message tuesday

Thank you for honoring the teachers and staff at ICA last week!    We have some outstanding people working on our staff and you did a fantastic job making them feel appreciated!

Next week (May 22nd - June 2) we will be conducting standardized testing.  Each grade level (2nd  - 10th) takes computerized tests for two school days (1.5 for the elementary grades) during that time period. Students may express some anxiety about these tests at home, so I would like to give you some thoughts to share with your students in regard to the tests that may help them feel more at ease:

1.  They aren't part of the grades that go on your report card.  These tests are to show us what you have learned and how much your academic skills have improved between last year and this year.  

• While it is important for students to give their very best effort, we want them to be able to relax in the understanding that we are trying to get a clear picture of how well we are helping them learn.   Our goal is to strike the balance between being overly concerned about their performance on one hand and clicking bubbles at random (which some have been known to do!) on the other.

2.  There may be some questions to which you do not know the answer.  If after reading the question two or three times you still don't know the correct answer, make the most logical guess with what you do know.
3.  Bring plenty of water and a book to read silently when you are done with your test.
4.  Bring non-sugary snacks, a water bottle and a healthy lumch as we will have 30 minute breaks between all tests and you will want to feed your brain with both food and oxygen (by exercising).
5.  Please, please, please be sure to get adequate sleep during your testing days as it will give you the best chance of showing what you have learned over the last year.

Below is a list of when specific grades will be testing:

Grade 2:  Monday and part of Tuesday, May 22-23
Grades 3-4:  Tuesday and Wednesday, May 23-24
Grades 5-6: Thursday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 30 (two tests only on the 30th)
Grades 7-8: Wednesday and Thursday, May 31-June 1
Grades 9-10: Friday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 30

Thank you for helping provide optimal conditions for your student to do well on their assessments!

Sincerely,

Brenda