Our sophomores (grade 10) will be taking ELA and Math assessments while juniors (grade 11) will be taking WCAS testing on Tuesday and Thursday. All grades will follow the schedule as noted below on Monday, 5/18 through Friday, 5/22.

Wednesday, 5/20 will be our regular Wednesday schedule.

Period 7 is Mentorship/Advisory class.

Alternate Activities Schedule

For 9th Grade

Freshman:

• • Freshman Mentorships are to be divided into two groups—groups A and B. If you are a freshman Mentorship teacher, see list below for Mentorship group assignment:

• • PAC activities – Movie; 9th Mentorship teachers need to attend with their Mentorship groups

• • PE Activities – Run by our PE department

• • If not attending, be sure to call out the absence—whether it’s the whole or the half day.

Juniors and Seniors:

• • If not attending, be sure to call out the absence—whether it’s the whole or the half day.

• • Juniors

    • • WCAS testing on Tuesday and Thursday
    • • Study hall in the Activity Center or cafeteria (all days for seniors; M and F for juniors)

• • Seniors

    • • One day of organized support for seniors and juniors—e.g., graduation planning, academic supports

Additional Info for Families

This spring your student in grade 10 will take the Smarter Balanced or the Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM) tests in math and English language arts (ELA). Students in grade 11 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) or the WA-AIM science assessment.

The results from these tests are one of many ways of understanding where students are in their learning, relative to grade-level learning goals in math, English language arts, and science. For students in grade 10, the Smarter Balanced or WA-AIM tests can also be used as a graduation pathway. The state assessment results can help all of us work together to pursue additional support or accelerated opportunities that may benefit your student’s learning. These assessments also fulfill state and federal requirements to understand how districts and the state are doing in meeting all students’ learning needs and help to improve instruction.

Most students will take the tests online. Our school is scheduled to take the tests on Monday, May 18 through Friday, May 22 –with Wednesday being a non-test day. This week of testing will have an adjusted schedule. Please see below for a more detailed overview of Nathan Hale’s testing schedule and alternate activities for those students not testing. More information will be distributed to students and families in the week preceding the test.

For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests, visit the OSPI State Testing page and click on the name of the test. For more information on these test in Seattle Public Schools, please the District’s testing website.

To try out an online Smarter Balanced practice or training test or WCAS training test, visit the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program (WCAP) Portal and click on the Practice and Training Tests button.

The WA-AIM is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards aligned to the Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. For more information about the WA-AIM tests, visit the OSPI Assessment for Students with Cognitive Disabilities page.

Please contact Ambyr Burrell, Assistant Principal alburrell@seattleschools.org if you have questions about state testing.

Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your student is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your student in building their skills so they can have a future full of opportunities.