the lost-and-found.