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ACADEMIC POLICIES
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are issued every 10 weeks, in November, February, April, and June. Parent conferences with Report Card pick-up are held twice a year, in November and April as scheduled on the school calendar. Parents/guardians are required to come to the school to pick up the report card from your student’s teacher.
GRADING SYSTEMS
Student grades are determined using the following scale:
A — 95-100
B — 88-94
D — 75-80
F — Below 75 (failure)
PROGRESS REPORTS
One of our main goals at Hancock High School is to keep parents informed of their student’s academic progress. For
this reason students are given a progress report five weeks before report cards are distributed. These reports will indicate how your student is progressing in each major subject area. We feel that it is vita! to keep our parents informed. For this reason, students are required to return their progress report with a PARENTS SIGNATURE.
TESTS
School testing is done annually.
La Prueba Riverside de Realizacion en Espanol — Measures basic skills in reading and mathematics in the Spanish language.
L.A.S. — Language Assessment Scales is an examination.
for classifying those students who are limited in English.
P.L.A.N. — High School Assessment Test.
P.S.A.E. — Prairie State Achievement Exam — 11th grade
EXPLORE — 9th Grade.
AWARDS
Guidelines for the following:
HONOR ROLL
3.0 average or above
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
No days absent
No more than 3 times tardy
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Each month one student in each class who has strived to
perform at his best along with perfect attendance and
being in uniform daily will be recognized by the principal
Nominations should be based on the following criteria:
- Excellent attendance, including no tardies.
- Following the school dress code.
- Completing assignments on time.
- Maintaining or striving for better grades.
- Being an enthusiastic and hardworking student.
- Being a good neighbor.
- Setting a good example.
- No discipline problems.
- Excellent citizenship.
- Improving in any of the above.
HOMEWORK
Homework is important and required by the Board of Education. It is an extension of the learning that takes place in school. Homework can provide practice and drill that reinforces classroom learning and can provide opportunities for independent study, research, and creative thinking. The Chicago Board of Education and Hancock High School require a minimum of 150 minutes per day actively participating in preparing for the next day’s homework, whether it is assigned by a teacher, reading or completing an unfinished project.
Homework is a necessary component in the sequence of a student’s education and should be assigned to:
- Provide reinforcement, practice, application, and enrichment of what is learned in class;
- Prepare students for class participation;
- Develop independent and responsible work and study habits;
- Extend learning activities beyond the school hours;
- Provide an opportunity for student creativity;
- Foster a closer relationship between home and school;
- Provide opportunities for the student to gain experience in the utilization of community resources; and
- Provide for positive on-going parental involvement in the student’s education.
STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, PRIN CIPALS, LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS, AND
REGION EDUCATION OFFICERS HAVE THE
FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE
HOMEWORK POLICY.
- Students are responsible for maintaining a homework assignment notebook listing subjects, assignment dates, due dates, and date turned in. Students are expected to complete all homework assignments carefully and accurately and to turn them in by the due date. They should make necessary corrections on the returned homework and share with their parents the teacher’s evaluation of homework assignments.
- They are to seek help, as needed, from parents and teachers. Parents are to provide space and a quiet time for their student to complete the homework each night. They should monitor that the homework is being done and review the corrected homework returned by the teacher. Parents should assist their students in the utilization of community resources such as libraries, which can be helpful to the student when completing homework. Finally, parents should contact the teacher if there are any problems with homework.
- Teachers are responsible for planning and implementing the homework policy in their classroom. Homework
for students must appear in the daily lesson plans of teachers. These plans will be monitored by the principal for compliance with this policy. They are to develop a recordkeeping/monitoring system and review all homework: to grade all work, noting areas for correction: and to return all collected assignments promptly. Homework activities should be for reinforcement practice, application, enrichment, and creativity. They are to plan for the coordination and scheduling of assignments with other teachers to meet the suggested homework time allocations. Teachers are to share the homework plan with students and parents and provide instruction in appropriate study habits and strategies. Homework is to be explained to students, and if specific materials are needed, teachers are to
make sure that students are able to obtain the materials.
- Principals are responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the homework policy, in consultation
with the PPAC and the Local School Council. They are to define the relationship between subjects and grades and provide in-service sessions for the staff on the homework policy. They are to distribute the homework policy and the Students First - A Guide to Homework Success to parents.
- The Local School Council is to work with the principal and staff on the development and implementation of the homework policy and the local expectations concerning homework. The LSC is to annually review local policies concerning homework.
- The Region Education Officer monitors the local school implementation of the homework policy.
HOMEWORK CHECKLIST
- Write down homework assignments in student planner.
- Ask questions if you do not understand an assignment.
- Plan a regular time each day for homework.
- Prepare a quiet study area in your home where there are no distractions. (Away from the TV)
- START! (You can’t finish if you don’t get started.)
- Use aids such as dictionaries, the public library, maps, etc.
- Talk to your teacher the next day about any problems you might have had with the homework.
STUDY SKILLS
The following are student guidelines for achieving good study habits:
- Come to class prepared with pencil, paper, and other necessary materials.
- be an active participant in class. Listen well and take part in class.
- Ask questions if you do not understand.
- Plan and schedule time for homework.
- Use what is learned and apply it to new situations.
- Strive to do the very best work possible. Just “getting by” is not good enough.
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