Academics

All students are expected to perform to the best of his/her abilities daily. Assignments are given to challenge some and provide extra practice for others. Students are encouraged to work hard, ask questions when they are uncertain, and participate in class discussions. Teachers determine which assignments will be graded and recorded.

Grading Policy
There are no more D’s as a grade on the report cards. Therefore, students whose grades are noted as below a seventy-percent (70%) are recorded as an F. Please monitor the quality of work submitted by your child. Encourage them to work at their best and strive to keep grades  above the seventy-five percentage (%) range. This suggests that your child is beginning to move towards mastery of concepts and earning grades above the bare minimum. It will also support his/her ability to be promoted at the end of the year. 

Academic Reports
Progress Reports are distributed the middle of every marking period. They are intended to keep parents / guardians aware of how their child is  performing in class. These reports also provide an opportunity for students to get additional help at home and elsewhere, with the assistance of the teacher, to improve his/her academic performance before the end of the marking period. Parents are encouraged to engage members of the school immediately when  there are concerns. Further, all are provided access to the PowerSchool Parent Portal for 
regular access to student attendance and scores. Report Cards are distributed at the end of each marking period. Kindly discuss these reports 
with your child/children and establish strategies for improvement. When closer monitoring, supervision, and assistance are required, do not hesitate to visit and share your concerns with the teacher, counselor or administrator. Invest the time, effort and assistance from the first to 
the final marking period in order to ensure achievement of the desired results – student success and promotion. Retention is considered only when varied mitigating factors reveal that this may be what is needed to have students perform his/her best work.

Homework
All students, regardless of grade level, are assigned homework. This is considered reinforcement and an integral part of the day’s lessons. Failure to complete homework will result in poor grades. It will also create a gap in the learning process. Therefore, we are requesting that you monitor your child’s completion of these assignments. Make an appointment and discuss any concerns with the teacher. Keeping informed will help your child get ahead. Visit classroom teachers and take note of teachers’ preparation periods, a time when meetings can best be held. Please note that you are required to review and sign homework assignments as an indication that the assignment was completed and reviewed.

Academic Recognition
Students who make the Honor Roll are recognized annually on Awards Day. Students who maintain an academic average of eighty-five (85%) will be recommended for recognition on Awards Day. You will be notified of your child’s nomination for an award and the dress code that will be 
utilized for this special event.

Promotional Considerations
Promotion, on the primary level (first through third grade) occurs when a student’s overall  average is a seventy percent (70%) or higher overall, and seventy percent (70%) or higher in Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics; however, as students move to the fourth and fifth 
grades, a 70 or above is required in all promotional subjects.

Retention and Other Placement Decisions
Recommendations for the student’s initial school placement are made primarily by the principal  and counselor in consultation with the child study team. Because each child is a treasured investment, some students may require special considerations as it relates to placement 
decisions. Feel free to come in and share your concerns. We are here to ensure that your child’s goal is achieved. After the compilation of student work, assessments and the like, the teacher makes the primary recommendation for promotion and retention, in consultation with the child study team. Students who are not performing as well as expected receive specific placement recommendations and intervention. Parents will be notified and a conference scheduled to discuss these recommendations.

Retention forms are prepared when a student has failed to demonstrate sufficient competence in the promotional subjects. Poor attendance weighs heavily in this consideration. These forms require the signature of teachers, parents and administrators. A parent’s refusal to sign does 
not negate the actions being considered or recommended for your child.If a student is recommended for retention in the grade, and that student’s final average indicates that the minimum promotional average has been achieved, then the signed/unsigned form(s) will be destroyed. Child Study Team Meetings are critical in making such decisions.The stronger a child’s educational foundation, the better equipped he/she will be able to face academic challenges ahead. The academic and social success of every student depends on the cooperation and communication established and maintained throughout the school year. Some students will require special services to assist them in achieving and maintaining success daily.

The Department of Education, under the Office of Special Education, provides additional services that can positively impact student learning. These services include but are not limited to student placement in special programs or Response to Intervention (RTI) which assists the teacher in monitoring the instruction being provided and making the necessary adjustments to ensure success.Conferences are scheduled and vital reas discussed prior to any student being referred for testing or placed in these programs. Parental approval must be received for additional services
from special education. Working together, students can accomplish any goal. A strong, positive school-home collaboration ensures the success of all children.