Dear Parent(s) and/or Guardians:

Please be advised that your child is required to develop a project that demonstrates his/her best work for the first three and a half months of the school year. All teachers and administrators will be working with your child to help develop her/his project for exhibition and evaluation. We need your support to ensure your child is dedicated to doing her/his best work.

On November 13, 2008, and again on April 28, 2009, every MCS student is being required to exhibit, at their school, a project that demonstrates her/his best work. The exhibition will allow each student an opportunity to showcase her/his unique talent and ability. At Memphis City Schools we believe that the high stakes, standardized tests that all students are required to take and pass only tell one part of what your child knows and is capable of doing. By developing and exhibiting his/her best work, every student has an opportunity to inform teachers, administrators and the community what they know and can do.

You are also advised that such projects are a part of the new graduation requirements established by the State Department of Education for current 8th grade students. In this regard, MCS is beginning now to prepare its elementary and middle school students for the new graduation requirements.

It is clear to us that by developing projects that require students to analyze, create, and use practical knowledge and skills that students will use information in multiple ways. They will become motivated to show us what they can do, and will become better prepared for the world of work and/or higher education. In this regard, you, as parents, are vital to this aspect of your child’s development.

Please, please, discuss with your child at home the development of her/his project. Get involved with the preparation of your child’s project by assisting with research, preparing of the project for exhibition, and rehearsing your child on his/her presentation of the project to judges. Our teachers and administrators will be doing the same at school. Your reinforcement of work being done at school will help your child do his/her best work. This is important because your child’s work will be evaluated by a visiting committee and a score for the project will be included on student progress reports and report cards.

Equally important to supporting and encouraging the development of your child’s project will be your presence at school to view the exhibition and presentation of the work on November 13th. On that day a visiting committee will be in your child’s school to evaluate all student work on exhibition. In addition, we are inviting all citizens of Memphis to visit any school to view and witness what our students know and can do. The exhibition of student work is an essential part of the teaching and learning enterprise, and your active engagement is fundamental to its success. Please plan accordingly.

For additional information please be in touch with your child’s teacher or school administrator.

Respectfully

Irving Hamer, Jr.