Hello Giant Parents and Students!

Conferences are February 3rd and 4th from 3:15-7:15 in our gym. We hope to see all of you there with your child. It is so nice to meet all of you and talk about your child's progress.

We have just completed our first round of OAKS testing in mathematics and reading.  Our goal this year is to increase our students' who meet and exceed their tests by 5 percent.  It is important to know that if your child has an exceed mark on his/her score it is a very good predictor that they will be meeting their benchmarks in tenth grade, and be prepared for college.  Pilot Butte is committed to getting all of our students ready for college.  We will test every student twice and those who do not hit the exceed mark will test a third time.  We know from past experience the more tries and the later in the year our students test, the higher their scores go. 

We also have a goal to have 93% attendance this year.  We had a huge dip in October due to the H1N1 virus and are trying very hard to make up the difference.  Please plan vacations during vacation times.  We know the more your child is here in class, the better they will do on their academics. 

It is also important for you to know that all students who will graduate in the year 2014 and after will have to pass their OAKS test in high school as part of the graduation requirement. 

Bend High Parent Night and Mountain View Parent Night will be on March 1st at 7:00 p.m. in their auditoriums for their upcoming freshman.  This is a wonderful chance for you and your child to see all of the options and programs offered, and gives you a good idea of what to register for in 9th grade.  Our 8th grade students will be meeting with their prospective high schools on March 8th and 10th to complete their schedules for 9th grade.  Please look over your child's choices and encourage them to take the classes they will be challenged in. 

Thanks for all your support. 

Sincerely,

Stephanie Bennett
Principal