Student Handbook

GRADING  POLICIES

Elementary School
Personal teacher-parent meetings and periodic written reports are designed to give parents information on the progress of students and to help parents and the school coordinate academic programs for each student.

Middle School
Grades are issued at the conclusion of each semester. The following grading system is
used:

GRADE GUIDELINE

A ...   Excellent 90-100% mastery 
B...    Good to Very Good 80-89% mastery 
C...    Average 70-79% mastery 
N...    Below 70% Needs Improvement 
P...    Passing grade earned   
NC...  No credit
I...     No credit

Incomplete course work may, at the option of the instructor, be made up pursuant to a
written agreement between the student and the instructor. In no event may the
agreement provide for more than six months time for completion of the work. If the
required work is not completed in accordance with the agreement, a grade of "NC" will be
awarded.

PROGRESS REPORTS & REPORT CARDS
Progress reports for students are handed out at
parent/teacher conferences in the fall and spring. Semester Report Cards are mailed
during the Winter Break and after school releases in May.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY
Students participating in athletics must maintain academic and behavioral eligibility in
accordance with AIA standards or stricter standards of Avalon. A grade of "C" or better
must be maintained in all classes and the student must not be currently subject to any
disciplinary action. Students receiving any progress report or report card with any grade
below "C" are ineligible until they submit reports from all current teachers indicating
eligibility.

HOMEWORK POLICY
Homework is a central characteristic of Excalibur Charter Schools. It has three major
purposes:

       1. To teach personal responsibility and time management skills.
       2. To keep parents informed about what their children are studying.
       3. To provide additional academic growth and development.

Parent responsibilities concerning homework are as follows:

       1. To provide a time and a place free from distraction for the work to occur.
       2. To sign the daily planner review the child's work and provide words of encouragement,
           not correction.             
       3. To work closely with the teachers if problems occur.

Remember, the first purpose of homework is to help children learn personal responsibility
and time management skills. Parents should also teach their children that if they do not
finish their daily work in class, that work is in addition to the actual homework, and it is
not part of the actual homework time. Therefore, reports, themes and unfinished daily
work could account for some students spending more than the maximum amount of time
stated. Student punctuality and personal responsibility will ensure that this does not
happen.

Homework will be directly related to daily instruction. Daily work not completed is not
considered homework, but must be completed by the next day. Homework will be
evaluated by the teacher or as a class assignment. Standards of neatness and accuracy
are to be maintained regardless of the subject matter area.

Students should be taught regularly that they are responsible for their homework and
that no one other than the classroom teacher should help them complete the assignments.
This will help the students learn to concentrate during instruction time, as well as teach
personal responsibility.

All students are expected to read aloud or be read to for a minimum of 15 minutes
each night as part of their homework for grades KG-3rd, and 30 minutes each night
for grades 4th-8th.

Planners will be given to students in grades 4th-8th with homework
assignments and behavior logs if needed. These will need to be signed every night. Please
support your child's education by doing your part. If students are absent, elementary
students will need to check with their teacher for his/her class policy regarding make-up
work.