April Newsletter

In the month of April, public schools all over the state participate in annual state assessments. Denali PEAK will be also be participating in these assessments.

Information is provided below on the testing dates (Anchorage, MatSu, and Denali Borough each have their own dates), how to sign up for testing, and other pieces of information to help make it a successful experience for everyone.

You can find which grades are taking which assessments below:

PreK - 2nd: no assessments.

3rd: Math, Language Arts

4th: Math, Language Arts

5th: Math, Language Arts, Science

6th: Math, Language Arts

7th: Math, Language Arts

8th: Math, Language Arts, Science

9th: Math, Language Arts

10th: Science

11th & 12th: no assessments.

Exam Lengths:

• Math ~180 minutes (3 hours)
• Language Arts ~180 minutes (3 hours)
• Science ~105 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes)

Location + Scheduling

We have more than one testing location, so each family will test in the PEAK facility most nearby:

MatSu - General Education

• For our families in the MatSu Valley area -- your students will test in the Mat-Su office.

• Sherman Caruthers, our Mat-Su front desk secretary, will contact you about scheduling, location, and dates.

• April 3 - 5 : testing dates.

• April 7 : make-up day.

Anchorage - General Education

• For our families in the Anchorage area -- your students will test in the Anchorage Office.

• You can sign up for a testing time by clicking the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e49a5ac2dab9-anchorage2#/

• April 10 - 14 : testing dates.

• April 17 - 21 : testing dates.

• April 24 - 28 : make-up dates.

Denali Borough

• For our Denali Borough families who have PEAK students -- your students will test in the Healy District Office.

• If your student is part-time with Denali PEAK, part-time with a Denali Borough Tri-Valley school, our assistant principal Garin Martin will be in touch with you about your testing site (the district office vs the school building). She can be reached at (907) 563-0939 or (907) 406-5616 if you have questions.

• You can sign up for a testing time by clicking the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e49a5ac2dab9-peak1#/
  

• April 24 - 25 : testing dates.

• April 26 : make-up day.

Special Education

• For our students receiving special education/ IEP assistance -- our special education teacher Christy Eli-Piercy will contact you about setting up assessments for your student.

Practice Resources

We want all students to have a successful assessment experience, so please have your students practice with the practice tests and testing tools found here so that they are comfortable and familiar with them before taking the assessments:

• Spring 2023 Student Tutorial

• AK STAR Practice Tests

• Alaska Science Student Readiness

• Alaska Science Student Online Tools Training

Purpose

The purpose of these assessments is:

1. To provide one piece of valuable data to parents, educators, policy makers, and the community about how our schools are performing.
   
2. To inform school improvement efforts.
   
3. To ensure educational equity for all students.

The state expects that all students participate in the state assessments.

Now, there are no negative consequences to you if you choose to not participate, but better turnout for state assessments is better for the school. :)

Please let us know ahead of time if you are choosing to opt out.

Tests are a high point of anxiety for students, but we want to do as much as we can to decrease any stress. These assessments are important, but they do NOT affect class grades; they are not something that can be failed.

General Assessment Information

• Students may take 1, 2, or 3 assessments in one day, if you so choose.

• Each exam is between 1.5 and 3 hours in length, so we suggest students take 1 or 2 assessments at most in a single day; you may spread the exams over multiple days.

• ONLY testing students will be allowed in the testing room. Parents and siblings will not be allowed to enter.

• In Anchorage, parents will not be allowed into the classroom or staff room as these are considered our assessment rooms.

• In MatSu, parents will not allowed in our building as the entire school office will be the assessment room.

Electronics

• Electronic devices are not allowed in the testing room. (this includes cell phones, smart watches, handheld games, tablets, computers, etc.). Students either need to leave their devices at home, or they will be collected and secured by school staff during testing. Devices must also be turned off during testing.
  

• Students who have medical electronics to monitor their health may keep those items with them, on silent if possible.

Snack Break

• Water and snacks will be provided. Students may also bring a sack lunch. Snack breaks will occur both in Anchorage and MatSu.
• MatSu students-- please make sure to bring your sack lunch, as you will be in the testing room at lunch time.

• Both Anchorage and MatSu sites will have a snack break. If students have allergies, they should bring their own snack.

After the Test

• Please have your students bring a physical reading book for after they finish their assessments and are waiting to be picked up. Students may not do homework, draw/color, or read textbooks in the testing area.

• Anchorage students will go to the office side of Denali PEAK when their testing is done for the day and wait quietly for their ride.

• For MatSu students, the whole site is considered a testing area, and students must remain quietly seated at their seat until they are picked up after testing.
  

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1. It Helps Parents - Standardized testing gives you a view into your students progress and compares against others in their grade level against that progress. Knowing this helps to determine what type of direction to go based on your students needs, and further their chance of success.
2. It Helps Students - "Practice Makes Perfect" - or at least well rehearsed. Taking the assesments test will familiarize your student in the test taking process, giving them experience that could help them when taking other placement tests for college or employment.
3. It Helps Denali PEAK - Having asssesment scores gives our Teacher/Advisors the necessary tools to know and understand your students' academic progress. This allows placement in proper grade levels and makes for good curriculum choices.

If you would like to schedule a testing time, call (907) 563-09990 (Anchorage) or (907) 357-2730 (Wasilla).

Denali Borough School District's own Tri-Valley High School descended upon the Alaska Airlines Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage to play for the title of 1A state champion. The Vikings made more than a valiant effort by closing out the first two of four games with victories, ultimately losing out to the #3 ranked Kake who remained undefeated for the conference and the season. In the first game against Buckland, Denali PEAK's own Christopher Graham was Tri-Valley's "Player of the Game". When asked, "How did it feel to win that day?" Christopher responded:

"Being at State was an amazing experience and then winning the first game (and eventually placing third) was a cherry on top. I felt like I played pretty well and was honored to be chosen as Player of the Game. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates."

Way to go Chris!