Walking the Halls
By MERVIN CLEVELAND

Season's greetings to you from our staff at Jasper Junior High School. It is amazing how quickly this first semester has passed. In just a few days we will be out for the holiday season, which also signals an end to the first semester of the 2006-2007 school year.

The first semester has been filled with many successful campaigns. This includes a successful athletic program in football and volleyball. Some district championships were won as well.

Academically, there were some successful gains this fall in preparing our students for the spring TAKS tests. Since the first six weeks, we have been administering a series of benchmarks test in the TAKS format to prepare our students. These benchmark administrations enable us to identify the areas we need to address. We seek your help in encouraging your student to take each TAKS test seriously.

It is my belief that some of our students do not understand the importance of practicing at home the concepts and strategies that are taught in the classroom. The homework practice solidifies their understanding of the concepts and strategies. For this

reason, when students fail to turn in homework assignments, they will be given an hour of detention as a consequence. This is a small price to pay for not taking care of their academic responsibility.

Practicing at home and taking advantage of our before-school and/or afterschool tutorial sessions are ways to help a student be better student. Homework is not a thing of the past. Please monitor you student's progress by having conferences, sending e-mail messages, making telephone calls, or writing notes to our staff. We are always available to you, whom we consider our partner in trying to successfully educate your child.

One simple thing that you can do over the holidays is to encourage your son or daughter to read. Then quiz them a little on what they have read. A small exercise like this is not only important, but it is practice for the upcoming administration of the TAKS reading test. Seventh graders will take

the TAKS writing test a month and a half after they return from the holidays. You can help them prepare by having them write and describe something. Look for an opening statement, supportive statements and a concluding statement in their writings. See how well they are able to be descriptive in communicating their thoughts. We are not asking

that you turn your student's holiday into a continuation of school or classroom routine, but at some time over the seventeen-day holiday season, encourage your student to keep in mind what they have successfully learned the first semester.

Until I "Walk the Halls" with you next semester, I wish for you a happy holiday.