It is difficult for me to believe we are rapidly moving toward the conclusion of the 2009-2010 school year, and despite our best efforts, time does not stand still.

The end of the school year comes with the usual events-budgeting for the upcoming school year, awards and recognition programs at our schools, graduation and the ensuing celebrations-but before any of that can happen, our students will participate in several standardized tests.

Some of the tests are mandated by the State Department of Education. Specifically, I'm referring to the Pennsylvania School System of Assessment Tests, better known as the PSSAs. In April our third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and 11th graders will take PSSA Reading and Math Tests. Our fifth, eighth and 11th graders will take the PSSA Writing Test, while our fourth, eighth and 11th graders take the PSSA Science Test.

As you will read in this publication, the Bethel Park School District continues to do very well on these annually mandated exams. It is the goal of every school district in Pennsylvania to make AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) on these exams and I am pleased that all Bethel Park schools are not only reaching AYP targets, but we are exceeding State averages on these tests.

The Department of Education presents Keystone Achievement Awards to individual schools who make AYP for two consecutive years and at our January meeting, we presented those awards to the Principals in all eight of our schools, who proudly accepted those awards on behalf of the teaching staffs AND STUDENTS in their respective buildings for making AYP in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

Additionally, our Science Department received a Certificate of Achievement from the Keystone Teacher Association for the district's performance on the PSSA Science Exams. Bethel Park's scores ranked us #16 among the 501 school districts in Pennsylvania on the PSSA Science Exam. I'm sure our Science Teachers are looking at ways to climb even higher in the rankings in 2010.

While the district takes pride in our performance on the PSSAs, they are not the only method we use to measure our students' academic progress. This spring first and second graders will take the Terra Nova Tests and our sixth graders will take the InView Test. Throughout the school year our students also take the 4Sight Benchmark Assessments. All of these tests provide our teachers and administrators with a clearer and more complete picture of individual student progress and greatly assists Us with decisions about future curriculum and program offerings.

So while our parents are currently busy making plans for end of the year celebrations and summer vacations, we continue to keep our eyes focused on the goal of every student reaching academic excellence.

This message appears in the February 2010 issue of the Bethel Park Chronicles.