WOISD has scheduled a Faculty and Staff Professional Development day on Monday, February 8. Students will be out of school on this day. Also, this is a reminder that the next Monday, February 15 is a school holiday. (Presidents’ Day, officially Washington’s Birthday, is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, born on February 22. The holiday is popularly recognized as honoring also Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12, and sometimes all the U.S. Presidents.

This coming Monday, January 18 is a school holiday.  (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday honoring the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement to end racial segregation. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is close to January 15, Dr. King’s birthday).

White Oak ISD has scheduled 4 early release days this year for staff development. Our next early release day is Wednesday, January 27. On that day, middle school students will be dismissed at 12:00 pm. Bus transportation will be provided. (Our final early release for staff development will be February 24)

Middle School News

January 7, 2016

• The School Nurse will be conducting spinal screenings for 6th grade students this month.  If, for religious reasons you do not wish to have your child screened, please request an affidavit as soon as possible from the School Nurse.  (903) 291-2059 or [email protected].

• White Oak ISD has scheduled 4 early release days this year for staff development. Our next early release day is Wednesday, January 27. On that day, middle school students will be dismissed at 12:00 pm. Bus transportation will be provided. (Our final early release for staff development will be February 24)

• White Oak Middle School will be participating in our District UIL Academic competition on Saturday, January 23 at White Oak Middle School. Within the next couple of weeks, our students will received information as to the various contests offered and those interested are encouraged to sign up for this competition. If your child is selected to participate, he/she will bring home additional information.

• To help better communicate with you, please follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WhiteOakMiddle , check your child’s teachers’ blog posts, the Media Center blog post, as well as the principal and counselor’s blog posts.

• Please monitor your child’s progress through Family Access by Skyward, Inc. Family Access is a secure Internet based website that will allow you to easily keep track of nearly everything your student(s) does while at school. Among other things, this service allows you to view your student’s attendance, grades, schedule, progress, assignments, and emergency information. Family Access is a free service and is available to all parents/guardians with children enrolled in the district. Beginning with this marking period, we will no longer send home a hard copy of your child’s progress report or report card unless you request a hard copy. (This is consistent with the policy at the high school.) You will be able to access this form by going to WOISD.net and then under “Campuses” click Middle. The link to the form will be under the calendar. For additional information related to Skyward, if you are having difficulties signing in to Skyward, or if you do not have Internet access and are requesting a hard copy of your child’s progress report/report card for each marking period, please call Ms. Cowart at 903-291-2085 or email her at [email protected].

• Anytime you need to pick up your child early from school, please call or send a note with them. They are to bring the note to the office as soon as they get to school. We will then issue an “Early Dismissal Notice” so they can be in the office at the designated time. For safety reasons, only individuals on your sign out list can pick up your child and you must come in and sign your child out.

• In emergency situations when a student must ride a different bus or be let off at another stop, parents/guardians must call the Transportation Department, (903-291-2149) as early in the day as possible. When calling, please inform the Transportation Supervisor, Mr. Stagner, of the child’s name, caller’s name (parent/guardian only), phone number, reason for change in ridership for that day, and drop off location. All changes must originate from the child’s parent or legal guardian and include the above information. A callback may be initiated. To ensure the safety of our students, notes will not be accepted for this special arrangement.

• Nominations for our Gifted and Talented Program will be accepted from March 14-25. At that time, forms will be available from Mrs. Van Camp, Middle School Counselor. Testing will be completed before the end of the spring semester. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact her at 903-291-2032 or [email protected]

• Texas Education Agency state assessment, STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) is more rigorous than previous state tests. It contains more test questions at most grade levels. The majority of the STAAR assessments will test material students studied this year. Also, as it was last year, tests will have a time limit. Unless a student is eligible for an accommodation, each student will have four hours to complete each assessment. We have repeatedly spoken with our students about the changes in the state testing and how the test is more rigorous than the previous TAKS test.   Coupled with this test and the increased passing standards, your child must also meet the passing standard in the class in order to be promoted.   8^th grade students who are not successful on the tests will have one additional opportunity before the end of the spring semester (in May) and one last opportunity at the end of June to retest and pass STAAR. 8^th grade students who do not pass STAAR on the second administration, will be required to enroll in summer school to prepare for the 3^rd and final administration of STAAR. If a decision is made not to enroll and successfully complete this requirement, then they will be retained.  If you would like additional information concerning the STAAR test, visit the Texas Education Agency website at www.tea.state.tx.us and click on Testing and Accountability on the left hand side.  Also, you may contact your child’s teacher for more information.  Thank you in advance for your support.

• STAAR Test calendar: March 29: 7^th grade Writing and 8^th grade Math; March 30: 8^th grade Reading; May 9: 6^th and 7^th grade Mathematics; May 10: 6^th and 7^th grade Reading, May 11: 8^th Science; May 12: 8^th grade Social Studies. TEA has scheduled the Algebra EOC (End of Course) test for the week of May 2-6. Test security measures will be in place on test days to limit student access to cell phones during testing. It is suggested that students leave cell phones at home on the days of testing. If you choose to allow your child to bring a phone, students must submit their cell phones that are turned off to their test administrators on the day of testing. Cell phones will be placed in an individual zip lock bag and returned to each student as soon as all testing has been completed for the day. You may also go online at www.tea.state.tx.us Student Assessment Division for additional information.