Tiger Team Updates for April 24 - 28, 2006
Our weekly newsletter will be sent home with all Tigers on Monday, April
23, 2006.
FCAT Parent Letters were sent home with all Tigers on Friday, April 21,
2006. Instructions and password regarding online individual student FCAT
scores are contained within these letters. Questions? Please call our
Guidance Department at 488.4200 or Dr. Gayle at 488.8436.
THURS., APR. 20
GOVERNOR BUSH AND COMMISSIONER WINN ANNOUNCE 2006 FCAT WRITING SCORES
~ Increased number of students scored 3.5 or higher on the test’s writing
section ~
Governor Jeb Bush and Education Commissioner John L. Winn today announced
the results of the writing portion of the 2006 Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test (FCAT) for students in grades 4, 8 and 10. These results
show an increase in the average score in all grade levels and an increase
in the number of students who scored 3.5 or higher on the writing portion
of the FCAT. A score of 3.5 is the standard used in the grading of schools.
“These newly released scores from the 2006 FCAT are the latest evidence of
Florida’s rising student achievement,” said Governor Jeb Bush. “Our
teachers have done a remarkable job helping Florida students improve their
writing, a critical skill for future success.”
· 4th Grade – 76 percent of students scored 3.5 and above, an
increase from 74 percent last year and up from 34 percent scoring 3.5 or
above in 1999. The average essay score increased from 3.7 in 2005 to 3.9.
· 8th Grade – 83 percent of students scored 3.5 and above, an
increase from 76 percent last year and up from 51 percent scoring 3.5 or
above in 1999. The average essay score increased from 3.8 in 2005 to 4.0.
· 10th Grade – 78 percent of students scored 3.5 and above, a slight
decrease from 79 percent last year and still much higher than the 60
percent scoring 3.5 and above in 1999. The average essay score increased
from 3.8 in 2005 to 3.9.
“Governor Bush's A+ Plan for Education and its implementation by the State
Board of Education have raised standards and expectations for student
achievement in our schools,” said Commissioner Winn. “Each year our
students continue to make achievements, indicating that these policies are
preparing students for future success.”
Printed reports, including individual student reports, school reports,
district reports and state reports will be delivered to school districts
this week. Districts will also receive an electronic data file of student
writing scores.
This year's test introduced Writing+ (Writing Plus), a combination of an
essay and multiple choice questions. The essay portion remains the same
while the multiple choice section of Writing+ includes questions designed
to measure knowledge on four facets of writing skills – focus,
organization, support and conventions. This new section will provide a more
comprehensive account of a student's writing and language abilities.
Parents will receive a scale score on their child's performance on the
entire writing test, including both the multiple choice and essay portion.
Scores on the multiple choice section will not be included in a school's
grade this year. The Department will convene a group of teachers in the
fall of 2006 to make recommendations on achievement level standards for
Writing+. Ultimately, the Writing+ performance will be included in the
determination of a school's grade.
The State continues to take steps toward increasing the transparency of the
FCAT. Hundreds of printed and online resources related to the FCAT have
been available for several years, including annual releases of sample
questions and a release of “half tests” in 2001. Students and parents are
encouraged to use these tests in conjunction with additional FCAT materials
provided online to improve performance. Recently, Governor Bush and
Commissioner Winn announced the FCAT Parent Network, a secure site that
will enable parents to view their child’s FCAT reading and mathematics
scores online.
Providing a quality education for each and every student in Florida is
Governor Bush’s priority and the state’s most important mission. Florida’s
investment in the A+ Plan for Education continues to achieve results. The
accountability in Florida’s A+ Plan school grading system ensures the state
measures the progress of every student in every school each year. Today,
more of Florida’s students than ever are reading on their own, taking
college entrance exams, graduating from high school and earning college
degrees.
To view school, district and state FCAT reports visit www.fldoe.org.
04.23.06 – 04.25.06 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Visitation
This regularly scheduled visitation will involve a Review Team coming to
our school to talk to various stakeholders (students, teachers, parents,
administrators and community members) about our school improvement efforts.
The Review Team will also look at school documents, attend our 5th grade
New Student Orientation, and any other meetings that are scheduled at
Griffin Middle School. The Review Team will then write a report of their
findings and make their final report to our faculty and staff on Tuesday,
April 25, 2006. We are excited about welcoming our Review Team to see our
commitment towards continuous school improvement and our commitment to
success for all students!
It's "E" Week in Tigerland! EFCDAB
04.22.06
The Car Wash will take place from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Griffin Middle
School.
Cars - $5.00 each
SUV and vans - $10.00 each
04.23.06
Reading Leadership Team Meeting 3:00 PM
04.25.06
Track and Filed Championship at Lincoln High School 5:00 PM
$2.00 Admission
04.26.06
* Progress Alerts go home with all Tigers!
* Spanish Club visits El Tapiatio Resturant
* GSB Championship v Ft. Braden Middle School 6:00 PM@ Leon High
04.27.06
Take Your Child to Work Day
Grades 3-8 ONLY! This absence must be pre-approved by Dr. Gayle. An excuse
note on workplace letterhead must be submitted to Dr. Gayle by April 28,
2006 in order for your child to receive an excused absence.
04.28.06
Excused absence notes for Take Your Child to Work Day due to Dr. Gayle!
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