December 15,2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are writing to inform you of the upcoming changes to our traditional midterm assessments and examinations which are typically scheduled throughout the month of January culminating in a Regents-Midterm week. Due to COVID19, our planning for mid year assessments must demonstrate flexibility and thinking differently about student assessment; this is equally true for New York State which canceled Regents Examinations in both June 2020 and January 2021.
Thoughtfully planned assessments provide students and parents/guardians with important feedback about academic progress, help drive future instruction and remain crucial to the learning process. Our current plans include designing assessments that may be administered in grades 7-12 regardless of whether students are remote or in-person that particular day, and for students in grade 6 regardless of whether they are fully in-person or fully remote. A schedule will be forthcoming which will share specific information for each class that is being assessed. Department Directors and teachers have been creating assessments for their classes which include some traditional styles such as multiple choice questions and essays. However, some courses are also seeking to create additional, but equally rigorous and authentic assessments, such as project-based tasks or performances to have students demonstrate what they know and are able to do. As such, some mid year assessments will be scheduled during live synchronous classes; and other parts of the assessment may be assigned independently or asynchronously with specific due dates.
In addition to posting information to the North Babylon High School and Robert Moses Middle School websites, robocalls will go out indicating that the specific schedules for every class have been posted. Every teacher will be posting midyear assessment information including due dates and other pertinent information in their individual Google Classrooms.
In the coming weeks, please do not hesitate to email teachers directly with questions about mid year assessments. These are unusual times, but we continue to be excited that our schools can operate safely and effectively educate and assess our students. Stay Safe.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jonathan Klomp Mr. John Ruggero
NBHS Principal RMMS Principal