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The Pulse!

MAY 2023 ISSUE

The Pulse! MAY 2023 ISSUE

"Connecting home to school makes us a great community of learners"

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PARENT ENGAGEMENT

EOG/EOC TESTING TIPS

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Reading Directions and Questions:

  1. Read the directions carefully. Look for words like all, none, and except. These can throw you off.

  2. Understand what the question is asking before trying to complete the answer. If you don’t understand the question, chances are you’ll answer the wrong question.

  3. Read each question and answer carefully. If you don’t understand something, read it again!

  4. Use your computer tools to help you circle and underline words in the question or directions to help you answer the question.



Multiple Choice Questions:

  1. Read each item completely and all of the answer choices before choosing an answer.

  2. There are usually a couple of choices that sound correct; don’t be tempted to mark the first one that sounds good.

  3. Check back over your answers at the end of testing. Sometimes, you can make silly mistakes and you’ll catch them when you look back over your answers. Check your work!

  4. Students miss the easy questions as often as the hard questions because they do not read the questions carefully. The questions all count the same.

  5. Make sure you answer every question. If you don’t, you are guaranteed to be wrong.

  6. Read all of the answer choices before answering. One of the choices might include more than one answer. For example, both A and B.



Eliminating the Wrong Answers:

  1. Use the process of elimination to help you. Cross out wrong answer choices as soon as they are read. Pick your answer from the remaining options. If you eliminate two answers as being incorrect, you have a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer.

  2. A couple of the answer choices usually look like they could be correct. Choose the best answer.



Time Management:

  1. Focus on one question at a time; avoid looking ahead at other questions. This can make you feel overwhelmed.

  2. Try not to feel rushed and anxious. If you begin to think about all you have to finish in an amount of time, it can make you feel too stressed and make it hard to focus on what you are doing. As long as you don’t waste your time, you will have plenty of time to complete the test.

  3. Don’t worry about other people in the room. We all work at a different pace, and finishing first does not make you do better.

  4. Keep moving through the test. Skip questions that are giving you trouble. When you finish each section, go back and retry any skipped questions. Don’t spend too much time wrestling with one question.



Math:

  1. Find keywords or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.

  2. If you are having difficulty with a problem, draw a picture or diagram to help you. If a figure or diagram is provided, mark it up to help you solve the problem.

  3. When using scratch paper, double check to make sure that you have copied the problem correctly from the computer screen.

  4. Use formulas provided for you. Be familiar with formulas needed whether they are provided or not. If no formula is provided, write one down from memory. If one is provided, use it to help you solve the problem. (Ex: Area=LxW)

  5. Line up place value correctly on your scratch paper (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones, etc) or the answer will be incorrect.

  6. Check your work. Test writers will include answers that look like they could be right if you read the question incorrectly. Double check everything! Use the opposite operation to check!

  7. Use all materials provided for you to help with your answers. Use a calculator (on the calculator active part of the test), extra paper, graph paper, etc.

  8. Read each problem carefully and think about ways to solve the problem before you try to answer the question.

  9. When you have finished each problem, reread it to make sure your answer is reasonable.



Reading:

  1. You can read through all of the questions in a selection before reading the text. This gives you an idea of what to look for in your reading. Be sure to still read the text carefully. Don’t just look for answers. Lots of times, the questions ask overall concepts and you have to infer the answers.

  2. Use your computer tools to underline and circle important parts of a passage as you are reading. Write ideas and comments to yourself on your scrap paper about what is happening in the story.

  3. Be sure to read all information including graphs, charts, pictures, and captions. Some questions will pull information from this part of the text.

  4. Try to relate the passage to something you have done or know about. Make a connection. Read the title and predict what you think the passage will be about.

  5. It is imperative to look back and find a piece of proof in the passage to support your answer. Don’t forget to give it a hashtag.

  6. Number the paragraphs as you read. This will help you to refer back to certain passages.

  7. Use context clues to help you decipher unfamiliar words. Read the sentence before and after the word to help define it. Replace the word with the definitions provided. If it makes sense, it is probably the correct choice.

  8. Base your answers on only what is in the passage and not some outside knowledge.

Estrategias y consejos para los estudiantes al momento de tomar pruebas finales

Instrucciones de lectura y preguntas:

1. Lea las instrucciones cuidadosamente.

2. Busque palabras como todos, ninguno y excepto. Estos pueden despistarte.

3. Entiende lo que está haciendo la pregunta antes de intentar completar la respuesta. Si no entiende la pregunta, es probable que responda la pregunta incorrecta.

4. Lea atentamente cada pregunta y respuesta. ¡Si no entiendes algo, léelo de nuevo!

5. Use las herramientas de su computadora para ayudarlo a rodear y subrayar palabras en preguntas o instrucciones para ayudarlo a responder la pregunta.

Preguntas de respuestas múltiples:

1. Lea cada elemento por completo y todas las opciones de respuesta antes de elegir una respuesta. 2. Por lo general, hay un par de opciones que suenan correctas; no caiga en la tentación de marcar el primero que suene bien.

3. Vuelve a revisar tus respuestas al final de la prueba. A veces, puedes cometer errores y los detectarás cuando revises tus respuestas. ¡Revisa tu trabajo!

4. Los estudiantes pierden las preguntas fáciles con la misma frecuencia que las preguntas difíciles porque no las leen con atención. Todas las preguntas cuentan lo mismo.

5. Asegúrese de responder todas las preguntas. Si no lo hace, está garantizado que está equivocado.

6. Lea todas las opciones de respuesta antes de responder. Una de las opciones puede incluir más de una respuesta. Por ejemplo, tanto A como B.

Eliminar las respuestas incorrectas:

1. Usa el proceso de eliminación para ayudarte. Tache las opciones de respuestas incorrectas tan pronto como las lea. Elija su respuesta de las opciones restantes. Si elimina dos respuestas como incorrectas, tiene un 50 % de probabilidad de obtener la respuesta correcta.

2. Algunas de las opciones de respuesta generalmente parecen ser correctas.

Elige la mejor respuesta. Manejar el tiempo mientras toma el examen:

1. Concéntrese en una pregunta a la vez; evitar mirar hacia adelante en otras preguntas. Esto puede hacerte sentir abrumado.

2. Trate de no sentirse apurado y ansioso. Si comienza a pensar en todo lo que tiene que terminar en una cantidad de tiempo, puede hacer que se sienta demasiado estresado y que le resulte difícil concentrarse en lo que está haciendo. Mientras no pierda su tiempo, tendrá mucho tiempo para completar la prueba.

3. No se preocupe por otras personas en el salón de clases. Todos trabajamos a un ritmo diferente, y terminar primero no te hace contestar mejor el examen.

4. Sigue moviéndote a través de la prueba. Omita las preguntas que le están causando problemas. Cuando termine cada sección, regrese y vuelva a intentar cualquier pregunta que haya saltado. No pierda demasiado tiempo lidiando con una sola pregunta.

GCS IMPORTANT MAY CALENDAR DATES:

MAY 29- HOLIDAY

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR TESTING DATES

CELEBRATIONS

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MONTH OF MAY CELEBRATIONS

  • Asian American Month
  • Foster Care Month
  • Gifts from the Garden Month
  • Lupus Awareness Month
  • Mystery Month
  • National Barbecue Month
  • National Bike Month
  • National Blood Pressure Month
  • National Hamburger Month
  • National Photograph Month
  • National Salad Month
  • Older Americans Month
  • Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Parent and Community information sessions.

Open to GC families and community members.

All sessions are held VIRTUALLY.

GEF CULTURAL ARTS OPPORTUNITY

Several Leadership students participated in an amazing arts opportunity with Maya Freelon. Students traveled to the Mary Potter Center for Education and worked collaborative to create tissue paper wall art. This event was made possible through the Granville Ed Foundation!

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

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Butner-Stem Middle represented Granville County at the Regionals in Durham on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Their coach Cathy Littleton shared this, "We didn't win at regionals but the kids had a good time and learned a lot. They are already talking about how they want to prep for next year."

Mount Energy Elementary represented Granville County Public Schools at Regionals in Raleigh on Saturday, April 29, 2023. The took 3rd place on the podium! Congratulations to the Mustangs and their coach, Ms. Sharon Williams.

BUTNER STEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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SCIENCE NIGHT

Today, BSES students and their families participated in our Title I Parent

Science Night! Parents were able to see projects complete by all grade levels. Best of all, families were able to participate in hands-on Science FUN with their student(s)! Thank you to Duke Energy for our FREE Science Kits and additional resources! #scienceforall #NCSciFest2023

FULL STEAM AHEAD at BSES

You may not have known this, but our local Elementary school Butner-Stem is a STEAM school. Being a STEAM school means that we focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. On May 11th, Butner-Stem Elementary hosted a STEAM Career Fair for their K-5 students. This was an opportunity for students to explore careers that align specifically with their school theme.


They had in person and virtual presenters come to teach students about their careers, how they got to where they are, and students were engaged in hands-on activities. Students participated in activities such as physical therapy exercises, conducting an experiment to see if eggs have gone bad or not, and exploring the parts of a car seat. Students learned about a wide variety of careers including a farmer, a soldier who works on helicopters in the army, and a graphic designer, just to name a few. They even had a physical therapist who was a virtual presenter all the way from Puerto Rico.


One thing is for sure Butner-Stem Elementary students really are “Full STEAM ahead”.

BUTNER STEM MIDDLE SCHOOL

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EARTH DAY

Butner-Stem Middle School celebrated Earth Day with a schoolwide PBL (Project Based Learning) Event. All teachers lead a group of students through a design process to create a product from "trash" materials. Projects were displayed and shared with families during our STEAM-themed Earth Day Spring Title 1 night. Students created prototypes of shoes, a mini-fridge, an acoustic amplifier, doll houses, cars, robots, display boards, and over 100 more ideas. WOW! What a fantastic event where students were able to think critically, collaborate and create for all in the name of reduce, reuse, recycle!

WILTON ELEMENTARY

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LEADERSHIP DAY

On Friday, April 28, 2023, Wilton Elementary hosted parents, community members, district leaders, and GCPS Board members as their student body presented Leadership Day. It was a morning full of shining stars as student leaders read essays, sang songs, shared celebrations, and much more. All of this is aligned to their Magnet School theme the Leader in Me program rooted in the 8 Habits by Steven Covey.

1. Be Proactive

2. Begin With the End in Mind

3. Out First Things First

4. Think Win-Win

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

6. Synergize

7. Sharpen Your Saw

8. Find Your Voice

Wilton Elementary is a Lighthouse school and they are in the process of recertification to maintain their elite status. Way to go Wildcats! We are so proud of you!

MAY RECIPE

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EASY CONFETTI PIE

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 10 min. Bake: 15 min. + chilling

YIELD: 10 servings.

Ingredients

  • 2-3/4 cups crushed ice cream sugar cones
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons butter flavoring
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/3 cup assorted sprinkles

Directions

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine crushed sugar cones and 2 tablespoons sugar with melted butter. Using the bottom of a glass, press cone mixture onto bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. deep-dish pie plate. Bake until set, 12-15 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  • 2. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand 5 minutes. Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar until smooth. Slowly beat in cream, butter flavoring and extract. In a microwave, heat gelatin on high until melted, about 10 seconds; beat into cream cheese mixture. Fold in sprinkles; transfer filling to crust. Refrigerate, covered, until set, about 3 hours.
  • 3. Top with additional sprinkles.
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ABOUT US

Kristen Ratliff

Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator

Granville County School

Email: ratliffk@gcs.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.gcs.k12.nc.us/
Location: 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC, USA
Phone: 919-693-4613
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcpschools
Twitter: @GCPSchools

Kristen Ratliff
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