Back to Student Handbook — Grades 4-8

Table of Contents

• Academic Excellence
• Grade 4 & Academy V
• Grade 4 & Academy V Academic Calendar
• Textbooks
• Grade 6-8
• Grade 6-8 Academic Calendar
• Textbooks
• Grades & Grading Policy
• Academic Grades
• Conduct Grades
• Extra Credit
• Make-up Work
• Incompletes
• Academic Distinctions
• Academic Probation
• Requirements for Graduation & Matriculation
• Transcripts
• Academic Integrity
• Learning Differences

Academic Excellence

As a college preparatory school, academic performance is a critical component of our school identity. Students are held to a high standard and given opportunities to excel whenever possible. In our desire to educate the whole person, OCS encourages students to be involved in activities outside of school, such as church, athletics, the arts, or community service. However academics should remain one of the highest priorities during the school year.

Grade 4 & Academy V

Grade 4 & Academy V Academic Calendar

The school year is divided into three trimesters.

Trimester grades are the official grades recorded on the student’s transcript. Progress reports at the midpoint of each trimester will provide an informal assessment of student progress. Teachers also write comments to document the performance and progress of the student in their class. All grades and reports are posted on AXIS at the end of each grading period. Throughout the year, students may access daily progress, assignments, and communication with their teachers through AXIS, our online learning management system. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled as needed.

Textbooks

All textbooks and resources are supplied to Grade 4 & Academy V students.

Grade 6-8

Grade 6-8 Academic Calendar

The 2023-2024 school year is divided into two semesters.

Semester grades are the official grades recorded on the student’s transcript. The school issues quarter and semester grades to give the student an assessment of progress made throughout the year. Teachers also write comments to document the performance and progress of the student in their class. All grades and reports are posted on AXIS at the end of each grading period. Throughout the year, students may access daily progress, assignments, and communication with their teachers through AXIS, our online learning management system. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled as needed.

Textbooks

Students in grades 6-8 must purchase texts before the first day of school. Students may purchase textbooks online via Shelfit. Some additional titles and used books may be available at the Campus Store or Malachi’s Closet. All books purchased become the property of the student. Many of these books will become part of the student’s personal library, but a buy-back program is also available through ShelfIt. Families also have the opportunity to donate books at the end of the school year.

Each student will be provided a Middle School Campus Planner that will be used regularly in every class. If students misplace or lose their planner, there will be a $10 fee to replace it.

Grades & Grading Policy

Grades assigned to a student’s work indicate progress and achievement. Only those grades given at the conclusion of each semester are recorded on the official transcript.

Academic Grades

The following is a definition of each grade as a description of a student’s academic performance in a course.

Conduct Grades

It is expected that students will conduct themselves with grace and respect in their classes. Therefore, formal marks in conduct, along with teacher comments, are used to encourage positive behavior and to give an evaluation of a student’s conduct in the classroom.

Extra Credit

Teachers do not give extra credit in order for students to raise a grade. In some cases, teachers may provide opportunities for “grade redemption” through occasional rewrites, retakes, or other ways for students to review material not previously mastered.

Make-up Work

Students are expected to complete assignments on time. All work is graded according to its merits, and late work is penalized. If events arise that prevent a student from completing assignments on time, the student is allowed to ask the teacher for an extension to a specific date determined by the teacher and student. Since the school believes that students should plan their time wisely, in most cases, extensions will be considered for students who have made such a request at least one school day in advance.

Incompletes

Students are expected to complete all work each semester. If, at the end of the semester, a student has not completed work because of an unforeseen emergency or significant illness, the teacher may give the student an incomplete, at which time the student will have 14 calendar days to complete the work.

Academic Distinctions

The Academic Honor Roll is a distinction granted at the end of each semester to those students who have achieved a 3.00 GPA and who fulfill the following requirements: have no grades lower than a B- in any class; have maintained satisfactory citizenship in all classes; and have faithfully and consistently carried out their school responsibilities.

Academic Probation

Any student whose GPA falls below a 2.0, or who is earning one F or two Ds, at the end of any quarter is at risk of dismissal from the school. Athletic participation may be limited and financial aid award status affected for students in this category. Such a student will be placed on academic probation. The student will be removed from academic probation if he/she improves his/her cumulative GPA above 2.0 and/or raises D or F grades to at least a C, and demonstrates outstanding cooperation and attitude through the end of the next quarter. Such a student has one quarter to improve. A student on academic probation for any 3 of 5 sequential quarters warrants dismissal from the school. A student may be placed on academic probation in other circumstances of unsatisfactory academic performance.

Requirements for Graduation & Matriculation

Students must receive at least a C- in at least three core classes, and receive a passing grade in all core classes to be promoted. An F grade in a core class must be redeemed through special summer work for a student to be considered for promotion. Core classes are Bible, English, history, math, and science.

Transcripts

OCS student transcripts show the grades earned for each semester. Transcripts may also show grades for work taken in summer school or in schools other than OCS.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is integral to our individual standards of honor and to the health of our school culture. To this end, the school has adopted comprehensive policies that address academic integrity as well as discipline procedures.

Academic integrity, in and out of the classroom, is essential. Cases of academic dishonesty will be considered major infractions of the school’s rules and will be treated in a disciplinary manner. Academic dishonesty may result in dismissal from the school. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism, the use of another person’s material in paper or presentation without giving proper credit to author
• Copying someone else’s homework
• Dishonestly acquiring information about a test
• Using online translators or AI to complete assignments
• Assisting another student in any of the above activities

The copying of another’s work inside or outside the classroom and presenting it as one’s own is contrary to the school’s goal of developing academic integrity. Students are expected to adhere strictly to the U.S. copyright law, and to the Academic Integrity Code, a copy of which can be obtained from the Academic Dean’s office. Creation or use of unauthorized copies of software or other printed materials shall be considered a major breach of academic integrity.

Students sign an Oath of Honor acknowledging that they understand and will comply with these policies. Breaches of the Oath of Honor will be dealt with in the following order:

1. First offense - Warning, opportunity to redo the assignment for up to 75% score
2. Second offense - No score on the assignment, conference with Deans
3. Third offense - Conference with Principal and Deans

Learning Differences

We enroll a student population with a diversity of talents, interests, and backgrounds. Since our curriculum is challenging, we seek students who have experienced academic success prior to their acceptance at OCS. However, learning differences may emerge as some of these students mature, and we endeavor to do all we can, consistent with applicable law, to help students identify the learning styles most comfortable for them and develop a fortitude that will serve them well in all learning situations.

As a college preparatory school, Oaks Christian School does not offer separate and special programs for students with learning differences. The faculty may make reasonable accommodations. Students with learning differences can sometimes qualify for academic accommodations for standardized testing. Those students with learning differences who request special accommodations must provide the Academic Success Program Director with professional testing and evaluation results, which reflect the student’s present level of learning abilities and achievement. The cost of obtaining such testing and evaluation are the responsibility of the student’s family. Students requesting any accommodation must contact the school as far in advance as possible.