Superintendent's Message:           Gearing up for FCAT and FAIR Assessments

To parents, students, teachers, principals, staff
and citizens of Duval County:

Research shows that when we think positive, positive things happen. I would like to encourage our students, parents, teachers and administrators to maintain an optimistic attitude as we gear up for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and the Florida Assessment for Instruction in Reading (FAIR). A lot of hard work and dedication on behalf of the students and teachers has gone into preparing for these tests.

The FCAT testing schedule is as follows:

• February 28th - March 1st- FCAT Writing will be administered to 4th, 8th and 10th grade students.

• April 9th - 20th - retakes for FCAT Reading and Mathematics and FCAT 2.0 Reading will be given to 11th graders-adults.

• April 16th - April 27th - FCAT 2.0 Reading will be given to 3rd- 10th grade students, FCAT 2.0 Mathematics will be given to 3rd grade- 8th grade students, and FCAT 2.0 Science will be administered to all 5th -8th grade students.

In preparation for FAIR, we are inviting all parents of K-2 students to attend one of several community meetings throughout the city where district staff will communicate the update to the Student Progression Plan. During the meetings, participants will learn how the FAIR instrument will impact instructional and promotional decisions. The next meeting will be Monday, February 27th at the Jacksonville Public Library (Southeast Regional Branch) from 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Please visit our site for a complete list of the meetings.

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COMMUNITY MEETING

Are you still confused about how the new FCAT scores could affect Garden City and your child? If so, please plan to attend a community meeting on Tuesday, February 13^th at 6:30 p.m. at Oceanway Middle School. School board member The Honorable Becki Couch and Mr. Ballentine (from the district office) are presenting.

CAN’T MAKE IT TO THAT MEETING?

A second meeting will be held at Highlands Middle on March 5th. School board member The Honorable Paula Wright and Mr. Ballentine will present at this meeting.

Big Thanks to Derek Cox #21 of the Jacksonville Jaguars for helping our students “Get there heads in the game” for FCAT and for introducing our students to Play 60!  Mr. Cox says he will be back in June to see how our students performed on FCAT.

Go Jags!

.............and thanks Mr. Cox for your encouragement of our students.

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Our Teacher of the Year has been nominated to be the “Best Teacher in America and to help us win a $25,000 technology grant. All WE have to do is vote everyday from now until March 31^st and encourage our parents, and anyone else over 13 years of age to vote for her as well EVERYDAY! If Ms. Bias receives the most votes across America, she wins the title “Best Teacher in America” and Garden City will win the $25,000 technology grant. Ms. Bias will win an Ipad 2 and 30 Ipod touches for her class. Please put this in your newsletters every week and encourage your parents, friends, and relatives to help her and us win. You and they can vote at www.voteforteachers.com. Save it into your favorites and Vote!