November 2, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We at Somonauk Middle School
strive to develop students who value lifelong learning and equip students with
the skills necessary to achieve post-secondary goals. As part of the school
improvement plan and to help prepare for the future, your son/daughter will be
taking the EXPLORE assessment on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 from
approximately 8:15 AM – 12 PM.
The EXPLORE®
program is designed to help 8th and 9th graders explore a broad range of
options for their future. EXPLORE
prepares students not only for their middle school coursework, but also for
their high school coursework and post–high school choices. It marks an
important beginning for a student's future academic and career success.
EXPLORE® gives educators
the means to structure middle and high school planning and career exploration
for students and parents. It serves as a baseline to monitor academic progress.
Through the EXPLORE test students' strengths and weaknesses can be identified
early in their educational development, when they have the greatest opportunity
to establish a four-year program of studies that will help them achieve their
career and educational goals.
The EXPLORE also:
·
Lets students
know if they are on track for college
·
Helps students
choose high school courses that will get them ready for college
·
Helps students
find careers that match their interests
·
Shows students
the subjects in which they need to improve
·
Helps students
see which subjects are most important for certain careers
Somonauk Middle School
teachers will work closely with the high school’s teachers and staff to use EXPLORE results to help them build plans for
the future including placement in courses over the next few years. We want to see what students know now, so we
can know what they are ready to learn next. Doing the best that students can on
the EXPLORE is one of the first steps they can take to get ready for high
school and then college or the career of their choice.
Please help your son/daughter
get plenty of sleep the night before and encourage them to do their best on the
EXPLORE assessment on November 18th. If you have further questions
in regards to the EXPLORE assessment, please visit www.act.org
or feel free to call the middle school office at 815-498-1866.
Sincerely,
Matt Jeffrey
Principal