Spring is here, and with it comes time for the PSSA (the state mandated test). We are ready, and we feel that our students are ready too! You may have heard that there are some new rules in place due to cheating in some parts of the city and state.
****Bache-Martin is NOT one of the schools accused of cheating, but we must abide by the new rules anyway.
****The biggest change your child will notice is that they may no longer be given the test by their homeroom or main subject area teacher. The 8th grade will be tested by the seventh grade teachers. We feel confident that the students will do well no matter who is in the room with them.
****The 8th grade is the most heavily tested grade. They take Reading & Math, and after Spring Break they will move on to Writing and Science. It seems to them and us that they test forever!!
On the bright side, once they are done this year, they do not take PSSAs again until 11th grade.
****Please make sure your children get a good night's sleep, a good breakfast, and come to school on time. We also serve breakfast in the lunchroom in the mornings.
CLOSING EXERCISES: We are still working out a date, place, and time for our closing exercises. We will keep you posted with new information.
Social Studies Project: Remember the Social Studies project is due at the end of March. The marking period ends around the same time, so NO late projects will be accepted. A failing grade on the project will most likely result in in an 'F' for the quarter.
NO Summer School: The School District has announced that there will be NO summer school this summer!!! Therefore, if your child does not meet the requirements to be promoted (to be promoted to 9th grade, a student must pass ALL four major subjects), that child will be repeating grade 8 next year. Most of our 8th graders are on track, but a few seem to think no work is required to move on to high school--please speak to them about this. Thank you!
