The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, November 22, 2001 Tests (continued from page 1) McLaughlin-Smith, curricu- lum director and principal of Lake-Noxen and Ross elemen- tary schools. "If we are weak in an area, then the teachers and I sit down and try to find materi- als or instructional methodology that will address that need,” Smith said, explaining the process he uses to align Lake- Lehman's curriculum with the standards. How and when: those stan- dards are taught remains in the control of the local school dis- trict. These standards allow the state to assess, through the PSSA, how well a school is per- forming and how much they are improving. “The results of our efforts are clear,” said Paul Reinert, assistant principal of Dallas Middle School. “We're above the state average in all ar- eas.” Area educators strongly em- phasized not teaching to the test, but teaching to the stan- dards. “Teaching to the standards is of extreme importance and that's a big part of our regional undertaking,” said Robert Kun- kle, principal of Lehman-Jack- son Elementary School. “Whether that test were there or not, we'd be doing the same thing.” McCarthy agrees with the dis- tinction. “Some schools, in their efforts to get test scores up, substitute so called test preparation mate- rials for authentic curriculum materials. I don’t agree with that. We don't use test prep ma- terials,” said McCarthy. “The whole school is becoming suc- cessful because we are stress- ing, not the test, but the cur- riculum.” Beginning in the school year “Teaching to the standards is of extreme importance and that’s a big part of our regional undertaking.” Robert Kunkle - Principal, Lehman-Jackson Elementary 2002- 03, students must demon- strate performance at the profi- cient level or better in reading, writing and mathematics on ei- ther the State assessments ad- ministered in grade 11 or 12 or local assessments aligned with academic standards or both. In- dividual student scores, provid- ed only to their respective schools, can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may be in need of addition- al educational opportunities. “This is the first year that each student gets a report back that identifies the student as below basic, basic, proficient or advanced,” said Speziale. “The state has said that in 2002- 2003 school districts need to look very closely at scores in terms of graduation. Kids that are basic or below basic have to be remediated.” The only requirement that the Commonwealth mandates is, at a minimum, that students per- form at the proficient level or better in reading, writing and mathematics in order to gradu- ate. The methods used to make this determination are the deci- sion of the local school board. The Pennsylvania Department of Education gives cash rewards to schools showing marked im- School Wycallis Elementary Wycallis Elementary Dallas Elementary Dallas Elementary Dallas Middle School Dallas Middle School Dallas High School Dallas High School Dallas High School Lake-Lehman Senior High School Lehman-Jackson Elementary Lehman-Jackson Elementary Lake-Noxen Elementary Lake-Noxen Elementary Lake-Lehman Middle School Lake-Lehman Middle School Lake-Lehman Senior High Lake-Lehman Senior High Math Reading Writing DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT State averages for 2000-2001 Gr. Subject Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Writing 11 Writing LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT Gr. Subject Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Math Reading Grade 5 1310 1310 1 1360 1340 1270 1320 1320 1330 1330 1350 Scaled scores for Back Mountain area schools for the past five years All area schools scored above the state Grade 11 1310 1300 1320 averages with the exception of a 1280 in math for Lake-Lehman High School. Bold face indicates highest scores in Luzerne County provement in the PSSA results. Wycallis, Dallas, Lehman-Jack- son and Lake-Noxen elementary schools and Dallas High School had increases of no less than 80 points on the combined math and reading scores over last year’s scores and may be eligible for school performance funding from the state. In 2000, schools that attained an increase of at least 50 points on the combined math and reading tests as compared to a baseline set by the school’s POST PHOTOS/M.B. GILLIGAN Joey Kupstas, FBLA president at Dallas High School, checked out the registration table at the start of the event. Seated from left: Stephanie Kutza, Liz Janoski and Kristie Kovalick. Business (continued from page 1) also addressed the audience. Officers from the various schools participated in a ceremony that explained the meaning of the parts of the emblem of the FBLA: eagle, service, education, progress, future, business, lead- ers and America. Students then attended three of the 10 workshops that includ- ed Real Estate as a Career; Ac- counting; Stress Reduction Through Reiki; Networking Peo- ple Skills; Interviews and Re- sume Tips and Techniques; and Dressing for Success. | *“Theytoldus to wear navy blue or black and white and also how to | act at wor Rebecca Pincofski Dallas junior “Dressing for Success was in- teresting,” said junior Rebecca Pincofski. “They told us to wear navy blue or black and white and also how to act at work.” Many students signed up for the Reiki session presented by Marlene Knappman and Donna in i Members of the Dallas FBLA club are pictured at the pizza party that followed workshops. From left: Rebecca Pincofski, Kelly Lena- han, Jaime Bozentka, Alyse Taddei, Kristen Allardyce, Amanda So- cash and Laura Vanderhook. Panzak. “It was nice and relax- ing,” said Amanda Socash. The students, advisors and presenters were treated to hoa- gies, pizza and ice cream after the workshops. A $5 admission fee helped to cover the costs of the evening. The second general session of the evening featured a drawing for t-shirts supported by Chuck Wilson of The Fieldhouse. The shirts had FBLA on the front and “We Mean Business” on the back, an idea of Dallas senior John Pambianco. “The fall workshop is more of a fellowship meeting of the group,” said Shrader. The clubs move into a competitive stage in Feb- ruary. “The regional competition will be hosted by Crestwood this year,” said Toni Madden, a Dal- las resident who is one of three advisors for the Wyoming Valley West FBLA club. “The winners advance to the state competition held in Seven Springs and this year the national competition will be in Nashville.” = “Our district made a conscious decision to align what is taught in the classroom to i at t ciflaren are expected to know.” Kathleen McCarthy Principal, Wycallis Elementary PSSA results of earlier years, were qualified for funding and received awards of between $18 and $93 per student depending on the level of increase. The ex- act minimum increase in points Sand candles available Christmas sand candles will again be available this year at the Shavertown Volunteer Fire Co. The cost will remain the same at $5 per dozen. Contact any member of the company or call 696-3212 to place an order. is determined yearly after analy- sis of that year’s data. A school committee, headed by ‘the principal, determines how the award will be spent fol- lowing Pennsylvania Depart- ment of Education guidelines. Area schools should be notified later this month if they qualify for these awards. Schools that start with a high achievement rate and maintain it are reward- ed as well. “Everybody has to jump on the bandwagon and give kids these opportunities. This is im- portant to the children whether or not they are tested,” summed up McCarthy. “Because, in life, who does a multiple choice test?” SY Church of Christ holiday celebration Sweet Valley Church of Christ presents “O Holy Night, The Be- ginning of Hope” along with a reenactment of the time and place of Christ's birth on Dec. 15 and 16, at 7 p.m. The church is located at 5439 Main Rd., Sweet Valley, approximately 2.5 miles from the intersection with Route 118. 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