IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR - STATE TESTING HAS BEGUN!

Parents/Guardians,

We are beginning our state Reading, Math and Science tests and we want you to be aware. It is so helpful when you all ensure that your student is well prepared. We have given them the skills and education they need to be successful; we need your help in giving them the “soft skills” to succeed. What are those? A good breakfast the day of the test, a good night’s sleep the night before (turn off the XBox, cell phone, and computer and be in bed by 10:00 pm sharp!) and a hug and kiss for luck as they leave for school. Below is the testing schedule, so please be sure and ask what Wave your student is testing and help us help them BEAT THE TEST! 

                                — Kelly Paye and Les Limon, EMS Counselors

—Assist students in understanding themselves.
—Assist students in understanding their own abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
—Assist students in developing social skills.
—Assist students with personal issues.
—Assist students in the exploration of careers.

All of our middle school students have begun their career exploration process. Each grade level takes a personal inventory. Sixth grade assesses Interests, seventh grade looks at Skills and eighthgrade considers Values. By the end of 8th grade our goal is to have all students complete with all three categories. Kansas Career Pipeline then offers lots of information about occupations, educational plans, and career clusters to help students start developing a “plan” to prepare them for high school and eventually graduation.

The goal of the program is to match students with occupations that not only interest them, but are also rewarding based on their individual results. If you would like to view your student’s results, have your student log on to www.kansascareerpipeline.org. They will then enter their passwords and can show you the outcomes of their assessments. It is a fun, interactive website, and it’s a great place for parents and students to work together to look at future goals.

The Board of Education recognizes that some students may progress more rapidly than others and that some students may possess the knowledge taught or learned in some classes or grades. Therefore, the following policy sets forth the requirements a student must meet in order to receive credit for a course by a test out procedure.
1. In order for a student to be eligible for a test out, he/she must meet the following academic standards:
a. 90% in the most recently completed course in the subject area they are attempting a test out
b. 95 percentile on a nationally normed test
c. Scored exemplary on the most recent subject area state assessment
2. The student must submit to the building counselor a request in writing to test out prior to April 15

This is a simple explanation of the test policy for middle school and/or about to be middle school students, for more information please contact the counselors office at 322-4826.

1) Focus on learning. Middle school usually offers more classes and options for classes. Take classes that spark an interest. Get involved in clubs that relate to interests.
2) Find friends with similar interests. It's not necessary to worry about popularity. The best way to ensure happiness is to find friends who like the same things and are fun to be around. Having great friends makes middle school less something to survive and more a fun experience.
3) Study hard. Middle school is a building block for high school. Everything learned in middle school is used in the next level. Make sure to understand concepts well, so as not to have problems in subjects later. Ask teachers for assistance if something seems too hard.
4) Ignore others who are negative. Other kids who bully or make fun of people are just insecure themselves. Tell parents or teachers if another kid is verbally or physically harassing.
5) Remember, it doesn't last forever. Soon enough, high school will come around, and things change when kids get to high school. Three years will be over quickly, and then it's on to high school.