Click here to purchase tickets

What is the Common Core Standards Anyways?

It's coming! Perhaps you have read or heard the term "Common Core Standards" (CCS) or "Common Core State Standards" (CCSS) in a recent article, email or website. Perhaps your child has come home talking about it. Or perhaps you have heard a teacher cite CCS recently. The CCS or CCSS is coming. Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, CCS will become our new standard of instruction in California and in more than 45 states (and counting). With such a significant shift, students will see teachers transitioning to a CCS-driven program now and leading up to 2014.

Those in education who have had an opportunity to reflect on the impact of CCS see it as an exciting opportunity. The focus is on greater depth and complexity of learning and a greater focus on providing skills to students that will make them career or college ready. The current CA Content Standards necessitates that students learn a wide range of standards, but this often means that students do not have the time nor opportunity to learn in great depth and complexity. 

IHMS-PTA has arranged a wonderful opportunity for our community to learn more about the CCS and the steps the IHMS staff are taking to get ready for the shift. On Wednesday, April 10, at 6:30 pm, Superintendent Mary Shelton and Director Toni Taylor will be guest speakers at our PTA meeting. The topic will be on the Common Core Standards. We would like to invite you to attend and learn more about the greatest shift in our K-12 education system in the last decade. Also, check out this Parents' Guide to Student Success which provides valuable information on the CCSS. 

STAR Testing Coming May 6-10 (This message was sent home to all parents/guardians)

This is just a reminder that STAR testing, our state mandated standards based assessments, will start next week in classrooms. On Monday, May 6, all 8^th grade students will take the CST History tests in their Core classes. The school will be on a normal bell schedule on Monday. Starting on Tuesday, May 7, through Friday, May 10, we will be on a modified testing schedule (see linked STAR test schedule). Please notice that Wednesday, May 8, has an 8:15 am start, not the normal late start. Students will take their tests in their Advisory classes at the start of the day.

We have been working hard all year long to ensure that Iron Horse students are learning the California grade level standards. The STAR test is one measure that is used to help us measure student learning. The best environment for your child to take the test is with his/her teacher and classmates. So, please have your child at school on time because once the testing begins and “Testing” signs are posted, classrooms cannot be interrupted.

Some other things you can do to help your child are:

·      Enforce a reasonable bedtime the night before testing. Homework during STAR testing will be light to support students getting a full night’s rest.

·      Have your child eat a healthy breakfast.

·      Send your child off to school with a positive attitude and words of support and praise.

·      Encourage your child to do his/her best while not exerting undue pressure. We view the STAR test as merely his/her opportunity to “show what you know.”

Thank you for your support in making STAR testing week a positive experience.

Follow Iron Horse Middle on Twitter and Facebook

If you are on Twitter, you can now follow the happenings of Iron Horse Middle School on Twitter at @IHMSJaguars. You can also follow our Twitter feed by going to our school website.  We also have our own IHMS Facebook page. Announcements and events will be shared via the Twitter and Facebook pages.

Thank you for your continued support of the Iron Horse Middle School community -- a wonderful place to learn and grow!

Warmly,

Joe Nguyen
Principal