Mesa Middle School
We have had a tremendous number of activities and events since our last newsletter. Please take the time to scroll though everything to see the exciting things taking place at Mesa.
In addition in April, we will start state testing. Mesa this past year, moved from a Priority Improvement School with a School Performance Rating of 39.6% to a Performance School with a School Performance Rating of 78.8% thanks to student and community support. At Mesa we do recognize that there are various opinions around state testing, but it is our public face and we so appreciate the support from the community around this.
If you ever need more information about state testing, how the data is used, what happens if a school does not do well, etc. please reach out to me personally and we can discuss whatever questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Tony Jackowski
Principal
State Assessment: The Why, The How, and The What
Why?
We can see how a child is performing relative to other students at Mesa Middle School, within the district, and state.
It prepares students for standardized assessments that they will take in high school, college (SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) or other vocational programs.
We can make informed decisions and choices for our students. Test data is used by administration and staff to drive instruction/curriculum and professional development choices.
Test data may identify learning gaps that can be addressed.
Identification of districts and schools that have struggling students, so help can be provided.
We want to provide a Balanced Assessment System that includes a variety of formative, interim, and summative assessments.
How are the results used?
As part of a BODY of EVIDENCE, state assessments are used to:
drive instruction for a student,
identify targeted interventions,
place students in appropriate classes at the middle school level as well as high school,
identify gifted and talented students during the identification process, and
determine effectiveness in regards to instruction and determine whether Mesa’s instructional practices are effective.
What happens with the data?
CDE is committed to ensuring that data on individual students are secure. CDE does not report individual student data to the federal government; the department has strict policies and procedures in place to maintain data security. For more information on data privacy and security please go to: http://www.cde.state.co.us/dataprivacyandsecurity
The results of PARCC are the backbone of the state’s accountability system. The state uses PARCC data to populate the annual school and district performance frameworks which is the result in accreditation ratings for each school and district. If schools do poorly on the state exam there is an impact to the building.
Excerpts taken from this CDE link: http://www.cde.state.co.us/communications/stateassessmentsandacademicachievement
Mesa Spelling Bee Champions!!!
1st place: Ben Hasselback
2nd place: Claire Davis
3rd place: Brenton Hannick
1st alternate: Anna Meverden
Mesa's Career Day (thank you to all of our volunteers)
Career Day at Mesa
7th Grade Parents/Guardians
Rumble at the Rock!!!
Girls and Women in Sports
Pictures from Wish Week as Mesa worked to raise money to support JT's wish!!!!
Mesa Students of the Month for December and January!!!
The Closing Ceremony for Wish Week at DCHS!
Honor Band and Orchestra Performance
Honor Band and Orchestra
Rocky Visits Mesa
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
02/08/19-Movie Night- from 6-8!Incredibles 2! Admission is free
02/11/19- NAEP testing 8th grade
02/12/19- Mesa SAC MTG ( Mesa Library) 5:00-6:30 pm
02/14/19- End of First 6 Week Grading Period for Second Semester
02/15/19- No School-Professional Development Day
02/18/19- No School-District Holiday
02/21/19- Student Led Conferences - 4:30- 7:00 pm
02/22/19- Club Friday- (Assembly Schedule)
02/25/19- Mandatory Ecuador Pre-Trip Mtg Mesa Library 6-8:00 pm
02/27/19- Mesa MS PTO Meeting 7:00 pm
03/05/19- Mesa SAC MTG ( Mesa Library) 5:00- 6:30 pm
03/08/19-Dodgeball Tournament 3:00- 5:00 pm
03/12/19- NJHS Induction Ceremony 6:00 pm
03/13/19- Music Showcase - Choir Concert 6:30 pm
03/18/19- Spring Break - No School March 18 – 22, 2019
03/27/19-Mandatory Parent Mtg NYC/DC Trip 5-6:00 pm in Rm-D201
03/27/19-Mesa MS PTO Meeting 7:00 pm