November 17 th 2014

1. Sycamore 2. Assessment, Grading and Report cards 3. Promotion rules 4. Timetable

 Sycamore is a school management and student information software system, providing information on a number of item.  Management Information Systems only work when all stakeholders actively participate.  Stakeholders are:  The Company Sycamore  Board and Management  Sycamore Application Manager  Teachers and Supporting Staff  Students  Parents

 Teachers try-out (Sep. 2014)  Introduction to Parents/Students (Oct Parent Academy)  Input of grades by teachers and attendance by Administration (Sep-Oct. 2014)  From now on:  Teachers put in grades, attendance, test dates, homework, discipline records.  Homeroom teachers review completeness on a weekly basis.  Mrs. Shigemoto is the Sycamore Application Adminstrator.

 CBA-SYCAMORE IS STILL IN A TEST PHASE  NO RIGHTS CAN BE DERIVED FROM SYCAMORE RELATED TO HOMEWORK, DISCPLINE RECORDS AND TEST DATE INFORMATION  THE CLASSBOOK IS STILL THE CORE MEDIUM FOR COMMUNICATION OF THESE ITEMS

 Ensure that each parent has an address for Sycamore.  Check if information of parent/child is correct  Check Sycamore on a regular basis. If you do have problems with logging in or do not have access to computer/internet, ask your child’s homeroom teacher for a print-out.  Inform your child’s homeroom teacher if you have certain concerns.

 Students are responsible for make up tests and checking on missed work after absence.  All information with regards to homework assignments and assessments/tests are always in the classbook. Don’t rely on Sycamore only (as yet).  After absenteeism, students/parents either:  Check the classbook  Ask a peer student to give updates

Grading Policy:  Grades are on a scale between  A passing grade is 60 or higher.  At least 3 test grades and others per term (e.g. 3 quizes can count as one test).  The average (dependent on the weight factor) of all assessments is the term grade.  The average of the 3 terms (plus exam week F3) is the final grade that counts for promotion.  Tests have to be communicated to students one week in advance.  Teachers discuss the test results with the students.

Report Cards:  At the end of each term a report card is given  The report card grades will be discussed by staff and later shared with parents/students during a report card session.  The report card gives grades for all subjects, both the Academic and Art subjects.  The format of CBA’s report card will become as follows:

Promotion:  At the end of the school year all teachers will discuss the final results of the students.  A decision will be made on promotion, taking all factors into account.  The document promotion policy is the point of departure for promotion.

General Requirements:  A student can only be promoted if he/she has attended school at least 80% of full school days  The average of all grades must be 60 or higher  A student cannot repeat the same year twice.  Students who are not promoted to the next grade after repeating a year, will be referred to another institution/level for secondary education.

Forms 1 and 2:  Final Grade for each subject is based on the average of the three terms  Final Exam is included in Term 3 Grade  {Term 1 Grade + Term 2 Grade + Term 3 Grade} / 3 = Final Subject Grade  Has an Overall Average of 60, and  Has no more than 3 failing final grades in Academic Subjects, and  Has no more than 2 failing final grades in Performance Arts/non-academic Subjects (this includes life skills)  Has no more than a total of 4 failing subjects

Form 3:  Final Grade for each subject is based on the average of the three terms and the Final Exam (in Sycamore exam is called Term 4)  {Term 1 Grade + Term 2 Grade + Term 3 Grade + Final Exam} / 4 = Final Subject Grade  Final Exam is a Separate Grade from the 3 Term Grades and is formulated as Term 4.  Has an Overall Average of 60, and  Has no more than 3 failing final grades in Academic Subjects  Has no more than 1 failing final grade in Performance Arts Subjects  Has no more than a total of 4 failing grades  Has no more than 2 failing grades for academic subjects to be taken up as examination subjects

 A student who does not meet these requirements, will be discussed during the reportcard meeting to be conducted by Management and staff. After hearing the advice of Inspection a decision is made by the reportcard meeting.  Parents can appeal the decision of the reportcard meeting by the board.

 As of Monday, Nov. 24 th a new timetable will go into effect.  Copies of timetable will be handed out to students and staff on Friday, Nov. 22 nd.  A number of changes are being made:

Reasons: Concern of students: too many and too long breaks Too much pressure on Staff with regards to supervision Create extra time for additional Art subjects and meetings

 New subjects: Drama/Theatre Arts and Vocals (DAL/JAM)  French will start in Forms 1 and 2 (KER)  IT Classes for Forms 1 and 2 by other teacher (KIN)

Questions?