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Alma Intermediate School April News
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for April, 2016 This link takes you to the full text of the newsletter that includes upcoming dates and news.
From the Principal…
Part of growing up is learning when to push and when to back off and relax. I learned this by participating in music performance groups and athletic activities. Practice and preparation were important, and those who were lazy in their approach paid a price. We practiced hard but had fun as we learned and increased our skills.
When performance day came, it was a big deal and required stepped up focus. We “put our game face on” and jumped in with full effort to show just how good we were.
As a student, I found this approach helpful. I remember a particularly difficult writing assignment in high school. I lacked confidence in writing but attacked this assignment with full effort. I ended up producing something that surprised my teacher and still makes me proud today.
This internal pride is what I hope for our students. Learning to focus and complete a demanding test with enthusiasm and effort is a life-skill that will impact our children’s future success. I look forward to what our students can do when they put their minds to it and “get their game face on.”
Newsletter for October, 2015
Click this link to view the whole newsletter: Newsletter for October, 2015
From the Principal…
This year, we’re preparing students to take a new assessment, ACT-Aspire. PARCC was administered last year, but it was determined that giving the ACT-Aspire would be more beneficial for students as we prepare them for college and careers.
One of the challenges of preparing for a difficult test is to increase students’ stamina, or their ability to stick with a difficult task to its completion. Stamina is especially hard if the task isn’t fun.
I experienced this first-hand several years ago while taking a national teaching exam. At one point during the three-hour test, my mind began to wander. I realized this and refocused my attention on the test. I passed, but the best lesson I learned was the importance of staying focused to the end of the test.
Our teachers go to great lengths to present lessons that engage students so we can increase learning and make it stick. It’s a thrill to see students involved in discussion or a hands-on task and excited about learning; lessons that are fun!
There are also times that teachers must work to increase academic stamina and endurance. If students are enthusiastic about demonstrating their learning, we have a much better chance of increasing their stamina and showing what they actually know on tests.
Our goal is to prepare our students to perform well on any challenge they confront in life, including high-stakes tests. Thank you for supporting your child and for giving us the honor of working with your child.
Principal Notes 