Dear Families,

State Testing in the areas of reading, math for grades 6-8, began the first week of February. During the first round of testing, all 6th-8th graders tested in the area of Reading and Math. 8th grade students also tested in Science.

It is important to me as a parent and as an educator that you understand the importance of your students' state-wide achievement test scores. These scores represent whether your student is demonstrating skills and knowledge in the area of reading, math, and science at their current grade level.

Students meeting or exceeding grade level will not need to be tested again in the spring. However, if a student or a parent requests in writing to have a student tested to determine growth in their skill(s), then Boring Middle School will accommodate that request.

Students not meeting will be tested a second time in the spring months. Students that "nearly met" will be tested mid-April, giving them time to get strategic interventions from their academic teachers. Students that are in the "not meeting" category will not be tested until the end of April to give them as much strategic and intensive intervention time as possible prior to testing. Students will be notified the week before they are expected to test and a flash alert will go out to parents as a reminder.

Parents and families, please be aware that testing is tiring and stressful for students. A bit of extra attention and effort on your part can help your child be as successful as possible. (Please encourage your child, plan time for a good night's sleep before each testing day, and a healthy breakfast each morning that your child will be testing. Please encourage your student to avoid sweets for breakfast such as donuts, syrups, and sugared cereal). Please follow up by talking to your child about the testing and how she/he is feeling about the test questions they are being expected to know. Please make every effort to have your child attend school and arrive on time. All students must complete each test, so if your child is absent on a testing day, she/he will need to be pulled out of academic class time on another day to make up the missed testing.

Final results from the state assessment will be included with your child's report card at the end of the year. Please familiarize yourself with your student's individual assessment results. Any student not meeting should spend additional time outside of school developing deficient content knowledge and skills to improve their opportunity to be a successful student and to stay on track for high school graduation.

Please do not hesitate to contact your student's teacher, the BMS office, or Courtney Murphy, Principal, if you have any questions regarding OAKS testing. We are here to support you and your child's academic development. It is our goal to serve, so that Every Child May Thrive!

Courtney Murphy

Boring Middle School, Principal

We all know that attendance is an important factor in student achievement. But did you know that the state grades each school on their attendance percentage? The state has set the attendance benchmark at 92% for each school in the state of Oregon. That means school-wide we must average an attendance rate of 92% or the state will mark us down on our state report card for not meeting the minimum level of attendance. It doesn't matter if the absences are excused or un-excused;

all absences impact a school's attendance rate.   Even time missed for appointments (doctor, dentist, etc.) count against our daily attendance rate. As of February 1, 2012 we have had 85 school days. A 92% rate up to this point is 81 days of attendance. Students who have missed 7 or more days of school are below a 92% attendance rate. Students who have missed more than 13 days of school this year won't be able to meet a 92% attendance rate for the school year. Missing 14 days of school for the entire school year is the maximum number to keep a 92% attendance rate. Each student's attendance percentage goes into making up our school-wide attendance percentage. There are illness and injury circumstances that keep students from missing school, but if possible we would like to have your son/daughter in attendance. Currently our attendance rate for the year stands at 93%. Because attendance can slip a little in the spring, I want to encourage everyone to have their students in school. It will have a positive impact on their success in the classroom as well as a positive impact on our school as a whole. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

Courtney Murphy, Principal