February 1, 2008
Re: High school transition & MEAs
Dear Parents and Students:
While next fall may seem far away, it is time to begin thinking about the transition to the high school. We have been working closely with the high school administration and guidance office staff to develop a placement process designed to make the transition as seamless as possible for our students. Our goal is to ensure that students are placed appropriately so that they are able to maximize their high school experience. Several pieces of information will be considered when the high school staff makes placement recommendations for incoming freshmen. Please see below for a description of the process and important dates to note.
On Thursday, January 24, all 8th grade students completed a writing prompt in their Language Arts classes. This prompt was collaboratively developed by middle school and high school teachers and will also be collaboratively scored. It was a literary analysis of a poem, similar in format to what students had been working on in class and are likely to see on standardized tests. In addition to providing data for high school placement, it will provide data for the middle school to use to reflect on our instructional practices.
In the fall, students took the NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) on-line math and reading tests. Students will re-take the reading and math portion of the NWEA between March 17-28. These tests are nationally normed and parents will receive individual student reports on these tests.
Once the data is collected, the high school staff will begin to make placement recommendations in English, Math, Modern Languages, Science and Social Studies. English and social studies placement is based on the writing prompt, NWEA reading scores as well as the student's grades to date in English, reading and social studies. Math placement is based on the NWEA math scores, current math placement and grades. Science placement is based on current science grades and math placement. Modern language placement recommendations are made by your student's current ML teacher.
On April 14-18, the high school guidance department will meet with 8th grade students to review high school course offerings, and explain the placement letter that will be mailed from the high school on April 18th. Additionally, guidance counselors will distribute the GHS Course Catalog and registration form. The registration materials need to be returned, signed by a parent, to the middle school by April 30th in preparation for on-line registration. The high school guidance counselors will oversee the registration process in our computer lab.
The high school also invites parents of incoming freshmen to an Open House on Monday, March 10th at 6 p.m. at the high school. This is an opportunity to meet high school faculty and learn about curriculum.
While March is the beginning of the high school transition process, it is also the time that students in Maine are completing the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA). The tests measure student learning in Reading, Math, Science & Technology, and Writing. Students at the 8th grade level will be taking the tests on-line with their laptop computers. Testing will take place between March 3rd and 7th. These tests provide important feedback for students and families in addition to providing us a tool to look at our instructional practices. In addition, since the advent of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, MEA data is used to measure our district's and state's yearly progress.
We will do everything we can to make the testing environment a comfortable setting for the students by testing them in groups of under 20, ensuring a quiet and focused atmosphere, providing snacks and asking teachers not to have any tests or major projects due during that period. There are a few things that you can do to help support your child in taking the MEAs: ensure that students are well-rested and well-fed; avoid scheduling appointments during the testing period; continue the wonderful support that you offer your children on a day-to-day basis.
If you have any questions about either the high school placement process, the MEA testing, or the NWEA Fall reports included in this mailing please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Penelope Wheeler-Abbott
Assistant Principal
Important Dates to Remember
March 10, 6 p.m. Greely High School |
Open house for incoming freshmen & parents |
March 3-7 |
MEAs on line (no computers going home) |
March 17-28 |
NWEA math and reading tests |
April 14-18 |
High school guidance counselors meet with 8th grade students |
April 18 |
Placement letters mailed to parents |
April 30 |
Signed registration form due back to GMS |
May 5-7 |
Students register for classes on-line |
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