General Information

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

All students are expected to complete assigned tasks on time and to the best of their ability. Dedication to quality work is the key to success. If students are to achieve their very best, parents and teachers must set high expectations for academic performance. Accepting incomplete work or work done with far less care than the child is able to produce, leads to the formation of poor work habits and an unacceptable standard. Students are to attend class prepared with all necessary items and keep all belongings organized. If students are absent, it is their responsibility to get and complete all missed work.

PASSING REQUIREMENTS (Grades 7, 8 and 9)

A student on the prescribed program must attain a minimum grade of fifty percent (50%) in each of

Mathematics, Science, French, Social Studies and Language Arts.

A student must attain a minimum average of fifty percent (50%) in all of the other subjects being studied.

HONOURS

To receive honorary status, a student must achieve a minimum of an 80% average in the 5 core subject disciplines.

DISTINCTION

To receive distinction, a student must achieve a minimum of a 75% average in the 5 core subject disciplines.

LITERACY PLAN

The Newfoundland English School District ‘Literacy for Learning Plan’ is their commitment to work with schools to improve literacy for all learners. Through collaborative work the district and all schools will implement a K-6 Language Arts Assessment Framework and Portfolio, use assessment systems to assess, monitor and inform teaching and learning practices for reading and writing, implement intervention practices to support students who are experiencing difficulty with school based literacy and facilitate professional learning to support literacy instruction.

One of the greatest contributions parents can make to their child’s education is t o ensure

that they are read to and that they are reading themselves on a daily basis. Research indicates that children who develop good reading habits early in life go on to achieve at higher levels than those who do not. A child becomes a better reader only if he/she READS! We cannot emphasize enough the importance of parental involvement in this area.

PARENT MEETINGS

Parent meetings are scheduled as follows:

1. September, (Curriculum Night) K-9

2. November, Grades K to 9 - teachers request the presence of all parents/guardians to discuss student academic progress

3. March, Grades K to 9 – teachers schedule appointments for parents if there are concerns to be addressed

HOMEWORK

Homework for primary, elementary and junior high students can be an effective teaching tool and is intended to have a positive effect on student achievement. To be truly effective, students must routinely do their homework. Homework is not limited to specific tasks assigned by the teacher. It can also include:

(a) reviewing the day's work

(b) preparing for the next day's work

(c) completing assigned tasks

(d) studying

(e) doing additional reading

Homework is an area where a lot of students often neglect to focus quality attention. Expectations regarding homework will be communicated to students at the start of the school year. This same information will be discussed with parents during our 'Curriculum Night' early in September.