A Message From Superintendent George García

This month, as we begin the first round of testing with the AIMS test for grades 3, 5 and 8, it's important to note that numerous individuals in TUSD have worked diligently to help prepare teachers, students and parents for this assessment.

Although TUSD continues to have concerns about the math test at the tenth-grade level, we also have a responsiblity to prepare students for this test.

I'm proud to share with you my belief that TUSD is far and away ahead in assisting students, teachers and parents prepare for the AIMS.

For example, this month on TUSD's web page, www.tusd.k12.az.us, we have an on-line practice test for high school students.

The AIMS Math Practice Materials are aligned with the Six Core Competency Standards:

• Standard 1: Number Sense
• Standard 2: Data Analysis and Probability
• Standard 3: Patterns, Algebra and Functions
• Standard 4: Geometry
• Standard 5: Measurement and Discrete Mathematics
• Standard 6: Mathematical Structure and Logic

In addition, we have provided tutoring and workshops for students to work on specific academic areas, particularly math. Teachers have also attended many workshops to learn how to better prepare students for AIMS.

Parents and teachers have also been very involved in trying to make sure that AIMS is a fair assessment. On numerous occasions in the past few months, many parents and teachers have made the trip to Phoenix to discuss their concerns with legislators and with members of the State School Board.

Faculty members from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University have also helped support our position that the stae needs to reevaluate the math portion of the test.

We will continue to provide as many support services as possible to ensure that our youngsters succeed on this year's AIMS.

We appreciate the countless hours and the materials that have been developed to help our students prepare. Please take advantage of the many resources at your disposal on TUSD's web page www.tusd.k12.az.us and on TUSD's Intranet pages paweb.tusd.k12.az.us.

Yes, the test is important, and I am anxious to see our students increase their test scores. Let us help them put the tests in perspective and assist them in doing their best on the assessment

George F. García, Ed.D.

Love of Reading Week and African-American Read-In Celebrated in Schools Across District

Schools across TUSD celebrated "Love of Reading Week" and the 11th annual African American Read-in Chain with numerous activities that included read-ins, poetry cafes, book exchanges and author visits.

At Schumaker Elementary School, Becky Rivera's kindergarten class held a read-in from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. After listening to community members read their favorite books, students slept over in their classroom and enjoyed breakfast the next day.

Language arts teachers at Hohokam Middle School held a poetry cafe where student poets read their works and Funkamental Hip-Hoppers, local performance artists, performed their rhymes.

Various authors visited Robins and Erickson elementary schools including Carol McBride, author of "Making Magnificent Machines" and Marion Mitchell, author of "Maya Moon". Ken Graun, who wrote a soon-to-be published astronomy book for children, also visited both schools.

More than 2,000 students helped mark the African-American Read-In, a massive national effort to raise the visibility of black writers.

Teachers and students at Cavett, Davidson, Kellond, Lyons, Myers Ganoung and Carson all participated in the Read-in Chain. Carson started each day with a reading of Maya Angelou's "Pulse of the Morning". Kellond students created a chain with the name and author of the book they read for the library.

Borton, Cholla, Naylor, and Tucson High Magnet School invited students to their library to read together, either aloud or silently. Naylor students displayed heart-shaped pieces of papers with book titles and authors in the school's library.