Summer Camp Registration
The Courier
2013
6TH ANNUAL
www.the-courier.org
Saturday, April 6 • St. Francis High School See page 23 for more information.
First grade reading buddies enjoy practicing the story, The Big Trip, from their Journeys reading books. Students further develop fluency and comprehension skills through many exciting fiction and non-fiction stories, informational texts, biographies, fables, fairy tales and poems. These necessary skills help first graders become successful readers. Photo & caption Susan Olsen Grade 1 Teacher, Cedar Creek Community School
a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota
April 2013 | Volume 20, Issue 9
PAGE 16
FREE
State assessment season begins Kurt Becker Associate Director, ISD 15 Curriculum & Assessment
With the onset of spring comes the onset of the state’s accountability assessment season. Students across Minnesota will be participating in state-mandated testing in the areas of science, math, reading and writing. As in the past, scores generated from these tests will be used to rate schools as part of Minnesota’s accountability system. Students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 will participate in the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Series III (MCA-III) math tests again this year. Each school has the option of administering tests online or in a paper/pencil format. In Independent School District 15, some schools have chosen the online format while others are planning to use the paper version. The online math MCA-III is an adaptive test. The rigor of the questions that students must answer will depend on how well they have done on previous questions on the test. If a student gets some questions correct, the student will be asked to answer increasingly difficult questions. As a student gets questions wrong, the difficulty of questions will decrease. This way the test can hone in on a student’s achievement level. However, students will not be asked to answer any questions that are outside of the students’ grade-level standards. Third through eighth grade students will also be taking the MCA-III reading test along with grade 10 students. For the first time, schools will have the option of taking this test online or on paper. The online version of the reading test will not be adaptive like the math test. Students in fifth grade, eighth grade and tenth grade will be assessed using the MCA-III science test this year. This test is only given online and it is not an adaptive
test. Students will be assessed on Minnesota science standards at their grade level as well as at lower grade levels. Finally, 9th grade students will be taking the Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD)
The Pines Craft Retreat
LLC
East 3301 Viking Blvd., East of Hwy. 65 in
Bethel
-228-9501 www.thepinescraftretreat.com 763
epinescraftretreat Like us on Facebook — facebook.com/th
Specially designed for groups of 5-16 for scrapbooking, quilting, reunions, getaways, meetings, retreats and more!
writing test. In order to meet the graduation requirement for assessments, students will need to pass this test. If students don’t pass on their first attempt, they will be given retest opportunities each year. Students will also need to pass the 10th grade reading
Newly constructed get-a-way! Fully furnished kitchen, 5 cozy bedrooms (with bedding and towels) Large crafting area with 5-foot tables and comfortable/ adjustable chairs Computer station with wireless internet and printer 55-inch flat screen TV and Blu-ray player
test either on the first try or during a retest opportunity. The graduation rule for the 11th grade math test remains the same; either a student must pass the test or take the test at least three times. As it now stands, that rule will change after this year.
April What’s Inside Schools in Action..........................................2 School Board Highlights.........................12 Community Education............................14 Summer Camp Registration..................16 Community & Business...........................19 Sports & Outdoors....................................33 Life..................................................................36 Classified.......................................................39