Jersey City Public School #34
1830 Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City NJ 07305

February 26, 2004

Dear Parents,

From Monday, March 8, 2004, through Thursday, March 11, 2004, all of our eighth graders will be taking the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (the “GEPA” exam). This is a state test of reading, writing, math and science. All eighth graders in the entire state of New Jersey will be taking this test at the same time.

This is a very important exam for your child. The GEPA tests skills that students need to pass the High School Proficiency Assessment, which is the state’s high school graduation test.

You can help by doing the following:

· Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep each night during exam week.
· Make sure your child gets to school on time each day.
· Our school will be providing breakfast for all our eighth graders during exam week, so please make sure they arrive at school at 8:10 am during exam week.
· Encourage your child to do the best that he or she can do on the exam.
· Congratulate your child on his or her hard work and achievements.

We have been working very hard with your children all year long to prepare for this important exam. With your help, we are certain that our students will perform to the best of their abilities.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the school. (201) 915-6550.


Very truly yours,



Ms. Christine Myrlak
Principal


Mr. Paul Dix Ms. Cathy O’Callahan Mr. Michael Porter
Ms. Coreen Ensmenger Math Language Arts
Science

8th Grade Language Arts – Mr. Porter’s Class
2004 Mid Term Exam Syllabus


Writing Exam Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Part 1 -- Persuasive Essay. You will be given a topic and expected to write a 5 paragraph essay explaining your opinion on the topic, the reasons for your opinion, and the action that you want the reader to take.

Part 2 – Picture Prompt. You will be given a picture and expected to write a two-page story with a beginning, middle and end, along with vivid details and dialogue (people speaking in quotation marks).

Part 3 – Revise/Edit/Re-write. You will be given a text with many errors in it. You will be expected to re-write it, correcting the grammar, spelling and punctuation. You will also need to re-organize the text because there will be sentences out of order. You will also need to add new sentences to the text to make it 5 good paragraphs.


Reading Exam Tuesday, January 20

Part 1 – Narrative Text. You will read a short story, then answer 10 multiple choice questions and one open-ended question about the story. Your answer to the open-ended question must: be written in complete sentences; be long; answer all parts of the question; use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation; and contain support or information from the text.

Part 2 – Informational Text. You will read an encyclopedia article, then answer 10 multiple choice questions and one open-ended question.

Part 3 – Persuasive Text. You will be given a topic and two short articles expressing opposite opinions on the topic. For example, last year’s topic was, “Should students be allowed to bring cell phones to school?” You will then answer 10 multiple choice questions on the two opinion essays and write one open-ended question (usually, where you are asked which side of the debate you support.)

Part 4 – Everyday Text. Last year, the everyday text was a section from a First Aid Handbook explaining what to do if someone gets a cut, scrape or nosebleed. The year before that the everyday text was the Help Wanted section of a newspaper. You will then answer 10 multiple choice questions and one open-ended question about the text.

Happy 2004!!!!

Homework due Wed 1/6/04 -- My Homeroom: write your newspaper article on Ms. Petrick. Mr. Dix's homeroom: complete poetry worksheet on "The Wreck of the Hesperus."