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Want to Graduate? Be Advised Read this.
The state of Oregon Department of Education recently implemented new requirements for our future graduating classes. The purpose of these new requirements is to make an Oregon high school diploma more meaningful and ensure that every Oregon high school graduate is aptly prepared for the life outside of high school.
by Elias Opgenorth
Students will soon be required to take more science and math classes as well as display proficiency in a variety of essential skills, such as reading, writing and math. So basically, you have to pass the state tests and take more math. Here’s exactly what your class needs to do:
Class of 2011 Class of 2013 Class of 2011- Chill, seniors. No new requirements will go into effect between now and June. Phew...
Class of 2012 Class of 2012- Juniors will now be required to demonstrate proficiency in reading and comprehending text in order to achieve their diplomas. The easiest way to demonstrate this skill is by passing the Oregon Assessment on Knowledge and Skills (OAKS) test, which 92 percent of our juniors have already passed. You may also meet the requirement by passing the benchmark on approved standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc) or by submitting work samples that pass an official scoring guide for the State of Oregon. In addition, juniors are now required to have three years of science classes and six semesters of a second language, an art class, and/or a career and technical ed. class. Proportionately, only 12 elective credits will now be required rather than 18.
If you have any questions or concerns about these new requirements, you can visit www. GetReadyOregon.org or www. ode.state.or.us/go/diploma for extra information.
Class of 2013- Along with the same requirements as the juniors, sophomores will also have to prove that they can write clearly and accurately in order to reach their diplomas. Once again, the easiest way to do this is to pass the OAKS writing test that will be administered to the sophomores later this year. If a student does not pass, he or she may retake the test, or pass some other approved standardized testing form.
Class of 2014 Class of 2014- New math requirements will go into effect. To get a diploma, students graduating in 2014 must have three years of Algebra I level math or higher. Luckily, thanks to the brilliant math program implement by our high school’s math teachers, all our students are on track to graduate, so long as they pass all their classes. In addition to all other requirements, freshman will also have to prove they can apply mathematics in a variety of settings by passing an approved mathematics assessment.
Advisory hits Ashland High by Elias Opgenorth After years of behind-the-scenes work, including dozens of lost late-start Fridays and hundreds of meeting hours, the administration is finally implementing the first of many personalized plans to make the high school experience more relevant to the student’s life. It is called Advisory and will be part of the new schedule that is to go into effect at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year. Like a homeroom, Advisory will be made up of kids in the same grade, who meet with their advisor four times a week between the first two periods of the day. They will meet two days a week as advisory and the other two days will be office hours, a chance for students to get help in specific classes. The goal is for the students to create long term plans for after high school and figure out ways to make their education at AHS relevant towards achieving their goals. Advisors can instruct students on what classes to take in order to get them into the colleges they want and inform kids about programs that can help them achieve their goals, whether going to Harvard or getting their GED. Along with academic counseling, Advisory will also be a time for students to create connections with their teachers. Advisors will have the same group of students for four years, which allows plenty of time for bonding. If you need help, advice or guidance, they will be there for you. It will be the teacher’s jobs to stick with their kids from freshman orientation to graduation day and ensure that every one of their students has a friend at Ashland High. If students are having trouble adjusting in any aspect of school or life, their advisor will help them. In order to incorporate advisory into the schedule, classes for next year will be shortened and office hours will be during Advisory every other day.