Whitesburg Parents and Guardians,
Our ACAP State testing begins the week of March 24. When we hear March, we think that it is still a while away; however, it is only 37 school days away!! It is our job to make sure students are getting what they need academically. We have grade level standards to teach to assure that each child is proficient in those grade level standards. The ACAP assessment is a measurement tool to see if the school (ALL faculty/staff), the students, and stakeholders (parents and community) are being successful.
The results of the ACAP assessment is the majority of the formula that makes up our school's state report card grade. While our state report card grade of 82 (B) is a good grade, we are holding steady with that score and not really improving each year, which is what we would like to see. I really feel like our students are capable of doing much better; however we need your help!
I have heard many stakeholders in conversation complaining about state assessments and having these conversations in front of our students. Of course, that is going to cause apathy within our students. If the students hear adults complain and make light of this assessment, they are not going to do their best because they know that you do not care one way or the other.
I need your help with stressing the importance of the results of the ACAP. This test is showing how much the students have learned from one year to the next. If they do not show growth, it is a "red flag" that something else is the problem (teacher, student, parent, community, health, etc.). I need your help with encouraging students that their test results reflect back on not just the teacher, but on each student, parent and community. I need your help with encouraging students to do their very best and give it their all!
I have really just talked about the ACAP assessment. It goes much deeper than just the assessment. The ACAP assessment is just the measurement tool. Students day to day performance, actions, and initiative is what is giving them the knowledge to do well on the ACAP assessment. If we (collectively as a group) would just worry about the day to day, the ACAP assessment would not even be a conversation. Our day to day performance should match the ACAP assessment. Bottom line, I want our students to show up on paper being as great as I see them being every day.
Let's continue to strive for excellence in everything that we do.
Thank you for your support! I am blessed to serve with you at the BURG!
Thanks,
Mrs. Jones