Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406
EST. 2003
the april 10, 2015
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The student voice of Northridge High School
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 7
Mock AP exams help students prepare for spring tests MYCHI TRAN NEWS EDITOR
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eachers use the AP mock exams to help students get used to the real AP exams. Megan Liljenquist, chemistry teacher, said she used the previous year’s AP exam as her mock exam. “The AP exams change every year,” she said. Liljenquist said the purpose of the mock exam is to help students review what they know and do not know. Liljenquist said there are two parts to the mock exam: the multiple choice questions and the free responses. “I grade the multiple choices, and then
all the teachers all over the area gather and have a mock reading,” she said. “We grade the free-responses there.” Nimra Khan, junior, said she was fully prepared for the mock exam. “Because of it, I feel good about taking the real ones in May,” she said. “I have three [AP exams] this year.” Khan said it was a little stressful because of the fire and weather drill that took place during her chemistry mock exam. “We [her class] lost our train of thought during the free responses,” she said. Jacob Fitch, junior, said he felt prepared for the AP exam. “I got a feel of what the test is going to be like and how the test is going to go and all that good stuff,” he said. “I think I’ll do
well if I buckle down and study for it.” Fitch said the drills also affected his concentration. “We had to go out for the fire drills, go back in, and then go back out again for the weather [drill],” he said. Liljenquist said because of the drills, her mock exam dragged into her fourth period class. “The drills were scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, but it was changed to the following day,” she said. “No one informed us of the change.” Liljenquist said she was a little angry about the drills. “If I had known of the drills, I would have changed the date of my mock exam,” she said.
Liljenquist said luckily it was only a practice exam. “My students had to stop and restart their thought process. It wasn’t ideal, but it was okay,” she said. “During the real exam, there will be no drills, and students will not even be allowed to leave if there were.” Darrin Spence, dean of students, said although he is in charge of scheduling school drills, it’s the fire department that decides when to come. “That’s the reason why the teachers don’t know ahead of time,” he said. Spence said he doesn’t schedule drills during exam time. “Those things are already scheduled ahead of time,” he said.
ACT boot camp to be held for students to improve scores A
n ACT boot camp will be held April 15 and 16 at school, Kyle Ferguson, principal, said. Cambridge Educational Services, a company focused on educational advancement for students, will help students improve their ACT scores at the boot camp. Ferguson said he originally arranged for the ACT tutoring to take place after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays like regular tutoring. Ferguson said he wants to make this available to everyone. “In order to make it accessible to everyone, we’re going to do it in school,” Ferguson said. “Our primary focus is the junior class, but it’s for people who want to go,” he said. “There will be two three-hour sessions,” Ferguson said. “Cambridge says in three hours, they can increase your ACT score by three points. Three points could mean the difference between a partial and full scholarship. You’re talking about families saving thousands of dollars.” Sherri Shuttlesworth, assistant principal, said that although these sessions are for juniors, available seats will be on a first come first serve basis through sign up for others. “The boot camp is to help students become college ready,” she said. Kaylin Harris, junior, said she is attending the ACT boot camp. “I would love to bump my ACT score up three points,” she said. “It’s three hours of knowledge getting poured into my brain along with occasional breaks. I believe it’ll be very beneficial.” “Anytime you have a free opportunity to be a part of something to enhance your future, you should take advantage of it,” Shuttlesworth said. Ferguson said he thinks students should take advantage
of this, but students will have an opportunity to opt out. “I’m not gonna have students go in there and distract the students who want to benefit,” he said. Shuttlesworth said she thinks the boot camp will help improve ACT scores, and students should take it seriously. “This is a time for juniors to take this opportunity seriously and represent themselves and our school well,” she said. Junior LaTaysia Quinnie said she is attending the ACT boot camp to raise her score. “I think everyone needs to raise their ACT score to get into college,” Quinnie said. Shuttlesworth said Cambridge will send a representative here to discuss test taking strategies with teachers as well. “Teachers get a one hour debrief from the representative,” she said. “The rep will let teachers know how [Cambridge] introduces the strategies, so the teachers know how to continue [introducing them].” Ferguson said the school has also purchased materials for teachers to teach during bonus. Shuttlesworth said the ordered material would also be used for other things. “We’ve ordered three different books based on three levels,” she said. “These levels grow with a score range. Say you score a 13-15 on the Plan, there’s a specific book for you.” She said the material contains practice tests, strategies and teacher guides. Shuttlesworth said students “will be able to take the [ACT] with more confidence. A lot of students have test anxiety, and this can help with that. If this works well for our juniors, I see it helping tenth graders preparing for the Plan, which is now called the Aspire.” Mike Lee, senior, said he wished an ACT boot camp was held when he was a junior. “I’m one of the people who has a low ACT score. I think it would have helped me,” Lee said. “Professional help is better than doing it on your own or having a book and no one to teach you.”
AT A GLANCE ‘METRO 2033’ page 9
softball page 11
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What do YOU think about an ACT boot camp?
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I think it’s a great idea, and it gives students an advantage to make a better score.” NAMAYA CARLISLE, JUNIOR
I think it’s a great idea that can help a lot of students. It can give them an idea of what they’ve got coming ahead.” marquis gray, senior
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I think that it’s a great opportunity. I’m actually going. I think it’s true in the sense it could raise your grade.”
dacia long, junior
Information compiled by Jacob Martin Photos by Jacob Martin Infographic designed by James Niiler
We don’t want to test the students to death. I’m hoping we’re getting away from...the point where there’s more testing than teaching. kyle ferguson, principal
See story on page 4
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DESTINY HODGES NEWS EDITOR