03/31/08
8:45 AM

STAR Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Coordinators:
 
The STAR test materials (multiple-choice) for traditional schools have arrived in the district.  According to state regulations, we are NOT permitted to deliver materials to sites earlier than 10 business days before the first day of testing.  Therefore, the STAR test materials will be delivered via regular truck delivery beginning next week, April 7th, and should be at all schools by Friday, April 11th.  Please alert your BSS to the impending arrival of these materials.  If you have any questions regarding your materials you can contact Denise Ormsbee at (619) 725-7059 or dormsbee@sandi.net.

Thank you.

03/26/08
8:28 AM

STAR Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Site Test Coordinators

The STAR “Nuts and Bolts” Training Sessions for Site Test Coordinators at TRADITIONAL calendar schools are scheduled for early April.  These sessions are intended to provide training to STAR Site Test Coordinators relative to processing of test materials and training of site staff in the administration and security issues of the assessment.  
 
All STAR “Nuts and Bolts” trainings will be held at the Ballard Parent Center. The Ballard Parent Center is located at 2375 Congress Street, San Diego CA 92110.


Please attend one of the following sessions or send someone from your site to attend.  If you are unable to attend your school’s designated training, you may attend any of the other sessions listed below.  

UPCOMING NUTS & BOLTS TRAINING SESSIONS

STAR for Elementary Schools- Traditional K-Z: Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Ballard Parent Center (this training will cover Grades 2-8)

STAR for Secondary Schools- Traditional: Thursday, April 10, 2008, 2:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. at the Ballard Parent Center (this training will cover Grades 7-11)

STAR for Elementary Schools- Traditional A-J: Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Ballard Parent Center (this training will cover Grades 2-8)

Please contact me or Denise Ormsbee at dormsbee@sandi.net if you have any questions.
 
Thank you.

03/25/08
8:15 AM

STAR Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Site Coordinators:
 
We have extended the deadline for returning your EAP Essay test materials.  Originally the deadline was scheduled for this Wednesday. However, with Spring Break we thought it would be helpful to extend the deadline to this Friday, March 28th.  Please return your materials to Annex 10 by 4:30 p.m. this Friday, March 28th. If you have any questions regarding the return of your materials, please contact Denise Ormsbee at dormsbee@sandi.net.
 
Thank you.

03/19/08
11:00 AM

STAR Update

(Delete this message if your school does not include Gr.11!)

Only for STAR Coordinators at schools with GRADE 11!  (If you are not the STAR Coordinator & your school does include Gr. 11, please forward this to the STAR Coordinator & "cc" Donna Havelin when you forward the email.)

Attached is a diagram for you to use when packing your Scorable & Non-Scorable EAP Essay materials.  The diagram for Scorable materials is the TOP half of the page; the Non-Scorable diagram is on the BOTTOM half.

Materials are to be delivered to Annex 10 no later than 4:30 p.m.  -  FRIDAY  -  March 28, 2008.  To arrange for an earlier delivery, please contact Denise Ormsbee via email.

Please email me or Denise if you have questions.  I am only working hourly & am not consistently in the office so email is the best & fastest way to get a response from me for questions about any state-mandated tests.  I was the Empress of Testing (Director of Research & Evaluation) in Sweetwater Union High School District when I retired last June & am helping Erin through the STAR testing window.

* You can download this document on our "Files to Download" page.

03/14/08
10:49 AM

STAR Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Site Test Coordinators:
 
Earlier this week you should have received a packet of letters from the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the Early Assessment Program (EAP).  The letters were addressed to principals, counselors, grade eleven English and mathematics teachers, and grade eleven students.  Please distribute the letters to each group addressed.  
 
Even though the EAP is voluntary, we want to encourage grade eleven students to participate.  The EAP is embedded in the California Standards Test (CST) that requires students to complete an additional 15 questions.  In addition, students are required to complete an essay for the English portion of the test.  The testing window for the EAP Essay is March 4-26.  
 
If you have any questions regarding the EAP, please contact me at (619) 725-5687 or Denise Ormsbee at dormsbee@sandi.net or (619) 725-7059.
 
Thank you.

03/11/08
9:40 AM

Aprenda Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Coordinators:
 
The Aprenda (grades 8-11) test materials have arrived in the district.  You may pick up your materials from Annex 3 today, March 11th, until 4:30 p.m. or tomorrow, March 12th, from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  Materials that are NOT picked up by tomorrow will be delivered via regular truck delivery beginning March 24, 2008.  Your Aprenda rosters will be included with your test materials.  Please alert your BSS to the impending arrival of these materials.  If you have any questions about your materials you can contact Denise Ormsbee at (619) 725-7059 or dormsbee@sandi.net.  

Thank you.

03/10/08
8:15 AM

Aprenda Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Coordinators:
 
The Aprenda (grades 8-11) test materials will be delivered via regular truck delivery beginning March 24, 2008.  Please alert your BSS to the impending arrival of these materials.  If any schools would like to pick up their Aprenda test materials earlier than their truck delivery day, you must contact Denise Ormsbee at (619) 725-7059 or dormsbee@sandi.net.  DO NOT CONTACT THE IMC WAREHOUSE DIRECTLY.

Thank you.

03/03/08
8:10 AM

Aprenda Update

Dear Principals and/or STAR Site Coordinators:
 
The Aprenda (Grades 8-11) “Nuts and Bolts” Training Session for Site Test Coordinators is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2008  at 2:30 p.m. at the Ballard Parent Center.  The Ballard Parent Center is located at 2375 Congress Street, San Diego CA 92110.


This session is intended to provide training to Site Test Coordinators relative to processing of test materials and training of site staff in the administration and security issues of the assessment.  The Aprenda is to be administered to all Spanish-speaking English Learners in Grades 8-11 who have been enrolled in a US school less than 12 months.

Thank you.