ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR  SCHOOLS                                                                                                                                                                        MARCH   -   APRIL    2008

1500 East 128th Avenue

Thornton, CO   80241

720-972-4000                                                        

                                                                                                              Published by Adams 12 Five Star Schools                              

 Pipeline

                   

Text Box: Dear Parents/Guardians: At the beginning of this month, all of our teachers participated in group data conversations. Each department reported how their students were doing in relation to the benchmarks that were set at the beginning of the year. The result: THORNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ROCK! We’re happy to report that in most areas our students not only met their benchmarks but many even surpassed these educational goals. So what does that mean? Our students are ready for CSAP. Although the CSAP is not the only measure of student achievement, it is a great contributor to how schools and students are assessed in the state of Colorado. Over the last few years our students have shown steady improvement on this state assessment. We are confident that we will continue to shine this year as well. CSAP testing will be as follows: Tuesday, March 11 Science-8th grade only Tuesday, March 18 Reading/Writing-whole school Thursday, March 13 Math-whole school Thursday, March 20 Reading/Writing-whole school CSAP testing will be followed by a much deserved one week vacation known as Spring Break. We hope that this break will give all our students the chance to re-energize and finish the year strong. As always, thank you for your support! We know our success is a result of the community involvement. Sincerely, Michelle Steinberger Assistant Principal 720-972-5160 Text Box: Dear Parents: The Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) will be given at Thornton Middle School between March 10 and April 14, 2008. We are providing the dates for you within this newsletter to post at home. However, it is a state requirement that TMS notify parents their child will be receiving an accommodation's) for the tests. Accommodations “are changes made to the assessment procedures in order to provide a student with access to comprehensible information and an equal opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills without affecting the reliability or validity of the assessment.” (CSAP Procedures Manual, p. 43. 2006-2007). In other words, accommodations are used for students with an educational plan (IEP, 504, ILP etc.) or for any general student that has a formally documented need. There is a long list of appropriate accommodations, including having the test in Braille or giving a student extra time. The effect is to provide each student with the opportunity to do their best under the same conditions as they have in the classroom. Thornton M.S. teachers were asked to submit a list of students for whom they have provided approved accommodations during the school year in the normal course of teaching. This list was sent to the District offices, then to the Colorado Dept. of Education on December 1, 2007. If you have specific questions whether or not your student will be receiving accommodations and which ones, please contact the TMS Assessment Coordinator, Gordon Reese at 720-972-8945. He will discuss with you the details of the accommodations. As a parent, you may refuse the accommodations recommended for your child. Remember, the purpose of accommodations is to level the playing field for those taking the test. I look forward to answering your questions. Sincerely, Gordon Reese Gordon.reese@adams12.org 720-972-8945 Text Box: Important CSAP Information for Parents Text Box: Volume 1 ISSUE iv Text Box: SPRING BREAK MARCH 24-28
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