Walking the halls
By SHERIDA T. BARNES Rowe Principal

As I walk the halls of the campus, I often envision the Rowe students becoming productive citizens and making an impact on society. Many of the students I see on a daily basis will become leaders in their perspective fields of study and life-long achievers.

I often ask them, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" Their answers are usually very interesting and jovial.

What I find most fascinating about their responses is that they already have vivid ideas of what their future will be. I enjoy my hallway chats with the students because our daily conversations reassure me that they understand the importance of what we do every day at Rowe.

The daily responsibility of the teachers is a crucial task during this time of the year. As the students approach TAKS administrations, the teachers must identify each student's areas of strengths and weaknesses and continue to teach for mastery of objectives and concepts.

At present, many of the fifth grade students have demonstrated mastery of the Reading TAKS objectives. The 2007 Reading TAKS Test was administered to fifth grade students on Feb. 20. Eighty-three percent of the fifth grade students successfully passed the test.

The remaining 17 percent will have a second opportunity to pass the test on April 18. Fifth grade reading tutorial classes are being conducted after school to help prepare these students for the second administration.

The fifth grade students were administered the Math TAKS Test on April 3. Rowe is expected to receive students' results within three to four weeks. Upon receiving campus results, individual student results will be sent to parents.

Upcoming fifth and sixth grade TAKS Test Administrations that will occur during the months of April and May are the following: April 17, sixth grade math TAKS; April 18, fifth and sixth grade reading TAKS; April 19, fifth grade science TAKS.

The faculty and staff were pleased with parent participation for the Spring TAKS Night that was held on March 22.

The TAKS objectives were discussed, example questions were explained, and many of our parents gained insight on the teaching strategies and methods that can be used at home to reinforce the learning that takes place at school. Thank you to all parents who attended TAKS Parent Night.

The month of May is expected to be a busy month for Rowe. Parent Orientation Night is scheduled for May 1. Course selection information will be sent home by students during the week of May 8.

While the sixth grade students are completing assignments and projects for the last grading cycle of the 2006 - 2007 school year, they will also participate in campus activities that celebrate their accomplishments at Rowe.

I hope this time will become a memorable time for them as they make their final walks through the halls and corridors of a school that has served thousands of past students, current leaders, and citizens of Jasper, Texas. I wish them well on their journey; may they continue to set goals and reach for the stars as they move on the junior high.