Midterms Arrive With Accompanying Dread

Just when students thought they couldn't be any more overloaded with schoolwork, teachers write the dreaded word upon the chalkboard:

Midterms.

Though they may seem millions of miles away, those dreaded tests are just around the corner. And some students at Jamesville-DeWitt High School are just beginning to enter panic mode, where all of a sudden it seems much more than just a two-hour exam.

Freshmen who have not experienced the anxiety of midterms will do so for the first time Jan. 27 and 28. Daniel Ortega, a freshman at J-DHS, will be tested in algebra, global history, and the one he is most worried about: Earth science. "I've never been really good at Earth science," Ortega admits. However, he plans to prepare himself with a variety of study tactics, including note cards and study groups.
Other students at J-DHS have become accustomed to these annual exams, which do not terrify them quite as much anymore. Leeza Steciak, a senior at J-DHS, has already begun preparing for her midterms in pre-calculus and physics. Even though she has been forced to jump these hurdles throughout her high school experience, as a senior she isn't exactly looking past them. "I don't like math," Steciak admits, which shows her concern for both the physics and pre-calculus exams.

Much to their dismay, most students have realized that the schedule for midterm week has changed compared to past years. It used to be that students would enjoy a full week off from school, and would only come if they had testing. However, J-DHS principal Paul Gasparini explains that the change to only two days of testing was made in order to make the number of school days more efficient.

"We like to keep as many people in classes as possible," Mr. Gasparini says. "With more than two exam days, it is not an efficient use of our time." Instead, the staff at J-DHS reasons that midterm exams can easily be administered in a two-day window. Subsequently, tests will be given on Thursday and Friday, and the rest of the week will maintain a normal class schedule.

Keith Comfort, a biology teacher at J-DHS, also prefers the new schedule. He stresses the importance of midterms because "(they) are worth more than a test, but its not a huge grade." This is why he refers to them as "midterm evaluations," rather than a midterm exam. "Overall, I think it's a good thing to have in the middle of the year, in respect to an (advanced placement) class."

Do not fret however, as J-DHS upperclassman have been dragged through these examinations before, with no limbs lost. Even though they may seem intimidating and unconquerable, older students who have moved up through the system can offer some useful advice.
"Stay after with your teachers," Steciak says, in order to get extra help with concepts you don't understand. Also, she advises not to save all your studying for the night prior to the test, which is a symptom of the dreaded disease procrastination.
Even Mr. Gasparini gives some insightful suggestions to students at J-DHS. "Use the activity period, go see your teachers, get as much help as you can, and review your notes," he says. Mr. Comfort also stresses the importance of preparing ahead of time, so you are not stuck studying the night before.

So as the semester rolls to a stop, it is time for students to buckle down and start studying for those dreaded exams that spread panic among J-DHS classes. And always remember: those dates written on the chalkboard are closer than they may appear.