The Sparta Express

Our school team is super excited to welcome you back to campus! Our staff has dug in this summer in professional learning to ensure that we are increasing the tools in our toolbox to bring high quality instruction to every student, every day.

I am so excited to welcome you back to campus in one week! I want to personally invite each of you to come out to open house. At open house, you will get a chance to meet your teachers, walk your schedule, learn out opportunities AND sign up for our newly formed PTSA. Please come out on Wednesday, August 21 from 5-7pm. There will also be club and transportation information. Be sure to stop in the cafeteria and gym areas so that you don't miss anything. Upon coming to campus, students will need to report to their homerooms.

Last but not least, many of you have continued to reach out and ask how you can support the families of Wade Swain and Alek Earnest. Wade's family has asked that donations be made to the SSS Baseball team (https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/SS399-VAR31). Alek will have an incredible journey as he has an extended stay in the hospital. If you would like to give gift cards they can be brought to the school or you may contribute to the gofundme here: https://gofund.me/be80309f

Any student who parks on campus during the school year must register their vehicle with the office and display the permit in their front windshield. This non-refundable permit costs 120.00 and can be purchased online on the OSP (Online School Payment) website. (OSP Direct Link: bit.ly/sshsosp) A valid driver’s license and current vehicle registration must be presented in order to purchase a parking permit. You may complete this process this week in the front office or at open house prior to school starting. Cars are NOT permitted to park on campus without a permit OR at the SRAC. Students MUST have a valid drivers license to park (or drive) on campus.

Below you will find information about the Johnston County Schools dress code. Please use this information as you back to school shop or plan your outfits for each day.

Rooms Support Page on the JCPS website. This page provides information, tutorial videos, and step-by-step instructions for parents. Please bookmark this page. It is a great one-stop-shop resource for many questions.

This is a quick reminder of School Board Policy Code: 6125 (Administering Medicines to Students).

This policy covers the process for administering medications in detail, but the key detail I want everyone to keep in mind is that a health care practitioner (licensed medical professionals who are legally authorized to prescribe medications under NC law, such as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners) MUST sign the Physicians' Order Form prior to medication administration at school. Parent/guardian signatures are required as well, but without the health care practitioner signature, medications cannot be administered. This includes ALL over the counter (OTC) medications.

August 2024

Assessment is an integral part of instruction because it determines whether or not the goals of education are being met. The use of assessment data assists in keeping track of where and when learning is taking place and whether students are meeting growth and performance goals. Children learn better and faster when teachers have a clear picture of what each student knows and is ready to learn next.

Johnston County Public Schools utilizes benchmark and interim assessments to measure student performance and inform instructional decisions. NWEA MAP is used as our benchmark assessment and is a computer adaptive assessment that provides teachers with insights to skills students are ready to learn.

Benchmark Assessments - NWEA MAP (September, December, March)

• Reading Growth Grades 4-8

• Math Growth Grades K-8

MVPA (Mastery View Predictive Assessments)/NC Check-ins are used as JCPS’s interim assessments. Interim assessments assess a subset of the grade level/course standards that have been taught. The results are used to assist teachers in determining if their students have learned the content standards that were covered in their classroom prior to the assessments and if there are standards that need additional focus.

Interim Assessments - MVPA/NC Check-ins (October, January, April)

• Reading and Math Grades 3-8

• Science Grades 5 and 8 (NC Check-ins)

• Math I, Math III, English II and Biology (Assessment dates vary based on enrollment)

CogAT Grade 3: The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is used as a universal screener that measures students' reasoning and problem-solving skills in three areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. The test is administered to Grade 3 students in October.

State Assessments

• mClass-Grades K-3 diagnostic reading assessment (3 times year - September, January, April/May)

• Beginning-of-Grade Tests (BOG3 - 3rd grade): ELA/Reading test administered within the first 15 days of school

• End-of-Grade Tests (EOG)

• Students in grades 3-8 take ELA/Reading and Mathematics during the last 10 days of the school year.

• Students in grades 5 and 8 take Science during the last 10 days of the school year.

• Students who are enrolled for credit in high school courses where End-of-Course (EOC) tests are required shall take the appropriate test the last 10 days of a yearlong course and the last 5 days of a semester course. EOC tests available are: Math I, Math III, Biology, and English II

• All students identified as an English language learner (identified through a home-language survey process) must be annually assessed to determine progress and level of English language proficiency through the ACCESS for ELLs test.

Additional High School State Assessments

• PreACT Grade 10: The multiple-choice test predicts future success aligned to the ACT test and provides both current achievement and projected future ACT test scores. This test is administered to all enrolled grade 10 students in the fall.

• ACT Grade 11: The ACT is a curriculum and standards-based assessment that evaluates college and career readiness in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The test is administered to all enrolled grade 11 students in the spring.

• WorkKeys: Grade 12 students who are Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators are required to complete the assessment which forms the basis of the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). This nationally recognized certificate provides employers with skill level information.

State Assessments for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities for Grades 3-8, Grade 10 and 11

• NCExtend1 is an alternate assessment designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

• The assessment process requires students to complete performance-based, multiple choice items in the areas of ELA/Reading, mathematics (grades 3-8, 10) and science in grades 5, 8 and 10. Grade 11 students who participate in NCExtend 1 will take an alternate assessment for ACT.

• CCRAA (The North Carolina College and Career Readiness Alternate Assessment) is available at Grades 10 (PreACT) and 11(ACT) is an option for students that have cognitive disabilities and have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

Please visit the calendar page of our website for state assessment testing windows. Please contact your child’s school for specific testing date information.

Parents' Right to Know:

Parents have the right to request and be provided with information regarding any state or local educational agency policy regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by the state or local educational agency.

Per 16 N.C. Admin Code 06D .0307–Test Administration in Public Schools, “(g) LEAs shall, at the beginning of each school year, provide information to students and parents or guardians advising them of the district-wide and State-mandated tests that students will be required to take during that school year. In addition, LEAs shall advise students and parents or guardians of the dates the tests will be administered and how the results from the tests will be used. Also, information provided to parents shall include whether the State Board of Education or the local board of education requires the test(s). (h) LEAs shall report scores resulting from the administration of State-mandated tests from the Annual Testing Program to students and parents or guardians no later than 30 days after the test is administered and along with available score interpretation information within 30 days from receipt of the scores and interpretive documentation from the NCDPI.”

N.C. Admin. Code 06G .0315 requires all public school students in membership (i.e., enrolled in a school) in grades 3 through 8 and high school courses requiring an end-of-course assessment, to participate in the Annual Testing Program. North Carolina does not allow any student to opt out of required state testing. The only exceptions granted are for a limited number of students who meet certain eligibility requirements or have extenuating circumstances related to a significant medical emergency or condition and are unable to participate in a specific test administration.

N.C. Admin Code 06D .0309 requires schools to “use results from all EOCs as a minimum of 20 percent of the student’s final grade for each respective course”. As such, a student’s grade for these courses and overall grade-point-average calculation may be negatively impacted by not taking the required end-of-course state tests.

JCPS Policy 3400, JCPS Policy 3410, JCPS Policy 3420

Seniors must have their meningitis vaccinations/exemptions within the first 30 days of the school year, or they will be excluded from school. Remember to get your meningitis vaccinations before starting your senior year. You can call for an appointment at Johnston County Health Dept at 919-989-5200 before the rush begins.

📣 Bookings are now OPEN for senior photo sessions for the class of 2025. You must be photographed by CADY to be in the yearbook. Get photos for grad announcements, senior yearbook ads, and flawless Insta posts. Book now at cady.com/schedule. #CADYsenior

Please consider supporting our student athletes. All sponsorship information should be complete by Aug 1 in order to get the sponsor names on the booster board by the football field! We would LOVE and we NEED community support! Let’s do this! #SSStrong

One of the ways that we have tried to make this year special for our students is to bring back traditional aspects of high school. A Varsity Letterman's Jacket is one of those special things that make high school special. Whether you are a Varsity football player, a member of the marching band, Varsity Basketball player, or Varsity Cheer or Stunt member--- a letterman's jacket is something that you can have forever. Visit the Josten's website to design and purchase a coat that tells your high school story. You can even make payments!