By Curtis Hendricks
In last week’s article, I wrote about the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) tests that your child
will undergo this week. The STAR tests are a compilation of the California Standards Tests (CSTs), the
California Modified Assessment (CMA), the California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA) and
results of the Standards-based Tests in Spanish (STS). The STAR tests are an assessment tool that the
California Board of Education uses to better understand how California students in grades two through
eleven are mastering the educational standards they have set. Good luck to all the students of California
during these rigorous and long testing periods.
The 2nd Annual 5K to benefit our Cara Hrycyk Scholarship Fund is coming up this Saturday, Apr 27, held
from 7:00 am – 10:00 am, will be held at Lake Cahuilla, 58075 Jefferson St., La Quinta. The benefit last
year helped two Coachella students attend college. According to the Coachella Valley Unified School
District (CVUSD) web site, “Last year, Coachella Valley Education Foundation awarded scholarships to
two students from CVUSD which helped make their dreams of college a reality. Those students currently
attend Chico State University and Long Beach State.” This is a fun event for the whole family and a
healthy way to spend the morning. Let’s help sent more students to college through this wonderful
event. CVUSD would also like to let you know that on-site registration begins at 6 A.M. the day of the
event. Parking is not included. Please visit the Lake Cahuilla Park website for information.
Lastly, I have noticed many of my students, and my own children, are checking out early from school this
year. I don’t mean that students are literally leaving school early; rather they are in school but not trying
because of the impending summer vacation. Please talk to your children about this epidemic that makes
its way around the educational facilities. We must keep our students focused until the end of the year. I
have already noticed grades dropping at my school. Let’s keep the focus strong. Help your children with
simple math drills and spelling games. Explain to your child that their grades still matter, especially if
they are in the upper grades. We need to keep our kid’s minds in school until the very end. Keeping the
focus strong will help your child’s grades stay up and help the classes run smoother.
