April and May, 2008
Dear Parent,
The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests (including TAKS A and TAKS M) will be given to all eligible West Mesquite High School students during the week of April 28. MISD has received a late arrival waiver for all non-testing students. 9 th , 10 th , 11 th and 12 th grade, eligible students will test during that week. The exit level re-test for seniors will be given April 29, 30, May 1, and 2. Students that do not have an assigned test should not report to school on those days until 12:30 p.m. Testing needs to begin as early as possible, so testing students need to report to their assigned testing room by 8:20 a.m.; this is an earlier start time than usual .
We encourage you to be sure your child is in attendance for all appropriate tests. Students need to get plenty of rest and eat a healthy breakfast so they are physically prepared to take the tests. In addition, tutoring is available. There will only be a few more opportunities for tutoring to take place and all students are encouraged to attend.
Non-testing students should eat lunch before arriving at school on test days. Free/Reduced lunch students may eat lunch on campus at specific times (see schedule). Breakfast will be served on test days in the cafeteria, however, students need to finish eating breakfast by 8:15 a.m. No plate lunches will be served on on test days. Any student not testing MUST eat lunch before arriving on campus at 12:30.
ALL testing students will eat a sack lunch in the test room on each assigned test day. We ask that all testing students bring a sack lunch from home OR purchase a school sack lunch each day. Students may purchase a school sack lunch in the cafeteria the morning before testing begins. Lunches are $2.15 for a regular lunch student; reduced lunches are $.40; no charge for students on free lunch. Sack lunches brought by family or friends will not be delivered to test rooms. Students must have their sack lunch before entering the test room.
Also, students are not allowed to have any electronic devices in the testing room , including cell phones, electronic games, personal organizers, and music devices, etc. Calculators will be provided for math and science tests. Students will be expected to be in dress code. Testing room assignments will be posted throughout the building, or students can check with a teacher about their testing room.
In addition, The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has made some changes in testing procedures for the TAKS tests. Beginning this spring, students in grades 9, 10, and exit level will be asked to sign an honor statement before taking TAKS tests. The honor statement reads:
‘ By signing my name, I agree that I will not give or receive unauthorized assistance during the test. I understand that giving or receiving unauthorized assistance during the test is cheating and may result in the invalidation of my test results.'
This statement will be printed on each student's answer sheet, and students will be asked to sign it before the test begins.
“Invalidation” of test results means that the student's test would not be scored and the student would not receive test results.
The March test schedule is on the back of this letter.
Sincerely,
Keith Adams Lois Dandridge
WMHS Principal WMHS Testing Coordinator
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West Mesquite High School
Monday, March 3 * * 12 th Grade Social Studies TAKS Retest; lunch in café at 11:20
All other students report to regular schedule.
Tuesday, March 4 NO TESTS; all students follow regular schedule.
Wednesday, March 5 * 9 th Grade TAKS Reading; sack lunch.
* 10 th Grade TAKS English Language Arts; sack lunch.
*11 th Grade TAKS English Language Arts; sack lunch.
* 12 th Grade TAKS English Language Arts Retest; sack lunch.
* All non-testing 9, 10, 11 students arrive at 12:30, report to cafeteria. Eat lunch before arriving at school.
*12 th Grade with Mastery students arrive 12:30 p.m , report to Auditorium. Eat lunch before arriving at school.
* Free/Reduced lunch students may eat a sack lunch on campus at 12:00 noon in the cafeteria.
Thursday, March 6 * 12 th Grade TAKS Math Retest; lunch in café at 11:20 a.m.
All other students report to regular schedule.
Friday, March 7 * 12 th Grade Science TAKS Retest; lunch in café at 11:20 a.m.
All other students report to regular schedule.
