THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 1996 TAG: 9607130076
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: 74 lines
Here's a look at some of the action taken at Thursday's meeting of the Suffolk School Board: Grading policy approved
The School Board approved a new 1996-97 grading scale for city elementary schools.
The major changes:
Report card grades given to kindergarten through third-grade students will be standardized.
Instead of relying on one grading range for kindergartners and another range for first- through third-graders, teachers will now assign one of five grades to those students in each subject when report card time rolls around: O for ``outstanding,'' G for ``good,'' S for ``satisfactory,'' N for ``needs improvement,'' and U for ``unsatisfactory.''
In the past, kindergartners could earn one of three grades on their report cards - in each subject: N/T for ``not yet taught,'' N or S.
And the lowest grade for first- through third-graders had been an N.
The new scale also assigns numeric values to O, G, S, N and U grades.
The goal is to make sure teachers use the same standards, said Milton R. Liverman, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Under the new scale, students will get an O grade in a subject when their scores on assignments average between 94 and 100 points; a G for an 86 to 93 average; an S for a 78 to 85 average; an N for a 70 to 77 average; and a U for averages of 69 or lower.
Those numerical cut-off points match the ones currently used for fourth- and fifth-graders.
But fourth- and fifth-grade students get A, B, C, D and F letter grades.
On their report cards, first- through fifth-graders will be evaluated in several different subject areas. Some other subjects will no longer appear separately on their report cards - although they still will be taught.
Administrators say the changes better reflect the state's new ``Standards of Learning.''
The changes:
First- through fifth-graders will no longer get a separate handwriting, spelling or language grade on their report cards. Their performance in those areas will be reflected in other grades.
Three new subject areas will appear on their report cards: writing, communication and study skills.
Two schools get OK for uniforms
The board approved plans for Kilby Shores and Elephant's Fork elementary schools to experiment with student uniforms in 1996-97.
The two are the district's first elementary schools to embrace the idea of student uniforms.
The uniforms will be voluntary and also informal. Students will have the option of wearing trousers, Bermuda shorts, skirts or jumpers that are navy or tan.
With those, they may wear white, blue, navy, green, yellow or red polo-style shirts; white oxford shirts; or white turtlenecks.
No particular brands or styles are desired. And students still may wear sneakers to school, Kilby Shores Principal Carolyn Dixon said Thursday.
Students, she added, also may wear plaid skirts, jumpers or Bermuda shorts - similar to those typically worn by Catholic school students.
Several parents and students attended Thursday's board meeting to show their support for the schools' plans.
Many public school educators across the country have embraced student uniforms - primarily because they say uniforms keep students focused on their studies and help administrators spot intruders.
This year, Robertson Elementary staffers themselves decided to wear a uniform to school every Monday - on a voluntary basis.
The main idea there is to show students that Robertson's teachers believe in working together. MEMO: In next week's School Bulletin Board: A review of the 1996
standardized test scores. by CNB