All posts by Charlyn M.

2011 Testing Information

Click here for the 2011 Test Registration Form (no longer available; see 2012 information)

Note: Important information about changes to the test are below the general testing information.  Scroll down or click here to see.

The tests this year will be held on:

Tues., May 17 at Peace Lutheran Church
Phone: 541-276-7592
(9th and Carden, Pendleton)


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Wed., May 18 at Nazarene Church of Hermiston
Phone: 541-567-3677
(1520 W. Orchard Extension, Hermiston)  Take the Hwy 207 Exit off I-84.  Go North about 5 miles. Go through the stop light at Highland and Hwy 207. At Orchard turn left and go about ½ mile. Church is on the right.


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Pendleton Testing times:

Grade 3        9:00-11:15    Optional Plus tests       11:25-12:45

Grades 4-12  9:00-11:45    Optional Plus tests       11:55- 1:00

Hermiston Testing times:

Grade 1        9:00-11:15     Grade 3            9:00-11:15

Grade 2        9:00-10:50     Grade 4-12       9:00-11:45

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to testing time. Pencils are provided. Calculators are optional for some tests, but are not furnished. Students may bring a book to read while they are waiting for others to finish. They may also bring a snack for break time. Grades 1, 2, and 3 each test separately. Students in grades 4-12 test together.

Testing is done by Basic Skills of Oregon City. The test is the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS)/TerraNova1Survey edition with the optional Plus tests. The cost is $42 per student for the Survey test with an additional fee of $8 for an optional diagnostic profile. The profile gives you more specific information of the content of the questions your child missed.  If you wish to add on the optional Plus tests, there is an additional fee of $13 for the test and an additional $2 for the profile.  (The total cost per student for Survey and Plus Tests together is $55, plus $10 for the profile.)

Testing is required by the state in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. Some school districts require testing if home school students are to participate in public school sports or activities. CTBS/Terra Nova 1 Survey is sufficient to meet Oregon’s or Washington’s testing requirement.

Practice tests called “Achieving Peak Performance” are available through the Pendleton Home School Association (PHSA) website.  Click on the Basic Skills button under “links”. Practice tests are available in hard copy or e-book form and are reproducible for your own family use.  If you utilize the PHSA website our local home school support group receives a % of the sales. (Thank you for your support!)

If you have questions, feel free to contact Janet at (541) 443-2920 or 541-443-2922

email: witnesstree@eoni.com

DEADLINE for REGISTRATION and PAYMENT is May 7th, 2011.

CURRICULUM SALE: If you have any curriculum that you wish to sell, there will be a sale area available at each test site. Please have each item clearly labeled with your name and the item price.  Sale items and money are the responsibility of the seller.

Pendleton & Hermiston Testing Changes in 2011

The test used in previous years, the CAT 5, is no longer an accepted test version by the Oregon Dept. of Education.  Basic Skills of Oregon City had to purchase all new tests for 2011. The new test will be the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS)/TerraNova1Survey edition with the optional Plus tests.

What does this mean for you?

  • The basic “Survey” test report will look shorter, listing only reading, language, and math.
  • Optional “Plus” testing is available.  The Plus testing includes: vocabulary, language mechanics, spelling, mathematics, and (in grades 2 and 3 only) word analysis.
  • In portions of the math tests students in grades 3 and up have the option to use calculators, but calculators are not provided. If you decide you want your student to use a calculator, please make sure it is one the student is used to using.
  • The new survey takes about the same amount of time to complete as the old test.  Adding the optional plus tests adds another 60-90 minutes to the student’s testing time.
  • Adding the optional Plus test will provide additional information, but it will not change the total combined result in a Total Score percentile rank that you report to the ESD.

  • PLUS TESTS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT THE PENDLETON SITE.

  • TESTING FOR GRADES 1 AND 2 WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT THE HERMISTON SITE.

We are still working the kinks out of using a new set of tests.  We appreciate your patience.  Go to the Basic Skills website if you wish to read more about the new test.

2010 Membership Forms

I have put the new membership form onto the Forms page.

The new things for this year have to do with the Sports Fee.  Last year the Association was able to pay for the gym for Sports due to a surplus in the checking account.  This year that is not the case.  We had to have two sports times in the gym due to the large turnout and we have to pay rental fees for the Recreation Center.  Janet further explains the fee:

“We have approximately 20 days of indoor sports of 2 hours each (Group A and Group B.)  That would be $480.00 if the price stays at $12.00 per hour, but it could cost as much as $15.00 per hour ($600.00.)  We settled on $30.00 per family to hopefully cover all the costs with 15-20 families participating.  If we have money left over at the end of the year, we can adjust the sports fee for the following year accordingly.”

Please indicate which of your children will be participating in sports when filling out the membership form.  Remember: the child must be 9 or turn 9 during the sports season. (Sept.-May)

Remember to read the Bylaws and sign that you have read them.

Looking forward to seeing you next year!