You might have wondered about....
- What is the Virtues Program?
- When are Service Hours due?
- What are the Content Journals?
- When is Religion Maintenance due? How is it assessed?
- What is the Spiritual Adoption Program?
- What is the absentee policy?
- How is the homework grade determined?
- How is the copybook grade determined?
- Is extra credit available?
What is the Virtues Program?
In its third year, the Virtues Program is better than ever!
This year, we are focusing on faith, service, and academics,
which are the hallmarks of a Saint Joesph School education.
Each month, a different value will be highlighted. Students will
be commended at our monthly school liturgy. For September, the
focus is on FAITH.
When are Service Hours due?
Please refer to the information on the Assessment Rubrics page of this site. Hours should be recorded on teh form
provided. Here are the deadlines for submitting Service Hours:
1st Trimester: Wed. 11/30/11
2nd Trimester:
3rd Trimester:
The students have received all of these dates at the start of the
year. Exceptions will NOT be made.
What are the Content Journals?
One of the goals that resulted from our Middle States
study was to have students write more often in the content areas
(Math, Science, Social Studies, Religion). The Content Journals
are one way we are working to that goal. All of our students have
a Content Journal, which is a special copybook that is used in
all subjects. Teachers will assign various topics, and the
students will write a response in their Content Journals. A
rubric, to be used by all, can be found on my Rubrics and Helpful
Handouts page. At the end of the year, we will include the
Content Journals in the ILA portfolios.
When is Religion Maintenance due? How is it assessed?
In most cases, Religion maintenance sheets are due on Fridays.
Due dates have been received in advance. Each week, the students
must answer five review questions on a particular topic. These
are checked immediately; therefore, late maintenance papers are
not accepted. Students who are absent on Friday (or the day it
is due) are responsible for submitting their paper to me
immediately upon their return to school. Religion maintenace
grades count toward five percent of the students' final average.
What is the Spiritual Adoption Program?
The Spiritual Adoption Program is a wonderful year long program
that instills a sense of reverence for life in the students.
Every day, we pray a special prayer for an unborn child who is in
danger of abortion. Beginning in September, and every month
thereafter, I read to the class about the development of child in
utero. The culminating peice of this program comes in June, nine
months after we began our prayers and reading. We celebrate life
on this day by having a baby shower for our spiritually adopted
child. Shower gifts are brought to school, and donated to a home
for women who chose life, even though it may have been difficult
for them to do so.
What is the absentee policy?
When a child is absent, a classmate completes an absentee sheet
for them. The absentee sheet lists all missed class work,
homework, and announcements. Students are responsible for
checking their mailboxes for the absentee sheet, and any
handouts, upon their return to class. It is their responsibility
to complete all work in a timely manner, and then show it to me
for credit. It is preferred that students make up work when they
return, rather than having work sent to them while they are out.
How is the homework grade determined?
Every trimester, students begin with a one hundred in each
subject, as a homework grade. If they complete all of their
assignments and projects, then they maintain that one hundred.
Three points will be deducted for any late assignment, and five
points will be deducted for any incomplete assignment. In order
to be considered complete and on time, assignments must be in the
classroom at the time of collection.
How is the copybook grade determined?
Many classwork assignments, charts, diagrams, and notes are done
in copybooks. Each trimester, the students receive a grade for
their Religion and ILA copybooks. As you are aware, I am quite
picky as far as how I like copybooks set up. Quite simply, my
requirements are: neat cursive writing, a proper copybook
heading that is underlined in red, and carefully completed work.
If these requirements are met, then a copybook grade of 100 is
achieved. Failure to meet these requirements, on a daily basis,
will result in a deduction of points.
Is extra credit available?
I do not offer extra credit. I do not feel that extra work is
beneficial for a student who is struggling; instead I encourage
them to seek help at school or at home. Copybook and homework
grades are easy ways for any student to boost their average.