Dear Commander Families and Students,
It’s testing week. I can hear your collective groans and — look, I get it. Testing is stressful. It pressures us and pulls our attention away from other important things. But, it’s also temporary. And the way we think about testing impacts how it goes. Research shows that when we think, “stress is stressful,” it sparks avoidant, isolating behaviors, along with adverse health consequences — racing heart, disrupted digestion, and so on. When we substitute that thought with, “stress is normal,” it sparks courage, builds a sense of shared struggle, and catalyzes the physiological processes of connection and relaxation. It’s like philosopher William James said: “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
This week, let’s choose: Stress is normal. Check out this test visualization strategy to reduce test anxiety some time between now and your testing session.
Students, you must attend P/SAT or SAT testing on your assigned day. The Colorado Department of Education requires that 95% of our student body whose guardians have not opted them out participate in testing. We will have a raffle and prizes for students who attend their session.
Families and Students, please remember that most students will finish their assessment by noon and are dismissed at that time unless they are in an extended time accommodation room. Students will be able to pick up a sack lunch and leave. SEE TESTING SCHEDULE BELOW and only attend on the day you test. Whether you test on Wednesday or Thursday is dependent on your grade-level credit; for example, if you are in the Class of 2025, but have Freshmen credits, you will take the 8/9 P/SAT on Wednesday. SENIORS will receive individual emails if they have an obligation to attend school on the 12th or 13th.
Please attend our Spring Conferences from 4 – 7 pm on 4/12/23. ALL Senior families and students who missed the mandatory meeting the past Wednesday MUST attend the Mandatory Senior Parent Information night from 5 – 7 pm in the auditorium on 4/12/23.
Safety continues to be our number one priority, please wear your IDs every day and follow our updated school safety protocols every day.
I am looking forward to dancing the night away at Prom this weekend Have a Commander Kind of Weekend! Tiffany Almon, Proud and Grateful Principal
She, her, hers, and why they matter tiffany_almon@dpsk12.net
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