Ms. Kathleen Doherty

Your TeacherWeb® subscription expires soon. To renew your site for another year, click here.

"Credit"
                BY: Judith Viorst

You asked me to do it.
                I promised to do it.
                I planned to do it.
                I started to do it.
              I really meant to do it.
                 Except I forgot.
             Couldn't I get some credit?
                 For promising,
                   Planning,
                   Starting,
            And really meaning to do it?

Guess not.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

GRADING SCALE:
A+=100%	
A=96-99	
A-=93-95	
B+=91-92				
B=88-90			        	                
B-=85-87
C+=83-84 
C=79-82 
C-=77-78
D+=75-76
D=72-74	
D-=70-71				
F=0-69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM

I have a real thing for this, the students know it.
It will take more 'proof' for a 6th grader, than an 8th grader to 
be found in the throes of cheating. Usually it only takes a warning, then 
everything is ok. However, parents must be aware that sometimes peer pressure
overides warnings, then the maximum penalties will be meted out.

The act of cheating and/or plagiarism is a serious offense.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRADUATION CRITERIA

The Graduation ceremony for our 8th graders is held on the last Friday in 
May.  In order to receive a diploma and participate in the ceremony, students 
must achieve a passing grade in every subject area during the 8th grade 
year.  In addition, state law requires that students pass tests on both the 
United States and Illinois Constitutions prior to graduation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMEWORK

Definition:  Homework is assigned tasks to be completed by students to 
promote study habits, reinforce learning, prepare for subsequent learning and 
extend learning beyond the classroom. It should never take the place of
learning in the classroom. If the student has not been taught the material, it
should not be assigned as homework.

Philosophy:  Homework is an essential part of learning.  It provides students 
with the opportunity to develop knowledge, good work habits and a sense of 
responsibility.  Homework serves as a vital link between home and school, 
helping parents to know and support their children�s learning. It provides the
student with the reinforcing elements necessary for successful completion of
assessments.

Student Responsibilities
*Keep an assignment notebook starting at third grade
*Understanding assignments before leaving class
*Complete work legibly and neatly
*Turn work in on time
*Have resources and materials needed to complete assignments
*Make up assignments missed due to absence

Teacher Responsibilities
*Assign homework with specific instructional purposes-I do NOT assign homework
over material that has NOT been covered in class. Parents must be aware that
by 6th grade, students are expected to be able to infer from the readings and
lecture, not just look for the 'given response' that may have sufficed in
the lower grades.
*Recognize the range of student�s abilities and needs (parental assessment of 
student's ability will be taken into consideration; with the notice that 
modification on an ongoing basis requires that we note such on the report 
card).
*Check completed homework
*Communicate with other teachers
*Advise parents of any problems associated with homework

Parent Responsibilities
*Provide appropriate time and place to complete homework
*Monitor that homework is done
*Guide and assist work but never do the work for the child
*Communicate with the teacher as necessary. (If your student is spending more 
than 1.5 hours on homework, something is wrong. It may be a glitch in 
communication between teachers, but that is unlikely on an ongoing basis, as
the kids tend to speak up. However, if this happens repeatedly, please contact
the homeroom teacher, as something is amiss). You may have a very diligent
student, but there may be more going on.
*Be familiar with the homework policy
*Recognize that some students will take more time than others to complete the 
 same assignments

Time Allotments
Family time is valued, and outside commitments and responsibilities impact 
upon it.  Therefore, the following guidelines have been established.  Daily 
homework should generally be completed within these times.

Sixth Grade � Eighth Grade               60 � 90 minutes

Organizational Assistance
Homework will be explained in detail, and examples of what is expected will 
be available when projects are assigned. Beginning at Third Grade, all 
students will use an assignment notebook. Teachers may ask parents to sign 
the notebook daily.

Requesting Homework for Absent Students
Parents may request homework when a student is absent. Homework should be 
requested in the morning and will be ready by the end of the day. Assignments
and necessary books will be sent to the office for pick up. Siblings or
classmates who are requested to pick up these assignments will be asked to
stop at the school office after school.  Students will have the same number of
days as their absence plus one to make up any missed work.

Vacations During the School Year
Absence from school for reasons of vacations is discouraged.  Regular school 
attendance is imperative to the student's progress.  Assignments may be made 
up; however, class discussion, interaction and teacher instruction cannot be 
made up.  Parents are strongly encouraged not to unduly interrupt their 
child's academic schedule.

Teachers are not responsible for assigning ahead of time work, which will be 
missed during a special vacation period.  The student upon returning to 
school will complete the work missed. (If you are taking your child out of 
school for a vacation, even if for 'enrichment', schoolwork will not be 
assigned. In my classes for social studies, we follow a pretty regular 
schedual, thus your child probably knows what to do. However, I cannot/will 
not provide handouts, anthology readings, etc., ahead of schedual. The 
student will make up what is necessary upon return).

Extenuating Circumstances

If homework cannot be completed because of home conditions, for example: 
sickness in the family; students will be permitted to defer doing the 
prescribed work.  A parental note of explanation to the teacher will obtain 
this permission. (Please keep in mind that all 'excused' work may contain 
information your child may need in high school, which they may not be exposed
to). This type of exception does NOT pertain to such instances as 'a birthday
for sibling', 'voice lessons', 'Greek lessons', etc. These 'excuses' may have
been acceptable in the past, but no longer apply. I am not trying to make life
difficult for parents or students, I am just attempting to make all aware of
what to expect in high school.

Returning to the Classroom for Homework Items

On rare occasions, when students need to return to the classroom for homework 
items, they may do so before 3:10 P.M. (or no later than 30 minutes after 
dismissal)  and if a teacher is present. The office, DOVE or custodial staff 
will not unlock classrooms. I usually leave the room by 3, thus the student
must rely of the good will of clean up staff, all the more reason to leave the
rooms in relative good shape.

Incomplete Homework

The classroom teachers will handle consequences for incomplete homework. (My 
policy is that homework is due on the day it's due. IF the student doesn't 
have it then, they can get full credit until the end of the day. If they 
don't, they can get 2/3 credit the next day, 1/2 credit the second (F). After
that, a 0.

Students who consistently do not complete their assignments are showing 
evidence of a deeper difficulty, which needs to be addressed.  If the problem 
continues, a conference will be held with parents to resolve the difficulty.

Except in the case of prolonged illness, an Incomplete (I) grade on the 
report card must be made up within two weeks of the end of the quarter.  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HONOR ROLL

The purpose of the Honor Roll is to recognize student academic achievement.  
This includes the quality of work of each student and also overall 
performance, attitude, and general conduct.  At the end of each quarter the 
school publishes a list of Honor Roll students in Grades Four through Eight.

The following criteria are used for placement:

High Honor Roll-May have one B in major subject area.  No D or F in any area.

Honor Roll-May have one C in major subject area.  No D or F in any area.

Effort Honor Roll-All O/VG in MAJOR subject areas:
                                                
Religion
Mathematics
Reading
English
Social Studies
Spelling/Vocabulary

O, VG or G in other areas

Or, would you like to view and optionally restore one of these previous versions?

Password: Forgot your password?

TeacherWeb.com

Content on this site is the responsibility of the Subscriber. Additional information is available in the TeacherWeb Terms & Conditions

Ms. Kathleen Doherty

Of Interest to All