By: Jason Mui @JasonMui17
For the first time in recent years Boone High School will be holding semester tests after winter break instead of prior. The scheduled days for semester test will be on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of January. This change has been a controversial topic to many students and teachers because of the big transformation for all.
After reaching out to various Boone Community School Board of Education members, it was revealed why this change had to be enforced. According to the members of the Board of Education, due to recent legislative changes, schools were not allowed to start earlier than the 23rd of August. Meaning that since the school year started considerably later than normal it was impossible to hold a 90 day semester before the winter break; leading to the semester tests scheduling in January.
This change was a hard decision to make since most of the board members shared the same concern as many teachers and students. According to Jean Sorsen, a member of the School Improvement Committee, she is concerned that some students will not do as well on the semester tests now that they are being given after a long break. “I was told that the school board had made every attempt to have the semester end prior to Christmas break but due to the legislative mandate for school start times there was really no other option.”
Although this change has come as a big shock for most teachers and students this year, many teachers have modified their classes to fit the new change. According to Jan Westrum, who’s a member of the Board of Education, a new trend is starting in classrooms where semester projects are being assigned instead of semester tests. “Many teachers have gone to projects that cover the standards required for the class so the students can work on the projects before, during, and after break and it gives a better representation of what the students have learned during the semester.”
Despite the fact that this change has affected everybody in Boone High School, many teachers and students are adapting to it.
After reaching out to various Boone Community School Board of Education members, it was revealed why this change had to be enforced. According to the members of the Board of Education, due to recent legislative changes, schools were not allowed to start earlier than the 23rd of August. Meaning that since the school year started considerably later than normal it was impossible to hold a 90 day semester before the winter break; leading to the semester tests scheduling in January.
This change was a hard decision to make since most of the board members shared the same concern as many teachers and students. According to Jean Sorsen, a member of the School Improvement Committee, she is concerned that some students will not do as well on the semester tests now that they are being given after a long break. “I was told that the school board had made every attempt to have the semester end prior to Christmas break but due to the legislative mandate for school start times there was really no other option.”
Although this change has come as a big shock for most teachers and students this year, many teachers have modified their classes to fit the new change. According to Jan Westrum, who’s a member of the Board of Education, a new trend is starting in classrooms where semester projects are being assigned instead of semester tests. “Many teachers have gone to projects that cover the standards required for the class so the students can work on the projects before, during, and after break and it gives a better representation of what the students have learned during the semester.”
Despite the fact that this change has affected everybody in Boone High School, many teachers and students are adapting to it.
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