Subject: RE: Maisy Biden
From: "Sally Selby" <[email-masked]>
To: "Kathleen Biden" <[email-masked]>, "Papi Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 20:55:48 +0000

Yes – Maisy was in to take the exam today and finished in just an hour.

I can understand your concern.  I know that Mr. C was worried about the placement and was on the fence about next year.  I would read that as his wanting to see that she has been able to consolidate her understanding of algebra, despite the year’s ups and downs, as demonstrated on the exam.

He is in Africa right now, although I believe that Jared is scanning the exam and sending it to him and that he hopes to look at it as quickly as he can.  Once that is done, the comment will be changed, so I would urge patience and trust in Maisy’s determination to achieve this goal.

I too have trouble believing that your Middle School years have drawn to a close!  How far Maisy has come in these last 4 years – it’s great to see!  Please know that my thoughts have been very much with your family in these last few weeks.

Warmly,
Sally

From: Kathleen Biden [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 4:46 PM
To: Sally Selby; Papi Biden
Subject: Maisy Biden

Sally,

I hope you are enjoying the start of summer.  Graduation was lovely.  Can't believe I'm out of MS after so many years!

I wanted to flag something for you regarding Maisy's report card.  Overall, we were so pleased.  The comments by Maisy's teachers speaks to Maisy's growth and her efforts to improve in school.  We are really proud of her and hope she's proud of herself.

She had a math test scheduled the last week of school and was unable to take it because she hadn't been able to properly study.  Everyone was understanding and accommodating - telling Maisy she could take it this week.  She took it today and I have no idea how well she did.  Mr C had told her early in the trimester that she would have to show real improvement to progress to Geometry so she really committed herself to focusing on Math, bringing her grade up to a B.  However, in her report card today Mr C basically tells us that, while she has a B average now, her ability to go to Geometry rests on her final test grade.  To me, that doesn't sound like middle school, that sounds like high school.  It also doesn't ring of understanding that she had gone through a difficult time and still took her final, two weeks after it was given in class.  Below is report card comments from Mr C.   We have been really happy with Mr C and so has Maisy.  I just find putting everything on one test to be too much, at least for 8th grade.

"Your placement for 9th grade will depend considerably on your performance on the final exam, so once you have taken the exam and I have graded it, I will make a final decision about your placement."

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Fondly,

Kathleen

Sent from my iPhone