Page 4 May 16, 2013 Hawthorne Schools Prep for New Test Joe’s Sports By Dylan Little could score better on the exam than a student Hawthorne Softballers from Brian Markarian, the Hawthorne School test, the District still needs to provide waysWhile students are more engaged by a digitalwho answered more questions.”During its meeting last week, theHawthorne School Board heard an update Finish Second in Ocean; the California Standards Test (CST)--the sure all of them have the skills to take thefor students to practice using computerizedtools for educational tasks in order to makeDistrict’s Director of Educational Services.He briefed the Board on the successor to Begin Playoffs the District needs to do to be ready for it. opportunities to produce things on computersexam. “We need to make sure students haveSmarter Balanced Assessment--and what The move from California State educational and with a keyboard,” said Markarian. “That’s By Joe Snyder LAWNDALE ENDS standards to “Common Core” standards also what they’re going to see when they take Hawthorne High’s softball team ended up PIONEER WINLESS comes with a new type of assessment to the test.” in a solid second place, behind champion Lawndale High’s mostly young and replace the CST. The new Smarter Balanced However, in order to provide more hands- Santa Monica, in the Ocean League after inexperienced baseball team ended the tough Assessment is more than just a refocused on computer time, school sites need more wins over Inglewood and Beverly Hills last Pioneer League with an 0-10 record after CST, but a computerized assessment computers. The cost for a second computer week. At Hawthorne on May 7, the Cougars losses to Centennial High from Compton that carries with it both advantages and lab can be insurmountable, which is leading recorded a five-inning mercy rule 13-0 win last week. At Centennial on May 7, the disadvantages for the District. schools towards creating flexible labs with over Inglewood on a perfect game thrown by Cardinals fell to the Apaches 10-4, At One of the biggest advantages of the new inexpensive laptops to serve as a kind of freshman pitcher Alyssa Casillas. At Beverly Lawndale last Thursday, the Cardinals lost test is that it is more engaging to students. floating computer lab. Hills in their Ocean finale last Thursday, to Centennial 4-1. Markarian noted that students were actually “We have school sites that are trying to Hawthorne downed the Normans, 9-5. Senior Steven Rudolph went two for three eager to take the Smarter Balanced test, put a lot of students through one lab,” said In the Cougars’ win over the Sentinels, and George Escobedo had a hit and drove which is typically not the case for any Markarian. “Right now, some schools are Casillas struck out eight batters over five in a run. Arnold Escobedo was two for four exam. “Online assessment is much more looking at how they can expand and there innings. Offensively, Miranda Aguilar went with one RBI, including a triple, on May 7. engaging than standard paper and pencil,” are lots of options. You don’t have to have three for three with two runs and two doubles. LEUZINGER FINALLY said Markarian. “I can tell you I heard a lab in the traditional sense. You can have Toi Ramirez was two for four with two runs GOES DISTANCE, three students say, ‘Yes!’ when they went lots of flexible options.” batted in, one run and a home run. Samantha BUT ENDS BAY WINLESS to take the exam. “I have put a lot of CST The additional hardware will also make Donnelly was two for two with one RBI After losing all of its first eight games booklets on a lot of students’ desks and I’ve it easier to administer the Smarter Balanced and one run. She had a run-scoring triple. by either 10-run-plus mercy rule or forfeit, never heard a student say, ‘Yes!’” Assessment in a reasonable amount of time. As Hawthorne started fast with four runs Leuzinger High’s baseball team finally went Board member Luciano Aguilar said the test is only in a digital form, the number apiece in the bottom of the first and second the full seven innings in a 9-1 loss to host that he noticed the same reaction when he of students that can concurrently take the test innings, thus enabling the five-inning, West Torrance on May 7. The Olympians was observing students take the exam. He is capped at the number of computers the 10-run-plus mercy rule with five runs in lost in six innings to the Warriors 14-3 last hopes that the increased interest in testing school has that can run the testing software. the bottom of the fourth. At Beverly Hills, Thursday to end Bay action at 0-10 and could lead to high scores for the District. “The test sessions all run through whatever test the Cougars spotted the Normans a 4-1 first were 1-24 overall. “I did get to see the kids on the test and environment is on campus,” said Markarian. inning cushion and then grabbed the lead Cesar Carpia went two for three with two they seemed in their element,” said Aguilar. “When you have a three-hour block of testing for good with four runs in the top of the runs for Leuzinger in its loss to the Warriors. “Hopefully this will help our scores improve and it’s in your only lab and you need to get third. They added three in the fifth and one The three runs were the most the Olympians even more.” multiple classes through, that’s a scheduling in the sixth to pull away. scored in league this year. Sergio Hernandez As a computerized exam, there are more dilemma for an administrator.” The Cougars had a balanced offensive drove in a run for Leuzinger on May 7. options not possible with pen and paper Because of this bottleneck, scheduling attack, led by Aguilar who went three for four West ended up tied for second with tests to adapt it for students with different the next exam takes more effort than in the and drove in four runs. It included a double. Peninsula and Redondo in Bay action at 6-4. needs or preferences. Markarian said students previous version. Markarian said that even Fine Prescott, a standout on Hawthorne’s ANIMO LOSES LEAGUE FINALE in Hawthorne took advantage of some of knowing in advance the state of the District’s Ocean League runner-up girls’ basketball Animo Leadership High’s baseball team the options to make the test more to their computer hardware, he couldn’t have guessed team, also went three for four with one lost its last San Joaquin League game to liking. “You could use text to speech or how complex making sure each student gets RBI. Senior Diane Montenegro went two Lynwood Firebaugh 5-1 on May 6 at Darby display larger text and we had students take enough time at a computer to finish the test for four, drove in one run and scored two. Park in Inglewood. The Aztec-Eagles ended advantage of those options,” said Markarian. actually is. “It really showed us the challenges Casillas pitched five-and-one-third innings, up co-champion with the Falcons. In addition to being more engaging and in scheduling. It really drove home what you allowing one run and two hits. She struck Animo opens the CIF-Southern Section flexible, the test also adapts to a test-taker’s need to do regarding testing and scheduling out five batters and walked only one. Division VII playoffs this week. As of skill level. The exam is computer-adaptive. As your tests,” said Markarian. “We could’ve Hawthorne improved its overall season to May 6, the Aztec-Eagles were ranked the student answers questions (both correctly talked about it for years and I don’t think 14 wins, 12 losses and one tie and finished second behind Nuevo Nuview Bridge in and incorrectly), the test gains an increasingly it would’ve really sunk in how much time 8-2 in league. Hawthorne hopes to host a first the Southern Section Division VII. Animo accurate idea of what level of mastery the and scheduling is needed to fit so many kids round playoff game that begins this week. won the division two years ago. student has on the topic. Usually this process into one lab.” The CIF-Southern Section was expected to ST. MARY’S EXCELS AT takes about 20 questions--although if there While scheduling test-taking time is more draw last Monday. DIVISION IV PRELIMS is a more random distribution of correct and arduous, the reward is test results that are more HAWTHORNE SWEEPS St. Mary’s Academy’s girls’ track and incorrect answers, the number of questions detailed and useful in building curriculum. “It MORNINGSIDE field team from Inglewood had a strong required can more than double. is an investment of time,” said Markarian. “If Hawthorne High’s baseball team closed showing at last Saturday’s CIF-Southern “We need to rethink our understanding of you want more accurate and meaningful test its disappointing Ocean League showing Section Division IV Prelims at Carpentaria assessment,” said Markarian. “It’s not really results, it takes time. There is no way around on a good note by sweeping Inglewood High that could put the Belles in good about the number of questions you answered it. If you want data that is valuable, that is Morningside last week. At Hawthorne on May position for its first CIF championship in correctly. It’s more about the difficulty. So useful and will help you in instruction, it takes 7, the Cougars rolled over the Monarchs 11- five years. The best was in the triple jump a student who answered fewer questions time to administer.” • 1. At Morningside last Thursday, Hawthorne where St. Mary’s qualified five athletes in downed the Monarchs 9-4. Kayla Phillips (38 feet, four inches), Rachel Over the past several games, the Cougars, Toliver (36-1), Bailey Mason (35-7), Jade who are 14-12-1 overall and ended league Shugara (35-5) and Zaynab Bebt-Makail at 3-7, played the final six Ocean contests (35-6.5). The Belles also advanced three without six players--four who were ruled in the 100-meter dash in Siera Peterson academically ineligible and two others who (12.02), Briana Shufford (12.52) and Allanah were injured. Hughes (12.37). However, according to head coach Jeff St. Mary’s advanced both relay teams Hines, Hawthorne is over .500 overall and to the finals. Its 4x100 squad of Hughes, has a shot at advancing to the CIF-Southern Peterson, Aliyah Hale and Toliver qualified Section Division III playoffs as an at-large at 48.05 seconds. Its 4x400 team of Hale, team. Playoffs pairings were expected to Morgan Pecantee, Toliver and Peterson made be announced last Monday and the playoffs the finals clocking 4:03.48. Also making were expected to begin on Tuesday. the finals were Kara Anderson (100-meter Morningside, meanwhile, recorded a 20-5 hurdles, 15.1) and Toliver (200-meter dash, home win over Rancho Dominguez Prep 25.53). from Long Beach last Friday in non-league The Divisional Finals will be Saturday play. The Monarchs ended Ocean play at at 11 a.m. at Mt. San Antonio College in 0-10 and went 3-17 overall. Walnut. •
Lawndale 05_16_13
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