SEQUITUR
SEQUITUR October 2015 The Superintendent leads the Sequoia Union High School District with the assistance of his Cabinet members (left to right): Dr. Jim Lianides, Superintendent Dr. Jacqueline McEvoy, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources & Student Services Bonnie Hansen, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Enrique Navas, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Matthew Zito, Chief Facilities Officer
Common Core 2-3
Smarter Balanced 4-6
This issue will answer some of your tough questions about Common Core and its implementation in our schools. Is Common Core common sense for our kids?
Results from the Smarter Balance tests administered last spring are out. How did our district fare? What do those test results mean?
Calendar 7 Upcoming parent workshops
Campus Corner 7-8 A look at the highlights of the 2014-15 school year at each school in our district.
October Newsletter Welcome to the first issue of SUHSD’s parent newsletter Sequitur. This publication supports the District’s ongoing mission of open communication with its families and other key stakeholders. The aim of this newsletter is to keep the community informed about the most current news from the district.
Bienvenidos a la primera edición del boletín informativo de los padres del SUHSD Sequitur. Esta publicación apoya la misión permanente del Distrito de comunicación abierta con sus grupos de interés. El objetivo de este boletín es mantener informada a la comunidad sobre las noticias más actuales del distrito.
In this issue, we jump straight into Common Core and Smarter Balanced testing. We know there are many misleading facts in the media surrounding these two topics, so we hope that the Q & A article, “A Common Sense Conversation about Common Core and Smarter Balanced” will clarify potential confusion you may have. These are two weighty topics to distill into four pages, so we encourage you to use the parent resource links (look for the pinecone graphic) for further investigation.
En esta edición, solamente abordamos el tema de Common Core y las pruebas Smarter Balanced. Sabemos que hay muchos hechos engañosos en los medios de comunicación en torno a estos dos temas, por lo que esperamos que la sección de Q & A del artículo, "Una Conversación de Sentido Común sobre Common Core y Smarter Balanced" aclare la posible confusión que pueda tener. Estos son dos temas importantes para condensar en cuatro páginas, por lo que le animamos a que utilice los enlaces de recursos para padres (busque el gráfico piña) para una investigación más a fondo.
We hope that this is the first of many regular monthly newsletters that will provide useful resources in helping you and your student navigate the high school years. —Superintendent Jim Lianides
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Esperamos que este sea el primero de muchos boletines informativos mensuales regulares que proporcionarán recursos que le resultarán útiles para ayudarle a usted y su hijo(a) a navegar los años de preparatoria. —Superintendente Jim Lianides
SEQUITUR October 2015
A Common Sense Conversation about Common Core and Smarter Balanced
Una conversación común sobre Common Core y Smarter Balanced
We bet a common conversation topic at your dinner table is Common Core and Smarter Balanced testing. If it isn’t, maybe it should be. Around The District water cooler, it’s the topic of conversation. We asked three of our District’s educational leaders—Kristin Stout, Brandon Lee and Bonnie Hansen— to shed some light:
Estamos seguros que un tema de conversación común en la mesa de la cena es Common Core y Smarter Balanced. Si no es así, tal vez lo debería ser. Alrededor de la fuente de agua del Distrito, es tema de conversación. Les pedimos a nuestros tres los líderes educativos de nuestro distrito— Kristin Stout, Brandon Lee y Bonnie Hansen—aclarar un poco sobre Common Core (CC):
Q: What should ALL parents and students know about Common Core? Parents should know that the Common Core was developed by independent educational experts and adopted by state educational experts. Those who served on the committees were teachers, education professors and assessment experts. At each grade level, the Common Core Standards provide teachers with a guide for what students should know and be able to do in reading, writing, speaking, listening and numeracy. With this information, teachers have been working together to create curriculum that helps students develop the skills they need in order to meet the standards. Rather than rote memorization, the standards ask students to build the problem-solving and critical thinking skills they’ll need once they leave high school. In all subject areas, students build the literacy capacity they need to read texts closely and understand not just what the authors mean, but also why that matters. While The Common Core Standards are divided into English Language Arts and Math, the Standards give a roadmap for covering literacy skills in English, Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects. In math, students are encouraged to use math practices such as “Modeling” and “Constructing Viable Arguments and Critiquing the Reasoning of Others.”
Q: ¿Qué deben saber todos los padres y estudiantes sobre Common Core? Los padres deben saber que, en cada nivel de grado, los estándares Common Core proporcionan a los maestros con una guía de lo que los estudiantes deben saber y ser capaces de hacer al final de cada grado en la lectura, escritura, expresión oral, escuchar y la aritmética. Con esta información, los maestros han estado trabajando juntos para crear un plan de estudios que ayude a los estudiantes a desarrollar las habilidades que necesitan para cumplir con los estándares. En lugar de la memorización, los estándares piden a los estudiantes desarrollar las habilidades de resolución de problemas y el pensamiento crítico que necesitarán una vez que salgan de la preparatoria. En todas las materias, los estudiantes desarrollarán la capacidad de alfabetización que necesitan para leer textos a fondo y entender no solo lo que los autores quieren decir, pero también por qué importa. Mientras que los Estándares Common Core se dividen en Lengua y Literatura en inglés y matemáticas, los estándares dan una hoja de ruta para cubrir habilidades de alfabetización en Inglés, Estudios Sociales, Ciencia y materias Técnicas. En matemáticas, se anima a los estudiantes a utilizar las prácticas matemáticas tales como "Modelar" y "Construir argumentos viables y criticar el razonamiento de los demás."
Q:
3) Some parents are questioning the value of Common Core.
“Our embraces WhyDistrict is it important now to adopt Common Core in public the Common Core “Nuestro distrito acepta Common schools? Standards because Core con brazos abiertos porque they facilitate critical facilitan el pensamiento crítico y la The Common Core State Standards were originally developed to thinking and application aplicación en lugar de la address a gap between student skill levels at the end of high as opposed to rote memorización." school and the skills needed for college and career. It is memorization.” —Kristin Stout, imperative that states —Kristin Stout,and districts adopt the Common Core Directora de Desarrollo Profesional y Standards shift the expectations of students to a higher level Director of to Professional Currículo that involves more critical Development & thinking and application as opposed to rote memorization. When looking at current career options, the Curriculum
need for analyzing and synthesizing information is far more important than knowing a set of facts. These standards help our children to focus, from kindergarten through 12th grade, on skills that will help them to compete and succeed in the world after attending public school. 4) Some parents are wondering if their childrens' teachers are trained and well-equipped to deliver Common Core units. What
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on Common We hope this Q & A will answer key questions concerning Common Core. Any further questions on the subject can be directed to Kristin Stout at kstout@seq.org.
SEQUITUR October 2015 Q: Some parents are questioning the value of Common Core. Why is it important now to adopt Common Core in public schools? The Common Core State Standards were originally developed to address a gap between student skill levels at the end of high school and the skills needed for college and career. It is imperative that states and districts adopt the Common Core Standards to shift the expectations for students to a higher level that involves more critical thinking and application as opposed to rote memorization. When looking at current career options, the need for analyzing and synthesizing information is far more important than knowing a set of facts. These standards help our children to focus, from kindergarten through 12th grade, on skills that will help them to compete and succeed in the world after graduating from high school.
Q: Algunos padres están cuestionando el valor de Common Core. ¿Por qué es importante ahora adoptar Common Core en las escuelas públicas? Los Estándares Estatales Common Core fueron desarrollados originalmente para abordar la brecha entre los niveles de habilidad del estudiante al final de la preparatoria y las habilidades necesarias para la universidad y carrera. Es imperativo que los estados y distritos adoptan los Estándares Common Core para cambiar las expectativas de los estudiantes a un nivel superior que implique más pensamiento crítico y la aplicación en lugar de la memorización. Al mirar las opciones de carreras actuales, la necesidad de analizar y sintetizar la información es mucho más importante que el conocimiento de una serie de hechos. Estos estándares ayudan a nuestros hijos a enfocarse, desde el kindergarten hasta el grado 12, en las habilidades que les ayudarán a competir y tener éxito en el mundo después de graduarse de la preparatoria. Q: ¿Cuál es la posición detrás de la adopción de Common Core por el estado cuando otros estados están optando no participar?
Q: What is the stance behind the State’s adoption of Common Core when other states are opting out?
Los estándares Common Core permiten a los maestros enfocarse en las habilidades de pensamiento de alto nivel en lugar de la memorización de hechos. Ellos preparan a los estudiantes para la vida- no sólo una prueba.
Common Core standards enable teachers to focus on high level thinking skills rather than memorization of facts. They prepare students for life—not just a test.
Para obtener la información más precisa, visite Common Core: Iniciativa Estándar Estatal (http://www.corestandards.org)
For the most accurate information, visit Common Core: State Standard Initiative (http://www.corestandards.org/). Q: Some parents are wondering if their children’s teachers are trained and wellequipped to deliver Common Core units. What has the district done in terms of PD to make sure Common Core is being implemented in the classroom?
Q: Algunos padres se preguntan si los maestros de sus hijos están capacitados y bien equipados para ofrecer unidades de Common Core. ¿Qué ha hecho el distrito en términos de PD para asegurarse que Common Core se esté aplicando en el salón de clase?
For the past several years, the district has focused on professional development and learning connected to Common Core Standards. Through all-staff professional development days and targeted, subjectspecific staff development, the district has focused on how to effectively teach and assess the new standards. The themes of these days have included subject area work, instructional technology, and Common Core literacy.
En los últimos años, el distrito se ha enfocado en el desarrollo profesional y el aprendizaje conectado a los Estándares Common Core. A través de todos los días de desarrollo profesional del personal y desarrollo de temas específicos, el distrito se ha enfocado en cómo enseñar y evaluar los nuevos estándares efectivamente. Los temas de estos días han incluido trabajo de materia, la tecnología educativa, y la alfabetización de Common Core.
The district has also supported teacher teams in developing new curriculum aligned to the standards in all subject areas. This curriculum is available to all teachers and teacher leaders as well as district coaches are available to offer
The district has also supported teacher teams in developing new curriculum aligned to the standards in all subject areas. This curriculum is available to all teachers and teacher leaders as well as
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SEQUITUR October 2015
“Los resultados de las pruebas Smarter Balanced de ninguna manera afectarán el estado de graduación de un estudiante.” —Brandon Lee, Director de Investigación y Evaluación
“Smarter Balanced test results will in no way affect a student’s graduation status.” —Brandon Lee, Director of Research & Evaluation
We hope this Q & A will answer key questions concerning Smarter Balanced testing. Any further questions on the subject can be directed to Brandon Lee at blee@seq.org.
Q: Some parents are worried about the Smarter Balanced testing and how it may affect graduation requirements. Can you clarify? Is the CAHSEE being phased out?
Q: Algunos padres están preocupados sobre las pruebas Smarter
Smarter Balanced tests results will in no way affect a student’s graduation status. The test is the State’s measure of how students are succeeding in meeting the new standards, but a student’s score will not be used in any way to keep a student from receiving a diploma. In addition, the information is not on student’s transcripts and is in no way shared with colleges.
Los resultados de las pruebas Smarter Balanced de ninguna manera afectará el estado de graduación de un estudiante. La prueba es la medida del estado de cómo los estudiantes están teniendo éxito en el cumplimiento de los nuevos estándares, pero la puntuación de un estudiante de ninguna manera se utilizará para evitar que un estudiante obtenga un diploma. Además, la información no está en el expediente académico del estudiante y de ninguna manera se comparte con las universidades.
Senate Bill (SB) 725 was signed by the Governor and chaptered into law on August 26, 2015. This law suspends passage of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) as a condition for receiving a diploma of graduation or a condition of graduation from high school for a student who has met all other high school graduation requirements in school year 2014-15. Local educational agencies may immediately begin issuing diplomas to eligible students.
El Proyecto de Ley del Senado (SB) 725 fue firmado por el Gobernador e incorporado en ley el 26 de agosto de 2015. Esta ley suspende la aprobación del Examen de Egreso de la Preparatoria de California (CAHSEE, por sus siglas en inglés) como condición para recibir un diploma de graduación o una condición de graduación de la preparatoria para un estudiante que tiene que ha cumplido con los demás requisitos de graduación en el año escolar 2014 -15. Agencias educativas locales inmediatamente pueden empezar a emitir diplomas a los estudiantes elegibles.
The CAHSEE is moving towards being phased out. Another bill, SB 172, proposes suspending the CAHSEE requirements for 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18. This bill is under current consideration by the Legislature. The Governor has until October 11 to take action on the bill.
El CAHSEE está progresando hacia su eliminación. Otro proyecto de ley, SB 172, propone la suspensión de los requisitos del CAHSEE para el 2015-16, 2016-17 y 2017-18. Este proyecto de ley actualmente se encuentra bajo consideración por la Legislatura. El gobernador tiene hasta el 11 de octubre para tomar una decisión sobre el proyecto de ley.
Balanced y como puedan afectar los requisitos de graduación. ¿Puede aclarar? ¿Está siendo el CAHSEE eliminado?
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SEQUITUR October 2015 Last year, students across the district participated in a test of the new Smarter Balanced test. These computer-based tests replaced the pencil-paper STAR tests. AB 484 required participation from all California districts and 11th grade high school students.
El año pasado, estudiantes a través del distrito participaron en una prueba de campo de la nueva prueba Smarter Balanced. Estas pruebas basadas en ordenador reemplazan las pruebas STAR de lápiz-papel. AB 484 requiere la participación de todos los distritos de California y estudiantes de preparatoria del 11 grado.
The results of the tests were released in September, and by the time of this newsletter release, most parents would have received their student’s individual test scores. However, before parents interpret the test scores, please take into consideration the context in which your student took the test.
Los resultados de las pruebas fueron publicados en septiembre, y para el tiempo de la publicación de este boletín informativo, la mayoría de los padres habrán recibido los resultados de las pruebas individuales de sus estudiantes. Sin embargo, antes de que los padres interpreten los resultados de las pruebas, por favor tome en cuenta el contexto en que su estudiante tomó la prueba.
For one, many 11th grade students who took the Smarter Balanced test only received instruction in Common Core units in their English classes for a year at most. None of our 11th graders had been exposed to Common Core instruction their math classes. Furthermore, the new tests are computer-based, so there is a large learning curve to the test. The test may have been especially challenging for students with lower computer literacy skills. Unlike traditional tests, this one is adaptive—meaning that the difficulty of subsequent problems increases as the students answer questions correctly.
Por un lado, varios estudiantes del grado 11 que tomaron el examen Smarter Balanced sólo han recibido instrucción en unidades Common Core en sus clases de inglés durante un año como máximo. Ninguno de nuestros estudiantes del grado 11 fue expuesto a Common Core en sus clases de matemáticas. Además, las nuevas pruebas están basadas en ordenador, por lo que hay una gran curva de aprendizaje para la prueba. La prueba puede haber sido especialmente difícil para los estudiantes con habilidades de alfabetización en computadoras bajas. A diferencia de las pruebas tradicionales, ésta es adaptativa-lo que significa que la dificultad de los problemas posteriores aumenta a medida que los estudiantes responden a las preguntas correctamente.
We think it’s important for our students to take the test because it helps us evaluate how our schools are doing in educating our students and identify areas where we need to improve. The test holds us accountable. We think of the test more as a test of the district than as tests of individual students.
Creemos que es importante que nuestros estudiantes tomen la prueba porque nos ayuda a evaluar cómo nuestras escuelas están haciendo en la educación de nuestros estudiantes e identifica las áreas en las que debemos mejorar. La prueba nos hace responsables. Pensamos en la prueba más como una prueba para el distrito más que una prueba para estudiantes individuales.
As a district, our clear commitment to our students and the process was demonstrated by the high compliance of students taking the test. Thanks to the efforts of staff, Class of 2016 students and parents, we tested a large percentage of our eleventh grade class, so we have a clear baseline from which to proceed.
Como distrito, nuestro compromiso claro a nuestros estudiantes y el proceso se demostró por el alto cumplimiento de estudiantes que tomaron la prueba. Gracias a los esfuerzos del personal, estudiantes y padres de la clase del 2016, evaluamos a un gran porcentaje de nuestra clase del grado once, así que tenemos una línea base clara de la cual proceder.
“We are pleased with how well many of our students did and excited about the deeper levels of learning championed by the standards. In the months to come, we’ll do focused work on addressing the needs of students for whom Common Core is most difficult.” —Bonnie Hansen, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
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"Estamos satisfechos con lo bien que muchos de nuestros estudiantes hicieron y emocionados sobre los niveles de aprendizaje más profundos defendidos por los estándares. En los próximos meses, enfocaremos el trabajo en abordar las necesidades de los estudiantes para quienes Common Core es más difícil." —Bonnie Hansen, Asistente Superintendente de Servicios Educativos
SEQUITUR October 2015
For a complete Smarter Balanced test results by districts, go to Edsource website at http://www.edsource.org. You will also find many articles of interest surrounding the test. The information on this page is taken from the Smarter Balanced test results page (Harrington, T. and Tully, S. “Californian Smarter Balanced Assessment Results.” http://edsource.org/smarter-balanced-results/index.html) Student scores are categorized by four “achievement levels” that indicate whether a student has exceeded the standard, met the standard, nearly met the standard, or did not meet the standard at different grade levels. According to state education officials, the 2015 scores set a baseline to measure how well students progress in the future. Officials warn against comparing the results from previous assessments administered under the state’s very different Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program.
Subject
Standard Not Met
Standard Nearly Met
Standard Met
Standard Exceeded
Math (CA)
38%
29%
19%
14%
Math (Sequoia*)
33%
18%
17%
23%
English (CA)
31%
25%
28%
16%
English (Sequoia*)
16%
18%
26%
32%
*Percentages do not add up to 100% due to the number of students who did not complete enough questions to receive a score for that portion of the test (9% for math; 8% for ELA).
To view Smarter Balanced released sample test questions, go to the Smarter Balanced Consortium website at http://www.smarterbalanced.org/sample-items-andperformance-tasks/. Also, you can read an article by Dian Schaffhauser titled “Online Common Core Test Items Released by Smarter Balanced Consortium” which provides a good overview of the released test questions.
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SEQUITUR October 2015
Parent Workshop CALENDAR Site Specific: The workshops are open to ALL parents. Contact Charlene Margot, Founding Director, The Parent Education Series, cmargot@csmconsulting.net, 650-868-0590 Menlo-Atherton Thursday, October 8, 2015, 7:00 pm, 2015 - Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, "Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs" (M-A PAC Cafe) Thursday, November 19, 7:00 pm - Maria Furtado, Executive Director, Colleges that Change Lives (M-A PAC) Woodside Thursday, October 1, 2015, 7:00 pm - Steve Smith, PhD, "Helping Young Athletes Reach their Potential" (WHS MUR) Thursday, November 5, 2015, 7:00 pm - Brie Mathers, "Body Image – Empowering Girls (WHS MUR) Sequoia Wednesday, November 18, 2015, 7:00 pm - Steve Smith, PhD, "Helping Young Athletes Reach their Potential" (Carrington Hall) District Meetings: 480 James Avenue, Redwood City, CA: Contact, Carmina Chavez, 650-369-1411 ext. 22293
DISTRICT ENGLISH LEARNER PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (DELAC/ELPAC & MIGRANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC) Tuesdays, Oct. 27, 2015, Dec, 15, 2015, Feb. 16, 2016, April 26, 2016 and May 31, 2016 at 6:30pm
MIGRANT PARENT WORKSHOP: Oct. 20, 2015, Dec. 1, 2015, Feb. 25, 2016, April 28, 2016, May 26, 6:30pm8:00pm
SEQUOIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Redwood City, California
CAMPUS CORNER The Sequoia Union High School District annually serves 8900 9th to 12th grade students through its four distinguished comprehensive high schools (Carlmont, Menlo-Atherton, Sequoia, and Woodside), dependent charter school (East Palo Alto Academy), continuation high school (Redwood), Middle College (in collaboration with Cañada College) and other specialized programs and services. The District also offers an Adult School based in Redwood City that serves 2000 students annually. El Distrito Escolar de Sequoia anualmente sirve a 8900 estudiantes del grado 9 a 12 a través de sus cuatro escuelas distinguidas integrales (Carlmont, Menlo-Atherton, Sequoia y Woodside), la escuela chárter dependiente (East Palo Alto Academy), escuela preparatoria de continuación (Redwood) , Middle College (en colaboración con Cañada College) y otros programas y servicios especializados. El Distrito también ofrece una Escuela para Adultos localizada en Redwood City que sirve a 2000 estudiantes anualmente. Campus Corner features selected highlights from each corner of our district. In this issue, we look back at the self-reported accomplishments of some of selected school sites. El Campus Corner destaca selecciones de cada rincón de nuestro distrito. En esta edición, miramos hacia atrás a los logros del auto-informe de algunas de las escuelas seleccionadas.
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Defined adult education plan for San Mateo county as part of Adult Educational College and Career Educational Leadership AB86 Consortium of four adult schools and three community colleges. Opening an Adult School satellite on Redwood High School campus for Fall semester. Partnered with Cañada College and JobTrain on a Bay Area Workforce Collaborative grant to establish a web developers training pathway. Transitioned over 135 students to college with support from Silicon Valley Community Foundation and Sequoia Adult School Scholars.
SEQUITUR October 2015
Highlights from 2014-15 School Year
Decreased referral suspension rate by over 50%. Successful implementation of new Computer Science program which will have six sections for 2015/16 school year. 2015/2016 will be the first year of our Biotech Institute small learning community. Successful opening of five new classrooms —two science and three general education classes.
Began process of creating the Redwood Promise Educational Foundation . Small Learning Community programs phased in over 3 years: Culinary Arts, Digital Entertainment Arts, Medical/Health Careers, Industrial Arts, and on site Adult School GED program to serve 5th year students. 124 RHS students earned their high school diploma!
Transitioned to a dependent charter school under the Sequoia Union High School District. Awarded scholarships to 46% of our graduating seniors, several receiving full rides, and awarded over $200,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors. Implemented a successful Restorative Justice program, which focuses on non-punitive measures for students, offering them community service opportunities, peer mediation, communication skills building and more.
Developed innovative Mobile App Design course. 100% of 2015 AVID seniors eligible and applied to 4-year colleges. Decreased referral suspension rate by over 50%. Successful implementation of new Computer Science program. 2015/2016 will be the first year of our Biotech Institute small learning community.
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Identified 185 students from traditionally underserved communities to enroll in 414 AS/AP classes and 84% earned grades of C or higher. Orchestra invited to Carnegie Hall in New York to perform last April. Awarded the Peninsula Athletic League Commissioner's Cup (for the last 8 of 9 years); this year, M-A won 18 league titles. Received a San Mateo County School Board's Association Kent Award for our Partnership for Success (student support services) program.
Opened The Den, a studentdesigned after-school drop in tutoring center. Increased seniors completing a college-preparatory curriculum by 5% (second year in a row). Conducted successful review by our accrediting agency WASC. Competed fiercely: boys' water polo (league champs), girls' soccer and boys' lacrosse (CCS playoff semi-finalists), cheer team (6th at USA nationals), and robotics team (selected for alliance in regional finals).