In this edition: Information About Student Fees and Year-End Checkout, Reminder from the School Nurse, State Testing for Grades 7-10 This Week, Prom Day Date Activity at Reality’s Edge Space Center, Volunteer Opportunities, Shop AmazonSmile for Mother’s Day and Support Maeser, Activities/Sports Eligibility for 1st Term 2019-2020
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
Front Office Hours
7:30am-4:00pm Tuesday-Thursday
7:30am-1:30pm Friday
Friday, April 26 — TONIGHT!
6:30pm Mr. Maeser Pageant
Monday, April 29
6:30pm Dancing with the Teachers
Tuesday, April 30
Last day to pay outstanding fee balances without a late fee
Wednesday, May 1
$15 late fee assessed on all outstanding fee balances
Thursday-Friday, May 2-3
State Testing for Grades 7-10
Testing in session from 8am-12pm
Saturday, May 4
6:30-11:30pm Prom
May 6-17
AP Exams
Friday, May 10
8:00am-12:30pm Flex Friday
IMPORTANT! Information About Student Fees and Year-End Checkout
All student accounts with outstanding fee balances will be assessed a $15 late fee on Wednesday, May 1. If your student still owes any fees, please be sure to get those paid by next Tuesday, April 30.
As a reminder… missing textbooks, class materials, and/or library books may be charged to your student’s account during finals. All fees — including those assessed during finals — must be paid before the last day of school. Your student cannot complete checkout and pick up their yearbook if they have any outstanding fees.
Questions about fees? Contact our finance office at finance@maeserprep.org.
Reminder from the School Nurse
REMEMBER: Students are not allowed to have medications on their person without prior authorization of the front office. If students have asthma or other allergies and need inhalers or epi pens, this information needs to be conveyed to the front office so that we can update their medical alerts in PS and make sure their teachers are aware of their conditions. If students need any OTC medications, please bring specific medications in original bottles to the front office with specific directions to be dispensed in case of emergency and locked up appropriately.
State Testing for Grades 7-10 is This Week — May 2-3!
All students in grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 are scheduled to take RISE or Utah Aspire Plus on Thursday and Friday, May 2nd and 3rd. Testing will begin at 8:00am and end at 12:00pm each day of testing.
Students will be taking two test sections each day, and should bring homework to work on or a book to read in case they finish a test section before the end of each testing period.
Please make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments during state testing, to avoid interruptions and distractions during testing.
Only students taking RISE or Utah Aspire Plus will be allowed on campus during testing. Please make other arrangements for your students in other grades — we will not have space or supervision for them and will ask them to call home to be picked up.
We appreciate your help in creating a focused and productive testing environment for our students!
7th & 8th Grades: Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment (RISE)
What is RISE?
The RISE assessment is a multistage computer adaptive criterion referenced assessment system that includes summative tests for English, Math, Science, and Writing.
Will RISE be computer adaptive?
Yes, the statute requires these tests to be computer adaptive, but this assessment will be multistage adaptive instead of item adaptive like SAGE.
How does a multistage adaptive test differ from an item adaptive test?
Both testing methods are algorithm-based approaches to administering testing, but rather than selecting individual items, groups of items are selected, building the test in stages.
The biggest advantage for our students is that they will now be allowed to navigate backward and forward within each stage or test section, so they can review and revise their answers as needed! The inability to go back and change an answer to a previously submitted question was one of the biggest frustrations our students had when taking SAGE tests, so we’re thrilled that this functionality has been built in to RISE.
Which students will participate in RISE and for which subjects?
Maeser students in grades 7-8 will participate in RISE. Both grades will be tested in English, math, and science; in addition, 8th grade students will be tested in writing.
Why aren’t we assessing writing in all grades anymore?
The Utah State Board of Education made a policy decision to only assess writing in grades 5, 8, and 11. Writing is still part of the Utah English Language Arts standards and it is expected that students will be taught and assessed in those standards in their English classes.
How long will the tests take?
RISE tests will take about the same length of time as previous years’ tests took.
Can I preview the test format and question types for RISE?
To help you become familiar with the test format, the question types, and tools available during testing, you can access the question sampler here: Utah RISE Assessments Question Sampler.
Where can I get more information about RISE?
The USBE has produced a short video introducing the new test – you can access it here: Introducing RISE (Readiness, Improvement, Success, Empowerment).
You can also download a brochure with information about RISE here: RISE Brochure.
9th and 10th Grades: Utah Aspire Plus
The Utah Aspire Plus is a hybrid of the ACT Aspire and test items covering Utah standards. This is a computer delivered, fixed-form high school assessment for students in grades 9 and 10. The test includes subtests for Reading, English, Math, and Science. The tests will provide students a predictive score for the ACT, which is taken by all Utah 11th grade students and is the most commonly submitted college readiness assessment for local universities.
What is Utah Aspire Plus? I’ve never heard of that test…
Utah Aspire Plus is a hybrid between ACT Aspire and assessment items covering Utah’s 9th and 10th grade standards in Reading, English, Math, and Science.
Will the test be administered in one sitting, like the ACT?
USBE left this up to local schools and districts to decide. Utah Aspire Plus is a longer test than the ACT, so Maeser has opted to give the four subtests over the course of two days.
Will Utah Aspire Plus be timed?
Yes, Utah Aspire Plus is a timed test – practice taking exams under timed conditions will help prepare students for success on timed high-stakes tests like the ACT.
Will the test be computer-adaptive, like SAGE?
No. While the text will be taken online like the SAGE, Utah Aspire Plus is a fixed-form test.
Can I preview the test format and question types for Utah Aspire Plus?
To help you become familiar with the general functionality of the online test, including navigation and tools, you can access the student tutorial here: Utah Aspire Plus Student Tutorial.
Why aren’t we assessing writing in all grades anymore?
The Utah State Board of Education made a policy decision to only assess writing in grades 5, 8, and 11. Writing is still part of the Utah English Language Arts standards and it is expected that students will be taught and assessed in those standards in their English classes.
What kind of score report will my student receive?
Utah Aspire Plus score reports will be very similar to the report provided by ACT for the ACT Aspire, including a predictive ACT score.
Maeser’s State Testing Schedule
When will Maeser be giving RISE and Utah Aspire Plus?
Maeser students in grades 7-10 will take RISE and Utah Aspire Plus on Thursday and Friday, May 2nd and 3rd. Testing will run from 8:00am to noon on both days.
What if my student has to miss one or both days of testing?
Missing a test day does not excuse the student from state testing. We will be pulling students out of class May 6-17 for make-up testing. Please make every effort to have your student here on the scheduled testing dates (May 2-3) so they can avoid missing class during the last two weeks before Final Exams.
Can I opt my student out of RISE or Utah Aspire Plus?
While we hope you will allow your student to participate in RISE and Utah Aspire Plus – both to receive feedback on areas your student can improve in preparation for the ACT and to help our school improve instruction – we will always respect a parent’s desire to exclude their student from state testing. Though you can submit a Parental Exclusion Form at any point, submitting the form to the school at least 24 hours prior to the date of the test helps us ensure that your student does not access the test and is not scheduled for make-up testing.
Prom Day Date Activity at Reality’s Edge Space Center
Prom attendees….are you looking for an “Out of this World” day date? We have the answer for you. Realities Edge Space Center in Pleasant Grove is hosting a two and a half hour space activity on the day of Prom. Tickets are only $15 per couple and tickets are available in Room 116, or see Mrs. MacDuff for reservations. Space is limited, so buy your tickets soon. Take advantage of this unique and exciting date opportunity. May the 4th be with you!
Volunteer Opportunities
Maeser Appreciation Week
Every year we have the chance to thank our faculty and staff during Maeser Appreciation Week. We provide a week of lunches and gift cards for each teacher. Click here for information and to sign up: Lunches & Gift Cards for Maeser Appreciation Week: May 6-10
Shop AmazonSmile for Mother’s Day and Support Maeser
When you shop Mother’s Day gifts at smile.amazon.com/ch/20-3373940, AmazonSmile donates to Karl G Maeser Preparatory Academy!
Activities/Sports Eligibility for 1st Term 2019-2020
Do you plan on participating in a sport/activity during the 1st term of the 2019-2020 school year? If the answer is yes then your eligibility will be based on your 4th term grades THIS YEAR. That is correct, the grades you earn this term will determine whether or not you can participate and this applies to all current 7th-11th graders. The standard is a 2.7 GPA with no Fs/NGs. An additional requirement for high school students is no Fs/NGs from any previous high school terms. The good news: if you have an F/NG during any previous terms you will have the summer to make them up if needed.