Sequoia Middle School
9452 Hemlock Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335

(909) 357-5400
Fax: (909) 357-5419

Gorge Santiago, Principal
Eduardo Gomez, Assistant Principal

Dear Families:

As we close the door on January, the ugly head of state testing is beginning to surface. While we are still three months away, preparations already are taking place including developing the testing schedule, testing classrooms, and many other critical testing issues.

Though many hate testing, this is an opportunity to measure how well our students have done in achieving the standards developed by the state. While many parents and students understand the seriousness of the testing, others do not. Students need to realize that their performance on these test will impact what classes they are allowed to choose going into eighth grade or high school. Furthermore, if a student is an English Language Learner (ELL), this may affect their ability to be reclassified. Often, parents of ELL students ask why their children have to take English Language Development (ELD) classes, though they speak English extremely well. As we investigate, we often identify their performance on the CST as the impediment keeping them from being reclassified and requiring they take ELD classes. Additionally, our students’ performances on these tests can affect sanctions that our school could face if we fail to achieve the goals mandated by No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

These tests have huge ramifications, and that is why we are taking steps to prepare our students for them. As parents, there are steps your children can take including:

• Review their agenda every night to see if they have homework. Homework is aligned to state standards, and is an opportunity for students to practice what they learned in class.
• Make sure your students are reading. At the middle school level, we assume our students know how to read. However, at this level, students are not learning how to read, they are reading to learn.
• Meet with your teacher. If you are concerned about your child’s progress, schedule a meeting with their teacher, and see what they need to do to be ready for testing.
• Begin limiting how much students watch television and play video games. Too much television watching and video game playing reduces their attention span and affects their ability to stay focused for a long period of time.
• Visit the following site to review questions that are similar to what your students will be asked http://www.starsamplequestions.org/starRTQ/search.jsp. There are other sites your students may visit including Study Island. Please call the school for more information on this program.
• Ask them daily what they learned. This is extremely important. While the teacher may have taught something, ask them what they learned, because if they learned it, they should be able to demonstrate and articulate it. For example, if they state they learned exponents, then they should be show how to perform a calculation with exponents. If you see they are not able to demonstrate the concept, email the teacher and let them know your student DID NOT learn it.

In order for our students to perform well, we need to work together. This must be a collective effort between the school, parents, and students. Our first test is in March when OUR seventh graders will take a writing test. Let’s work together to make sure OUR students are prepared and to show why OUR Eagles are ready to SOAR this year.

Until Next Time,

Mr. Santiago
Principal

Oprima aquí para español.