Oakhurst Weekly
As we reflect on our progress this year, one thing stands out above all else: the incredible strength of our school-to-home partnership. Educating our children is a shared journey, and we are deeply grateful for the trust, time, and care you bring to our school community every day.
Whether it is jumping in to thoughtfully problem-solve a new challenge, keeping communication channels open and clear, or reinforcing learning at home, your proactive engagement makes a profound difference. You have shown up not just as supportive families, but as true, active partners in every sense of the word.
Thank you for your quick responsiveness, your collaborative spirit, and your unwavering commitment to helping our students thrive. Together, we are creating an environment where every child feels supported, valued, and ready to succeed.
Warmly,
Jennifer Triplett
All of the Universal screening Assessments (STAR Math, Early Literacy, and Reading) have been completed. These computerized adaptive tests help teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. As a part of the Georgia Early Literacy legislation, you will receive a letter, along with the STAR reports, in your child’s Thursday Communication folder today, August 20, 2026. The letter will communicate whether an academic risk has been identified or not. This allows us to identify needs and begin to plan for the appropriate interventions for the school year.
What’s the difference between the STAR Early Literacy assessment and the STAR Reading assessment?
The Star Early Literacy assessment evaluates the foundational components of reading development, including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension, for students in Pre-Kindergarten to 3rd grade. This streamlined assessment generally requires 10-15 minutes to administer and is conducted with the assessment being read aloud to students. Students who achieve a score of 853 or higher are classified as "probable readers".
The Star Reading assessment evaluates the independent reading capabilities of students in grades K-12. This assessment delves into various aspects, including word knowledge, comprehension strategies, text meaning, and analysis of the author's craft. It is important to note that the assessment is not administered orally; students are required to be independent readers. The duration of the assessment typically ranges from 25 to 30 minutes. It is common to observe a decrease in scores from the Early Literacy assessment to Star Reading, reflecting the increased complexity of the latter. All Oakhurst 2nd grade students took the STAR Reading assessment during this round of testing. Kindergarten and 1st grade students did not take the STAR Reading assessment.
For more information on your child’s overall scaled scores on each assessment and their domain scores within each subject, please click here. You may find the STAR Family Information helpful as well.
If you have any questions about your child’s scores, please contact your child’s teacher or our Instructional Coach, Gail Hardwick, at ghardwick@csdecatur.net. If you have any questions about the additional letter, please contact Ms. Allison Spann, our Student Outcome Support, allison.spann@csdecatur.net.
Thank you!
1st Grade CogAT Testing Starts September 2
From September 2-4, all 1st-grade students will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Unlike traditional achievement tests, which measure how well a student has learned the curriculum, the CogAT assesses a child’s ability to reason abstractly and recognize patterns and relationships in the world around them. Teachers can use CogAT scores to better understand a child’s pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Our school district also uses CogAT scores to screen for cognitively gifted students.
New State Law: Personal Electronic Devices
Students will not be allowed to use personal electronic devices during school, such as cell phones and smart watches, starting this school year. Devices brought to school must be kept in backpacks.
