Currently the way the classes are set up, students wanting to take advanced classes or pursue the IB program at Ray-Pec East Middle school are at a huge disadvantage to those students who take Spanish 1 in 9th grade, EVERY DAY, for the entire school year.
For students in the middle school, we are told that in 7th grade an Intro to Spanish class which is taken for just a semester and is an every other day class along with taking Spanish 1 in 8th grade, which is for a year, but again, every other day, is sufficient enough to prepare the advance students for Spanish 2 in 9th grade. When in fact it is leaving them at a HUGE disadvantage in the Spanish 2 class as 9th graders as there is just not enough time to cover all the material needed to prepare students.
What we are asking is that the school administration & school board to reconsider the current set up, which is in it's 2nd year, and will only continue to set excellent students up for failure as well as additional stress to the teachers who are doing their best to cover the extensive material in what little class time they have.
Seems like a simple fix, doesn't it? Currently the school administration does not agree that this is an issue, stating that 77% of current 9th graders who are enrolled in Spanish 2 have an A or B in the class. That means 23% of these students completely FAILED the class, too many if you ask me! What also is not being mentioned is that the are quite a few students who FAILED their fall final, yet still received a "passing grade" in the class. There seems to be no concern that students are not comprehending due to lack of time for learning standards in the middle school.
Parents please consider signing this petition so that we can have a voice in our school district for our children. I urge you to remember the "Royal Blue snow day" granted for the parade? YOU, YOU the parents made this happen with a simple phone call stating your child would not be at school on Nov. 3rd. United we can hold so much influence!
If you would like more information, this particular agenda was addressed at the last school board meeting, which is available to the public for viewing on youtube. It starts approx. 22 minutes into the video. January school board meeting
Thank you!
7 Comments
Foreign language is difficult enough, students need the entire year of learning to be e xpected to really learn another language.
I appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion, which is noted. I think the general consensus is that parents who do have this concern *are* very much involved in making these decisions WITH their students, not forcing them. I believe a lot of the parents who have concerns about this have already HAD students at RPEMS and their students are currently in the high school. So you(your friends) have yet to experience the outcome of the current class set up. Yep, I agree with you, it does meet the districts "requirements" set fourth, but it is not enough class time for 8th grade Spanish 1 students, who will go on to take Spanish 2 in 9th grade. If you take Spanish 1 in 9th grade (then Spanish 2 in 10th grade)and these are usually students who more often than not, do not take heavy core classes, & they have Spanish 1 EVERY DAY. By all means if a student is not interested in pursing it seriously, take the intro Spanish course, take Spanish 1 & French 1 to cover the 2 class credit foreign language requirement. I also want to mention that the realities of wanting to pursue the IB program or advanced classes in high school, you will have 2-3 hours homework nearly EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT & a LOT of writing...a lot! It's a huge reality check for MANY freshman as the amount of homework in 8th grades pales in comparison to what is given at the high school.
***PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU SIGN*** It shouldnt be up to parents if we want to take Spanish 1 every single day, it should be up to the kids that have to actually do it. Yes, I am a student at RayPec East Middle. Here me out, as a person who talks to Spanish 1 students on a daily basis about why MOST of us take Spanish; A. Most colleges require foreign language class to get in, we take this just to go to college. I mean even other students, and alot, say they wont use Spanish ever again after school; B. It looks good on a resume while in school. For all the kids who take Spanish for those reasons and I mean MOST KIDS who take Spanish for those reasons dont really care about the class which means they are already bored out of their minds and have enough stress on them already with our core classes, and just doing it every day would increase that stress so much. I want to go for IB Diploma and doing it every other day, year long meets the requirements, so why would you want to cause more stress, more work and cost your kid more free time for unnecessary work. Any parent with any sense would talk to their kid about their foreign language class and ask their kid if they should sign this.
This school district, who recently won, business of the year, has got to start putting the students first. The districts vision is "preparing EACH student for a successful and meaningful life" I would be happy if they would focus on EDUCATING students, not selling them out for more funding!
Please make Sp I a year long class at RPEMS
I have 2 children who are an example of this very issue!
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Currently the way the classes are set up, students wanting to take advanced classes or pursue the IB program at Ray-Pec East Middle school are at a huge disadvantage to those students who take Spanish 1 in 9th grade, EVERY DAY, for the entire school year.
For students in the middle school, we are told that in 7th grade an Intro to Spanish class which is taken for just a semester and is an every other day class along with taking Spanish 1 in 8th grade, which is for a year, but again, every other day, is sufficient enough to prepare the advance students for Spanish 2 in 9th grade. When in fact it is leaving them at a HUGE disadvantage in the Spanish 2 class as 9th graders as there is just not enough time to cover all the material needed to prepare students.
What we are asking is that the school administration & school board to reconsider the current set up, which is in it's 2nd year, and will only continue to set excellent students up for failure as well as additional stress to the teachers who are doing their best to cover the extensive material in what little class time they have.
Seems like a simple fix, doesn't it? Currently the school administration does not agree that this is an issue, stating that 77% of current 9th graders who are enrolled in Spanish 2 have an A or B in the class. That means 23% of these students completely FAILED the class, too many if you ask me! What also is not being mentioned is that the are quite a few students who FAILED their fall final, yet still received a "passing grade" in the class. There seems to be no concern that students are not comprehending due to lack of time for learning standards in the middle school.
Parents please consider signing this petition so that we can have a voice in our school district for our children. I urge you to remember the "Royal Blue snow day" granted for the parade? YOU, YOU the parents made this happen with a simple phone call stating your child would not be at school on Nov. 3rd. United we can hold so much influence!
If you would like more information, this particular agenda was addressed at the last school board meeting, which is available to the public for viewing on youtube. It starts approx. 22 minutes into the video. January school board meeting
Thank you!
7 Comments
Jaden loved Spanish and didn't want it to end. I hope he can retain all he needs for next year.
Foreign language is difficult enough, students need the entire year of learning to be e xpected to really learn another language.
I appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion, which is noted. I think the general consensus is that parents who do have this concern *are* very much involved in making these decisions WITH their students, not forcing them. I believe a lot of the parents who have concerns about this have already HAD students at RPEMS and their students are currently in the high school. So you(your friends) have yet to experience the outcome of the current class set up. Yep, I agree with you, it does meet the districts "requirements" set fourth, but it is not enough class time for 8th grade Spanish 1 students, who will go on to take Spanish 2 in 9th grade. If you take Spanish 1 in 9th grade (then Spanish 2 in 10th grade)and these are usually students who more often than not, do not take heavy core classes, & they have Spanish 1 EVERY DAY. By all means if a student is not interested in pursing it seriously, take the intro Spanish course, take Spanish 1 & French 1 to cover the 2 class credit foreign language requirement. I also want to mention that the realities of wanting to pursue the IB program or advanced classes in high school, you will have 2-3 hours homework nearly EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT & a LOT of writing...a lot! It's a huge reality check for MANY freshman as the amount of homework in 8th grades pales in comparison to what is given at the high school.
***PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU SIGN*** It shouldnt be up to parents if we want to take Spanish 1 every single day, it should be up to the kids that have to actually do it. Yes, I am a student at RayPec East Middle. Here me out, as a person who talks to Spanish 1 students on a daily basis about why MOST of us take Spanish; A. Most colleges require foreign language class to get in, we take this just to go to college. I mean even other students, and alot, say they wont use Spanish ever again after school; B. It looks good on a resume while in school. For all the kids who take Spanish for those reasons and I mean MOST KIDS who take Spanish for those reasons dont really care about the class which means they are already bored out of their minds and have enough stress on them already with our core classes, and just doing it every day would increase that stress so much. I want to go for IB Diploma and doing it every other day, year long meets the requirements, so why would you want to cause more stress, more work and cost your kid more free time for unnecessary work. Any parent with any sense would talk to their kid about their foreign language class and ask their kid if they should sign this.
This school district, who recently won, business of the year, has got to start putting the students first. The districts vision is "preparing EACH student for a successful and meaningful life" I would be happy if they would focus on EDUCATING students, not selling them out for more funding!
Please make Sp I a year long class at RPEMS
I have 2 children who are an example of this very issue!
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Jaden loved Spanish and didn't want it to end. I hope he can retain all he needs for next year.