The Virginia Department of Education requires
that students in grades 7 through 12 take the Virginia Standards of Learning
(SOL). The purpose of the testing is to provide information about student
achievement in the content area. Scores from the test will be used to
determine whether students fail to meet standards, are proficient in meeting
the standards, or are advanced in the standards.
Tuesday May 24th—English 11 and Civics 8
Wednesday May 25th—Biology and US/VA History
Thursday May 26th— Chemistry and Geosystems
Friday May 27th— Geometry
Tuesday May 31st— English 7 & Science 8
Wednesday June 1st—Math 7, Middle School
Algebra I and World History II (except AP World)
Thursday June 2nd—English 8 and World History I
Friday June 3rd—Algebra II and Middle School
Algebra I (only Mrs. Kraft’s classes)
Monday June 6th—Math 8 and High School Algebra I
Bruin Block will occur every GOLD day during SOL
testing. Teachers and staff will be using Bruin Block during SOLs for direct
instruction, reviews, and preparation for culminating assessments and projects.
As always, attendance for Bruin Block is mandatory. In addition, use of
personal electronic devices during Bruin Block is discouraged, especially
during the computer-based SOL Testing window when the network is being used at
a high rate. Electronic device use across the building can slow the network
dramatically which could potentially affect computers being used for
testing.
The Virginia Department of Education and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
have an electronic device policy which is to be followed during all SOL
testing. To maintain test security, the possession of these devices (e.g., cell
phones/mobile communication devices) in the testing room is prohibited.
If a student is discovered with a prohibited electronic device while in a test
environment, the student’s test will be stopped, the electronic device will be
confiscated, and the student will be removed from the test environment.
School administrators, consistent with the Acceptable Use Policy and Student
Rights & Responsibilities, have authority to search the “item of personal
belonging” (e.g., the cell phone or mobile device) if it is believed to contain
evidence of a violation of school regulations (in this case, cheating).
School administrators have the right to apply school-based consequences based
upon their investigation of the situation. Please talk to your student
about the electronic device policy and the serious consequences of violating
it.
The Virginia Board of Education is allowing
elementary and middle school students who fail SOL tests by a narrow margin
(scoring between a 375 and 399) to be retested before the end of the year
provided parental permission is obtained. In grades 3-8, a student’s
performance on the SOL does not impact the student’s grade in the class, nor
their academic record. If you believe that your student would benefit
from a second opportunity to demonstrate proficiency before the end of the
school year, should they be eligible for a second attempt, we will need parent
permission.
It will be very helpful if you can avoid
appointments which may take your child out of school during this time period.
Also, it will help your child perform his or her best if he or she has had a
good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and comes to school with a positive
attitude.
