Hello!

I hope your Thanksgiving break was restful and relaxing. As we move into the final stretch of the semester, I wanted to offer you some important information regarding English semester exams and our 3rd test grade for the nine weeks.

The semester exam is worth 20% of the overall fall semester grade; it is not simply another test grade. This year, we are expecting students to submit a portfolio of specific written work from this semester. All revising and editing work will be done in class, but there may be time your child will need to attend tutorials for support or to stay caught up. Today, Monday, November 28, I assigned the semester exam portfolio assignment, provided students with the rubric I will use to grade the submissions, and set the expectations for the rest of the semester. Students will be reworking one short answer response and one extended constructed response. Please do not confuse these entries with the SBA 2 exam. If your child is absent, it is their responsibility to attend tutorials to maintain progress on this project. Extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis with proper communication.

SBA 2 is the third and final normal test grade for the second nine weeks. We will take this exam over a 2-day period during the scheduled semester exam window. Because this test is multiple choice, a short answer response, and an extended constructed response, the semester exam testing periods provide the best testing option for our students. Again, these 2 pieces of writing are not the same as the semester exam portfolio entries.

I encourage you to talk with your child about the progress of their semester exam portfolio entries over the course of the next couple of weeks. I know when we partner together, we can ensure your child finishes the semester strong. I have attached a calendar of the rest of the semester to support your conversations at home. If you have any questions, please reach out via email.

Sincerely,

Christina Clark

christina.clark@sfisd.org