| DeKalb County School System |
3770 North Decatur Road
Decatur, Georgia 30032
phone: 678-676-1200 | fax: 678-676-0785 |
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eSIS PA will be unavailable during scheduled maintenance Tuesday, December 22, 2009 from 1:30pm to 5:00pm and Wednesday, December 30, 2009 from 7:00am to 5:00pm. |
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DCSS Administration Shares What Parents Can Expect for 2nd Semester
With 90 days of instruction now complete, the first semester of the 2009-2010 academic school year has quickly come to a close for DeKalb County School System. As the holiday season approaches and students gear up for a two-week wind down from school bells and books, DeKalb Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Gloria Talley is sharing with parents what they believe should be kept in mind for next semester.
Elementary School
For elementary school students, second semester promises a variety of engaging activities from fresh field trips to field days. Yet, when considering the second half of the school year, more thought is given to the season of standardized testing.
"I would certainly ask parents to enjoy the holidays with their children, to spend a lot of time with their families and get geared up for second semester, because when we come back in January, we hit the ground running," said Talley.
The testing rundown:- 5th Grade Writing Assessment – This one-day, 120-minute assessment occurs on March 3, 2010 for all fifth grade students
- Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) – Designed to measure student acquisition of the knowledge, concepts, and skills set forth in the state curriculum, CRCT testing begins April 15, 2010 for all students in grades one through eight in the content areas of reading, English/language arts, and mathematics. Students in grades three through eight are also assessed in science and social studies.
Study guides for the CRCT can be found at http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx. As with every school day, DeKalb administrators recommend that each student get a good night’s rest during testing and eat a hearty breakfast before coming to school.
Middle School
With middle school marking the onset of adolescence, the three years spent in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades often shape for students their friendship networks, their enthusiasm for education and in many cases, the high school diploma choice they will pursue. It is important at this age level for students to grasp concepts of literary comprehension, algebraic concepts, and to generally maintain their motivation for learning.
"I would say to parents read to your children each day during the holidays. Engage them in conversations at meal time. Talk to them about issues, current events, and big ideas to keep them interested in what’s going on in the world," Talley offered.- Eighth Grade Writing Assessment - Eighth graders will participate in the state Writing Assessment Test, which will be administered in January 20- 21, 2010. This assessment is a valued indicator of a student’s success on the writing section of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (HSGT).
- CRCT – Testing for sixth, seventh and eighth graders begins April 15, 2010 in the content areas of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
High School
Often thought of as the ‘pressure zone’ that decides a student’s post-secondary future, grades nine to 12 begin the era of memorable student activities and momentous decision-making. With curricular criteria that vary from grade-to-grade and in many cases in DeKalb, school-to-school, second semester for high school students is packed with important dates and milestones.
High School Highlights- Georgia High School Graduation Test – This test will be conducted March 22 – 26, 2010 for all eleventh grade students. All students seeking a Georgia high school diploma must pass the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) in four content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
- End of Course Tests (EOCT) – These tests account for 15% of youngsters’ grades; and test all students on the content areas of math, social studies, science, English/language arts. These tests are conducted May 3 – 11, 2010. The EOCT are also AYP indicators
- Advanced Placement (AP) Exams – May 3 - 14
- SAT, PSAT, ACT – Exam dates vary. Registration dates and deadlines can be found at www.collegeboard.com
- Prom, Senior Portraits, Class Ring Purchases, Regalia & Graduation – Parents and students should check each school or center site for specific information about prom, junior and senior class dues and responsibilities as well as graduation schedule information
Administration- Attendance - Because attendance is an indicator of a school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), DCSS administrators are planning to “clamp down” on attendance monitors during second semester in order to lessen the occurrence of tardiness and/or skipping school.
- Dates to Remember
Spring Break: April 5 – 9, 2010
National Teacher Appreciation Week: May 3 – 7, 2010
Support Services
"We know that there is often complexity with the implementation of things new or unfamiliar. However, our hope is that each student and each family returns to us from this holiday, healthy, happy and ready for instruction. We are committed to providing top tier educational experiences to each of our children and have put interventions in place to make sure there is ease in all of our learning processes,” said Robert Moseley, Deputy Chief Superintendent for School Operations.- Theme School Lottery application season for Arabia Mountain HS, Druid Hills HS and Miller Grove HS is January 25 – February 12, 2010. Parents can now apply for Magnet and Theme schools online. DCSS will also host the 2009 School Choice Expo on January 23, 2010 at The Mall at Stonecrest from 11am – 3pm.
- Magnet, Charter, IB Schools & Other Choice Programs Lottery application season is March 22 – April 16, 2010. Parents can now apply for Magnet and Theme schools online. DCSS will also host the 2009 School Choice Expo on January 23, 2010 at The Mall at Stonecrest from 11am – 3pm.
- Counseling – It is never too late to request a school-based mentor. Parents and students are reminded to utilize counseling, guidance and mentoring services DCSS offers.
- Athletics & Extracurricular Activities – The ‘no pass, no play’ rule is still in effect. Students and parents should keep in mind that for must be in good academic standing to participate in any athletic and/or extracurricular activities.
Collectively, DeKalb’s administration has one holiday wish that they hope will be fulfilled—that all DeKalb children and staff members return safely from the winter break, well prepared for another 90 days of instruction. |
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