Text Box: The Northwood school community is providing quality education—preparing for the future, one student at a time. A PLAN for the Future The PLAN is a test administered to all sophomores during the first semester of each school year. It is, in actuality, a pre-ACT exam. Unlike the GEE 21, the PLAN is not a pass/fail test. The areas measured on the test are English, math, science, reading/social studies. The scores range from 0-36, just like the ACT, which is usually taken during the second semester of a student's Junior year. A score of 18 has been gauged by ACT as the minimum score needed for a student in the state of Louisiana to enter into a 4-year university without first having to take a remedial math or English class. This is important because the credit(s) earned in remedial classes do not count towards a college degree, and yet cost as much as those courses which do count. Having to take remedial classes as a college freshman also adversely affects requirements for TOPS. Included in the PLAN score report, parents and students will find all answers provided by the student along with the correct responses. In addition, academic area weaknesses have been identified and personalized suggestions given for improvement in each area. Our ultimate goal is to improve students’ ACT scores and, thereby, increase their chances for scholarships and other awards, of which TOPS is one. Parents are encouraged to discuss the results of the test with their student(s) and in turn, the students are encouraged to share their results with their core area teachers in order to assist with instruction, remediation, and/or enrichment. For further information, please contact your student's counselor at 929-2719. NHSAcademic NewsletterText Box: November 15, 2006 Northwood High School Volume 3 Issue 2 Text Box: Louis Cook, Principal Marby Barker, Assistant Principal of Instruction - Grades 11 & 12 Darlene Simons, Assistant Principal of Instruction—Grades 9 & 10 Michael Sherman, Assistant Principal of Administration A Message from the Principal I want to take this opportunity to thank my faculty, students, and parents for the continued growth in performance on test scores - in every single area, on both the GEE21 and ACT tests. With the recent release of “school performance scores,” I want the community to be assured that EVERYTHING RIGHT is going on at this school. Whereas the “score” reflects zeroes given to students absent on the designated test day, as well as those who have abandoned the pursuit of a high school diploma, the “score” doesn’t truly reflect the overall improvement that continues to characterize our test scores. We have reduced the number of students scoring unsatisfactory scores in social studies (by 7%), science (by 10%), math (by 3%), and English (by 2%) on the GEE21. I can proudly say that our academic goals continue to be a priority, as we prepare our students for their future endeavors. No one could be prouder. Louis Cook Principal of Northwood High School Semester Exam Schedule Dead Week—Monday, December 11, through Friday December 15, 2006 Friday, Dec. 15 Period 7th Monday, Dec. 18 Periods 1st & 4th Tuesday, Dec. 19 Periods 2nd & 5th Wednesday, Dec. 20 Periods 3rd & 6th PLEASE NOTE NO STUDENT MAY BE EXEMPT FROM AN EXAM! NO STUDENT IS TO TAKE EXAMS EARLY!