April-May 2013 - Meade School District

Dakota STEP assesses academicachievement and mastery of standardsIn TouchKristine Hubbard, editorMeade School District 46-11230 Douglas StreetSturgis, S.D. 57785Phone: 605.347.2523x3Toll-free: 1.877.522.6251Questions or comments aboutthe contents of this newslettershould be directed to the editor.Meade School District studentswill be taking the South DakotaState Test of Educational Progress(Dakota STEP), the assessmentsystem for accountability in SouthDakota schools, between April 1-19.Dakota STEP assesses basiccurricular objectives in reading andmath for students in grades threethrough eight and grade 11, andscience for those in grades five andeight and grade 11, as required bythe No Child Left Behind Act.The test is a battery of untimed,multiple-choice subtests with thequestions based on national andstate content standards and isdesigned to gauge studentachievement in relation to otherchildren the same age in schoolsacross the state and the nation.Juniors at Sturgis Brown HighSchool will take the test on April 3and April 10, and to help preparethem and their parents for the test,several events will be held. Bothtesting days will begin with breakfastat 8 a.m. in the west gym. Thebreakfast, provided by the SouthDakota National Guard, parentsand staff, will be followed by ademonstration of relaxation andstress breaker techniques as wellas Zumba and yoga activities.Stephanie Sherman from Curveswill lead the Zumba classes whilehigh school staff members AlissaAdams and Chris Koletsky willteach yoga. Water and healthysnacks will be available to the studentsthroughout the testing period.In addition, letters were sent toall parents of the juniors regardingthe testing schedule, the importanceof adequate rest and nutritionprior to testing, test-takingstrategies and other helpful hints. Ameeting was also held duringParent Teacher Conferences forthe parents of those taking the test.Sturgis Williams Middle Schooleighth grade students will take thescience test April 3-5. The mathand reading tests will be taken bythe sixth, seventh and eighth gradestudents April 9-11. All test-takingwill be done during the regular science,math and reading classes.Specific testing dates aren'tscheduled at Sturgis Elementary.Instead, times and days within thetesting window are selected basedon what is best for the students intheir current schedule. "We talk tothe students about test-takingstrategies, getting a good night'srest and the importance of eatingbreakfast," said Principal ChantalLigtenberg. Information is alsosent to the parents about the test.Testing at Whitewood ElementarySchool will take place fromApril 5-12. An assembly was heldat the school at which time theyounger students encouraged thetest-takers to do their best.Principal Bev Rosenboom handedout "Do Your Best on the Test" pencilsto the test-takers. In addition tothe fresh fruits regularly availableat the Whitewood School, the PTOis providing snacks. Each ruralschool sets its own schedule, butmost testing will occur from April 2-12. All rural students have alsoreceived encouragement and specialpencils from Rosenboom.The majority of the testing atPiedmont Valley Elementary willtake place April 2-5 and April 9-11.The students at that school willalso receive pencils as encouragement.The Piedmont StudentCouncil used some of its moneyfrom the fall cookie dough sales topurchase snacks and other foodsand liquids for the test-takers sothey can stay hydrated and full ofenergy throughout the testing.Although Dakota STEPresults are only one measure ofstudent achievement, the assessmentprovides critical feedback toeducators, students and parentsregarding students' academicachievement and mastery of contentstandards.2 In Touch April-May 2013