BCMS Parent Newsletter
Building a Legacy of Excellence, One Student at a Time
- FAST PM1 testing
- Morning drop-off procedures
- Skyward access
- Student identification badges
- Student planner resource pages
- Athletics
- Upcoming school events
- 6th grade orientation/open house video
General State Testing Information
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the first administration (PM1) for their appropriate grade of the Grade 6, 7, or 8 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments on Wednesday, August 16th and Wednesday, August 23rd, respectively. Your student’s results from PM1 are for informational purposes only, and you will be provided with information about how to access the results after testing is completed.
FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present 35–40 items that will cover the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. If you or your student would like to interact with the online testing platform or review FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html.
Please review the following policies with your student before testing:
Ø Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to access any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom). If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test may be invalidated.
Ø Calculator Policy—For Grades 7–8 FAST Mathematics, approved handheld scientific calculators may be used. For Grade 6 FAST Mathematics, a handheld four-function calculator may be used.
Ø Testing Rules Acknowledgment— All tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by clicking the box in the secure browser indicating they understand the testing rules.
Ø Discussing Test Content after Testing— The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they click the box to accept the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states that because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, students may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to social media sites. Please make sure your student understands this policy prior to testing and remind them that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families.
Ø Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated.
Ø Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss any testing accommodations that will be provided for your student.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Beth Davis at 904-259-2226. For more information about the FAST program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
How to Access the FAST Family Portal for Test Results
The Grades 3-10 FAST results for PM1 will be available in the Family Portal. The FAST Family Portal can be accessed through Skyward.
Parents/guardians should follow the steps below to access student scores:
- Log into their Skyward Family Access account
- Click District Links on the top right-hand side of the screen
- Select Cambium Family Portal (Student's Name) from the list. (See screenshot below.)
Morning Drop Off Procedures
Safety is our #1 priority. If students are driven to school, they should be dropped off in the designated drop-off area located behind the Superintendent’s Office off of South Boulevard. A BCMS staff member will be on duty there for students to safely enter the campus. Students should NOT be dropped off directly on South Boulevard or at the front office in the mornings. Walkers or car riders in the afternoons should exit campus by the gym. BCMS staff at the crosswalk near College Street and the crossing guard will direct students across South Boulevard.
Student ID Badges
Athletics
Tuesdays are SPIRIT Days at BCMS - Come dressed in your Bobcat colors. On game days, our Dancin' Paws will be selling face tattoos, paw pencils, and beads. At the game they will be selling poms, foam hands, beads, and tattoos. All items are $2.00 with the exception of the foam hands. They will be $5.00. Please help support this fundraiser.
Upcoming Events
Baker County Middle School
Email: naomi.anderson@bakerk12.org
Website: bakerk12.org/bcms
Location: 211 Jonathan Street, Macclenny, FL, USA
Phone: 904-259-2226
Facebook: facebook.com/bakercountymiddleschool
The Baker County School District prohibits any policy or procedure which results in discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or legally-protected characteristic in its programs and activities including employment opportunities.
The District’s Equity Coordinator, Allen Murphy, can be contacted at 270 South Boulevard East, Macclenny, Florida 32063 or by phone 904.259.0427.