The Smarter Balance Assessment provides an annual snapshot of your student’s academic growth.  For students in grades 3 through 8 and 11, the Smarter Balanced Assessment offers the opportunity to apply the skills and content knowledge that they have learned in face-to-face class, online through the curriculum and in independent learning opportunities.   Based on last year’s results, our students are well prepared for success on the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  The length of the test has been reduced from last year as have the number of days of testing. Please be certain to review your division/island calendar for Smarter Balanced Assessment dates and times.
Did you know…
that Hawaii is not an “opt out” state.  If your student does not participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessment, HTA is demerited on our academic performance framework.  The academic performance framework is a key indicator in Hawaii’s StriveHI system for school improvement.  In 2015, HTA was demerited an average of 2% of those students who tested as proficient in each subject area.  As a result, HTA remains in School Focus status.  This means that our school falls subject to school improvement measures mandated by the Department of Education.  Below you can view an example of how a participation rate of less than 95% impacts our scores.


HTA encourages all students to participate in SBA testing so that we can celebrate the academic growth of our students and collect data to better equip us as teachers and parent learning coaches in enriching their learning experience.  As a reminder, if you refuse testing for your student, your student still needs to report to the learning center or test site on the scheduled test dates.
We thank you in advance for supporting your student during the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  
With Aloha,
Ms. Fitz and Mr. Zitello

...did you know that HTA’s Kona and Oahu Middle School Robotics teams both made it to the state competition this year?  The Kona team won theJudge’s Award for Sportsmanship and the Oahu team performed so well that they advanced to the World Competition!  Testimony from the students of Oahu’s HTA Robotics Team……….


7th Grader- A. Hanby:
“I love HTA Robotics because I met a lot of amazing kids and it helps me learn about technology and our future.”
7th Grader- S. James-Piedra:
“I think HTA Robotics is awesome because we get to learn about robots, and how to work as a team to solve different challenges”
7th Grader- C. Brown:
“I really enjoy HTA Robotics because I get to learn about how to program and build robots to solve a challenge. One day I would like to become a robot engineer”
8th Grader- R. Craythorn:
“I really like HTA Robotics because I’ve learned so much and met many interesting people. I can play around with robots and socialize with my friends.”
8th Grader- Z. Peerboom:
“I love HTA Robotics because it is a place that I can socialize, build and drive robots with other students that have the same passion.”

A message from Jeff Brown, the coach of Oahu’s HTA Robotics Team……….
“The HTA Robotics Team seeks help raising funds for our trip to the Vex IQ Robotics World Championships in Louisville, KY. Our students have worked tirelessly this season to secure a victory at the Hawaii State Vex IQ Robotics Championships. As State Champions we now need your help to reach our goal of attending the World Championships. In order to meet this goal, we are asking for donations or sponsorships from local businesses and the HTA Ohana.  By giving, you will be helping our students represent HTA and our great State of Hawaii as they compete with the best teams from around the world in this prestigious international competition.”
Why you might want to help?

• HTA is cultivating a true sense of school pride and ohana, one in which we support each other when and where possible.
• Successful schools celebrate school success! HTA is in the business of celebration, as there are countless other successes on a daily basis
• HTA Robotics has put out the “Bat Signal” to our community and we hope that people will consider helping.  Traveling to Worlds and participating in the competition is expensive, and although they are fundraising, the team hopes that the community will support them.  
• Click here to donate to the Robotics Team via paypal or check via HTA’s associated non-profit, Friends of HTA.
• Do you know about Friends of HTA? Friends of HTA (FoHTA), exists “to provide financial assistance for school related activities, functions, and facilities”.  Click here to visit the FoHTA website

HTA and the Oahu Robotics Team thanks you! for your support!