Academic Information

The purpose of school is to promote learning, enhance social growth and enable the continual development of our students as individuals.  The student contributes to creating an environment conducive to learning by respecting the rights and property of others, participating in the learning process and exhibiting responsible behavior.
 

Council Rock School District recognizes the need for student assessment on a regular basis.  Assessment can take many forms: class work, homework, reports, projects, student writing, student performance, quizzes, teacher-made tests, department/district tests, final exams, and standardized tests.  All student work is available to parents.  However, for reasons of test integrity and expense, certain tests will not be sent home.  Examples include department/district tests, final exams, and identified student work that will be maintained for student portfolios. These items may be accessed by parents through parent-teacher contact. 
 

A comprehensive co-curricular program is available to all students.  This is a broad-based program that provides opportunities for students to participate in a wide variety of activities: interscholastic athletics, intramurals, arts programs, music programs, service activities, student government, etc.  The complete listing of activities can be found on each school’s web page. 
 

Parents, counselors or instructional team members throughout the school year may request parent conferences.  Conference days will also be designated in the Council Rock School Calendar.
 

Upon entering seventh grade, students are assigned a guidance counselor who will work with them for their two years at the middle school.  The purpose of the school counseling program is to provide academic support and guidance, address adolescent issues and concerns, and to serve as liaison between the school and home.  Students will be seen upon student request, teacher request and/or parent request.
 

Students share in the responsibility of communicating their academic progress to their parents. Requests to have tests and papers signed must be respected. There are four marking periods within a school year.  Each marking period will be distinct from other marking periods with an assigned grade reflecting only that period’s scholastic achievement.  All grades are available on the Home Access Center.
 

All letter grades are converted to a numerical weight as defined below. (+’s and –‘s are not considered in the GPA computation).  Credits for marking period and cumulative year are also converted to a numerical value as listed on the next page.

The Marking Period Grade Point Average (MP GPA) is computed as follows:

• Find the product of the quality points (ex: A= 4) and the credit earned (ex: Science = 1.0) for the marking period grades only. 
• Find the sum of the products.
• Divide the sum of the products by the sum of the credits attempted to date.
   

A Council Rock student can expect to have homework assigned regularly.  The team will coordinate projects and tests to minimize workload. Generally, a student can anticipate an hour or an hour and a half of homework daily.  However, this could vary based upon the study and work habits of each student.  The major responsibility of the student is the completion of homework assignments within the specified time period and in the manner which represents the student’s best effort.  Other responsibilities of the student are:

• To keep a written record of assignments for reference, especially if multiple assignments are given nightly.
• To inform the teacher, as soon as possible, if an assignment cannot be completed due to lack of understanding of the concepts or skills involved.
• To bring a note from his/her parent or guardian if a nightly assignment cannot be completed because of a family or personal emergency.  The students should expect to complete the assignment at the earliest time possible unless the teacher waives it.
• To expect a portion of his/her grade will be based upon the accuracy of completed homework.
• To realize neatness and promptness in completing assignments will be reflected in the work habits grade earned by the student.
• To inform the teacher of his/her special interests so that some homework assignments can be tailored to those interests.
• To realize even if a nightly assignment is not made, opportunity should be taken to work on long-term projects and/or to read independently in an area of interest.
• To realize the completion of homework is an important measure of self-discipline because the student must do it on a regular basis and without close supervision.
   

Students earning a grade point average of 3.0 – 3.74 

Honor Roll: A student must obtain a grade point average of at least 3.0 and not have received any grade below ‘C’ in any course in the given marking period. Any incomplete grade will disqualify a student from the honor roll: or 3.75 or higher. 

Distinguished Honor Roll: A student must obtain a grade point average of at least 3.75 and not have received any grade below ‘C’ in any course in the given marking period. Any incomplete grade will disqualify a student from the honor roll. 
 

All students will receive an interim progress report at the midpoint of each marking period. These reports are available on Home Access Center.

Students enrolled in an Algebra 1 class will take Keystone exams.
 

The Library Media Center is a hub for students and teachers seeking information. There are numerous books, periodicals, and audiovisual sources of information to support the curriculum. Supplementing this more traditional collection are the almost limitless resources provided by electronic databases, the Internet, and links to a variety of library and information networks.
The library also houses a multimedia lab and resources for the creation of a variety of multimedia projects and instructional materials. The goal of the librarian is to develop the students’ skills in defining and solving problems through research; competence in finding, evaluating and using information from a variety of sources; and supporting enthusiastic attitudes toward libraries and reading for a lifetime.

Because of flexible scheduling the middle school library-media curriculum is totally integrated with other curriculum subject areas. Middle school librarians collaborate with all subject area teachers to implement the library-media curriculum.  The students will learn and know how to do the following:

Grade 7 LMC Content and Skills

• Orientation to a Middle School facility
• Develop and revise research questions
• Print and electronic resources
• Search strategies
• Big 6 Model 
• The Research Cycle
• Pathways to Knowledge
• Print and electronic indices
• Access a variety of information
• Evaluate and organize information
• Electronic graphic organizers
• Works Consulted/Cited format
• Self-assessment/evaluation in research process
• Oral/written and visual process and presentation of research
• Use Electronic Catalog (Destiny)
• Literature appreciation/response
• Literary devices and elements
• Develop and use multimedia presentations
• Middle Level Literacy Portfolio
• Copyright and plagiarism
• Intellectual freedom
• Library Citizenship and collaboration

Grade 8 LMC Content and Skills

• Develop and revise research questions
• Print and electronic resources
• Search strategies
• Big 6 Model 
• The Research Cycle
• Pathways to Knowledge
• Print and electronic indices
• Access a variety of information
• Evaluate and organize information
• Electronic graphic organizers
• Works Consulted/Cited format – In text citation
• Self-assessment/evaluation in research process
• Oral/written and visual process and presentation of research
• Use Electronic Catalog (Destiny)
• Literature appreciation/response
• Literary devices and elements
• Develop and use multimedia presentations effectively
• Middle Level Literacy Portfolio
• Copyright and plagiarism
• Intellectual freedom
• Library Citizenship and collaboration
   

Students are responsible for making arrangements to complete missed work.  Students must follow their teacher’s guidelines.  
 

Each marking period will be distinct from each other marking period with an assigned grade reflecting only that period’s scholastic achievement.  

The Grading System for all courses will be:

• A = Excellent
• B = Good
• C = Fair
• D = Below Average
• F = Failing
• INC = Incomplete.  This grade is used only when work needs to be completed in order for the teacher to determine a grade.  Incomplete work shall be completed no later than ten school days after the marking period in which it was assigned.  
• NG = No Grade.  This grade shall be used only when students cannot or shall not be expected to do or make up the work of a particular marking period.

NOTE: + or - may be used with a grade of A, B, C, or D. 
 

The principal makes promotions to the next grade level based on advice of the staff who keeps in mind the best interests of the student involved.
 

Report cards grades are issued at the conclusion of each marking period, and are available on Home Access Center.  A copy of the final report card is mailed home at the end of the school year.  
 

Students who fail, and their parents, will be counseled concerning programs available for summer study and private tutoring.  The costs of the programs must be borne by the parents.  In addition, tutoring or summer study may be recommended for review or developmental work.