Lodi students honored for high AP test scores
Lodi High students did extremely well on AP tests administered at the end of the past school year and teachers and administrators at the school wanted the community to know.
A group gathered at the school’s campus on Tuesday evening and made signs that were placed on the lawns of 76 students who scored a five out of five on their AP tests.
Advanced placement classes are college-level courses and if students pass the AP tests they can receive college credit. Students must score at least a three to pass a test. Students can take multiple AP courses.
“It’s a very difficult test,” Vice Principal Angela Lestrange said. “Some of the AP tests are more difficult than others, but it is a very difficult thing to achieve (getting a five on an AP test) because it is a standardized test that’s nationwide, it’s not just school specific.”
This is the first year Lodi High is recognizing students for scoring a five.
Beth Oesterman, who teaches AP history, led the campaign to have the signs made for the 76 students.
The idea came about when Robert and Kristin Winterhalter, both AP teachers, were watching the news and saw that other communities were recognizing students who score fives on their AP exams.
“It’s just a very worthwhile endeavor,” said Oesterman. “It represents commitment, hard work, lots of hours on both the students’ behalf and family, and of course the teachers here.”
Teachers and administrators exchanged ideas on how to design the signs. Along with personal notes, the PBS slogan, ‘Lead by example’ appears on the signs.
The students that had the signs placed on their lawns ranged from freshmen to seniors. The idea is to surprise them when they wake up and walk outside their doors, seeing the congratulatory signs on their lawns.
Even the parents would be surprised, as they weren’t told about this plan either.
A group started planting the signs on lawns after the sun went down, breaking up into seven different groups and driving to various neighborhoods in Lodi, from city to country areas.
It took two weeks of planning to get the signs ready to be distributed. They wanted to have the signs placed before the new school year starts next Tuesday.
Lodi High plans on doing this in the future, Lestrange said.
“We want them (students) to know that they are appreciated and recognized, and that we notice their hard work,” Lestrange said. “And that their hard work has paid off, and that we appreciate how much effort they’re putting towards not only high school, but their future.”