Dear HS Parents & Students,
Please take a few minutes to review the HS final exam schedule with your students. As a college prep high school with a strong academic focus, final exams are an important part of making sure our students have the skills, knowledge, and experience to be successful in both HS classes and college.
SENIORS
Seniors will be wrapping up their classes during the week of May 12th – 16th, prior to graduation on Saturday May 17th. Since AP Exams are also taking place during the week of May 12th - 16th, we have created a schedule that provides maximum flexibility for seniors. During this week, seniors only need to be at school during times when they have an AP exam or a final exam and should be checking with their individual teachers regarding these expectations.
* There are a number of very special events happening this last week of school for seniors and their families, so mark your calendars. During the week of May 12th- 16th, seniors will be able to start the “checkout” process and will be able to get their caps and gowns, along with graduation tickets beginning on May 12th, providing all fees have been paid.
Wednesday May 14th at 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (Senior Awards Night & Desserts) – seniors and parents
Friday May 16th at 9:15 a.m. (Senior Breakfast) – seniors only
Saturday May 17th at 9:30 a.m. (GRADUATION) – outside on Track/Turf Field. Seniors arrive at 8:00am in K-8 Gym for graduation photos and processional.
GRADES 9-11
During the week of May 19th – 23rd, all 9th grade, 10th grade, & 11th grade students will be taking final exams for their classes and these exams will count toward 10%-15% of their semester grade. Teachers will be working with students leading up to this last week of the semester to help them understand how to prepare for a cumulative exam. In many ways, the preparation for a cumulative exam is just as important as the exam itself. These exams will be taking place on Monday-Thursday from 8:15am-11:20am. All HS students will be dismissed at 11:20am each day to prepare for the following days exams. Please plan to have students dropped off at school by 8am each day and picked up at 11:20am. The only exception to this is on Thursday the 22nd when students have a final exam makeup time slot if needed and there is a K-8 dismissal time of 11:30am.
In addition to the final exam schedule below, we have also included some recommended final exam study tips. Please take some time to review this information with your student and help them approach the end of the semester with the confidence that comes from being well prepared.
1. Give yourself enough time to study
Don’t leave it until the last minute. While some students do seem to thrive on last-minute 'cramming', it's widely accepted that for most of us, this is not the best way to approach an exam. Set out a timetable for your study. Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. Then organize your study accordingly. You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so find a balance that you feel comfortable with.
2. Organize your study space
Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your computer games out of sight? Try and get rid of all distractions, and make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible. For some people, this may mean almost complete silence; for others, background music helps.
Some of us need everything completely tidy and organized in order to concentrate, while others thrive in a more cluttered environment. Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.
3. Use flow charts and diagrams
Visual aids can be really helpful when revising. At the start of a topic, challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic - and then highlight where the gaps lie. Closer to the exam, condense your revision notes into one-page diagrams. Getting your ideas down in this brief format can then help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.
4. Practice with old questions
One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice with previous questions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and - if you time yourself - can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section.
5. Explain your answers to others
Parents and little brothers and sisters don't have to be annoying around exam time! Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.
6. Organize study groups with friends
Get together with friends for a study session. You may have questions that they have the answers to and vice versa. As long as you make sure you stay focused on the topic for an agreed amount of time, this can be one of the most effective ways to challenge yourself.
7. Take regular breaks
While you may think it's best to study for as many hours as possible, this can actually be counterproductive. If you were training for a marathon, you wouldn't try and run 24 hours a day! Likewise studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.
Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or if you're more productive at nighttime, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down come evening. Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks.
Remember Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain!
8. Snack on 'brain food'
Keep away from junk food! You may feel like you deserve a treat, or that you don't have time to cook, but what you eat can really have an impact on energy levels and focus. Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious foods that have been proven to aid concentration and memory, such as fish, nuts, seeds, yogurt and blueberries. The same applies on exam day
Eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but it won't help when your energy levels crash an hour or so later.
9. Plan your exam day
Make sure you get everything ready well in advance of the exam - don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realize you don't know the way, or what you're supposed to bring. Check all the rules and requirements, and plan your route and journey time.
If possible, do a test run of the trip; if not, write down clear directions.
Work out how long it will take to get there - then add on some extra time. You really don't want to arrive having had to run halfway or feeling frazzled from losing your way. You could also make plans to travel to the exam with friends or classmates, as long as you know they're likely to be punctual!
10. Drink plenty of water
As a final tip, remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision, and also on the exam day.
Thank you,
Adam DiGiacomo
High School Principal
Prospect Ridge Academy