February 3, 2009

Dear Parents and Guardians:

The New Jersey Department of Education mandates passing the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) as a requirement for graduation. This assessment is administered in the spring of a student's junior year and centers around the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Core Curriculum Content Standards are an attempt to define the meaning of "Thorough" in the context of the 1875 state constitutional guarantee that students are to be educated within a "Thorough and Efficient" system of free public schools. These standards describe what all students should know and be able to do upon completion of a thirteen-year public education.

This year, the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) will measure student achievement in the areas of Mathematics and Language Arts Literacy on March 3rd, 4th, and 5th. NJDOE directives prohibit backpacks, handbags, cell phones, any other electronic devices, food, and water bottles in the testing areas. Please remind your children to leave these items in their lockers during testing. Students should have nothing with them other than pencils and a calculator (for math). Ignoring these directives will result in removal from the testing situation. To prepare for the assessment, students should get a good night's rest prior to the test and eat a healthy breakfast each morning. Again, stress to your child the importance of this test. Poor performance can impact his or her graduation.

In May, students will take an additional examination in Biology. The two part Biology exam will take place on Thursday, May 14th and Monday May 18th.

Passing all sections of the HSPA is a requirement for graduation in the state of New Jersey. In the past, these assessments were administered during the school day while other classes followed their normal academic schedules. However, in an effort to provide an optimum environment for the students taking this highly important assessment, this year we will be implementing the following schedule:

• During HSPA testing, we will be running two bus schedules.
• Students taking the HSPA get on their buses at their regular times.
• All other students will get on their usual buses three hours later that their normal departure times.
• Upon arrival to campus, students who are not participating in HSPA testing will enter through the main entrance and remain on the first floor until they are dismissed at the conclusion of testing.
• Students will get on their normal buses at the end of the school day.

Rather than testing in the gyms in large groups, the schedule change allows our students to test in classrooms, which should improve the academic conditions for our students who are taking these high stake tests, while allowing all other students to maintain their normal academic contacts.

• Attendance will be taken in the testing location, so students must report directly to their designated classrooms.
• Just as is required for SAT testing, every student must present a Voorhees High School I.D. card or a valid driver's license each day of testing before they will be allowed to participate n HSPA testing.
• The students' testing locations and any additional information will be sent in a subsequent mailing.
• All Juniors and Seniors participating in testing will return to class after they have completed their HSPA requirements for the day. They will go to lunch during their normal lunch period.
• Students who miss any section due to illness will be advised by their guidance counselors to sit for the makeup sessions scheduled for March 10th, 11th and 12th. Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors will follow their regular schedules on these testing days. In rare cases, some seniors have not taken the HSPA exam. It is a graduation requirement that all students graduating from New Jersey schools pass the HSPA test.

At the conclusion of testing, all students will follow the schedule below. All periods are 20 minutes.

HPSA SCHEDULE

Further information will be forthcoming as it becomes available from the NJDOE. Please access our website at www.nhvweb.net/vhs for the latest information. This letter is available on the website as well. Anyone with questions can contact Ron Peterson, Assistant Principal, at 638-6116 extension 7357 or rpeterson@nhvweb.net.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, we want to thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,

David A. Steffan
Principal