By: David Arkow ’20

Once again, the Middle School used a testing schedule for students during the weeks before Winter Break. Certain classes were only allowed to test students and collect papers on designated days. English, history, and science classes could only test on Dec. 8,9,12,13 or 14. World language and math classes could only test on Dec. 5,6,7,15 or 16.
Ninth grade dean Karen Fukushima said the purpose of the testing calendar was to spread out assessments before Winter Break. Fukushima said that it also allows teachers flexibility so they can choose when they want to give tests to students. If students had more than two tests on a certain day, they had the option to reschedule them to a different day.
“I think the testing calendar has helped. I have had lots of conversations with students planning out the two weeks ahead. I think students knowing ahead of time what is coming is useful and helpful, especially with all of the rehearsals and after school commitments,” Fukushima said.
Fukushima said that one possible place for improvement is asking students what subjects should be put together on certain days. For now, the only testing calendars and schedules throughout the year are before winter break and finals at the end of the year.
“I think the testing calendar is pretty good. The most tests I have had in a day is two. The testing calendar makes the tests pretty spread out so I don’t have to do as much work when I get home,” Henry Greenman ‘20 said.