Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 30, 2015 19A
Polk County Education
Test results provide baseline
Schools get first look at how students performed on Common Core tests
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
Dallas
Language arts
Math
72 percent
31 percent
Central
Language arts
Math
68 percent
22 percent
Perrydale
Language arts
Math
54 percent
13 percent
Falls City
Language arts
Math
65 percent
25 percent
* Level 3 or higher. Source: Department of Education
Graphic by JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
Juniors in Polk County had mixed result on new tests.
state, we did fairly well,” Mil-
burn said.
Perrydale’s scores were
above of the state average at
most grades, though there
was one notable exception:
11th grade math.
Last year’s juniors only
scored a level 3 or higher at a
13 percent rate. Milburn ex-
plained that many had al-
ready demonstrated
achievement of essential
skills required for gradua-
tion before taking the test.
He said, for some, it was
hard to take the test serious-
ly under that circumstance.
While it’s hard to measure
progress year to year with a
new test, Central School Dis-
trict appears to have its work
cut out for it. Students ex-
ceeded the state average for
level 3 and 4 in high school
language arts, with a 67.5
percent rate. Central Super-
intendent Buzz Brazeau
noted the older students had
little time to conquer Com-
mon Core standards.
“The older kids, they did
well in language arts, but
they struggled a bit in
math,” he said.
Only 22.4 percent of jun-
iors scored at a level 3 or
higher.
That doesn’t mean that
nearly 80 percent of Cen-
tral’s seniors are at risk to
not graduate. Keeping in line
with state law, the State
Board of Education adopted
a separate set of scores for
graduation requirements:
level 2 on the math and
reading test, and level 3 on
the writing portion. That
was necessary because Ore-
gon is required to notify stu-
dents when they are in
eighth grade what is re-
quired for graduation.
If they miss those marks,
students can provide work
samples to show achieve-
ment of “essential skills” in
reading, writing and math to
qualify for graduation.
Dallas School District saw
scores hovering around state
averages at most grades and
much better than expected
based on field testing of the
assessment before Smarter
Balanced went statewide.
“We know we have a lot of
room to grow,” said Steve
Martinelli, the district’s di-
rector of instructional serv-
ices. “We are looking to con-
tinue to try to grow in the
mathematics.”
Last year’s group of sev-
enth graders trailed the rest
of the state in language arts
and math by a significant
amount, following a pattern
since third grade. Martinelli
Lunch program now at The Gate
INDEPENDENCE – For the last 26 years, The Gate has hosted
“church lunch” across the street from Central High School at the
Baptist Church.
All students may attend during their lunch period, where they
may eat lunch for $2 and listen to a speaker.
Sponsorships are available for students unable to pay.
For more information: Diane Riddell, bdriddell6@gmail.com.
Rotary Clubs accepting applicants
POLK COUNTY – Every year, the Rotary clubs of Dallas and
Monmouth-Independence host high school students from more
than 20 different countries.
The clubs also give opportunities to local high school stu-
dents to travel internationally through the program.
For more information about hosting a foreign exchange stu-
dent, or to apply to become one: Bob Archer (Monmouth-Inde-
pendence Rotary Club), barch@minetfiber.com, 503-409-4039;
Dallas Rotary Club, contact on Facebook.
WOU to study rural Latino children
MONMOUTH – Doris Cancel-Tirado, assistant principal of
health at Western Oregon University, was awarded a 24-month,
$100,000 grant through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s
New Connections program.
The grant will allow her to explore the associations among in-
dividual, family and community factors, and the mental and
physical well-being of rural Latino children.
It will also allow Cancel-Tirado to explore Latina mothers’ per-
ceived barriers and opportunities to providing their children the
best foundation for healthy development and productive lives.
The results of the project will inform initiatives to support
low-income Latino children that could potentially decrease
health disparities.
KVCS begins annual wreath sale
KINGS VALLEY — Kings Valley Charter School is taking orders
for holiday wreaths between now and Oct. 20 The fundraiser ben-
efits the Parent Teacher Organization. Contact, hukari@peak.org.
RECYCLE
this newspaper
October Birthstone
Brittany Dawn
Varney
We love you so much!
xoxo
503-623-3117
837 Main St. • Dallas
:)
POLK COUNTY — Stu-
dent performance on the
new Smarter Balanced as-
sessments revealed some
encouraging numbers, areas
needing work on — and lost
data — for local school dis-
tricts.
Schools across the state
administered the new test,
which was more difficult
and in a new format, for the
first time last spring.
The state released the
complete data on Sept. 17.
As expected, all school
districts have work to do to
get their students to the “col-
lege and career ready” levels
that are the new achieve-
ment benchmark on the
Common Core-based test.
Test scores fell into four
categories, with level 4 being
the highest and level 1 the
lowest. Students earning
level 3 and 4 on the test are
considered “college and ca-
reer ready” for their grade
level. Those earning level 2 or
lower are behind. Statewide,
students achieved a level 3
and above at a 54 percent
rate for language arts and at
41 percent rate for math.
“It gives us some good
data to work with, for sure,”
said Perrydale Superinten-
dent Eric Milburn of the first
set of results.
Perrydale appears to have
fallen victim to what Mil-
burn hopes would be a first-
year glitch. The state appar-
ently lost school’s fifth-grade
math test data.
“I know for a fact that we
did (take the test), but it’s
not there,” Milburn said.
“They can’t find any data
proof.”
The issue had Perrydale
miss the state’s testing partic-
ipation target of 95 percent.
With the missing scores it is
at 84.4 percent.
In spite of that snafu, Mil-
burn said he was pleased
with the scores.
“In comparison with the
High School 11th-grade results 2014-15*
said the district staff will be
taking a deeper look at the
data to help those students.
“It’s a concern that we
know that and we haven’t
been about to close that
gap,” Martinelli said.
With its smaller class
sizes, Falls City’s assessment
scores are often volatile. This
year was no exception.
Last year’s juniors scored
close to the state average in
language arts, though all
other grades in both math
and language arts fell short.
Su p e r i n t e n d e n t Ja c k
Thompson said compar-
isons to last year are diffi-
cult, but that doesn’t mean
he’s pleased with the results.
“Not even close,” he said.
He said the district has in
the last two years adopted
new Common Core-based
curriculum and that should
help in future years.
Thompson said he’s hop-
ing the new test will provide
similar details about how
students performed on cer-
tain parts as Oregon’s former
assessment, OAKS. He said
that information was used to
tutor students.
“That was (valuable) in-
formation,” he said. ““Ulti-
mately, it (the test) needs to
be something that we can
use in the classroom.”
For more information or
to look at the results:
www.ode.state.or.us.
SCHOOL NOTES
Mon-Fri 9-5:30
Sat 9-1
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Serving Polk Co. Since 1875
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297½ N. Pacific Hwy
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Polk County Flea Market. 9 am to 3 pm. Polk
County Fairgrounds, 520 S Pacific Hwy W. Rickreall.
Polk County's oldest and largest market with 183
tables selling antiques, collectibles, tools, etc.
Admission $1. For more info contact Deb Thomas 503-428-8224.
Monmouth Independence Chamber of Commerce presents the FALL SERIES PEP Talks.
Beginning with How to Increase Your Business Faster & Easier by David Harrison.
Workshops are held 1 pm to 2 pm at Henry Hill Community Center. 750 S. 5th St.
Independence. Light refreshments included in cost. $10 MI Chamber members and
$15 for non members. Reserve your spot online at www.micc-or.org or by calling the
chamber before noon on October 5th, 503-838-4268.
Brunk House Apple Festival. 10 am to 3 pm. Make and buy your own fresh-squeezed
cider, tour a pioneer farmhouse and gardens, visit the machine sheds, and stay for
delicious apple desserts for sale in the homey Brunk House kitchen. Free admission.
Desserts and cider for purchase. 5705 Salem-Dallas Hwy (Hwy 22) Near the junction of
Hwy 51 to Independence and Restlawn Cemetery.
MI Chamber Forum: Tobacco Policies in Monmouth & Independence presented by
Matthew Stevenson, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program Coordinator, Polk
County Family & Community Outreach; 2 PM to 1 PM at Rogue Farms; complimentary
food and drink provided by Rogue. Rogue Farms 3590 Wigrich Road Independence, OR
MI Chamber Mixer: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Polk County Museum hosted by the Polk
County Historical Society; Grow your professional network while enjoying a treasure hunt
at the museum. 560 S Pacific Hwy (99W) Next to the Polk County Fairgrounds.
History of the Grange in Polk County. 1:30 to 4 pm. Speaker, Lee Goodrich, will present
a program describing the history of the Grange as an institution in Polk County. Admission
is Free but welcome donations. Polk County Museum, 560 S Pacific Hwy (99W) Next to
the Polk County Fairgrounds.
Discover MI Town! This passport-style tour of businesses and organizations is designed
to showcase the many wonderful restaurants, stores, and organizations we have in our
community while supporting Chamber-related programs and services. The event will be
held Saturday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM in downtown Independence and downtown
Monmouth. Shuttle service will be available to transport participants as they “Discover MI
Town!” Tickets will go on sale once all host sites and guest vendors are confirmed.
Go to www.micc-or.org for more info.
Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce’s SPOOKTACULAR BINGO!
See box below for info...
Monmouth Downtown Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular 3:30-6 pm, safe and family friendly!
Happy Halloween. Be careful of ghouls and goblins out trick or treating!
503-838-2951
165 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1773
410 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1141
297 N Pacific
Monmouth
Every Tuesday 10:15 AM, Toddler Story Time for ages 18 mos. to 3 yrs. Monmouth Public Li-
brary, 168 S. Ecols St.
Every Tuesday 7:30 PM - Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen for younger mem-
bers, meets at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Dallas. Al-Anon is an established community re-
source for people affected by another's use of alcohol. The resource can aid the recovery process
for the entire family through hope, comfort and loving interchange among members having a
common problem. For more information call 503-370-7363, leave a message - you will be con-
tacted.
Second and Fourth Tuesdays - 9:15 to 11 a.m. Mothers of Preschoolers (MoPS) meets at Mon-
mouth Christian Church, 959 W. Church St., Monmouth.
Every Wednesday 10:15 AM, Preschool Story Time for ages 3-6 years. Monmouth Library,
168 S. Ecols St.
Every Wednesday Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank, 10am to noon, Monmouth Christian
Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For eligible community members; available every
Wednesday. 541-404-6517.
Every Wednesday 6:30 PM - Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen for younger
members, meets at Trinity Lutheran Church at 320 Fir Villa Rd. in Dallas. Al-Anon is an established
community resource for people affected by another's use of alcohol. The resource can aid the
recovery process for the entire family through hope, comfort and loving interchange among mem-
bers having a common problem. For more information call 503-370-7363, leave a message - you
will be contacted.
Every 2nd Wednesday Monmouth-Independence Chamber lunch forum. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Location changes. Please call Jean Love or visit our Calendar of Events at micc-or.org for more
information. 503-838-4268
Every 3rd Wednesday each month. BINGO at the Farm, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Come play BINGO
in the Chatoe out at Rogue Farms. Join us every third Wednesday of the month through 2014!
So bring your family and friends and get ready to win! Boards, daubers, and prizes provided!
Rogue Farms Chatoe Tasting Room, 3590 Wigrich Road Independence, OR
Every Thursday 7 p.m. 314 Cottonwood Way, Monmouth. Polk and Marion County Women
meet to discuss and research alternative/safer approaches to conventional treatments of hor-
monal imbalance.
Every 2nd Thursday 7:00 PM Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) open meeting. Mon-
mouth Volunteer Hall. Info: 503-838-8804
Every 3rd Thursday After Hour Mixers with Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber members and friends are invited to join us for our FREE monthly after-hours mixers.
Mixers are held the third Thursday of each month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at member locations.
Registration is requested to help the host site properly prepare. Attendees are encouraged to
bring a small giveaway (less than $10) to promote your business or organization. For location
and or more information, contact Jean Love 503-838-4268 or visit our Calendar of Events at
micc-or.org for more information.
Every Friday TOPS-Weight Loss Group meets at the Monmouth Church of Christ, 127 Heffley
St. N., Monmouth. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information please feel free to contact Marilyn at
503-930-7936.
Every Saturday Riverview Market Now through October 9 AM - 2 Pm Riverview Park 50 C.
St., Independence
Every Saturday The Original Independence Farmers Market 9 am to 2 pm Umpqua Bank
parking lot in historic downtown Independence.
Every 1st Saturday 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Monmouth Senior Center host breakfast. All you
can eat, Adults $6 Donation, Children 12 & under $3 Donation. For more info: 503 838-5678
First Saturday 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Mon-Fri 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m.-Crafter’s Cottage at the Mon-
mouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St. Handmade items, watercolors, needlepoint, towels,
bead jewelry, dolls, blankets, sweaters, jellies, etc....New items always arriving!