Introduction

At Jack London Middle School students are encouraged to discover, explore, and construct their own meaning.  The responsibility for learning, therefore, rests with the student.  Our goal is to develop each student to be an independent, continuous learner.  Teachers develop challenging lessons in which students need to be active participants.  Students should ask questions, participate in discussions, and work with a purpose.  They also need to be engaged in reflective thought.  Each student needs to have the time to process what they have done and to internalize how it fits in their world.  This will help them to construct their own meaning.

Formal and informal assessments are based on evidence of learning as demonstrated through tests, quizzes, projects, performance-based activities, and as viewed through portfolios.  Teachers use this evidence to determine mid trimester and report card content area grades.  However, a single grade in a content area does not reflect all of the information which is important to a child’s progress.  In addition to the content area standards, this assessment handbook presents standards for student behaviors.  These are called Learner Qualities.

If you have questions, do not wait until the October mid-trimester report.  All teachers are ready to receive messages concerning your questions via voicemail or e-mail.  By working together and setting high standards, we can help young people to become independent and self-motivated learners.

 HONOR ROLL

Jack London Middle School honors students for their achievement.  Content area grades and Learner Quality grades in CORE and Exploratory classes are weighted equally when determining honor roll status.  To earn Purple Roll status, students must receive at least 90% of the total possible points.  To earn Silver Roll status, students must receive at least 80% of the total possible points.

Purple and Silver Roll Calculations  

To determine the number of points earned during a trimester, add the points from the Content Areas and the points from the Learner Qualities.  The Content Areas are treated equally and their points can be totaled.  However, when calculating the points for the Learner Qualities, the grades from the core teachers are multiplied by six because those teachers observe the students for six periods.  The three grades from the exploratory teachers are added to that score.  This total is divided by nine (representing the total number of periods in a school day) to get an average for each of the Learner Qualities.  These points are added to the Content Area points for a grand total.  A worksheet is available from your homebase teacher to make your own calculations.

Honors Reception    

During the spring, an evening is planned to recognize student achievement.  Students who have earned this recognition will have their names published in the London FLASH.  Please contact the middle school office if you think that an error has been made in calculating your child’s honor roll status.  Students will receive invitations by mail to attend the reception.  Students who have earned the following awards will be invited:

•  Silver Roll - Student was on the Silver Roll during the first two trimesters.

•  Purple / Silver Roll - Student was on Purple Roll for one trimester and Silver for the other trimester.

•  Purple Roll - Student was on the Purple Roll during the first two trimesters.

•  Eighth Grade Honors - Purple or Silver Roll seven out of eight trimesters.

•  Eighth High Honors/Presidential Award - Student was on Purple Roll for seven out of eight trimesters.

• Answer the Call - Student or students, selected by the teachers, who over the course of their time at London best represents the Learner Qualities and service to others.