Mrs. Stubbs's English Blog: ACT/MME Week

Well, it's here...the week I dread from September through March! Not really, but it is a disruptive week, and for Juniors it feels like everything has been building to this. Juniors are very stressed out, so my message to them is that they've done what they could to prepare, so now we just do what they know how to do. They need to get good nights of sleep, eat healthy, and decompress as much as possible. We have been encouraging them through room competitions, and treats have been delivered, so hopefully this has helped to alleviate the stress a bit.

So here is the crazy schedule:

Juniors - we're reading Lord of the Flies on Monday and Friday and doing in-class work, but no homework will be coming home until next weekend. On Tuesday they should count on coming into school at the regular time and head for the cafeteria. The administrators will pull everyone together, feed them all a free breakfast, and get them ready for the day. Then they will send them to the rooms. No technology is allowed in the room; if a phone or alarm goes off, it compromises all of the scores in the room and we have to report it to the ACT people, so we don't allow them in, including for the teachers. They usually finish the test about noon, and then they can go. Tuesday and Wednesday, juniors will report to the building at normal time, take the MME test in their assigned area, and then leave after the test. Friday is finally back to a normal day.
Freshmen - we are working on a research paper. This is a large assignment with many check in grades. I walk them through the entire process, so it's vital that they are in school for the next couple of weeks unless ill. Speaking of that, Tuesday they do not report to school. On Tuesday, following ACT guidelines, only juniors may be in the building. Wagar and all of the elementary buildings run as usual, but only 11th graders may be in the high school. Then Wednesday picks up as a regular day for them. I will have a substitute in my room because of being assigned to help with the MME, but they will have a normal day.
Scheduling - 9th graders received their schedules for 10th grade on Tuesday last week. They need to have it filled out to the best of their ability in pencil, and they will be called down to the counseling office to work one-on-one with their counselors starting on Monday. They will have the opportunity to meet with counseling staff on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If your student's schedule is not filled out, the counselors will not work with them. All schedules need to be signed by you and returned by Monday, March 17th. No changes will be made to schedules after that time, including next fall. 11th graders will start scheduling next week. I believe the meeting will happen on 3/12.