Happy Holidays From Mrs. Mazyck

Let the countdown begin!  We are just days away from Winter Break and I know everyone is excited about having this time off.   But, first things first, until dismissal on December 19^th our students and staff will be engaged in teaching and learning, as usual.  Please be reminded that 9 weeks exams are still underway; parents, please continue to encourage study at home.   When we return from Winter Break, there will only be 9 days left in our 2^nd 9 weeks, but there is still time to make the most of this 9 weeks by doing well on exams and doing your personal best.

The end of the 2^nd 9 weeks also marks the end of our 1^st semester.  Our Winter MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) Testing will also take place upon our return from Winter Break.  The Winter MAP window is January 5 – January 23.   Blythewood Middle School students will have the opportunity to build their skills in Reading and Math and improve their MAP scores by practicing skills via Classworks, an interactive online resource currently being used at Blythewood Middle to assist our students in developing their skills in reading and math.  Every student has been provided with his/her username and password.  Students are able to log on using their Chromebooks or other computer systems using the website:  https://manager.classworks.com/richland2.org.   You may also access Classworks by visiting the Blythewood Middle School webpage and accessing the link at the top of the page.

This quote was taken directly from the Classworks website:

Students are excited for the upcoming well-deserved break from daily school

obligations, and you probably are too! But, how can you help them keep their

skills sharp over winter break and even during inclement weather?  Prepare kids

 for a successful next quarter or reinforce skills they've learned with (…) Classworks

activities and resources.

We hope that you will take advantage of Classworks by asking your child(ren) to log on over the Winter Break to help reinforce skills that they have already learned and continue to build upon skills in anticipation of the forthcoming MAP Test in January.

Finally, in anticipation of the states’ new standardized test, the ACT Aspire, I would also like to share with you the following website, www.discoveractaspire.org.   By clicking on the tab “For States” you can find “Exemplar Practice Test Items” that are similar to those that will be on this new test.  The ACT Aspire will be a timed test which is different from our previous standardized test, the SCPASS, and therefore we will continue to prepare our students for this transition.

On behalf of the entire Blythewood Middle School faculty and staff, we wish you and yours Happy Holidays and extend to you our greetings for a prosperous New Year!  

We’ll see you back on January 5, 2015!

Karis M. Mazyck,

Principal