Special Edition of the CRHS Weekly
December 22, 2020
Message from Dr. Ramirez
Hello CRHS Learning Community,
Teaching, learning, parenting, and working during this pandemic has affected everyone and has caused us to change, adapt, and navigate, non-stop. For an archaic educational system built on the industrial and agricultural model, the changes have been tumultuous and difficult, to say the least. As a school system we have moved from traditional to a complex hybrid distance learning model in nine months. Nine months!
Our system isn't built for swift change. As educators, our entire world has been upended. We lost the ability to control, predict, and adjust our programs and instruction. At times we feel helpless, scared, frustrated, defeated, and just want to stay in bed all day. At other times, we see and experience the awesome potential of the new applications and strategies, and we get excited and motivated to teach again. We have learned to make the personal and emotional connection to teaching and learning virtual and have come to terms to our new reality.
Despite the challenges, we have endured. As families, you have made adjustments to the regular rhythm of school, work, play--and sometimes weird or unexpected life events. As you can see in the picture above, we celebrate Christmas. This is the tiniest Christmas tree ever in the Ramirez household. This was not by choice. All the places that sold trees were completely sold out. We could only find small trees. I was saddened at the thought of not placing all of our ornaments made by our children when they were little, or the other ornaments that held special meaning and significance. Our ornaments tell the story of our family through the years. We spent our time the other night looking at every ornament and reminiscing about the story each told. Despite our Charlie Brown tree, we managed to hang many memories from its branches. And when we put the star on top of the tree, we knew that, nothing--not even a pandemic--would stop us from celebrating family, friends, and way too much food.
This weekly is focused on some changes regarding our End of Course Exams, College and Technical Education Education Exams, and athletic eligibility information. These changes are only for the first semester and may be different for the second semester. Click this link to see the information in a google document. Let me know if you have any questions. I will be available over the winter break.
May your holiday season, in whatever way you celebrate, be filled with joy, family, and renewal.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Ramirez
Testing Update: EOC and CTE Exams
As shared in last week’s call, the State Board continues to require students taking End-of-Course (EOC) and Career & Technical Education (CTE) classes (listed below) to complete final exams in person. In addition, schools are required to count these exams as 20% of a student’s overall semester grade.
We have heard from many families who disagree with the state’s stance on EOC/CTE exams. If you disagree with the existing requirements and would like to provide feedback to the State Board of Education, please complete and mail the following form.
Should you have any questions or need additional information about the content of this document, please contact your student’s counselor, grade level administrator, or principal.
EOC/CTE Courses
EOC Exams
Math 1
Math 3
English 2
Biology
CTE Exams
CTE Accounting I
Ag Mechanics II
Apparel II (OHS)
Foods I
Foods II
Interior Design I
Principles of Business & Finance
Public Safety I
Sports & Entertainment Marketing
Health Science1 (CRHS)
Woodworking 1 (CRHS)
Foundations of IT (CRHS)
Law and Justice 1 (CRHS)
Flexibility with In-Person Testing
If you do not feel comfortable taking the in-person state EOC and/or CTE exam as scheduled for this January, you may opt to take it at a later date in the Spring 2021 semester. These additional exam dates will be communicated to families and students in February. If a student opts to take the EOC and/or CTE exam during the Spring 2021 semester, the overall first semester grade for that course will be marked as an “incomplete.” The semester grade will be updated to a letter grade upon completion and grading of the state exam in the Spring.
As a reminder, currently, the in-person state EOC or CTE exams are required and must count for 20% of the overall semester grade per the State Board of Education. If a student does not make up the EOC or CTE exam at the June testing window, the “incomplete” will be changed to a zero. We will notify you immediately if the state revises this policy.
EOC/CTE Exam Grades & Adjustments
If you do not feel comfortable taking the in-person state EOC and/or CTE exam as scheduled for this January, you may opt to take it at a later date in the Spring 2021 semester. These additional exam dates will be communicated to families and students in February. If a student opts to take the EOC and/or CTE exam during the Spring 2021 semester, the overall first semester grade for that course will be marked as an “incomplete.” The semester grade will be updated to a letter grade upon completion and grading of the state exam in the Spring.
As a reminder, currently, the in-person state EOC or CTE exams are required and must count for 20% of the overall semester grade per the State Board of Education. If a student does not make up the EOC or CTE exam at the June testing window, the “incomplete” will be changed to a zero. We will notify you immediately if the state revises this policy.
Due to the unique circumstances of this semester and the need to provide flexibility for students, Orange County Schools is adjusting the grading range for EOC and CTE exams. Our EOC/CTE exam grading range will be 70% to 100%. In other words, as long as a student completes the exam in-person at any point this year, the lowest exam grade that student can earn is 70%. In addition, a student’s exam grade can only increase their overall semester grade. If a student’s exam score would lower their semester grade (based on the average of their first and second quarter grades), the exam score will be adjusted to maintain the student’s existing semester average. For example, if a student has a 90 average for the course, their lowest possible exam score would be a 90. Any score higher than a 90 would be used, as it would improve the student’s final grade.
Please be reassured that all necessary health and safety measures will be taken during any in-person exams.
The vast majority of classes feature virtual teacher-made exams that will be taken at home. In light of the many challenges our students, teachers and families have faced since last March, we are adjusting our grading approach for teacher-made exams. This year, a student’s final exam grade can only improve their final grade. If the final exam grade is higher than the average of the first and second quarter grades, the overall grade will be made up of the final exam grade (20%), the first quarter grade (40%), and the second quarter grade (40%). If the final exam grade is lower than the average of the first and second quarter grades, the final grade will consist only of their first quarter grade (50%) and second quarter grade (50%).
Exam Schedule
Exam Schedule
All first semester exams will begin on Wednesday, January 13th. The exam window will feature one exam per day. Bus transportation will be provided for students who would like to take their Fall EOC and/or CTE exam now. We will provide more details about testing hours and bus routes in the next few weeks.
Wednesday, January 13th - First Period Exam
Thursday, January 14th - Second Period Exam
Friday, January 15th - Third Period Exam
Monday, January 18th - NO SCHOOL - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 19th - Fourth Period Exam
Wednesday, January 20th - Make-ups and 9th Grade Orientation (more details to come)
Exam Grading Examples
Athletic Eligibility
On December 18, 2020, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) released an update regarding if a student does not take the EOC exam now and receives an incomplete. Per the NCHSAA, "Effective for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, a course that is incomplete due to state-mandated testing (EOC), may be used for the second-semester athletic eligibility provided the student is passing the course(s) at the end of the first semester."
Please note that the state's minimum athletic eligibility requirements have not changed, even though some sports seasons have changed their start date. Students must pass at least 75% of courses for athletic eligibility. Eligibility for all sports starting January 1 or after will be based on the Fall 2020 grades. High school students taking only three courses must pass all of them to meet the 75% requirements. If you have any questions about athletic eligibility, please contact your school’s athletic director or counselor.