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DECEMBER 2014 || VOL. VIII ISSUE IV
PERRY HIGH SCHOOL || GILBERT, AZ
Arizona’s new standardized tests
New standardized tests will count for a grade, not graduation By Molly Ogden the precedent
photo by Damien Tippett
Junior Justin Vredevoogd and sophomore Jaron Barnes work on a project in their honors brief calculus class. With the exception of seniors, all students will take the AzMERIT math test this spring.
AP Java students promote Hour Of Code event By Kacee Perry the precedent
In this new day and age, computers are widely used, making computer science an inevitable necessity for society. From last year, a world-wide event called the Hour of Code brought 15 million students to try computer science. Now, it is Perry’s turn to join the event. Students Maurice Ajlun and Tanner Lisonbee are part of Perry’s Computer Programmers United Club (CPU)/ Java Club, who came into classes during conference, in order to promote the hour Lisonbee of code. These CPU members then later, held a session after school on Dec. 11-12 from 2:30-4:30 in room F407, to teach students basic coding information. Ajlun and Lisonbee gave a brief preview of their presentation, describing the overall dynamics of the hour of code. “A lot of it is about trying to get people into the field of computer science,” Ajlun stated. “Of math and science students, only two percent of those are computer builders, but by 2020 60 percent of math based jobs are in use computer science.”
Lisonbee continued with, “So, in other words, there’s going to be so many jobs and only one person to fill all of those jobs. So that’s why we’re here encouraging people to come into this kind of field because it is a currently growing field right now...Computer science is reaching out to many, many different fields and is becoming a big part of how our society works. So that’s why with people in other fields we need them to know at least the basics of computer science.” AP Computer Science teacher, Lindsey Tillman described the after school function saying, “There’s going to be a number of different languages offered to each team member.” She continued, “We are going to have a guest speaker who is going to give a little information about him, his job, the profession, what he is currently developing, and then is going to stay after and kind of answer any questions or if people are interested, pick his brain about what he does.” Those interested will enter the site Code.org, in which students will be able to create an assortment of codes that include apps, websites, and online games. Lisonbee commented on the desire of the event explaining, “We’re trying to show people, it’s not hard and anyone could do it.
After nearly a year of uncertainty, students and teachers across the state now have some idea of what is in store for standardized testing in 2014-15. Beginning in March, new state testing known as AzMERIT will make its way into math and English classes across Arizona. The new test is called the Arizona’s Measurement of Educational Readiness to Inform Teaching – or AzMERIT. The exams will be designed after the state’s version of Common Core Standards known as the Arizona Career and College Readiness Standards. According to the state department of education, testing may begin in March for freshmen, sophomores and juniors; seniors will not take the exams. Testing could drag out all the way through late April, according to the state’s schedule, and exams will evaluate student’s understanding of Arizona standards of education. “The test is going to be extremely harder than the AIMS,” math department chair Tom Rothery said, “because it is going to be open-ended and not multiple
choice. But I believe that we have prepared for it through practice tests.” A sample algebra 1 test question provided by the Arizona Department of Education states “Given k(x) = 2x2– 23x – 12, one factor of k(x) is (x – 12). What is the other factor, and what is the zero determined by the factor?” The practice test rationale says the other factor is (2x+1), and the zero is -.5. When the state implemented the AIMS exams in 1998, the tests in English and math were piloted (they did not count against the students and were very difficult to pass) before becoming a requirement to graduate in 2006. The AzMERIT exams, however, will be counted differently than the AIMS, principal Dan Serrano said. “Eventually, [the tests] will be a part of your grade,” he said. The tests will count for credit in the student’s math and English class. If a student fails the AzMERIT but passes their class, they receive credit for the class and do not have to re-test; but if a student fails a class, they must retake the test when they retake the class, even if they passed the exam the first time. Unlike AIMS, the ADE testing schedule states that all tests will be timed, which might put more pressure on students. To view sample exams, go to our website at phsprecedent.com.
Two homeschooled students adjust to society of high school By Amanda Lee the precedent
Waxed floors and rambunctious teenagers are commonplace for those attending public school, but homeschooled students are more comfortable at a kitchen table. Perrin Ehler, counselor for the sophomore class, says “there are only a handful of students attending Perry who have been homeschooled.” After eight years of homeschool, sophomore Breeyanne Wade began attending public school. Her parents made the decision for her. Ehler says there are two main reasons a parent will homeschool their children. “Usually, they don’t like the environment they see for their children [in public school] and/ or they want a small learning environment,” she says. However, sophomore Randi Chatelain made the decision herself. “I was having a rough time in sixth grade because I was getting bullied,” Chatelain says, so she chose to be homeschooled. Wade finds homeschool more distracting than a public classroom. “The biggest challenge was focus,” she says. “I was at home and had a
photo by Natalie Eberhard
Sophomore Randi Chatelain spends her lunch sitting with friends in the breezeway between the C and F buildings.
lot of distractions.” Although Wade enjoyed being so close to her siblings, she expresses some restraints of home school. “I missed out a little socially,” she
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says. “I didn’t have many friends while doing homeschool,” Chatelain agreed. “There weren’t
see HOMESCHOOL pg. 2
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