San Marin Mustangs eNews
Special Announcement 
SPECIAL ISSUE FOR STAR TESTING (04/28 - 05/09)
 
From Principal, Dr. Vieth
   * STAR Testing Scholarship Awarded
   * The Importance of STAR Testing
 
Final Star Testing Schedule (updated 04/17/08) 
  
STAR TESTING SCHOLARSHIP
 
2007 Star Testing Scholarship

School FuelSTAR TESTING - THE IMPORTANCE

 

One of the questions often asked by students and parents during the spring "testing season" is why do we need to take the STAR testing seriously? For the last ten years, the state of California has been giving the STAR test to all 2nd through 11th grade students. Parents receive the results each August or September following the spring administration of the test.

 

The first reason for taking the testing seriously is that various California Standards Tests (CST) make up the STAR testing system. The CST tests are a reasonably accurate measure of how much the students have learned in the core curriculum in a particular year. Educators often use the term Standards Based Curriculum; and at San Marin High School, all core curriculum classes follow a standards based curriculum that has been adopted by the state of California and the Novato Unified School District.  Each CST covers the most important set of standards that all teachers in the core curriculum should teach each year. Therefore, the test results reflect just how well a student has learned the curriculum; the school and district look at how well the curriculum has been taught by studying the CST results each year. One important assumption in looking at all this data is that students have taken all the CST tests seriously by demonstrating their best effort on each and every test.  Every year when grades are compared to test results, there are students who receive decent grades but do poorly on the CST in one or more classes. There are different potential explanations for this situation; one important one often given is the student did not take the CST test seriously.

 

In a standards based educational system, we no longer grade on a curve, instead  if a student is performing at an advanced level, they receive an A; if they are proficient, they receive a B; if they are basic, they receive a C; if they are below basic, a D; and far below basic a F. In a perfect world, the CST score would match up with the grade in the class. We believe if students took the test more seriously, we would have better and more accurate results.

 

A second reason to take the test seriously is colleges are paying closer attention to the results of the CST. Arizona universities are using CST data to help them in the admissions process. I believe this is a trend that will continue as it is a way to help determine if the grades a high school assigns are accurate. For example, if a student receives an A in Chemistry, but only receives a 3 on the CST in Chemistry, that grade has been brought into question by the CST result. When grades match CST scores, we are able to write stronger letters of recommendation and our program is viewed as more comprehensive and rigorous.

 

A third reason to take the test seriously is helping individual students determine if they are going to need remedial course work in college. In the 11th grade, students complete a writing sample and they have some extra questions on their math and English test to help determine who is ready for college. If students give the test their best effort and they still do not do well, the students should take the ERWC English course and the Statistics math class in the 12th grade. If students then do well in the ERWC course, they do not have to take the remedial English course if they attend the CSU system. These 11th grade CST tests make up the Early Assessment Program (EAP) for the CSU. The percent of students who demonstrate college readiness is an important metric in determining the success of a high school program; we want 11th grades to take this test seriously so we can accurately assess our total program.

 

A fourth reason to take the test seriously is that the results are used to place students in honors and AP courses. If students are advanced on the CST, it is highly likely that the students will do well in honors and AP classes. If students don't score advanced, then we need additional data and a student may need to waive into the course. While I believe a student should be able to waive into a high level class if they wish, having CST proof that they are ready for high level work is in the student's best interest.

 

A fifth reason to take the test seriously is to have an accurate API score for the school. The API is calculated from all the individual CST scores of the students in the school. The API score is the score that the state uses to compare one school to another. The API, Like School Score compares the San Marin API to other schools that have similar demographics.  When students apply to college, it is advantageous to come from a school with a high API (viewed as a good school) especially if the CST scores for the student are high as well. For example, a 3.5 GPA is a stronger GPA in a high API school than a 3.5 GPA in a lower API school. So it is in everyone's interest to take pride in the school and demonstrate their best effort.

 

This year the school will be doing two things differently to make the point that CST scores are important.

 

First, we will be determining all the students who did better on the STAR last year compared to the year before and giving them a raffle ticket at a grade level assembly about the STAR test. Winning raffle tickets will be selected for college scholarship money granted when students graduate from San Marin.

 

Second, we will be giving all the CST tests in the classroom where students take a particular course. For example, all biology students will be taking the biology test with their biology teacher. We are convinced this will encourage all students to take each test more seriously. This will mean we will be running an unusual testing schedule for most of testing window. You will be receiving additional information about our testing schedule on our website before the spring vacation break.   

School FuelSTAR TESTING SCHEDULE

 
(REVISED 4-17-08)
 

STAR testing will take place at San Marin High School April 28-May 9. Our goal is to have every student take their STAR test in their regular class. In the past, students have taken all of their tests in their second period classes with the same teacher. In the past for example, if a student's second period class is geography, their geography teacher would administer every test. I'm drafting a schedule so your child will take their English, math, social studies, and science tests in their regular class. We will have a "block" style schedule for the two weeks of STAR testing.  Feel free to call me at San Marin if you have any questions.
  

 San Marin High School STAR

Testing Schedule 2008- revised 4-17-08


Week One

 

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008

TUESDAY, APRIL 29,2008

Testing 10th GR. Life Science in the Science Building

TESTING 1ST PERIOD CLASSES

SESSION 1

8:20 -  9:50

SESSION 1

8:20 -  9:50

Break

9:50  -  10:00

Break

9:50  - 10:00

SESSION  2

10:05  - 11:50

SESSION 2

10:05 - 11:50

Lunch

11:50 - 12:25

LUNCH

11:50 - 12:25

2nd period

12:30  - 1:14

5TH PERIOD

12:30  - 1:14

3TH Period

1:19   - 2:03

6TH Period

1:19  -  2:03

4TH Period

2:08  -  2:44

7TH Period

2:08  -  2:44

 

NO TESTING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

Regular Wednesday Schedule

      

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008

FRIDAY , MAY 2, 2008

TESTING 2ND PERIOD CLASSES

TESTING 3RD PERIOD CLASSES

SESSION 1

8:20 -  9:50

SESSION 1

8:20 -  9:50

Break

9:50  -  10:00

Break

9:50  -  10:00

SESSION 2

10:05  - 11:50

SESSION 2

10:05  - 11:50

LUNCH

11:50 - 12:25

LUNCH

11:50 - 12:25

3RD PERIOD

12:30  - 1:14

5TH PERIOD

12:30  - 1:14

4TH Period

1:19   - 2:03

6TH Period

1:19   - 2:03

1ST Period

2:08  -  2:44

7TH Period

2:08  -  2:44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK TWO

 

MONDAY, MAY 5,2008

TUESDAY, MAY 6,2008

TESTING 4TH PERIOD CLASSES

TESTING 5TH PERIOD CLASSES

SESSION 1

8:20 -  9:50

SESSION 1

8:20 -  9:50

Break

9:50  -  10:00

Break

9:50  -  10:00

SESSION 2

10:05  - 11:50

SESSION 2

10:05  - 11:50

LUNCH

11:50 - 12:25

LUNCH

11:50 - 12:25

3RD PERIOD

12:30  - 1:14

4TH PERIOD

12:30  - 1:14

2NDPeriod

1:19   - 2:03

6TH  Period

1:19   - 2:03

1 ST Period

2:08  -  2:44

7TH Period

2:08  -  2:44

 

NO TESTING WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008

Regular Wednesday Schedule

 

THURSDAY, MAY 8,2008

FRIDAY, MAY 9,2008

TESTING 6TH PERIOD CLASSES

TESTING 7TH PERIOD CLASSES

SESSION 1

8:22  -  10:11

SESSION 1

8:22  -  10:11

Break

10:11  - 10:22

Break

10:11  - 10:22

SESSION 2

10:26  - 11:18

SESSION 2

10:26  - 11:18

LUNCH

11:23 - 12:15

LUNCH

11:23 - 12:15

2ND PERIOD

12:15 - 12:50

4TH PERIOD

12:15 - 12:50

3RD PERIOD

12:55 -  1:47

5TH PERIOD

12:55 -  1:47

1ST  Period

1:52  -   2:44

6TH  PERIOD

1:52  -   2:44

 

Monday April 28, 2008


Life Science Test ALL 10th Grade Students

In the following rooms

 

Room 201 Leferve-Bernt/Spinrad(Ainsworth-Davoren)

Room 203 Carlomagno/Lacy/Brandi (Dawson-Griffin)

Room 204 Reid/Berberian (Grover-Lizarraga)

Room 205 Block/A. Williams (Loew-E. Murphy)

Room 206 N. Williams/Laabs/Paterson (Neighbors-Rothchild)

Room 207 Nicoliasin/Rilla (Ruth-Taggard)

Room 208 Martini/Chu/Hu (Teel-Zander)

 

Only students who take test will show to testing sessions on assigned days. Seniors don't take STAR tests, so they won't arrive to school on STAR days until 12:15. Wednesday April 30 and May 7 are regular school days. Only math, English, social studies, and science classes are being tested on testing days. 

 

English/Language Arts-

ALL 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students take tests in their regular English class.

 

Social Studies-

9th (no test), 10th World History, and 11th US History

 

Math-

General Math- 9th grade students only who are enrolled in Algebra 1A or General Math

Geometry: 9th-11th grade students currently enrolled in geometry

Algebra 1: 9th-11th grade students who are currently enrolled in Algebra 1B

Algebra II: 9th-11th grade students who are currently enrolled in Algebra II Summative Math-9th-11th grade students who've completed Algebra II

 

Science-

Any 9th-11th grade student enrolled in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics take test that specific test in their regular science class.

 

**If a student is enrolled in an AP course, such as AP Biology, and the already to the Biology test a year or two ago, they don't take the Biology test again.

 

**Most 10th grade students will take two STAR Science tests. All the tenth grade students, no matter what, are required to take the Life Science test on Monday April 28, 2008 (see schedule above).  Also, if they're taking biology, earth science, Chemistry, or physics, they'll take that test on the assigned date with their regular class and teacher.

 

Please feel free to call San Marin at 898-2121 if you have any questions or concerns.
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