WPS Newsletter

April 2- Honor Society Induction-1:30

April 12- Prom

April 18- No School-Good Friday

April 21- No School-Easter Monday

Assessment is a term educators use when describing the many ways they learn about your student’s educational progress and learning journey. There are several types of assessments that school districts use, including summative, interim, formative, and diagnostic (such as readiness tests and screeners). Each assessment type has a unique use and purpose. Formative assessments are teaching tools, designed to help teachers see how well students are mastering content as the lessons are being taught. Interim assessments are designed to be given at multiple checkpoints throughout the year to measure in-year growth and student progress towards end of year proficiency goals. Summative assessments are given at the end of an instructional period to measure whether students met the learning goals.

Your student will soon be participating in a state summative assessment called the ND A+ Summative Assessment. The ND A+ Summative Assessment is the only common measuring tool for all participating students across North Dakota. The assessment is administered in the spring in grades 3-8 and 10 in English language arts (ELA – comprised of reading and writing) and math and grades 4, 8 and 10 in science. The assessment is aligned to the North Dakota Education Content Standards. Content standards serve as a model for developing teaching and learning goals and expectations for what students should learn and be able to do at each grade level. Content standards are set for each grade, beginning with kindergarten through grade 12, across various content areas. The ND A+ Summative Assessment is built to measure student performance and knowledge against the North Dakota Education Content Standards.

Student results from state assessments are only one piece of achievement evidence that should be used with other evidence when analyzing student learning. The primary use of the data produced by this assessment is to aggregate individual student achievement and allow a comparison between students, schools, and districts across the state.

How will results from the ND A+ Summative Assessments help my student:

· Results provide information that shows what your student has been learning and practicing in their classroom, and how well they are connecting with classroom instruction.

· Results for your whole school let you know how well your school is teaching all students.

· Results provide you and other families in your community with information about how

local schools are meeting the needs of all students.

How does taking state tests help my student’s school?

· Taking the test provides critical information to the district and state on how well all students in your student’s school are doing, so the school can be supported.

· Test results allow teachers and principals to see any differences between groups of students and make improvements to instruction, so that all students can succeed.

· The results highlight gaps in achievement, so steps can be taken to ensure all students are supported in making meaningful progress.

· The results help state policymakers and local school boards identify schools that may need more assistance or resources.

Instruction based on the standards is the best preparation for the ND A+ Summative Assessment. Student grades will not be impacted by their performance on this assessment; however, the assessment does serve as a way for the school and district to analyze how well we are helping students meet the standards. We ask for your help in encouraging your student to do their very best on everything they do in school, including this end-of-year state test, and prepare for the testing experience by getting plenty of rest and eating a healthy breakfast.

We appreciate your partnership in helping Wilton Public School fulfill the state and federal requirements for the state summative assessment and supporting your student to do his/her best. If you have any question, please reach out to Ms Wood or Mrs. Hilzendeger at 701-734-6331.

Here are a few updates on recent events and what to expect coming up! As always, please reach out to me through email at Tiffany.Meier@k12.nd.us if you have any questions or concerns.

Secondary School

The ASVAB and ACT are both finished for the Juniors. I am very proud of every one of their hard work and commitment! I do not have the results for the ACT yet, but I will notify all parents and guardians when this happens. If you have not been told your child’s ASVAB score, please let me know, and I will get that to you!

The PreACT date is being scheduled for the month of April! The PreACT is taken by Sophomores. I will be sending out more information to all students and parents who will be affected by this.

Recently, we added a few counseling groups to the secondary side. We are able to use a classroom during lunch for many of these things. Groups are one of my favorite things as a school counselor, so I am excited to see some of this happening. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this!

The Mining Into Careers event features a speaker on behalf of the UND Physician program. This will be a great opportunity for anyone interested in a career within the field of healthcare.

The mini-fair during lunch in April will feature anyone who has not been able to make it to the ones in the past, and many certificate programs. I am contacting Lynnes Welding, Butler Machinery, Dakotas Electrical, and others that have not been able to attend in the past.

Elementary School

I have heard very positive things about the groups and supplemental lessons. I am excited that many families are seeing growth at home with their child. Please remember that I am here for all students and their families. Everyone deserves a school counselor, and I am very lucky to be that person for the community of Wilton.

I have decided that I am going to start giving one movie recommendation to watch with your child(ren) with each newsletter. This will include discussion questions that can help to have conversations at home about various social skills, emotional health, etc. If you partake in this, please let me know how it went. I would love some feedback or even requests for topics!