OLIVE VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL - LAUSD



OLIVE VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL | |

|Panda Pride Press |

|14600 Tyler Street, Sylmar, CA 91342 (818) 367-1071 |

|April 2004, Volume XVIII |Jean Whitaker, Principal |

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Our Vision: Every student will achieve academic excellence by engaging in challenging and meaningful learning in a safe environment that promotes creativity, respect, self-esteem and personal growth.

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|COUNCILMAN PADILLA VISITS OLIVE VISTA MS |

|TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIGH TEST SCORES |

Councilman Alex Padilla, President of the Los Angeles City Council, visited Olive Vista MS on Monday, March 15, 2004 to congratulate students, parents, and school staff on their high test scores. Councilman Padilla presented a Certificate of Recognition to principal Jean S. Whitaker because Olive Vista Middle School scored a remarkable “55” 2002-2003 Growth Rate—over three times the school’s goal. The “55” score is the highest 2002-2003 API Growth Rate for all of the middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. API scores are based on STAR and CAT 6 results from the spring testing program.

Councilman Alex Padilla was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in June 1999, becoming the third-youngest person ever elected to City office. In the April 2001 elections, he was re-elected to serve a full four-year term representing the 7th Council District serving the communities of Lake Terrace, Mission Hills, North Hills, Pacoima, Panorama City, and Sylmar.

|DISTRICT B CELEBRATES WITH THE |

|ANNOUNCEMENT OF API SCORES |

|By LAUSD’s “Our View: Families and Schools Working Together, Winter 2004, |

|News for District B Community and Friends” |

District B students, teacher, administrators, and parents have much to celebrate with the announcement of API scores. Across the District, scores were up, in many cases dramatically. Most schools met or exceeded their Growth Targets. Our elementary schools continued to post significant gains, and, for the first time, our secondary schools also showed dramatic improvement. One hundred percent of the District’s elementary schools met or exceeded API Growth Targets. Four elementary schools increased API scores by 70 points or more. Seven middle schools met API Growth Targets. Four of five high schools met or exceeded school wide API Growth Targets. Three middle schools and one high school increased API score by 50 points or more.

SPECIAL NOTE: OLIVE VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL MADE THE LARGEST INCREASE IN API GROWTH TARGETS AMONG ALL LAUSD MIDDLE SCHOOLS, IMPROVING BY 55 POINTS.

|SPRING 2004 STAR TESTING CALENDAR |

The California STAR Test consists of the California Standards Test (CST) and the California Achievement Test 6th Edition (CAT6). The CST measures student progress toward mastering California’s academic content standards in English language, arts, mathematics history-social science, and science. Performance is measured at one of the five levels: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic, and far below basic. Proficient marks the state’s desired performance level for all students. The CAT6 is a basic skills test that assesses how California student rank against other students nationwide. In 2003, the CAT6 replaced the Stanford Achievement Test 9th Edition (SAT9).

|Monday |April 19, 2004 |STAR Testing Materials arrive at Olive Vista |

|Wednesday |April 21, 2004 |Test preparation materials distributed |

|Wednesday |April 21, 2004 |Test preparation begins |

|Wednesday |April 28, 2004 |Students report to testing rooms |

|Thursday |April 29, 2004 |STAR practice test administered |

|Friday |April 30, 2004 |Practice test debriefing in testing rooms |

|Monday |May 3, 2004 |STAR testing begins |

|Friday |May 14, 2004 |STAR testing ends |

For information on Olive Vista MS’s Testing Program call Ernesto Guerrero, Assistant Principal at

367-1071 Ext. 336.

|STAR TESTING PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS |

Students who have perfect attendance during the STAR Testing Period, May 3 to May 14, 2004 and try to do their very best will have their names entered in the school-wide drawings. The grand prize is a skate board. Other prizes include portable CD players and more including pizza lunch with your friends. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive prizes! Challenge your friends to be in school during the STAR Testing and receive a chance to win.

For more information on how your child can be a part of Olive Vista MS’s STAR Testing Attendance Program call Robert Benavidez, Technology Coordinator at 367-1071 Ext. 390.

|PARENT ACADEMY ON APRIL 24, 2004 FEATURES |

|TEST-TAKING METHODS AND STRATEGIES |

The STAR (the California Standards Test and the CAT6) is scheduled to be administered to students in May. Parents are invited to attend the Olive Vista’s Parent Academy because it’s a workshop to help them help their children prepare for the most important standardized test of the year—STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting). The Parent Academy presentations will include test-taking skills necessary to help students achieve success on the STAR. These workshop presentations will provide information that will significantly increase student test scores. The Parent Academy is presented in English and Spanish and is scheduled for April 24, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Additional activities will include student performances by Olive Vista’s Folklorico Group and the school’s award-winning drill team; drawings for special door prizes; and the keynote speech by Maria Ochoa, Director District B, who will speak on the importance of working as partners with the school.

For pre-registration information call Armen Petrossian, Parent Education Coordinator at 367-1071 Ext. 380.

|PARENT TEST-SUPPORT STRATEGIES |

Preparing for Testing:

1. Note test dates on your home calendar

2. Schedule appointments on non-testing days

3. Encourage your child to take responsibility for homework and class study

4. Help your child learn how to find information independently

5. Praise your child for work done well

6. Encourage your child to ask questions at home and in class

7. Get to know your child’s teachers

8. Attend parent-teacher conferences

9. Confer with teachers on a regular basis for progress reports

10. Gather available test preparation materials

11. Assure your child knows that you value a good education

Testing Day:

1. See that your child is rested and eats breakfast

2. See that your child arrives at school on time and is relaxed

3. Encourage your child to do the best work possible

4. Do not send your child to school if illness is apparent

5. Do not remove your child from school on test days for appointments

After Testing:

1. Examine all test reports sent home

2. Determine areas of strengths and weaknesses

3. Praise your child’s testing strengths and make a plan to address identified weaknesses

4. See your child’s principal, counselor or teacher if additional information is required.

|PARENT STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING TEST ANXIETY |

Students may experience anxiety about tests and may experience heightened anxiety before a testing situation. A certain degree of test anxiety is normal and may help students prepare more effectively, work more efficiently, and remain focused during testing. Too much anxiety, however, can negatively affect performance. Parents should:

1. Discuss the test openly and in a positive way

2. Have realistic expectations of your child’s performance while encouraging his/her best efforts

3. Emphasize that the test is only one measure of academic performance

4. Emphasize that test scores do not determine a person’s worth.

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