Principal Welch's Weekly Update

Benchmark exams are assessments administered periodically throughout the school year to evaluate students' progress in core subjects. Unlike final exams, which typically assess cumulative knowledge at the end of a course, benchmark exams are designed to measure students' understanding and skills at specific points in time. Here’s why they’re important, especially for high school-aged students:

1. Progress Monitoring

Benchmark exams help track students' academic progress and understanding of key concepts. By comparing results over time, teachers and administrators can identify trends in students’ performance and determine if they are on track to meet grade-level expectations.

1. Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

These exams can highlight areas where students excel and areas where they may need additional support. This allows teachers to tailor instruction to address specific gaps in knowledge or skills, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to improve and succeed.

1. Informing Instructional Strategies

Benchmark results provide valuable data that can guide instructional planning. Teachers can adjust their teaching methods, materials, and focus based on the insights gained from these assessments, making instruction more effective and targeted.

1. Setting and Evaluating Goals

Benchmark exams help set academic goals and provide a basis for evaluating whether those goals are being met. Students, teachers, and parents can use the results to set realistic targets and develop action plans for achieving them.

1. Preparing for Standardized Tests

Regular benchmark assessments can help students become familiar with test-taking strategies and formats similar to those used in standardized tests. This can reduce test anxiety and improve performance on high-stakes exams.

1. Providing Feedback

They offer timely feedback to students about their understanding and performance, allowing them to take responsibility for their learning and make necessary adjustments before more significant exams.

1. Supporting Educational Equity

By providing regular assessments, schools can ensure that all students, regardless of their starting point, receive the support they need to succeed. This can be particularly important for identifying and addressing educational disparities.

The TUSD benchmark exams are carefully crafted to mimic the ACT. They are a crucial tool for monitoring and enhancing student learning. They offer insights that help teachers adjust their instruction, support students in their learning journey, and ultimately contribute to better educational outcomes.

Please encourage your student to take the benchmarks exams seriously, to prepare for the ACT, which can be used for college entrance, scholarships, etc. All students will need to come prepared with charged laptops, ready to go!

Click HERE to View Upcoming College & Career Readiness Program events, activities, news, links and forms!

You can help FUND Rincon's College and Career Readiness Program , Thank You!

Email: Jennifer Vasquez, College & Career Readiness Program Coordinator - Rincon High School

Anyone interested in joining the RUHS Girls' Soccer, we will have pre-season soccer practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 pm on the soccer fields. You must be cleared before you can participate. Once cleared to play, please bring appropriate soccer gear (shorts, t-shirt, shin guards, socks covering shin guards, cleats, and a water bottle). See attachment for joining the Band Ap and other information. You need to sign up on both QR codes.

Athletics this Week

September 23rd: Girls Golf @ Ironwood

September 24th: Girls Volleyball vs Kofa @ RUHS

September 25th: Cross Country @ Nogales

September 26th: Girls Volleyball vs Sahuarita @ RUHS

JV Football vs Rio Rico @ RUHS

Boys Golf vs Marana @ RUHS

September 27th: Varsity Football vs Rio Rico @ RUHS

Cross Country @ Desert Twilight

Two Weeks Until Fall Break: October 4th-October 13th No School