TESTING 1-2-3:
This month, students at MOS and across Arizona
will face a new reading, writing and math test that's meant to
save schools time and produce faster results and more useful scores
for parents and teachers. Every student in third through eighth
grades will take a new test, called the AIMS Dual Purpose Assessment.
It replaces the national Stanford 9 test, traditionally given
to second-through ninth-graders, and the state elementary AIMS
test given to third-, fifth-, and eighth-graders. That means teachers
need to prepare students for only one annual standardized test,
but it is one whopper of a test, 164 questions and an essay exam.
The new test was developed by teachers with help from CBT McGraw
Hill. The new test also puts the state a step ahead of the federal
No Child Left Behind ACT, which requires third-through eighth-graders
to be tested in math and language arts annually beginning in the
2005-2006 school year.
The annual two-week spring
testing regime will be cut in half. That's one of the advantages
mentioned most often by educators. But the new exam is intense
and must be administered between April 11 and April 22. It is
not timed, but it will take most students about five hours to
complete over several days. Also of note, in past years, the state
has administered the Stanford 9 to elementary students from second-through
ninth-graders. Now, only second and ninth-graders will take a
new, but similar, national test called TerraNova. With the TerraNova
test for our second graders and the AIMS Dual-Purpose Assessment
for our MOS third -through seventh-graders, parents help their
child(ren) best by ensuring they receive a good night's sleep
and hearty breakfast each morning during this testing window.
AIMS Dual Purpose Assessment
Who takes the test:
- Third-through eighth-graders.
What the test includes:
- 80 math questions
- 84 reading questions
- A writing sample, or essay
What the test measures:
- How well students have mastered reading,
writing and math skills based on grade-by- grade learning goals
known as Arizona Academic Standards.
What parents will learn from the scores:
- How well your child performed on each
of the test's reading, writing and math sections. A student
who "falls far below" or "approaches" standards
failed the section. A student who "meets" or "exceeds"
the standards passed the test. *How well your child performed
on a list of specific grade-level reading, writing and math
skills measured by the test. Those skills could include reading
comprehension and vocabulary, writing and sentence fluency,
and the ability to estimate and analyze numbers.
- Where your child ranks nationally. It
will place your child in a percentile rank, with 25 percent
through 75 percent considered average. Statisticians also divide
children tested across the country into nine groups, called
stanines. The report will contain your child's stanine level.
Again, parents can help their child(ren)
so much in taking these tests by ensuring proper rest and good
nutrition. Teacher's will help children by maintaing a relaxed,
yet focused, environment. Parents and teachers can expect results
as early as the first two weeks in June, which means they will
be enclosed with your child's end-of-the-year report. Good-luck
and best wishes to all of our MOS second-through seventh-graders
during this April 11-April 22 testing window!
- Merrill Badger, Principal
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Happenings:
Tonight, Tuesday, April 5th is our 3rd grade
parent class meeting 6:00-7:00pm.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 6th, is a half-day
early dismissal at 12:30pm.
Join us this Friday, April 8th for our
morning tea garden.
This Friday, April 8th, Spring All School
Assembly at Hendrix Auditorium, Prescott Mile High School 6:30-7:30pm.
Saturday, April 9th is the ACWE meeting
in Phoenix, 8:30am-1:30pm.
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Do You Know the Impact We Have?
Impact! That’s exactly what happened this past week when
one of our families’ car backed into another’s car
and an accident happened during drop-off time at school.
I’m not sure how many more ways we can say this, or remind
drivers dropping off and picking up our children on how important
it is to do this correctly. A car accident is unfortunate and
if anything happened to one of our children that would be unforgivable.
So let’s start doing this in a mindful way and commit to
following the same drop off guidelines now! In case you do not
know them or forgot them, here they are:
• Pull all the way forward in the circle to quickly drop
off and pick up your child. Pulling as far forward as possible
allows two to three cars to be in the crescent drive-thru at one
time. This means no one car has to be left hanging out into the
street.
• When picking up your child please instruct them to be
ready and watching for you to pick up so that no one has to get
out of their cars to call children over or look for them. Looking
for them blocks the traffic below and leaves cars lined up in
the street where a possible accident can occur.
• If you have items or school projects to drop off with
your child kindly park in one of the designated parking spots
behind the school or on the street and then unload your child
and their item. Unloading the car, means opening trunks and such
and takes time thus blocking traffic flow.
• If you want or need to check in with some one and have
a few brief words then kindly park your car in designated areas
and go talk with them. Talking to people at the gate while your
car is idling impedes traffic flow and safety.
• Act like your children are taught in the classroom: Be
Kind, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe! When dropping
off or picking up your children in the crescent drive-thru.
• Guess What? When our children do not act accordingly in
school they have a consequence, which can include spending time
with the principle. So, if people continue to forget to follow
what their children are learning, then perhaps you’ll be
sitting with Mr. Badger soon and helping out on our next community
project, like helping with traffic flow and safety at school in
the morning and afternoons.
LETS PLAY BALL!
Adult Co-ed Softball Team Friday Nights
May through August
Come one, Come all
Come big, Come small
Come sharp, Come dull
Come pro, Come not so...
Don't spend your money at the mall,
Don't worry about there being a brawl,
Its not against the law,
Come out and have a ball, Lets play Softball !
All are welcome at any ability level---Its D league.....its all
about fun!!
Needs.....A Glove---all the better to catch the ball with.
Cleats--- all the better to increase your chances of making it
safe to base.
A few bucks -- for league fees. Its somebody's bread and butter.
For the Mighty Mountain Oak Contract Signing and Salary Negotiations...
Call Laura 541-7815
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Parent University
Topic: Exploring the Waldorf Methods High School
Date: Thursday, April 21st
Time: 6:30–8:00 PM
Description: The newly formed Executive Board of the Mountain
Oak Organization welcomes all interested parties to an organizational
meeting regarding a possible future high school.
Key Issues to be discussed: The emerging picture of a public Waldorf
Methods High School—The Model, the search for a new site,
financing/fundraising, writing the charter, setting up a bi-monthly
forum of interested parties who are ready to take up the work
of creating a possible high school.
This is a very important meeting. For further information about
the meeting or if you are unable to attend but are interested
in being apart of this process, please contact Merrill Badger,
DeeAnn Morgan or Steve Posey.
Felted Tapestry Workshop
presented by Sharon McFeely
Saturday, April 9th
9 am - 3pm
cost: $65.00
bring an old towel and a sack lunch
pre-register with Sharon at 776-8014.
Class size will be limited.
Many people have requested that Sharon offer this workshop. Here's
your chance to create a beautiful hand felted tapestry.
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Laughter makes our days brighter and hearts happier.
I love to laugh and have fun in balance with doing my job and
taking care of my responsibilities.
As I connect with my own center of happiness, I see and hear so
many funny things.
I look at my life through the eyes of joy and laughter.
-Unknown
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