12/21/23
Winter Break is here! It was a fun week here at Woodlawn and we are now off until January 8, 2024! I am proud of the students and staff for many reasons up to this point, and I hope that we will be even more successful in the new year. There are only a couple of items in the blog this week.
Upcoming Dates:
12/22-1/7- Winter Break
1/15- No School
1/30- Early Release 1:30 p.m. Dismissal
NEW *ACCESS Testing*
The State of Illinois requires identified English Learner (EL) students to annually participate in the ACCESS testing to determine current English language proficiency in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Our ACCESS testing window will occur from 1/17/24-3/5/24. Each school’s testing schedule is unique and will only impact students who take the ACCESS test. Students taking ACCESS do not need to prepare anything ahead of time.
Click here for the Woodlawn Daily Announcements.
NAEP Testing - Woodlawn Students Chosen
Schools across the country are chosen to administer the NAEP test. Within those schools, a percentage of students will be tested. If you receive a SchoolMessenger email from me tonight, it will inform you that your child has been randomly chosen to take the NAEP test by the National Center for Education Statistics. This is what the letter will look like.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Woodlawn Middle School will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S.
Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents guardians, policymakers, and the public.
Your child (will/may) take a mathematics or reading assessment. In addition to subject-area questions, students voluntarily complete NAP survey questions. These questions provide valuable information about participating students' educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and outside of the classroom. Additionally, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students will be included in the National Indian Education Study (NIES).
NIES describes the condition of education for Al/AN students in the United States. More information about NAEP survey questions is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section "What Questions Are on the Test?"
The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students, which includes transition time, directions, and completion or survey questions.
The information collected is used for statistical purposes only.
Your child's grades will not be affected.
Students may be excused for any reason, are not required to complete the assessment, and may skip any question.
While the assessment is voluntary, NAEP depends on student participation to help policymakers improve education. However, if you do not want your child to participate, please notify me in writing by Friday, January 26, 2024.
There is no need to study in preparation for NAEP, but please encourage your child to do their best. Contact Greg Grana at (847) 353-8500 or at [email protected] if you have any questions.
We are excited that our school is participating in NAEP. We know that Woodlawn Middle School's students will show what our nation's students know and can do.
Sincerely,
Greg Grana
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducts the National Assessment of Educational Progress to evaluate federally supported education programs. All of the information you provide may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law (20 U.SC. $9573 and 6 U.SC. §151). By law, every NCES employee as well as every NCES agent, such as contractors and NAEP coordinators, has taken an oath and is subject to a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $250,000, or both if he or she willfully discloses ANY identifiable information about you. Electronic submission of your information will be monitored for viruses, malware, and other threats by Federal employees and contractors in accordance with the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015.
Finally, I am ready for Winter Break. Whatever you are (or have been) celebrating, my wish for the entire Woodlawn community is to have the happiest and safest break possible. As much as the middle school students bring me energy, they also can drain the energy out of you. Right now, I am going to sign off and start my recharge. Have a great break!