St. Bernadette School
80 University Blvd East
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Tel: (301) 593-5611
Fax: (301) 593-9042

Academic Evaluation

 

Report Cards are distributed quarterly in November, January, April, and June. Kindergarten students will receive report cards each semester in January and June. Please refer to school calendar for exact dates. Grade are based on the student's assessments, assignments, projects, and class participation. Parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled at the end of the first quarter.

 

Grading

 

Grades are based on the degree of success the individual student has achieved in completing the grade level curriculum. At Back-to-School Night, each teacher will provide an explanation of his/her method and procedures for grading.

 

Grades 1 - 3 and special area classes use the following grading scale:

 

E = Excellent

G = Good

S = Satisfactory

I = Improvement Needed

U = Unsatisfactory

 

Grades 4 - 8 use the following grading scale:

 

A = 93 - 100

B = 85 - 92

C = 77 - 84

D = 70 - 76

F = Below 70

 

Any request for a re-evaluation of a student's grade must be made in writing to the teacher within a week of receiving the grade.

 

Classroom Assessments

 

In accordance with Archdiocesan Policy #5147, "The reporting of a student's progress shall be based on data derived through a variety of assessment techniques. The student shall be evaluated on his/her academic progress." These assessments include, but are not limited to tests, quizzes, oral reports, projects, collaborative group worker, homework and class discussions.

 

Testing Guidelines

 

• No more than 2 tests or quizzes per day will be scheduled
• All test dates will be recorded on the website
• Arrangements for make-up tests due to absences should be made with the classroom teacher

 

Honors and Awards

 

Students in grades 6 - 8 are recognized for academic excellence by being awarded honors for each quarter as long as the following criteria are met:

 

• Gold -- All A's
• Silver -- All A's and B's
• Bronze -- One C, the rest A's and B's

 

A student will be disqualified from receiving honors if during any reporting period s/he receives a detention or suspension and/or has received numbers 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 listed on the Comment Code specified on the right-hand side of the report card in two or more subject areas.

 

A Principal's Award is given to all students at the end of the year who have achieved honors for all four quarters.

 

An Academic Excellence Award will be given to any student who demonstrates superior academic effort. This award, given at the teachers' discretion, may be earned by any student in grades 6 - 8 including Honor Roll students.

 

Effort, Conduct, Citizenship, and Perfect Attendance Certificates are also awarded at the end of the year.

 

Awards are presented to the 8th grade students for specific achievement and participation in extra-curricular clubs and organization at an Award Ceremony at the end of the year.

 

Standardized Testing

 

Each spring all students in grades 2 - 8 participate in the Archdiocesan elementary school testing program. Parents are notified of the dates of testing and will have a home report sent of the child's testing results.

 

The High School Placement Test (HSPT) will be administered to the 8th grade students who choose to apply to a Catholic high school. This is given during the last week of November/first week of December.

 

Early Prevention of School Failure assessment is administered to all incoming kindergarten and new first grade students. This testing assesses students on a wide variety of developmental skills to identify strengths and weaknesses and to make recommendations for intervention if needed. Admission is not based on assessment results.

 

Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE) is administered to grades 5 and 8 in the spring.

 

Retention

 

• Students will be promoted or retained on the recommendation of the teachers and the principal.
• An evaluation will be made to determine the child's maturity in relation to his motor skills, social adjustment, and academic performance.
• Teachers will inform parents of the possibility of retention as soon as it is indicated.
• A conference with parents to advise them of the possibility of retention and to discuss possible remedial actions should be held no later than the end of the first semester.
• On-going conferencing will focus on the appropriate procedure to be followed in the best interest of the child.