St. Mary's New Families

Permanent Records
Each student that enters St. Mary’s will have a permanent record file maintained in the office. That file will include: grade reports, registration forms, emergency forms and other information pertinent to the individual child, such as diagnostic and special education records. Only authorized school personnel may access these files. Parents may review their child's file by contacting the principal for an appointment.

Parent Access to Grades/RVS GradeBook
St. Mary’s School uses an electronic grade book through River Valley Software (RVS). Parents and students have 24 hour access to grades through this on-line program. A user ID and password are required. Students are issued an ID and password at the start of the school year. For additional assistance, please contact our technology teacher.

Progress Reports
Since grades are available through the RVS GradeBook, progress reports will only be issued as needed or upon request. Parents are encouraged to have frequent communication with their child’s teacher through e-mail, phone calls and notes. A formal conference is scheduled in the fall; however, parents are encouraged to request a conference any time throughout the year and any time there is a concern.

Report Cards
Grading periods at St. Mary’s are set up in quarters, each quarter is approximately 9 weeks of school. The end of each quarter is published on the school calendar; however, individual teachers may set their own deadline for when all work must be turned in for credit. These dates will be communicated to students.

Quarterly report cards will be provided within one week after the end of a quarter. Parents are to sign the report card envelope at the end of each of the first three quarters and return it to the teacher. The report card may be retained at home. At the end of each quarter, report cards will be held until tuition payments are up to date and outstanding school fees are paid. Eighth grader’s diplomas will be held until all financial obligations are satisfied.

Report cards for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes assess individual skills and indicate if a given skill is mastered or needs further practice.

Report cards for grades 1-2 address specific subject areas. Grades are: “S+” for “Exceeds basic requirements”, “S” for ‘‘Satisfactory”, “S-” for “Having difficulty, “U” for “Unsatisfactory” and “P” for “Making adequate progress, but below grade level”.

Report cards for grades 3-8 also report scores in specific subject areas. Letter grades are assigned based on the following grading scale as established by the Office of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Peoria:

A = 94% - 100%
B = 86% - 93%
C = 76% - 85%
D = 68% - 75%
F = Below 68%
I = Incomplete

Honor Roll
Students in grades 5-8 are eligible for the Honor Roll or High Honor Roll. All classes that meet a minimum of 3 days/week will be included in the student’s GPA. Quarterly GPA is determined on a 4 point scale. The 4 point scale does not take into consideration “+” and “-“ grades. Cumulative GPA is based on a12 point scale and includes the “+” and “-“.

Homework
Assignments are given for various purposes. Homework both extends and reinforces instruction through practice and it is an avenue by which parents and teachers may monitor progress and detect any difficulty a student may experience.

Parents should provide a constructive time and place for the student to study. Generally, time spent daily on homework should not exceed the times listed below. If you find that your child routinely spends more than the recommended time on homework, please discuss the issue with the classroom teacher.

15-30 minutes - grades K, 1 & 2
30-60 minutes - grades 3 & 4
45-60 minutes - grades 5 & 6
60-90 minutes - grades 7 & 8

Students should do their best to work consistently throughout the grading period so that the grade reflected on the report card is consistent with the student’s ability. Teachers may provide extra credit throughout the grading period as an additional challenge for students. Extra credit WILL NOT be provided at the end of a grading period for the purpose of raising a grade or making up missed assignments.

When a student is in school but does not turn in an assignment on time, it is considered late. Students areexpected to complete all class work and homework in the time allotted. Late assignments disrupt the educational process and have a negative effect on the teaching for learning process. Late work is still expected to be completed, turned in, and evaluated so that a student does not miss the learning experience. However, students and parents should expect that an academic penalty may be assigned at the discretion of the teacher. A conference will be scheduled with parents for students who continually struggle with late assignments.

All grades are entered as ‘incomplete’ until the work is completed satisfactorily. It is the student’s responsibility to get missed assignments and homework. Upon request, work may be made available for pick up at the end of the school day.

Homework and schoolwork for students who have an EXCUSED absence will be fully credited, if made up within a limitation of not more than the time missed through absences. For example, a student who missed two days with an excused absence must turn in all work no later than 8:00 am at the beginning of the third day back at school.

Homework and schoolwork missed during an UNEXCUSED absence must still be completed. Students and parents should expect that an academic penalty may be assigned at the discretion of the teacher.

Illness
Death of a family member
Medical/dental appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours.
Family emergencies due to illness or accident.
Other valid causes, which must be prearranged with the principal.

Vacations
Transportation difficulties
Oversleeping
Unexplained absences
Other reasons, as determined by the principal

Promotion and Retention
Promotion to the next grade at St. Mary’s School is not to be taken for granted. In considering a student for promotion, the teacher evaluates the student’s academic achievement demonstrated by the mastery of the required skills in those subject areas appropriate to the given grade. This achievement is viewed in relation to the student’s overall development, ability, and personality traits. If a student does not demonstrate adequate academic achievement, as determined by the teacher and principal, a conference with parents should occur. A plan for remediation may be implemented and goals set in order to establish criteria for the student’s placement. The principal is ultimately responsible for the grade placement of students in the school and will make final decisions regarding retention, placement or promotion.

Central Catholic High School , as an accommodation to the Catholic Grade Schools, will grant admission to our Algebra and Foreign Language (French/Spanish) classes to those eighth graders who meet the following requirements:

Take our Math and English entrance examination.
Attain a score in the 8th or 9th stanine.
Rank in the 90% in their eighth grade achievement test.
Have a minimum grade point average of "B"
Recommendation of the grade school teacher/administrator.

Students who are accepted into this program must complete the proper forms and pay the course fees assessed by CCHS. Course fees will be subtracted from tuition costs when enrolling as a freshman at CCHS. For students who continue their high school education at CCHS, the Algebra and Foreign Language semester grade will be part of their permanent record and will count as a math or foreign language credit but will not count as part of their high school GPA.

Academic Policy