Chandler Intermediate to host TAKS Parent Night
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

In preparation for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests, Chandler Intermediate School will hold its TAKS Parent Night January 31 to help prepare families for the testing.

The TAKS testing will take place in the spring, with the first tests beginning on March 4.

Anita Cates, counselor for CIS, said the Parent Night attendees will meet in the areas designated by the teachers. Each parent will go to the room, likely the classroom or lab room used by the teacher who teaches the parents' children, designated by the teacher.

"They're going to do fun activities with the parents," Cates said. "The night will be full of hands-on activities."

The night's activities will begin at 6:30 pm, with a part for those taking specialty TAKS tests beginning at 6 pm. The event will go until 7:30.

During the evening parents will go through different stations, Cates said.

"Parents have a punch ticket; after they go through all the stations and get the tickets punched they will be treated to a hot dog dinner," Cates said.

The evening will be free of charge courtesy of CIS.

According to a CIS release, the goal of TAKS Parent Night is to provide parents with information on the TAKS tests. This year the information will come as a result of parents working with teachers on different activities.

However, Cates said, this comes as a departure from last year's Parent Night.

"This is going to be different from last year," Cates said. "Last year all the parents sat down in the teachers ' areas and listened to a presentation of TAKS information. "

Cates also said 2008 is going to be a more "hands-on" year in regards to giving parents useful information about TAKS testing and how to prepare students for it.

The TAKS schedule for CIS begins in March.

March 4 - 4th grade writing, 5th grade reading

April 8 - 5th grade math

April 29 - 4th and 6th grade math

April 30 - 4th and 6th grade reading

May 1st - 5th grade science