The Pini
n
President William McKinley High School
Vol. 90, No. 2
McKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
November 3, 2011
HSA testing to start soon New waiver could aids school systems
Target MHS
2005‐06 2006‐07 2007‐08 2008‐09 2009‐10 2010‐11 Reading Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Math 44% 28% 44% 28% 58% 46% 58% 46% 58% 46% 72% 64% 44% 34% 65% 40% 69% 48% 75% 54% 69% 54% 72% 55%
by Amanda Muramoto Like last year, the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA) will be administered online three times. It’s mandatory for sophomores to take the first session of the test on November 7-8, testing them on math. The first session will determine whether they have to retake the test again on that respective subject. The second session will be held once again for the entire class of 2014 on November 14-15. The third session will be held in early April 2012, and will only be for sophomores. With testing comes target goals. For the HSA, standards, otherwise known as
adequate yearly progress (AYP), allow schools to know where students stand and what subjects they need improvement in. These target goals have been increasing. In the 2006 school year, the goal was 44% in reading and 28% in math. At that time, MHS had 44% and 34% proficient in reading and math, respectively. The goal for 2014 is 100% proficient. “It’s [an] impossible [goal] for students, although everyone should try,” said Passina Abe (10). Needs assessment coordinator Lisa Panquites recommended ways for sophomores to prepare for the upcoming test. Panquites said that by “attending class, learning what they can, and keep-
ing up-to-date with school work,” they should be able to do well. U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan issued a waiver for schools. Instead of focusing so much on test scores, schools can do other things like aid teachers and principals, and work on restructuring their own school systems. States have to apply for the waiver and must meet requirements like explain their plan to increase student achievement and agree to higher standards for student preparation for careers and college. Hawaii has applied for the waiver and is waiting for approval to put the waiver to use for this school year.
Students to volunteer at APEC by Pauline Yang
42 AOHT/AOF (Academy of Hospitality and Tourism/Academy of Finance) students are helping with the upcoming APEC meeting at the Hawaii Convention Center. APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) was created in 1989 to aid sustainable economic growth, cooperation, and trade and investment. APEC’s core mission is to build up international economies in the Asia-Pacific region by taking away blockades to trade and investment. Student volunteers had to go through at least one day of training session at
UH Manoa, where they learned more about Hawaii’s history and culture. They also learned a bit of Hawaiian language to spread the Aloha spirit; words like
Ho’okipia - Hospitality; to welcome and make guests feel at home with warmth and generosity. The volunteers are going to be hosts for the whole APEC event. In becoming hosts, students must keep in mind five important traits. Students must smile genuinely because it looks great, is professional, and builds up trust. Greeting others means prompt acknowledgement and a smile to strengthen relationships. Listening is an important communication skill because it requires concentration to understand a situation which helps figure Please see APEC p. 4
RS 12-0485