Academics

Purpose: Westwood Regional students have the right to an education that promotes development into productive citizens through a variety of academic, social, and emotional supports.

It is the policy of the Board of Education to ensure equal and bias-free access to all school facilities, courses, programs, activities, and services, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, or disability. See more information with policy 5755.

Westwood Regional Middle School is committed to the promotion of intellectual and moral development. The fulfillment of these goals depends largely on the personal integrity of each student and on the bond of mutual trust that exists between faculty and students. All course requirements are expected to be fulfilled by work that is the exclusive product of one’s own effort without unauthorized help from any other source. In keeping this trust, the student advances his/her own academic growth and maturity. The assumption of academic honesty is an essential element of the educational process. Sanctions do exist, however, for those who would betray this trust. Breaches of academic honesty are dangerous to both the morale and reputation of the school. They undermine the principles upon which Westwood Regional Middle School was founded. The academic integrity of every student is important so that Westwood Regional Middle School may continue its proud tradition of excellence. Cheating is an act of deception by which a student misrepresents his/her mastery of material on a test or other academic exercise. Some examples of cheating are copying from another student’s work, allowing another student to copy your work, using unauthorized material during an assessment, using notes during an assessment, and collaborating during an assessment without permission. To avoid a charge of plagiarism, a student should be sure to include an acknowledgment of indebtedness by citing the source from which the information came.

Plagiarism is defined as, “the presentation of the ideas of writing of someone else as one’s own work.” It includes:

1. the reproducing of another person’s work, whether published or unpublished, including using materials from companies that sell research papers.

2. the submission of another’s work as your own or any academic exercise prepared totally or in part by another.

3. using another’s written ideas or words without properly acknowledging the source. If a student uses the words of someone else, he or she must put quotation marks around the passage and add indication of its origin. Simply changing a word or two while leaving the organization and content substantially intact and failing to cite the source is plagiarism. Students should also take note that failure to acknowledge study aids such as Cliff Notes or common reference sources constitutes plagiarism.

4. the failure to acknowledge sources and taking credit for ideas as one’s own. In most cases a zero will be imposed as a consequence of cheating and plagiarism and a notice will be sent home. In the case of a long written assignment, such as a term paper, any students involved in the copying will earn a failing grade. Students may lose eligibility or member status in academic clubs, or Student Council, if found guilty of academic dishonesty.

In order to ensure students are not administered multiple major tests on any given day, teaching teams will coordinate in order to avoid conflict. This schedule does not apply to short quizzes, which are less than thirty minutes in duration.

A+ 100-97

A 96-93

A- 92-90

B+ 89-87

B 86-83

B- 82-80

C+ 79-77

C 76-73

C- 72-70

D 69-65

F 64-0

Final averages are computed using the numerical values that a student has earned throughout the year. Report card and transcript grades will be converted from numerical grades to alpha grades. All incomplete grades must be made up within two weeks of the date of issue unless exempt due to chronic illness. Any incomplete grade not made up will automatically be converted to the grade earned without the missing work. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange with his or her teachers a timeline to complete missing assignments. For a full-year course in the Westwood Regional Middle School, the final average will be computed from the four quarterly grades (twenty-five percent each). For a semester course, the final average will be computed from the two quarterly grades (fifty percent each). No student will be given a final marking period grade below a 55%. We firmly believe that middle school students are at an age where learning from mistakes is essential to growth. We believe that each student should have a realistic opportunity to pull their grade up throughout the year.

Westwood Regional Middle School recognizes an Honor Roll with Distinction and an Honor Roll. To be eligible for Honor Roll with Distinction, a student must achieve grades no lower than A -. To be eligible for Honor Roll students must achieve grades no lower than B.

In order to be promoted to the next grade level students in grades 6 and 7 must pass a minimum of two core subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies), with Math or Language Arts included as one of the two courses passed. If a student fails both Math and Language Arts, or three of the four core courses they will be retained unless at least one of the tested subjects (Math or Language Arts) is repeated in summer school and a passing grade is received. However, the Principal has the final recommendation regarding retention, and other factors such as attendance may be considered.

Report cards and progress reports are each issued four times a year. Report cards and progress reports will be mailed home only to students not signed up for Genesis. Progress reports are mailed home or available on Genesis approximately five weeks into each quarterly marking period. Progress reports are intended to give parents/guardians information regarding their child’s status in each class mid-way through the marking period. Graded student work is also meant to serve as progress reports and is available to view on Genesis. It is very important that each student bring home all graded work in order to help parents and guardians and each student keep track of his or her progress. Parents signed up for Genesis will have access to the Parent Portal, our District Student Management System. Parents will be able to access student grades, attendance, and discipline through this outlet. Please contact our Counseling Department if you need assistance setting up an account. Parents are encouraged to sign into Genesis often to monitor their child’s progress.