February 28, 2011

Random Song Quote:

Great call from Dr. Bishop on this one given all the games this week:

“Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the park
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don’t care if I ever get back
So, root, root, root for the Jaguars
If they don’t win it’s a shame
For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out
At the ole ball game”

ERB Testing
This week marks the first of March, the month that brings us the spring trips, the rodeo, daylight savings, the return of spring, and ERB’s. Beginning March 1st, your children will spend about two hours a day taking standardized tests. For your convenience here is a link to the schedule for those four days. You will find that the schedule is very different from years past as we try to negotiate the time it takes for tests, time for the students to have a break after testing, and to still maximize productive class time.

In the schedule you will see that on Tuesday and Wednesday students will take their morning classes only. After testing and a break, students will have their A period class in the morning and then B, C, and D respectively in the afternoon. On Thursday and Friday, students will take their E period class in the morning and then F, G, and H in the afternoon respectively. We have already let the students know of this schedule and we will post it around school as well. Despite the testing, students will still have a normal homework load, and although we have not announced it specifically to all teachers, I think I can say confidently that your children will have very few, if any, tests those days in their normal classes.

Mrs. Hochschild gave all the students some advice this week on how to best prepare for the testing. They cannot study for these as they are meant to evaluate a student’s body of work and growth over an entire year. However, students can improve in these tests by being sure to get good sleep each night as the tests are exhausting and rested children will work more efficiently and with a clearer mind. The second piece of advice was to eat a good breakfast. When children get hungry, they only think about that and not about the task in front of them. A good, healthy start to the day will help your children succeed on these tests. Finally, the last piece of advice is not to stress over these tests. These will not be used to admit to our Upper School, they will not be sent to colleges for admissions, and they will not be added to the students’ grades at the end of the year.

Thanks y’all. Have a good week.

Athletic Events this week:
• Monday –
MS Baseball v. Trafton - 4:00 pm
MS Softball @ Trafton - 4:00 pm

• Tuesday –
MS Baseball v. John Cooper - 4:15 pm
MS Softball v. John Cooper - 4:15 pm

• Thursday –
MS Baseball v. Fort Bend - 4:00 pm
MS Softball @ St. Thomas - 4:30 pm

Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating birthdays this week:

• Abby Shreyberg – March 3rd
• Megan Glover – March 5th
• Samantha Agnich – March 6th

Mazel Tov to the following girls celebrating their Bat/Bat Mitvahs this week:
• Ross Aaronson
• Jenni Daum
• Ethan Dryer
• Kelly Hatcher

Kallah and Advisory:
• Monday –
Kallah – Science Fair awards

• Tuesday
Study Hall

• Wednesday
No Clubs due to ERB testing

• Thursday
Torah Service Ross Aaronson, Jenni Daum, Ethan Dryer, and Kelly Hatcher at 11:45am

• Friday
No Kallah due to ERB testing

Calendar Events:
• ERB Testing March 1-4 – please click here for this week’s school schedule

Looking Ahead:
• March 8th – MS Spring Trips Meetings – 8am and 6pm
• March 9th – 12:30 Dismissal for Faculty In-Service
• March 20-23 – MS Spring trips (8th – DC – 20-23; 7th – New Orleans – 21-23; 6th – Galveston - 21-22)