Academics: Grades & Homework

GRADING
Grades are numerical indicators of mastery of the curriculum and overall performance within a designated time period. While letter or number grades do not represent the entire assessment of a student's progress, they do offer information about the student's overall achievement. Grades are also a succinct method of reporting that information to both students and parents.

Report Cards
Heritage Christian School issues report cards four times each year, once per quarter. A copy of the report card is sent home approximately one week after each quarter ends or given directly to parents at Parent-Teacher Conferences. Report card envelopes must be signed by a parent and returned promptly to the school. Mid-term progress reports are also issued quarterly, at the midpoint of the marking period. Grading scales used to report achievement on report cards and mid-term reports are as follows:

Honor Roll
Students in grades 3-6 who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in any one quarter are named to the academic Honor Roll. Awards for Honor Roll are presented to students after the end of each quarter. Grade point averages are calculated on a 4-point scale (A=4; B=3; C=2; D=1).

Promotion and Retention
Grade promotions and retentions are based on an average of a student's academic, physical, social, spiritual and emotional growth. Unless retention was proposed during the school year, parents can assume that their child will be promoted to the next grade. In cases of retention parents will be involved directly in the decision to retain from the first consideration.

Retention is taken seriously, is recommended infrequently, and is usually considered as an alternative only in the primary grades (Kindergarten - 2nd grade). The following guidelines have been established to aid decisions regarding retention of students:

• Retention should occur as early in the child's school career as possible, preferably in Kindergarten, and no later than second grade.
• Retention may be considered for students in grades 3-6 when half (50%) of the student's grades are failing.
• If deficiencies can be corrected through summer education, the student may be permitted to advance to the next grade in September.

Any student having grades that show doubt of mastery of essential elements may be required to attend summer school or obtain private tutoring before being promoted to the next grade.

HOMEWORK
Heritage Christian School believes homework is a valuable aid in helping students make the most of their experience in school and, therefore, considers homework an integral part of the educational program. Homework may be assigned for one or more of the following reasons:

• Preparation: Assignments completed before class enhance a student's learning capacity and enable him/her to profit from discussion of subject matter during class. Preparation homework is designed to get students interested in a topic or prepared for the work to be done in class.
• Practice: Following classroom explanations and illustrations, homework helps a student to master material covered in class.
• Remediation: As instruction progresses, various weak points in a student's grasp of a subject become evident. Homework following instruction may be given to overcome such difficulties.
• Extension: An assignment may be given for the student to complete at home with a parent or adult other than the teacher. Sometimes this includes carrying the concepts learned in class to a real-life situation at home.
• Special Projects: Compositions, research assignments, book reports, and projects are examples of homework activities necessary for the student to develop crucial independent study skills.

Guidelines for Homework
Homework commonly consists of unfinished daily work and/or work specifically assigned to be completed at home. Parents are requested to assist their children in making homework a priority. To achieve this, parents are encouraged to provide necessary supplies, a quiet environment, a daily set time for homework, and praise and support. A folder or backpack should be set in the same place at home each day so both parents and the student will know where to look for school notices or papers and where to put homework when it is finished.

The staff expects students to complete homework on their own, without assistance, unless the homework specifically asks for parent/sibling involvement. Students are to ask for help from a parent only after they have given their best effort. In no case should the parent do the homework for the student.

All homework assignments must be turned in on time, completed to the best of the student's ability, and made up promptly when absent. Teachers hold students accountable for homework and require that it be completed. Incomplete homework is graded accordingly; homework not turned in on time is subject to a lower grade or no credit. Failure to complete homework may affect the student's grades as well as his/her mastery of the subject.

As a Christian organization, Heritage values family time and the developmental benefits of child play. The following guidelines for daily homework are intended to achieve a balance between family and church commitment and student academic growth. Please remember that the times listed below are an average daily amount of homework for an average student and vary by student ability.

• 1st Grade: There is little routine homework required in first grade. Students are occasionally assigned small projects that require parent involvement or the correction of papers.
• 2nd Grade: Approximately 10-15 minutes daily.
• 3rd Grade: 15-25 minutes daily.
• 4th Grade: 20-25 minutes daily.
• 5th Grade: 20-30 minutes daily.
• 6th Grade: 25-35 minutes daily.