WHAT DO LETTER GRADES MEAN?

This is a definition of grades from UNC Chapel-Hill

The following definitions will be used as a guide for the assignment of undergraduate grades.

·   A
Mastery of course content at the highest level of attainment that can reasonably be expected of students at a given stage of development. The A grade states clearly that the students have shown such outstanding promise in the aspect of the discipline under study that he/she may be strongly encouraged to continue.

·   B
Strong performance demonstrating a high level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The B grade states that the student has shown solid promise in the aspect of the discipline under study.

·   C
A totally acceptable performance demonstrating an adequate level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The C grade states that, while not yet showing unusual promise, the student may continue to study in the discipline with reasonable hope of intellectual development.

·   D
A marginal performance in the required exercises demonstrating a minimal passing level of attainment. A student has given no evidence of prospective growth in the discipline; an accumulation of D grades should be taken to mean that the student would be well advised not to continue in the academic field.

·   F
For whatever reason, an unacceptable performance. The F grade indicates that the student’s performance in the required exercises has revealed almost no understanding of the course content. A grade of F should warrant an advisor’s questioning whether the student may suitably register for further study in the discipline before remedial work is undertaken.

Here are some additional definitions found by typing in a search on google “words that describe grades”

Grades

1. Letter Grades

A+, A, A- indicates excellent performance.

B+, B, B- indicates good performance.

C+, C, C- indicates satisfactory performance.

D+, D, D- indicates less than satisfactory performance.

F indicates unsatisfactory performance (no credit: always include last date of attendance).

P indicates Pass (A-, B and C will automatically be replaced by "P" when the Pass/No Pass option has been requested. A+ and A will be recorded as "A+" and "A", not "P").
NP indicates No Pass (D+, D, D-, and F will automatically be replaced by "NP" when the Pass/No Pass option has been requested).

NC (No Credit)Note: The NC grade was eliminated as of Winter 2019.

U indicates Audit (class taken for personal enrichment).

“ I” indicates Incomplete: An Incomplete can be provided when a student has satisfactorily completed 75 percent or more of the course work as defined by the instructor, but is unableto finish the remaining required scheduled work due to circumstances beyond the student’ s control. An Incomplete grade is not used to avoid a failing grade or to address student convenience.

A represents outstanding distinction and excellence. 90-100%
- These are not impossible to achieve but are rare and difficult to come by.

B signifies levels of solid accomplishment and goodness. 80- 89%
- Good is more common than excellent but more rare than average. While there is merit to hard work and long hours, it does not always guarantee success. Goodness refers to the combined results not just the effort.

C signifies "average- simple, common, adequate but ordinary 70-79%
- Average is not usually an appealing rank to artists who strive for extraordinary and unique. C is however a very respectable point. Recognize what more is needed; plan to move ahead, improve and grow.

D represents results less than standard and/or mediocre- just passable 60-69%
- Perhaps priorities about school or life have not been established. Recognize however, that a D can also mean that you truly do not understand what is expected. You should make an office appointment to discuss how you might take action on your future and upcoming assignment problems.

E is a clear failure. < 59%
-It represents lack of effort/interest. It is a cause for deep concern.

SPANISH 1:

Día 16…Jueves 12.10 (A)

WEST OUT SICK. 

a. WORK LEFT WITH SUB.  PLEASE COMPLETE THE READING ACTIVITIES.  NOTE THAT THEY ARE FULL OF CULTURAL ASPECTS YOU ARE EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND. 

                                                             i.      TWO pages on culture

                                                          ii.      ONE page offering extra practice

b. GET CAUGHT UP ON ALL CONCEPTS YOU ARE BEHIND ON IN ESPAÑOL 1. 

c. THIS IS A KETCHUP AND CHILI DAY.  WE MUSTARD GET BACK TO NORMAL IN OUR NEXT CLASS.  CORNY JOKES?  MAYBE.  BUT IF YOU MISS ME, YOU’LL SAY “HOT DOG, HE’S BACK” IN OUR NEXT CLASS!

TAREA TAREA TAREA  (complétala antes de comenzar la siguiente clase…La fecha se encuentra abajo…)

Sleep 8 hours or do something fun.  Study concepts we’ve already studied to get caught up if you’re behind/struggling.

Hola a todos,

Este año escolar (2023-24), tengo tres niveles de clases:  Español 1 (1A, 2A), Español 3 (3A, 1B, 2B), AP Español (4B).

En este sitio de internet, encontrarán la información que necesitan para progresar en la clase.  Simplemente, abre el vínculo que corresponde a tu nivel y busca la lección y tarea del día.  Hay otra información en el sitio para suplementar todo también.

This school year (2023-24), I will teach three levels (see above).  This website has everything you will need to succeed this year.  Just look to the left, click on the tab that corresponds to your class, find the daily lesson and homework, etc.  The site has a lot of other supplemental information that can help you as well.  Just explore a little.

-Maestro David West

Contact information form 2023-24 

Late Work/Retest Protocol:

Grades, grades, grades (and assignments):

Hola Muchachos,

In a nutshell, the 2023-24 grading plan for the entire school is as follows:

60% Major (Standard/Honors)  or 70% Major (AP/IB)

40% Minor (Standard/Honors)  or 30% Minor (AP/IB)

How will this translate to Spanish?  There are three forms of communication Spanish students will be graded on, plus there will be a few assessments related directly to grammar (it is slightly different for AP).

Presentational Spanish:  This is when there is no back and forth.  Examples include a speech, a summary, or a writing prompt.  These assessments can fall into the Major or Minor category.

Interpersonal Spanish:  This when there is back and forth.  Examples include a discussion, responding to a question AND following up, some form of interview or conversation.  These assessments can fall into the Major or Minor category.

Interpretive Spanish:  This is when you are showing what you understand from a prompt.  It could be answering comprehension questions about something you read/heard, explaining what you understand about it, or providing context from a listening clip.  These assessments can fall into the Major or Minor category.

Language Structures:  This is where any kind of traditional grammar or vocabulary assessment would fall.  It is kind of the nuts and bolts of Spanish that is prevalent throughout all three of the primary forms of communication.  ALL assessments designed exclusively for “Language Structures” will fall into the “MINOR” grade category.  

Culture (and comparisons):  This is where an assignment could even include English explanations (for Spanish 1-3).  This area tends to be focused less on language communication and more on knowledge of a target culture.  Often comparing differences between target culture and generic U.S./NC culture would fall here.  For Spanish 1-4, all assessments focusing primarily on Culture (and comparisons) would fall into the “MINOR” grade category.  For AP Spanish, the “Comparación Cultural” would be Major.

FOR AP SPANISH, the “Country Project” will fall in the “Minor Category”, and there is no place within the AP curriculum to teach language structures, so I don’t expect to do any assessments focused on them.  Culture will fall into the Major category for AP Spanish via the Comparación cultural assessments.

Retakes...

Assignments in Spanish are NOT retaken.  Students receive a grade for their work and that grade is complete.  There will be an opportunity near the end of the quarter to improve grades via “remediation.”  Remediation will include the opportunity for a student to test a communication skill area (or up to all three communication skill areas) to demonstrate improvement.  As of 8/31/24 the World Language department has not determined if the near end of quarter remediation opportunity will replace grades, average with existing grades, etc.  When I know something, I will update this.

Late Work...

Assignments that are not submitted by the original due date are considered to be late and will be marked as such in PowerSchool. Students will have a 2-class grade period to submit their work and this date will be known as the “Not Accepted After (NAA)” date.  As long as it is submitted on or before the NAA date, this work will be given feedback from the teacher and will be awarded full credit. 

Work submitted after the NAA date will be given feedback from the teacher and will be awarded the grade of 50%.  Assignments that are submitted after the end of the quarter will be given feedback by the teacher and will be awarded a grade of 0%.  Assignments that are not submitted at all will be awarded the grade of 0%.

Failures…

If a student score below 59 for quarter 1, 2, or 3, that student will be offered an opportunity to work during the next quarter towards mastering the skills they didn’t demonstrate sufficient growth in.  Later in the quarter, I will provide a few skill-based assessment activities and if the student meets the requirements, I will change the previous quarter grade to 59.5, which rounds to 60% (passing).

Example:  Q1 final grade:  52.  Student works independently and/or attends office hours to work on skills for a few weeks.  Approximately one month before the end of Q2, the teacher will provide assignments that measure Q1 expectations.  If the student demonstrates sufficient mastery to pass ALL THREE communication skills (passes all of the assignments), the Q1 grade will be adjusted to passing: 59.5 (60).

Final Exam

The final exam is 20% of the end of year grade.  First semester is 40% and second semester is 40%.

-Sr. West

If you need to contact me, my email address is dwest2@wcpss.net.

The videos for each level are located on the main page for each level.  There is additional information available for each level, including frequently asked questions regarding homework and grading policies (see Syllabus).

HONOR CODE POLICY

The WCPSS Honor Code Policy (4310) outlines the school district’s expectations regarding academic honesty and provides definitions of prohibited behavior including cheating, plagiarism, and falsification or deceit. Unless a student is explicitly told otherwise, using online translations of stories, online translators (e.g., Google Translate), or AI (e.g., ChatGPT) is a violation of the honor code.

The consequences for academic dishonesty are described in section B, item 2:

A student’s grade may or may not be impacted by a violation. If the violation impacts a student’s grade, the school may impose academic consequences according to the following criteria: (a) when reasonably possible, the student will be expected to complete the assignment or an alternative assignment as determined by the professional learning team (PLT) guidelines and will do so in an honest manner consistent with the honor code, and (b) the student may receive full, partial, or no grading credit for the assignment as determined by PLT guidelines approved by the principal.

The World Languages Department therefore establishes the following guidelines (in alignment with the Enloe Student Handbook) regarding the consequences for violating the WCPSS Honor Code:

1st VIOLATION:

·       Incident will be documented in ECATS;

·       Parent(s) and/or guardian(s) will be notified;

·       Counselor will be notified for documentation and use in college recommendations;

·       Adviser(s) of extra-curricular activities and honor societies will be notified; and

·       The student will be expected to complete the same or an alternate assignment (at the teacher’s discretion), with the highest grade possible being a 60.

2nd VIOLATION:

·       The same individuals will be notified as in the 1st offense;

·       Incident will be documented in ECATS;

·       Grade level administrator will be notified for disciplinary consequences; and

·       The student will be expected to complete the same or an alternate assignment (at the teacher’s discretion), with the highest grade possible being a 50. 

3rd+ VIOLATION:

·       The same individuals will be notified as in previous offenses;

·       Incident will be documented in ECATS;

·       Administration will be directly notified for consequences which may include ISS/OSS; and

·       The student will receive no credit for the assignment.

Severe cheating that involves theft and/or distribution of course material will result in an immediate referral to the administration.