March 5, 2014
Due to the amount of school cancellations we have had this winter, and in an effort to give our teachers more time to prepare students for the Terra Nova standardized test, it has been decided to move our originally scheduled testing week of March 31-April 4 to the following week of April 7-April 11. Terra Nova is a nationally normed testing company and they, in conjunction with the office of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, decided upon our two-week window (March 31-April 11) last spring. The general rule of thumb for schools is to schedule the test during the first week of the testing window, allowing for make-ups to occur during the second week. When this year’s calendar was comprised, we based our Terra Nova test week off of that basis. However, after multiple discussions with other Diocesan Principals as well as our Superintendent, I feel it is in our students’ best interest to gain the extra week of instruction before their testing week.
The problem for us moving Terra Nova to the second week of the testing window is two-fold. First, some families may already have something scheduled for the week of April 7-11 which will inhibit them from being present at school during that week. If that issue exists, I need to know as soon as possible so that I can arrange for your child to be pulled out of class and tested during the first week. So the solution to that issue is simple and easily managed. The second problem with moving our Terra Nova test would occur if you intend for your child to be at school during the week of April 7-11, but when that time arrives he/she unexpectedly gets sick and is not able to attend school. If that occurs, then he/she will miss that specific test and, as a result, not receive any score in that subject area.
If a student gets sick early in the week (not that you or I have a choice in that matter) then there will be a possibility for he/she to make it up before the end of the week. However, because our school’s testing materials and answer sheets need to be packaged, postmarked, and mailed by Monday April 14, your child may potentially miss a portion of this year’s Terra Nova test if they are not at school that week. If that were to occur, it will have no impact on our school as a whole. Our school’s averages per content area are calculated based off the number of students that actually take the test. The only impact that it will have is that neither our school nor parent will have testing data for a student in the specific area that he/she misses. Even though we would all (teachers, administration, and parents) like to have data on all of our students, it is not an end all situation if we do not. There are other assessment tools that we rely on at our school that are just as meaningful as the Terra Nova test.
As I have communicated in previous emails, I want to commend you, as well as the faculty and students, on your patience, understanding, and flexibility during this unrelenting winter. Please know that our school does not stand alone when it comes to trying to make the best of a very difficult and challenging winter, particularly with scheduling. The decisions being made are done so with the gathering of information and consideration of all possibilities. Then, of course, I need to determine what is in the best interest of our students and school. The strong national rankings that our school traditionally has on the Terra Nova test is not only encouraging to current families, but also a strong marketing tool to potential families. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. May this Lenten season be powerful and changing for all in our school community. Peace and blessings.