Friendship Public Charter School Countdown To DC-CAS Newsletter Get Ready, Get Set! Dear Parents, Next week, your child will begin taking the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment Test (DC-CAS)—one of the most important exams of the school year. Friendship principals, teachers and support staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that your student is ready with the academic skills and confidence needed to achieve DC-CAS performance standards. We believe parents should be informed and involved in the test preparation process. That is why we encourage you to review Friendship’s Countdown to DC CAS newsletter. In this newsletter, you will find vital DC-CAS information, testing dates and test-taking tips for students and parents. At Friendship, we believe that every student can achieve the highest standards!
What is the DC-CAS? The DC-CAS is the District of Columbia’s basic skills assessment test for students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 10. The test evaluates students’ annual yearly progress in the areas of math, reading, composition and science. This year, the DC-CAS will be administered over a two-week period starting Tuesday, April 17 through Thursday, April 26. Introduced in 2006, the DC-CAS is more rigorous than the District’s previous assessment test, the Stanford-9, because it measures students’ knowledge through a combination of multiple choice and constructed-response questions. Students are required to analyze and compare data; identify clues to problem-solving and explain in three to four sentences how they arrived at their answers. Additionally, the higher-level thinking skills measured by the DC-CAS are aligned with federal No Child Left Behind standards that require schools to annually measure how well students are learning what is taught in the classroom.
DC-CAS Prep Across Campuses Test Taking Tips… For Students & Parents From the first day your child entered a Friendship school, he or she is exposed to the highest academic standards. Elementary & Middle School At Chamberlain, Southeast, Woodridge and Blow Pierce, daily instruction and homework assignments challenge students to stretch their knowledge across subject areas and demonstrate their understanding with written and oral responses — a skill essential to DC-CAS success. To encourage 100% proficiency, classrooms are decorated with creative artwork that display DC-CAS objectives and student accomplishments. Grades 3 through 8 measure their mastery of core subjects with the DC-BAS, a practice exam that identifies academic strengths and weaknesses. From this exam, teachers assess ongoing student progress and develop personalized intervention strategies. Students are encouraged to sharpen their academic skills with after-school tutorials and struggling students raise performance levels by attending Friendship’s Saturday Learning Camp. Additionally, all four campuses kicked-off spring break with an energetic DC-CAS rally, complete with food, fun and homework packets. High School
Twas’ the Night Before the DC-CAS ■
Go to bed On Time.
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Pack a few #2 pencils in your school bag.
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Talk to teachers about any concerns you have about the test.
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Parents, encourage your students to follow these steps!
At our Collegiate Academy high school, the campus hallways “talk” DC-CAS. Every inch is covered with examples of student work along with iridescent, multicolored banners promoting excellence.
The Morning Of The DC-CAS ■
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Students in need of academic support start the school day at 6:45 a.m. with an early morning tutorial and reinforce their studies with an afternoon study session.
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Think of what you will do to relax after you get home from school.
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Always, THINK POSITIVE!
Collegiate’s Within Reach program dedicates a full-hour block during the day to give struggling students the push they need to cross the line toward proficiency. Each Friday, the school celebrates their hard work with a Blast the DC-CAS Pep Rally. Based on DC-BAS results, teachers develop individual student portfolios in Algebra, Geometry, Science, English composition and vocabulary. Daily DC-CAS math and vocabulary trivia spur healthy competition among classmates. As a reward for scoring proficient or advanced on the DC-BAS, Collegiate presented students with certificates at a school-wide awards ceremony.
While Taking the DC-CAS
Answering Questions ■
Don’t guess blindly. If you have time to think about the best answer choice, make it!
Multiple Choice Questions ■
If you don’t understand directions, ask for help.
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If you finish early, check to make sure you have answered all the questions.
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Read the question and answer all choices before marking anything.
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Find key words or phrases in the questions that will help you choose the right answer.
A Matter of Time ■
If any time remains, spend it on those questions that you know nothing about.
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Remember, your first guess is usually right.
Final Test Tips
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Do not change your answers unless you are very uncertain about your first answer choice. Try to answer every question. Make your most intelligent guess.
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Make sure you understand the question asked and respond to that question.
Reading Passages ■
Pace Yourself
If you are required to read a passage, read the questions first.
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Don’t spend too much time on any one question. Do your best and move on.
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By doing this, you will know what you are looking for as you read.
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Answer the easiest questions first, but be sure to go back to those questions you skipped.
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When there are several questions, look for clues in other questions. That will help you with those questions about which you are unsure.
Process of Elimination Math Computation ■
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After you have been through all of the questions once, go back and find questions you have some knowledge about.
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Use scratch paper and double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the test booklet.
If you can eliminate two wrong answers, your chance of choosing the right answer is greater.
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Line up the place value on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones) or the answer will be incorrect.
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If your answer does not match one of the choices, reread the problem, recopy the numbers and try again.
Eliminate choices that you know are incorrect.
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Fill in bubbles fully.
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Write neatly.
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Erase stray marks.
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If your arm tires during the test, relax the grip on your pencil.
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STAY POSITIVE! YOU CAN BLAST THE DC-CAS!
DC-CAS Testing Calendar April 17-26, 2007 Tues. Apr. 17
Wed. Apr. 18
Thurs Apr 19
Mon. Apr. 23
Tues. Apr. 24
Wed. Apr. 25
Chamberlain
Math Grades 3-5
Composition Grades 3-5
Math Grades 3-5
Reading Grades 3-5
Reading Grades 3-5
Reading Grades 3-5
Woodridge
Reading Reading Grades 4 & 7 Grades 4 & 7
Composition Composition Math Grades 4 & 7 Grades 4 & 7 Grades 3-8
Math Grades 3-8
Reading Grades 3-6
Reading Grades 3-6
Composition Grade 4
Math Grades 3-6
Math Grades 3-6
Blow Pierce
Reading Grades 6-8
Reading Grades 6-8
Reading Grades 6-8
Math Grades 6-8
Math Grades 6-8
Math Grades 6-8 Math Composition Grades 6-8 Grade 7
Collegiate
Reading/ Language Arts Grade 10
Reading/ Language Arts Grade 10
Reading/ Language Arts Grade 10
Reading/ Language Arts & Math Grade 10
Composition Grade 10
Composition Grade 10
Campuses
Southeast
Mon. Apr. 16
School is open as usual. Please be sure your students are on time and ready for the last day of DC-CAS preparation before the test.
Fri. Apr. 20
Reading Grades 6-8
DC-CAS Breakfast Menu Breakfast is free at all campuses during testing week. Free breakfast sponsored by Friendship GEAR-UP – Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. Tues. Apr. 17
Wed. Apr. 18
Thurs. Apr. 19
Fri. Apr. 20
Mon. Apr. 23
Tues. Apr. 24
Wed. Apr. 25
Thurs. Apr. 26
Waffles, Sausage Links, Scrambled Eggs, Grits, Apple Juice and Milk
French Toast Sticks, Scrambled Eggs, Grits, Orange Juice and Milk
Pancakes, Sausage Links, Scrambled Eggs, Grits, Grape Juice and Milk
French Toast Sticks, Scrambled Eggs, Grits, Apple Juice and Milk
Apple Pancakes, Sausage Patties, Orange Juice and Milk
Mini Bagels, Yogurt, Apple Juice and Milk
Waffle Sticks, Scrambled Eggs, Grape Juice and Milk
French Toast Sticks, Sausage Links, Apple Juice and Milk
Thurs. Apr. 26