Attention all freshmen and sophomores students in health and behind the wheel, this Thursday, September 3rd, you will taking your NWEA MAP tests during extended homeroom in the library. Please bring your chromebook and an alert mind! 

Parents, here is a link to the NWEA's toolkit that provides insight to their different assessments. Please call the guidance department if you have any questions. 

https://legacysupport.nwea.org/node/4661

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” ~Buddha

"The things you say, the things you think, the things you do—even the things you don’t do—all produce energy that impacts you and the people around you. If you work on creating more positive energy, you’ll see improvements in your life and you’ll touch more lives than you thought possible."

Spread some positive energy today by telling a loved one how awesome they are! Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Parent College Breakfast

Combatting Test Anxiety

(We wanted to repost this article again to address the topic of test anxiety)

"I know the material but when the test arrives, I draw a blank."  We hear that quite frequently in the Guidance Department. Test anxiety can most easily be described as the excessive worrying about performing well on a test. Test anxiety can be very tough to overcome. With a little bit of work, though, it can be reduced.

• Preparing for the test is the best way to counter test anxiety.  The #1 reason for test anxiety is that the student is not confident that he or she truly knows the material. Confidence comes from preparation.
• Reducing negative thoughts is so important when taking a test and preparing for that test. Think positive.  Nothing will be gained from dwelling on "horrible things will turn out."
• Exercising actually helps with test stress. Go for a run or work out before a big test.
• Getting a good night's sleep plays a huge role in reducing text anxiety. Being well-rested will make it so much easier to focus on the test and not the anxiety getting in the way of doing well.
• Taking your time on a test will help reduce anxiety.  Do no rush through it; do not worry about when other people are finishing.  Pace yourself well.  If a question is taking too long, move on and come back to it.
• Chewing gum during the exam helps you focus more on the test and less on the thoughts that make you anxious.
• Starting with the easier questions first will help you build confidence to attack the more difficult parts of the test later.

Great News About AP Testing

----Press release from the College Board AP Program----

The Advanced Placement Program® is happy to share with you the tremendous news that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner last week signed into law HB 3428, legislation requiring all Illinois public colleges and universities to award credit to students who submit scores of 3 and higher on AP® Exams. This applies to entering freshmen at Illinois public institutions of higher education beginning in the fall of 2016.
This new policy will ensure that Illinois students receive the college credits they can earn as a result of their hard work in AP. At a time when AP participation and performance has increased significantly in the state, this law provides more students with a greater opportunity to graduate from college on time.
Our community — including educators, students, and families — played a critical role throughout the legislative process. We appreciate those of you who contacted elected officials expressing support for this important initiative. Your voices clearly were heard, as reflected in the overwhelming bipartisan support the bill received.
We are also grateful for the leadership of the bipartisan group of public officials who worked for this result, including Governor Rauner and the bill's authors: Representatives Carol Sente (Vernon Hills) and Mike Fortner (West Chicago) and Senator Pat McGuire (Crest Hill).
Graduates of the class of 2016 who attend Illinois public institutions of higher education will be the first students to benefit from this new law. We appreciate your unique role, as AP educators, in ensuring that students and parents in your community are aware of this exciting news.

Sincerely,
Advanced Placement Program