<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1551839498;
mso-list-template-ids:504254814;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Felicia Phillips
<a href="mailto:feliciaphillips@berkeley.net">feliciaphillips@berkeley.net</a> <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dear BHS Parents and Guardians:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Berkeley High School 11th graders will soon take the annual state test known as the Smarter Balanced Assessments, or SBA. This is the second year that 11th grade students throughout California
will take the SBA, which are computer-based tests that measure student knowledge of California's new Common Core English and Mathematics standards.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">One of the best features of the SBA is the way the technology is able to adapt the level of difficulty based on student answers, which allows for a more precise measurement of student achievement.
The tests also tend to be shorter, since the "computer-adaptive" approach requires fewer questions than the traditional paper-based standardized test. The SBA also includes performance tasks that challenge students to demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving,
and to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The window for SBA testing is Thursday, May 19 through Friday, June 3. The tests will take place during regular class hours, over an eight-day period. Students will test for only one class
period per day. If students are absent on one or more testing days, we will make arrangements for them to makeup the section(s) they missed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">There are some strong incentives for students to do their best on the SBA. For starters, all students will receive a personal copy of their SBA
<a href="http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/caaspp16ssrguide11.pdf" target="_blank">
results</a>, as will their BHS counselors. Knowing their English and math achievement levels at the end of the 11th grade gives students the opportunity to use their senior year to improve skills and to adjust course schedules if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Another significant benefit is for students who might enroll at a campus in the California State University system, or any college in the California Community College system. If they do well
on the SBA they will be <u>exempt</u> from taking CSU and community college <a href="http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/documents/eapjuniorflyer.pdf" target="_blank">
placement tests</a>, and will be able to move directly into college-level courses upon enrollment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Though the SBA is one of
<a href="https://www.calstate.edu/sas/ept-elm-exemptions.shtml" target="_blank">several assessments</a> used to determine college readiness, it is the only college-readiness assessment taken by
<i>all students</i> at Berkeley High School. As we move forward with our commitment to close opportunity and achievement gaps, the results from the SBA will give us valuable feedback on our efforts to interrupt predictable and inequitable outcomes for students
based on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Teachers have been speaking with students about the SBA and its benefits, and we look forward to your support of this assessment. Parents and guardians are able to opt out their student, but
this must be done in writing. Please Email <a href="mailto:feliciaphillips@berkeley.net" target="_blank">
feliciaphillips@berkeley.net</a> if you are interested in opting your student out. Students who opt out of the SBA will take a paper-based summative assessment, developed by our school district, during the period(s) that their classmates are taking the SBA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For more information about SBA, we invite you to visit one of the following websites:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/documents/sbparentgde11.pdf" target="_blank">California Department of Education</a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://capta.org/focus-areas/education/student-assessments/" target="_blank">California PTA</a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents/" target="_blank">Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium</a><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Finally, if you are interested in trying out the SBA, click
<a href="https://login3.cloud1.tds.airast.org/student/V154/Pages/LoginShell.aspx?c=California_PT&v=154" target="_blank">
here</a> to access a training test. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">If you have any questions, please Email Felicia Phillips, BHS Site Coordinator for the SBA, at
<a href="mailto:feliciaphillips@berkeley.net" target="_blank">feliciaphillips@berkeley.net</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Felicia Phillips<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Vice Principal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Berkeley High School<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="tel:%28510%29%20644-4569" target="_blank">(510) 644-4569</a> phone<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="tel:%28510%29%20548-4221" target="_blank">(510) 548-4221</a> fax<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/" target="_blank">bhs.berkeleyschools.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">_____________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">Marguerite Fa-Kaji, Catherine Ference and Dylan Kaufman are the parent-volunteer facilitators of the Etree; please direct any questions about the Etree to them
at </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00B0F0"><a href="mailto:bhs-owner@lmi.net"><span style="color:#00B0F0">bhs-owner@lmi.net</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">BHS etree archives:
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00B0F0"><a href="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/" target="_blank" title="http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/"><span style="color:#00B0F0">http://lists.lmi.net/pipermail/bhs/</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">BHS website:
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00B0F0"><a href="http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#00B0F0">http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">To post a message, send to:
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00B0F0"><a href="mailto:bhs@lmi.net"><span style="color:#00B0F0">bhs@lmi.net</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">To
</span><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">unsubscribe</span></u><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">
</span></u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">from the etree, send an email to
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00B0F0"><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><span style="color:#00B0F0">bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">
with one word only in the subject line: <b>unsubscribe </b>(The request must be sent from the email address that is subscribed to the list.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">To
<u>subscribe </u>to the etree, send an email to </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#00B0F0"><a href="mailto:bhs-request@lmi.net"><span style="color:#00B0F0">bhs-request@lmi.net</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#4F81BD">
with one word only in the subject line: <b>subscribe</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#4F81BD"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>