Assignments and Grading

Assignments over Weekends, Thanksgiving, December, February, and April Vacations: Guidelines

Weekend homework, including long weekends, must be limited to the equivalent of one typical weeknight’s worth of homework. Vacations are intended to provide relaxation and a break for everyone. In general, teachers should avoid assigning homework over vacations, but if a teacher thinks it is necessary, the following guidelines concern the timing of assignments over vacations. These guidelines are not meant to suggest that students should not do homework over vacation – they are meant to give students reasonable choices.

For minor or normal overnight assignments:

Issue these in a timely fashion so that students will reasonably be able to complete them without having to do the work over vacation.

For major or long-term assignments:

Allow enough time on either side of the vacation to allow students to reasonably and successfully complete the assignment without having to do the work over vacation by:

  • Issuing the assignment at least one week before vacation OR

  • Making the assignment due at least one week following the day of return from vacation.

Grade Citations

Approved by The Council and Curriculum Committee, 1995

Grade Citations are short messages of commendation attached directly onto a student's transcript. A teacher awards citations only "when a student's work is sufficiently distinguished to merit special recognition." (Citation Report form, Dartmouth College) Citations are never negative. They indicate specifically what the student did to deserve the citation. They can be given to students with grades other than "A.” A citation is only for truly outstanding work, and it is given out only in exceptional circumstances to ensure its value, weight, and importance. Citations will be initiated by the teacher and approved by the department.

Grading

Course Primary Objectives are the basis for grades in the school.

  • Each course is listed in the Program of Studies, which is given to all students in Common Ground during spring course registration and is available in the Counseling Office and on the website. A more detailed list can be obtained by conferring with the teacher or department coordinator.

  • Objectives may vary in order to challenge each and every student to work to his/her fullest capacity.

  • Hanover High School’s grading categories are as follows:

A High Honor

B Honor

C Satisfactory

D Passing

INC Incomplete

NC No Credit

  • Students who receive a grade of “C” or above in sequential courses are permitted to continue on to the next course in the sequence. Students who receive “D” grades will be awarded course credit but should not proceed on to the next course.

  • Grading is ultimately the teacher’s province.

Incomplete (INC)

The Incomplete is given only at the discretion of the teacher.

  • An Incomplete is usually used when a student has had a long excused absence from school and needs remedial work in the course.

  • A student may request an Incomplete so they can devote more effort to another course for a short period of time. This type of request is granted at the teacher’s discretion.

  • There must be a legitimate cause for a student to take an Incomplete. Missing a deadline date is not a reason to take an Incomplete.

  • Except for rare circumstances, Incompletes are used only after consultation between the teacher and the student.

  • After two weeks, the grade of Incomplete automatically becomes a No Credit on the report card unless:

(a) special arrangements are made with the teacher involved, and

(b) those arrangements are communicated to the Counseling Department.

No Credit (NC)

A grade of No Credit results if the student has not completed the course objectives satisfactorily.

  • This grade cannot be made up or changed without approval from the specific department.

  • Notification of parents is required prior to awarding NC; personal contact, interim report, and telephone call are all approved methods of parent notification.

  • If a student is failing one or more classes at the end of a semester, they will be placed on a four-week schedule up at the start of the subsequent semester.

Course Grades

  • Course grades are usually given at the end of the first and second semester for both semester-long and full-year courses.

  • These grades are an independent grade reflecting the student’s overall achievement in meeting course objectives and are not necessarily an average of the preceding quarter grades.

  • Only the teacher responsible for the course may alter a grade.

  • Grades, once issued, may be appealed only within the succeeding academic quarter.

  • A student who feels they have been graded unfairly should confer first with the teacher. If still dissatisfied, the student should take the complaint to the teacher’s immediate supervisor.

Report Card Distribution

Passed by Council, December 6, 2013

Parents along with students, at the end of each quarter, will be notified that grades have been finalized on the portal via the Principal’s Weekly newsletter and if the student or parent wishes a printed report card they will take it upon themselves to print it.

Pass/Fail Option Grading Option

Students may take a maximum of two courses P/F between the beginning of their junior year and their graduation. They may take only one course per subject area in this manner.

  • Class lists received by teachers will not distinguish between students taking courses for grades and those using P/F. A list of students taking courses P/F will be available in the Counseling Office, and, if teachers wish, they may refer to this list.

  • Students must register for P/F through the Counseling Office at which time the student must:

  • Meet with their counselor to discuss the benefits and risks of the P/F option.

  • Submit a Request Form that is signed by a parent.

  • Students must register for the P/F option within the first five days of the beginning of the course (Sept. or January) that they intend to take pass/fail and have until the end of the fourth week to drop the P/F option.

  • The P/F grade will be factored into a student’s GPA only if the student receives a failing grade.

  • Pass/Fail will be available for all courses offered in the school.

Honor Roll

An academic honor roll is computed each quarter. All courses are included in honor computations. Students who received a grade point average of 3.8 or above are designated as High Honors. Students with a 3.5 to 3.79 average are designated as Honors students. The Honor Roll is posted in the school as well as in the Valley News.

Interim Reports

Teachers frequently send home notifications when a student is performing exceptionally well or is not meeting course objectives. Hopefully parents will encourage a student who is not meeting expectations and alert the teacher if a student has a problem that needs special attention. The teacher is expected to notify the student before any note is sent home.

Return of Papers Policy

Developed by the Council and approved by the Committee on Instruction. Approved by COI on June 8, 1989.

The maximum time for assignments, papers, tests and quizzes to be returned to students is six school days (Level I). The maximum time for large projects and reports is twelve school days (Level II). The US History research paper will have an alternative deadline that must be specified by the teacher at the beginning of the assignment. All assignments must be returned by the end of the school year. Teachers will define Level I and Level II assignments in their course outlines to aid students. If any student has a complaint about an assignment handed back outside the maximum time, it should be submitted to the Curriculum Committee of the Council.

To Register a Concern:

Passed 05/06/2015

When issues emerge, Council encourages the student to first speak with the teacher. If there is no resolution, the student should contact the teacher’s supervisor (if applicable). If there is still no resolution, then Council provides this recourse:

If a student wishes to register a concern, then the student must do so in writing (typed or handwritten, but printed and signed) to a Curriculum Committee member of Council. The Curriculum Committee will then notify the following persons about this concern: the teacher, the teacher’s supervisor (if applicable), the principal. The Curriculum Committee will remove the student’s name from the letter unless otherwise requested by the student. The Curriculum Committee will give the letter to the principal. The Curriculum Committee will keep no permanent records of the concern. The Curriculum Committee respectfully requests that, insofar as possible in keeping with the teacher’s privacy rights, the teacher’s supervisor or the principal inform the committee of any action taken so that the Curriculum Committee can provide feedback to the student.