Where Art Thou ITEDs? By Danielle Hernandez

Hear ye, hear ye! Yea, but a wee three months ago, we proud students marched most courageously into battle for nigh on a week to vanquish the hideous beast known as the Iowa Test of Educational Development or, as the villager Friar Angel refers to it as, "The I-T-E-D's". We endured plights such as rising from our slumber knowing that we must test tirelessly, endlessly, for several hours. And why? For the promise of riches beyond our greatest dream; the inevitable Holy Grail known as SOME SERIOUS EXTRA CREDIT. And now that my knowledge of medieval-type vocabulary has grown thin, and I still have a whole article to write, I feel the need to ask... Dude, where are our ITED scores?

I've noticed I'm not the only student wondering just what's going on. If you don't recall, the teachers here at HCHS gave us some incentives to do well on these tests, i.e. up to twenty points of cold, hard extra credit. But the end of the semester draws near... and still no results? No extra credit? But, but... Extra credit makes everybody feel so good inside :(



I decided to hit the classrooms and hallways, and give some voice to the students concerns. One sophomore girl declares that she "... is very upset, because I need the extra credit, and I was promised it at the beginning of the quarter. WHERE'S MY EXTRA CREDIT, DARN IT!". Of course, some people aren't so upset. Chandra Knudsen "... only needs extra credit in one class. It'd be nice if I scored high enough to get some, but if I didn't I guess these scores back now isn't really that convenient. I guess I don't really care." Then of course there's that one student who said: "I don't really care about the scores. In fact, I hope they never come back. I don't want docked points, 'cause I KNOW they're not proficient." Tsk, tsk.


But rest my brethren (the ones who actually care and are upset by this of course), I come bearing great news from the lord of the land! According to High King Wagner, "Our scores really depend upon the company we send them to, Iowa Testing Services. We're kind of at their mercy when it comes to this. Apparently there was some glitch that caused the scoring to be delayed. I called last Thursday, though, and we're really hoping the scores are in by the end of the week." Praise! All hail King Wagner! Rejoice!



But will-eth the scores be in-eth before the semester comes to an abrupt close? Will our valiant slaying of the dragon known as "I-T-E-D" be justly awarded? But more importantly, will I ever stop reporting this School News story like a Renaissance scribe? Who is to say, I suppose we will all have to wait and see.

So, what does the rest of the student population think? Does anyone care that the ITED scores aren't in yet? There's still the distinct possibility that we won't receive them... How are you affected? Be sure to leave a comment, I would love to hear that I'm not the only one a little concerned by all of this. This has been Danielle Hernandez for School News!

2009 Semester Test Information

FIRST SEMESTER TEST SCHEDULE
Open Campus
December 18 and 21
Make-up Test Day - Tuesday, December 22

Friday, December 18

Period 2 8:10 -9:10(60 min.)
Period 3 9:30 -10:30(60 min.)
Period 4 10:50-11:50 (60 min.)
Lunch 11:50-12:30(40 min.)
Period 6 12:50-1:50(60 min.)
Period 9 2:10 -3:10(60 min.)

Monday, December 21

Period 1 8:10 -9:10(60 min.)
Period 5 9:30 -10:30(60 min.)
Period 7 10:50 -11:50(60 min.)
Lunch 11:50 -12:30 (40 min.)
Period 8 12:50 -1:50(60 min.)


Tuesday, December 22

Make-up test day

Students who have an approved absence during scheduled testing times will report at 8:10 on Tuesday, December 22nd. They will need to make arrangements with their teachers to take their final exams and they must be finished by 1:30pm.

Missing Tests:

Open campus during semester tests is intended to give students more responsibility for managing their time and reporting on time for scheduled tests. Students who fail to report for a semester test will not receive credit in the class unless they have an approved excuse from the administration. Students with approved excuses will be afforded the opportunity to makeup the test on Tuesday, December 22nd beginning at 8:10 a.m. Failing to report on time will be treated as not reporting and credit for the class will be forfeited. Teachers will report to the office all students who were late and turned away and who failed to report during the scheduled testing time.

The expectation is that students take the semester test to meet the requirements of the course.

Procedures:

1. The nine testing periods align with the nine periods in our school day. Please notice that the periods are not in sequence.

2. Students will need to be in school only when testing. The cafeteria will be the study room for students who wish to remain in the building when not testing. Students in the building will be testing or in the study room. We will insist on a quiet testing environment.

3. Students who are testing will remain in the room until the end of the period. Please do not request to leave early. If you complete the test early, use the extra time to prepare for your next exam and avoid conversing with other students.

4. Students who show up late for their test will not be allowed in the room. Without a valid excuse, you will forfeit credit in the class. Give yourself plenty of time to ensure your timely arrival at the school and in the room where you will be testing. Valid excuses for arriving late will be few if any. We have scheduled adequate passing time between periods to avoid the problem of reporting late and to give you a break after each testing period.

5. The testing periods are sixty minutes in length affording each student ample time to do their best.

6. Tuesday, Dec. 22nd will be used as a make-up day for students who have approved absences during one or more tests. All students who have approved absences and missed an exam will report at 8:10 a.m. and work through their normal daily schedule until all tests have been taken or a reasonable schedule for make-up has been arranged with the student’s instructors.

7. Teachers are reminded to take a normal lunch break during test days (including the make-up test day). Normal equates to 36 minutes.

8. Semester tests, projects, or demonstrations are expected in all classes awarding academic credit. These assessments should have relevance, relate to the standards identified for your curriculum area, provide meaningful data for your review, and can count up to 20% of the final semester grade.

9. Please remember to contact the parent of any student who is in jeopardy of failing your class. Please refer to item E under Grading Guide on page 7 of your Teacher Handbook for an explanation.

Make-up test day

Students who have a test(s) to make up will have until 1:30 p.m. to do so unless arrangements have been made with the teacher.

ITED's at HCHS by Dylan Jake and Emily

ITED at HCHS 2009 from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

This video contains information about the ITED test. It also includes what seniors do during the test.

What is this PSAT Business?

Hey, everybody! This is Danielle Hernandez for School News. As many of you know, PSAT/NMSQT testing begins this week. All sophomores and juniors are eligible as long as they signed up by the due date! But what I'm sure you're wondering is, what in the name of all that is good and decent is the PSAT/NMSQT? Well, my friends, sit back, relax, and prepare to learn.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Basically, it's a test to get you pumped, primed, and prepared from the SAT. But, seeing as how we're in Iowa and therefore most local colleges accept ACT scores, that's not the important part of this test. No, no. The pertinent part is the "National Merit Scholarship Qualifying"-part. If you score high enough, and you're a junior, you can qualify for a chance for awesome scholarships. You may may be asking, so why do I care about that? Well, it's simple. Ev-erybody likes money! But another really cool part about this test is that it shows you your strengths and weaknesses and it doesn't really matter. Meaning, if you totally fail at one part of the test you can study it up and do really well on a test that really matters, like the ACT. Also, if you test well and provide the proper information, colleges will send you lots of information in the mail. Getting mail is proven to make you feel popular and boost your ego, so that's a definite plus!



The PSAT/NMSQT consists of three basic parts: reading, math, and writing. Speaking from personal experience, it's pretty much like any other standardized test you've ever taken. If you've taken the ITED (which of course you remember, you know- that week where you sat filling out bubbles for hours on end?- yeah, that one) it's similar to that but shorter.


Last year, the testing-center was located in the Auditorium, and heavy-sweatshirt-clad sophomores and juniors shivered their behinds off. Luckily, everyone will be testing in the High School Library this year. Yay heating! Huzzah! Amber Carl, an eleventh grader from HCHS, commented that her experience last year was "...pretty good, it's not a big deal. It didn't make me want to punch a baby after taking it, so that's always good! I'll see everybody there on test day!" However, David Siebert, another junior, added that it was "Cold, long, and unpleasant." David will be testing again this year (against his will). Mixed reviews I'm afraid.




Results will be back in just a few weeks. Like I said before, they'll show you your strengths and weaknesses. The results will also compare you with other college-bound students, so it'll be nice to know where exactly you stand. Remember, if you don't do as well as you hoped you would, just remember it doesn't really count for anything and pay attention to how to prepare for the real-big-time-tests. But I'm sure you'll do fine! Good luck everybody! I ask you, what is your opinion on the PSAT/NMSQT? If you've taken it before, what was the experience like? And if you have not or will not be taking it, what are the reasons behind your choice? I look forward to reading your comments! This has been Danielle Hernandez, reporting to you for School News.

Sports and Test Scores/Aaron Sondag

As we all know Harlan Community is a very well respected school for sports, but what most people dont know is that we are also one of the highest ranking schools in Iowa for test scores. Iowa is also in the top five of the states in the US for test scores. Many students who excel on the fields and courts also excel in the classrooms. Take Micheal and Mary Kuafmann both are in sports and have been starters for a few years now in those sports, but they also dominate the class room scores with GPA's that make them stand out from the rest of the students. Both have also scored very high on the ACT when they took it their sophmore year. Another individual is Luke Lansman who just last year scored a very impresive 35 overall score on his ACT and is also a star in sports. It's no doubt that Harlan has had very high expectations in sports, but to also have them in state and national test scores from the very same people who star in the sports that Harlan provides is a very excellent feat indeed. Not only has our test scores and sports been improving, but also band and vocal have now been getting in the top of Iowa's best schools and showing that we are not just a school for sports but many other activities. Every year we get new students in our schools and they always bring in new talents to the Harlan Community School district, and that will not change for a very long time.

Senior Graduation Test

Senior Graduation Test?
Or should we say, Junior Graduation test? Either way it turns out being that in the state of Georgia and most currently in the state of Minnesota, the high schools are now required to give a written test in order for their students to be able to graduate. Now I know that you are probably looking at this going, “Georgia and Minnesota, yeah, sure, like it’s gonna be here!”, but what you might not know is that it has been mentioned to the Iowa Supreme Court.

The test consists of the standard Math, Science, History, and English proportions and is given to juniors in the spring. If they are not passed then, the student can retake the test each season of their junior and senior year until they pass. Now, a student can be eligible for a waiver being that they meet the specific criteria of scoring a 500 or above on the requisite. Upon entering high school, students are informed of the test requirements they need to meet their graduation eligibility by their senior year. This information is considered an “adequate notice” of the information needed to know before students take their standardized tests. The graduation test is scored from 400 – 600 with 600 being a perfect score.




In conclusion, the graduation test will be a very interesting and different approach to graduation. Being without one now, I would say we are fine the way we are, but there might be some individuals out there that would like to see a new change or like a new challenge for graduating. So you be the judge, and ask yourself. Do you see benefits in the test, or is it just a big downfall?