Dear Skamania 3rd – 8th grade parents,
I have two announcements for the week regarding the Washington State testing and a temporary schedule adjustment.
State Testing
This fall students in grades 4–8 will take the Smarter Balanced or Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM) tests in math and English language arts. Students in grade 6 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) or the WA-AIM science test. These tests are a brief check-in on student learning from the 2020-21 school year.
Students had limited in-person time in the classroom and likely experienced fewer opportunities to learn last school year. Last spring’s Smarter Balanced and WCAS testing were postponed to fall as we prioritized critical in-person instruction time for the benefit of students, families, and district staff. The WA-AIM spring 2021 window was extended into fall to allow flexibility for teachers and students, based on student need.
Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests were shortened this fall to ensure that students and teachers would have as much time as possible at the start of school year 2021–22 to establish relationships, routines, and activities.
The results from the Smarter Balanced and WA-AIM math and/or English language arts tests provide a picture of whether students across the state are on track to be ready for career or college.
Knowing your child’s achievement level (1 through 4) will provide an important piece of information. As the school year progresses, your child’s teacher will be able to provide more information about his/her skills in ELA, math, and science. Our school will have access to the Smarter Balanced and WCAS test scores a few days after students complete the tests. WA-AIM scores will be available in late January.
Our school is scheduled to take the tests starting this week. For more information about the tests, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/testing/state-testing-overview, and click on the name of the test.
Schedule adjustment
We have made a temporary adjustment to the schedule for students in grades 3-8. The teaching team will essentially stay the same; however, Mrs. Carlton will provide math and English/Language arts instruction online to students, with in-person classroom instructional support from Carol Kelly in the morning for math, and team teaching in the afternoon in the area of reading from Denisha Dilley. Ms. Kelly moved to Skamania recently and has a bachelors in American studies and a masters in English and has a pending emergency substitute certificate. Mrs. Dilley is a certified teacher with a speciality in special education and reading.
Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your child is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your child.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ralph Pruitt, Superintendent/Principal Skamania School District