ACADEMIC POLICIES

Academic Expectations 

Our Lady of Mercy  School expects students to perform to the best of their ability.                    

Teachers are expected to evaluate student progress on a regular basis.  Students will be given quizzes or tests regularly.  After the test is graded, it will be sent home for the parent to review and sign.  Parent signature indicates that the parent is aware of the student’s progress.  If a parent does not receive quizzes or tests to sign, the parent should contact the teacher. 

Homework

Homework is an essential part of the instructional program and reinforces learning.  It serves as a means for clarifying and reviewing material learned in class, for providing motivation and opportunity for individual growth, and for creating experiences of in-depth study and supplementary reading. 

The time allotments for homework (written and study) are as follows:

Grades PreK & K    approximately 15 minutes
Grades 1 & 2    approximately 30 minutes
Grades 3 & 4    approximately 45 minutes
Grades 5 & 6    approximately 60 minutes
Grades 7 & 8    approximately 90 minutes

Students are required to complete all homework and it is expected that parents or guardians sign the completed homework as well as the Assignment Pad.


Grades and Grading

Report cards are distributed four times a year for Grades 1 to 8. Pre-K and Kindergarten report cards are distributed four times a year. The report card is a link between the school and the home.

Academic Achievement

The first part of the Archdiocesan Report Card is used to mark the student’s achievement in academic subjects.

• The achievement mark is based upon the demonstration of mastery of material covered in class such as:
  1. class work
  2. homework
  3. daily quizzes
  4. unit tests
  5. comprehensive examinations and
  6. special projects.

The June grade on the report card is an average of the four previous record card grades. This grade will be recorded on the student’s permanent record card.

• Numerical marks are recorded on report cards for Grades 1 - 8

• Passing is any mark 70% or above.

Character Development

The conduct/effort mark is placed under Character Development as a “Conduct Grade”. This mark indicates that the student:

1. follows class and school rules,
2. shows care in the use of personal property
3. treats teachers with respect
4. treats other students with respect
5. exercises self-control
6. listens attentively
7. uses technology appropriately.

Honor Roll

The criteria for inclusion in the Honor Roll are peculiar for each school. As an acknowledgment of achievement in academics, a suggested model would be:

Grades 1-8

First Honors – 90% average, no mark less than 85%

Second Honors 85% average, no mark less than
80%

Good conduct is a requirement to receive First or Second Honors. Therefore, a student must receive an A (excellent) or B (good) in conduct to be eligible for
honors. A student who does not receive an A or B in Conduct, will not receive First or Second Honors even though marks might warrant it.

The Kindergarten Report Card, in both areas of Academic Development and Personal Development is graded as follows:

E – performance on task is exceptional
S – performance on task is consistently apparent
I – performance on task needs improvement
U – performance on tasks does not meet expectations
N A –not applicable at this time (a task that will be taught and applied as the school year progresses.


Report Card Distribution

Report cards are distributed in November, January, April, and June. Report cards will be withheld if financial obligations have not been met and fees are outstanding.

Report cards may not be given before the assigned date. In the event that a student will leave school prior to the last day in June and all financial obligations have been met, the student may give the teacher a self-addressed stamped envelope and the report card can be mailed the last day of school.


Promotion/Retention

Very few decisions we make about children are more important than recommendations to promote or to retain a student. Most students will be able to follow the school’s regular program of sequential learning objectives. If the student successfully achieves the year’s objectives, the student progresses to the next grade.

Testing, diagnosis, and actual performance, however, may indicate that some students cannot follow the school’s complete course of study. Therefore, the decision to retain a student indicates that although the school has done everything to help the student achieve success, the student has not made satisfactory progress.