High School Grading Policy

 Dear Families,

As of the September start of the 2014-2015 school year, the high school will be instituting a new grading policy.  This policy was put into place with the intent of having clearer and more consistent communication of student learning. 

Grades can be categorized into 2 distinct types, Achievement and Process:

 Achievement- what students know or are able to do

           Examples: Tests, Projects, Presentations

 Process- behavioral activities which contribute to learning

           Examples: homework, class participation, group work

You will see these 2 main categories as color codes on ParentPortal when you check student’s grades.  As the emphasis is on what students are learning as they progress towards a pivotal Regents exam or earning credit by passing a course, 80% of quarterly averages will be weighted by “Achievement” scores while 20% will be weighted by “Process” grades.  

 More specific department grading policies can be found at the beginning of each section of the high school curriculum guide.  These documents can be viewed on our website at http://www.me.stier.org/CurriculumGuide.aspx

I would like to thank the committee of stakeholders consisting of: students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, and board of education members, for donating the hours of research and discussion which contributed to the adoption of this policy.

Sincerely,

Thomas Burkhardt, Principal

Maine-Endwell Senior High School

Dear Parent(s) and / or Guardian(s) of a MEHS Student:

After much thought and consideration, the Maine-Endwell Senior High School Attendance Policy will be amended.  After reviewing our policy and student performance data, we have decided to change our procedures to focus our attention on students who are more at risk of failing due to chronic absenteeism.

What will stay the same?

• DAILY ATTENDANCE IS VITAL TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

• Attendance will continue to be taken every period, every day.

• Absences will continue to be considered EXCUSED or UNEXCUSED.  Make-up work for unexcused absences does not need to be accepted and / or graded.

• Attendance will continue to be monitored and communicated to you when a pattern develops that is negatively affecting your son / daughters’ academics.

What will change?

• At the beginning of this school year, daily reports will track unexcused absences whereas excused absences will be monitored only periodically.
• We will be actively following up on each and every unexcused absence, both for daily and for period by period attendance.
• Under the new policy, it is imperative that you call in and send in notes for all absences.  An absence that is left unexcused for 5 days may no longer be excused and will subject the student to discipline as they are then considered truant.
• Please review the new comprehensive policy attached and note that the stages referred to, only apply to unexcused absences.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact me at 748-8070 or via email at tburkhardt@me.stier.org.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Burkhardt