Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- What is a Pocket Planner?
- Progress Report, Report Card, and Grade Report ?
- Are cell phones allowed in school?
- What is your homework policy?
- What if I am absent?
- When is late work acceptable?
- What is my grade?
- What is an agenda?
What is a Pocket Planner?
Also referred to as a "binder reminder," the Hale Pocket Planner is the
handy schedule book given to students at the beginning of the year.
Progress Report, Report Card, and Grade Report ?
Progress Reports are just that: reports to show students' progress. Progress
reports are handed to the students every 5 weeks. They do not go on the
students' permanent records but are merely meant to communicate with parents
(and students) how the students are doing as they progress throughout the
year.
Report Cards are mailed home at the end of the two semesters. These are the
permanent and cummulative grades for the students. Each grading period
starts
over after the report cards are mailed home.
Grade Reports are the reports you get when you click on the "Grades" link.
It is a detailed summary of a child's progress. This report lists each
assignment with a letter grade and percentage for a cumulative score.
Are cell phones allowed in school?
No! Hale's poilcy clearly states: "We do not advocate the use of cell phones
on campus. If you have one, it MAY NOT be heard, seen, or used during the
school day. Electronic devices may not be brought on campus at any time.
These include, but are not limited to MP3 players, PDAs, Game Boys, IPODS,
or Blackberrys. If a staff member hears or sees a cell phone or other
electronic device, it will be confiscated. The student may pick it up within
the first 10 minutes after the end of the day, or the next day if that staff
member is not avaliable."
What is your homework policy?
Homework is graded on effort as well as accuracy. Late work will not be
acceted unless there is an absence AND a note from a parent. Students are
responsible for all make-up work.
What if I am absent?
Students will need to make up classwork and homework, including test! The
student has one day to use for makeup work for everyday he/she was absent.
For example, if a student is absent for 2 days, then he/she will have two
days to makeup his/her assignment. This excludes any assignments that the
student was aware of before the absence.
Steps to take in the case of an absence are as follows:
1. Check the website and/or homework board in class for what was missed.
2. Confirm with a class member what was missed.
3. If you missed...
a) a test, you are to make it up on the day of your return if you were
informed of the test prior to your absence or the next school day.
b) an assignment, write "absent" in the header and turn it in so that it
will not be marked late.
c) a major in-class project, check with Mrs. Escalante for the
information about the assignment or if necessary an alternative assignment
if it is not feasible to make up that particular assignment.
When is late work acceptable?
Late work is acceptable ONLY if a student is absent AND has a valid parent
note. This does not apply to assignments that students were aware of before
their absence--they must be on time.
You may turn in late work for partial credit as long as it is still
marked "?" for missing on your grade report.
What is my grade?
Students will be receiving an individual ID and password for my webgrade
website. Parents and students may give me up to 2 email addresses on the
form. When this is turned in parents and students will have access to the
webgrade site. This site is upgraded on a weekly basis. If work is turned
in after this upload, then it will be on the next week's upload. I can only
give you access after you have received your individual password and ID. I
can only notify you each week if you have given me an email address. If you
have it blocked, and do not allow my website access, you will not receive my
weekly emails. The URL for this website is in my links and listed below:
http://www.eClassInfo.com/home.asp?ID=Profbjescalante
What is an agenda?
The agenda is the daily class information and activities that is copied in a
student 70-page spiral binder each class day. This agenda gives the student
a copy of what the homework and classwork for each day and the due dates.
The student gets 1/2 point for copying the agenda each day. The other 1/2
point daily is given for writing the answer to the question in number 2
dispatch of each daily agenda. Therefore a student can gain up to 1 point
each day for copying the agenda (including the objective) and answering the
dispatch question. The agendas are collected once each marking period 1-week
prior to the date I need to turn in the grades for that marking period. This
will allow for some absences. Each student is responsible for cpoying and
answering the agendas/dispatches when they are absent. The copies are on my
desk in a spot easily accessible to students. A student may also have a
study-buddy and copy their agenda.