Grading Information 2019-2020

May 18, 2020

Hello Shaw Vikings Families, 

We would like to provide you information regarding students’ grades for the 2019-20 school year. This aligns with communications from our district and the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

3rd quarter Reporting

  • A 3rd quarter report card will not be generated this year due to the closure, but students do have a grade in Power School representative of their 3rd quarter progress up to the closure on March 17
  • Students were given the opportunity to improve 3rd quarter grades during the initial weeks of the closure period when optional enrichment activities were given. 

No grade for 3rd quarter should fall any lower than it was on March 17th, but it can increase.

Recent Changes for 4th Quarter

  • Spokane Schools teachers began providing new learning rather than optional enrichment learning to students to adjust to the extension of the closure of school buildings to the end of the academic year.
  • With this change, a brand new grade for 4th quarter is showing up for most students in Power School.  This grade is reflective of their progress during the closure period.
  • It is important for students to engage in learning by checking emails regularly, completing and submitting assignments given each week, and attending virtual meetings held by their teachers. 
  • Daily commitment from students is expected to be about 120 minutes (or 20 minutes per class) per day.
  • There are no “F”s being given during this closure period.

Final Thoughts on Grading:

  • The final Semester 2 grade will be one that reflects the progress students have made over the semester.
  • The only grades that can be given to students as final grades for this 2nd Semester are: “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “Incomplete”.  This grade is meant to indicate progress of the learning taking place during the 2nd
  • An incomplete grade does not mean that a student will not go on to the next grade level. It is simply an indicator of what learning had taken place for the 2nd semester. 
  • A grade of “Incomplete” will only be assigned to students who did not demonstrate key learning standards prior to the closure and continued to find difficulty doing so during the closure.

A report card for Semester 2 will be sent after June 19th showing Quarter 3 and 4 grades and the final Semester 2 grade.

Please continue to encourage your students to reach out to their teachers, counselor, and administration if they are struggling to participate in learning from home. Staff are also aware that there are many factors in this distance learning model that provide challenges for students and families. We are here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued dedication to your student’s education.

Shaw Administrative Team,

Jon Swett, Janet Lane, Tony Ressa, and Rhett Lashbrook