Helping Your Child Avoid “Test Anxiety”

It’s good for your child to be concerned about taking a test. It’s not good for him to develop “test anxiety.” Test anxiety is worrying too much about doing well on a test. It can mean disaster for your child. Students with test anxiety can worry about success in school and about their future success. They can become very self-critical and lose confidence in their abilities. Instead of feeling challenged by the prospect of success, they become afraid of failure. If your child worries too much about taking tests, you can help to reduce the anxiety by encouraging the child to do the following things:

• Plan ahead. Start studying for the test well in advance. Make sure that you understand what material the test will cover. Try to make connections about what will be on the test and what you already know. Review the material more than once.

• Don’t “cram” the night before. This will likely increase your anxiety, which will interfere with clear thinking. Get a good night’s sleep.

• When you get the test, read the directions carefully before you begin work.

• Look quickly at the entire text to see what types of questions are on it (multiple choice, matching, true/false, essay). See if different questions are worth different numbers of points. This will help you to determine how much time to spend on each part of the test.

• If you don’t know the answer to a question, skip it and go on. Don’t waste time worrying about one question. Mark it and, if you have time at the end of the test, return to it and try again.

Basic Facts About The End-Of-Grade Tests (EOG)

English Language Arts & Reading - Grades 3-8

• The language arts/reading tests are multiple-choice tests.
• The tests are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts.
• Students read authentic selections and then answer questions related to the selections.
• The reading selections are comprised of literary and informational selections based on the Common Core State Standards.
• Knowledge of vocabulary is assessed indirectly through application and understanding of terms within the context of the selections and questions.

Mathematics - Grades 3-8

• The EOG mathematics tests at grades 3 and 4 are multiple-choice tests.
• The EOG mathematics tests at grades 5-8 are multiple-choice and gridded-response tests.
• All EOG mathematics tests are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for mathematics.
• For grades 3-8, the mathematics tests consist of two parts: calculator inactive and calculator active. Students are allowed to use calculators during the calculator active part of the test; students are now allowed to use calculators during the calculator inactive part of the test.

Science - Grades 5 and 8

• The EOG science tests at grades 5 and 8 are aligned to the Essential Standards for Science.
• The online EOG science questions are multiple-choice and technology enhanced questions.
• The paper-and-pencil science tests are multiple-choice tests (technology enhanced items are found only in the online science assessments).

For additional information about the North Carolina Testing Program, visit the Accountability Services Division website at www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/.

Sample EOG tests are available online at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/eog/

SPRING PORTRAITS TOMORROW

Spring portraits will be taken on Friday, April 25. Students may choose to wear their spring clothing rather than their uniform on picture day, but clothing must be appropriate spring attire. NO JEANS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED ON PICTURE DAY. Students who do not wear appropriate attire will not be photographed.

In addition, we will take Kindergarten and 8th Grade Cap & Gown portraits. Kindergarten and 8th grade students should dress in the following attire for Cap and Gown portraits:

Girls—Dress or blouse and skirt with dress shoes. 

Boys—Suit or shirt and tie, dress pants and dress shoes.

Cap & Gown/Full Body Portraits will be available at a later date for your review and optional purchase.

Please make sure your child is here tomorrow for picture day. There will be no makeup or reschedule dates.

Spring Portraits Scheduled For Friday, April 25, 2014

HSA's spring portraits will be taken on Friday, April 25, 2014. Students may choose to wear their spring clothing rather than their uniform on picture day. NO JEANS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED ON PICTURE DAY.  Clothing must be appropriate spring attire. Students who do not have on the appropriate spring attire will not be photographed.  

In addition, we will be taking Kindergarten/8th Grade Cap & Gown portraits. Please make sure that your child will be here for picture day. There will be no makeup or reschedule date for these pictures. Pre-pay envelopes are due Wednesday, April 23, 2014 by 9:00 a.m. No money will be accepted after this date and on picture day.  Please have exact payment.  

Kindergarten/8th Grade Cap & Gown/ Full Body Portraits will be available at a later date for your review and optional purchase. Kindergarten and 8th grade students should dress in the following attire for Cap and Gown portraits. Appropriate spring attire: 

Girls: Dress or blouse and shirt and dress shoes. 

Boys: Suits or shirt with tie/dress pants and dress shoes. 

If you have any questions, please feel  free to contact Ms. Johnson at (919) 956-5599, ext 1022.

Congratulations Students & Teacher of the Month for April!

Christopher Melo 

Melo is an excellent student of the month because of his positive attitude towards learning. He comes prepared to class every day and always follows directions the first time he is asked. Christopher greets his teachers and classmates with respect and a bright smile to go along with it. Christopher deserves to be rewarded for his excellent effort all year long.

Jean Brooks 

Middle School student Jean Brooks quietly goes about her day with a winning 
smile and soft words for everyone. She comes to class prepared to learn with her homework completed. Jean takes part in class, answers and asks great questions, helps others and is generous to others. Jean’s conscientious work ethic has shown in her daily work, her grades, and her test scores. 

Mrs. Regina Boney

Mrs. Boney has been teaching at the Academy for almost 17 years. Mrs. Boney loves working with children. She has three beautiful grandchildren. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University. She is a big NCCU Eagles fan. Mrs. Boney serves on the Building leadership team and as mentor to other teachers. Mrs. Boney is a pleasure to work with and a great asset to the Academy.

Pennies for Patients Campaign Gets Underway

Healthy Start Academy is participating in the Pennies for Patients campaign sponsored by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). This fundraiser is going on now through April 30.

The Pennies Campaign is running a special contest. The school coordinator who enlists the highest quantity of donations wins a $50 Office Depot gift card. The amount of the donation does not matter, but rather the total number of donations received.

To start your campaign, go to http://nc.sy.llsevent.org/HealthyStartAcademy.

[source: www.mcas.k12.in.us]

Congratulations, Teacher & Student of the Month for March!

Ms. Alycia Crews

Ms. Crews is the Academy’s Reading Interventionist and Information Technology Specialist. Ms. Crews also serves as an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University. Ms. Crews is very helpful to the faculty and staff with their technology and instructional needs. Ms. Crews possesses a willing attitude and is a team player. In her spare time, she loves to travel. Congratulations, Ms. Crews!

Aleah Moaney

Aleah Moaney has shown a great deal of growth socially and academically during this school year. She is a very quiet, caring, understanding, and shy kindergarten student. Aleah is the type of student that takes in all the knowledge learned in an educational environment and is able to display her knowledge in all subject areas. She is a little teacher at home and great student in the classroom. Congratulations, Aleah, on this great honor.