Descriptors for grades

At George C. Marshall, we allow students to use their CAS work and their Extended Essay (EE) as a way to earn a potential boost in their FCPS TOK grade. All kids who are completing CAS to IB standards will be moved forward for the diploma, but we want to highlight those kids who are going above and beyond the par. Therefore, you will see that students who we designate as golden trophies or green flags are offering great reflection, myriad experiences, or exceptional CAS projects might earn an A toward their TOK grade.

How do you want to do CAS?

Again, at Marshall High School, we offer the golden trophy for candidates who are crushing CAS, hence the title of the front page of this website. Not everyone earns a trophy. Only those candidates who are presenting a balance of hours, submitting strong reflections and evidence as a process, and working toward their CAS projects will earn the trophy. If you are not worried about making CAS a priority and are not gunning for that golden trophy, then go chat with your coordinator. All of you will complete CAS. I am confident of that statement. However, what do you want out of your experience? What is your purpose for CAS? In pursuing the diploma? What does the core (TOK, EE, CAS) mean to you? You choose how you want to engage in CAS.

What does the golden trophy get me? What does it mean?

We use it an incentive for students to focus on CAS, their intrapersonal and interpersonal development, and a balance in their academic, extracurricular, personal lives. In our TOK classes at GCM, we heavily focus on three areas: reflections (worth 40% of their grade), the junior-year presentation (20%), and participation (20%). Students who want a bit of a grade boost can earn an A for earning the golden trophy in CAS worth 10% and an additional A for the EE worth 10% if they meet the deadlines. Therefore, we use the golden trophy as a carrot and never a stick.

FCPS students, take a look at my Theory of Knowledge site if you have an fcpsschools.net account.

Senior grades for 1st semester

Junior grades for 2nd semester