• Shawsheen Valley Technical High School

    Mathematics MCAS Information

    Wednesday, May 10, 2023

    Dear Shawsheen Sophomores and their Parents/Guardians,

    Next week, sophomores will participate in the Mathematics MCAS exam on Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17. Students must earn a passing score on the Grade 10 Mathematics MCAS exam to earn a high school diploma. This message contains important information to ensure all students are prepared for next week.

    Bring your calculator to school with you

    Students were surveyed to determine who needed to borrow a calculator for the MCAS exam and we are able to provide calculators for every student who indicated they needed to borrow one. All students who responded that they would use their own calculators are reminded to bring those to school on Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17.

    Bring your fully charged laptop & charger to school

    Students must have their school-issued laptops with them, fully charged, along with their chargers, when they arrive to school on Tuesday, May 16 & Wednesday, May 17. The ELA MCAS is administered online, and students will need their school-issued devices to participate. 

    Cell phones and other electronic devices prohibited during testing

    Students will not be able to access their cell phones and other electronic devices during MCAS testing. Students will be directed to turn off all cell phones/electronic devices and place them in their backpacks. Results may be invalidated for students who use cell phones or other electronic devices during testing. Electronic devices include cell phones, air pods/headphones, smart watches, game consoles, and e-readers.

    Early dismissals are discouraged

    Parents/guardians sometimes decide to dismiss students early, once students have completed testing each day, since students do not resume their normal academic schedules after testing is complete. Early dismissals are discouraged since it provides a negative incentive for students to rush through the test or submit an incomplete test. If you plan to dismiss your child after they complete testing on Tuesday, May 16 and/or Wednesday, May 17, send a written note to the school on or by Monday, May 15, 2023 providing permission for your student to be dismissed once they have completed testing (instead of writing in an exact time). Students should bring dismissal notes to the main office. Please note that students will not be dismissed from testing locations before 11:04 AM. At that time, students who have completed the exam will be dismissed to second lunch.

    If you plan to dismiss your student, please re-iterate with them that they should not rush through the exam to be dismissed at an earlier time. As stated earlier in this letter, the MCAS exams are important - students must earn passing scores on all MCAS exams to earn a high school diploma.

    You’ve got this!

    We are so proud of the time and effort students put into the ELA MCAS in March and are confident that they are prepared to do their best on the Mathematics MCAS next week! Your Math teachers are confident in your skills and proud of everything you have learned and accomplished. All of us will be cheering you on (silently of course) while you sit for the exam next Tuesday and Wednesday!

     

    Sincerely,

    Jessica Cook

    (she/her/hers)

    Principal