For the giving of academic awards and for the computation of the final grades, ONLY MAJOR SUBJECTS WILL BE CONSIDERED (English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Filipino). Minor subjects (Values Education, Music & Arts, Physical Education, Home Economics & Livelihood Education, and German Language) will be graded as E for Excellent (96-100), HS for Highly Satisfactory (91-95), S for Satisfactory (86-90), MI for Must Improve (75-85), and F for Failed (74 & below), but will not affect the computation of final rating. Conduct, as well, will not affect the final grade of a pupil.
For the major subjects, we will be using the Base 50 rating system. This means that the computation is: THE RAW SCORE OF ANY TEST MULTIPLIED BY 50, THEN DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF ITEMS ASKED, AND LASTLY, ADDING 50. If the pupil, therefore, would make a perfect score, the grade will be 100%.
QUIZZES WILL COMPRISE 30%, THE MONTHLY TEST 35% AND THE PERIODICAL TEST 35% OF EACH GRADING PERIOD.
THE FINAL GRADE WILL BE COMPUTED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING QUARTERLY RESULTS: FIRST GRADING PERIOD (20%), SECOND GRADING PERIOD (20%), THIRD GRADING PERIOD (20%), AND THE FOURTH GRADING PERIOD (40%).
For Grade 6, THE VALEDICTORIAN SHALL NOT HAVE A FINAL GRADE LOWER THAN 90% IN ANY MAJOR SUBJECT. Otherwise, only a salutatorian award will be given, whereby THE SALUTATORIAN SHALL NOT HAVE A FINAL GRADE LOWER THAN 88%. In English Reading and English Language, the policy of WRONG SPELLING = FULL MISTAKE (0 point) will be implemented immediately from the start of the quizzes. In all other subjects, WRONG SPELLING = HALF MISTAKE (1/2 point) will be the norm until the end of the First Grading Period. Thereafter, wrong spellings will not be given half a point.
For all Elementary Levels, our usual practice of test retakes (THE AUSTRIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PRACTICES THIS SYSTEM – their constant analysis and implementation of this practice make this system more plausible) if more than 50% of the class should fail would go on. The higher score among the two tests will be upheld and recognized. This ruling is, from the point of view of Blue Danube, for the general protection and good of pupils who might have needed more time in absorbing particular subject matters. A day or two would be given to have the retake. Our purpose is for pupils to learn and comprehend, not to catch and punish unprepared ones, especially if it is obvious that there was not ample time given to them to fully grasp the concepts. This policy is simply to assure that nobody is left out, unless the record shows that the pupil’s average performance is obviously poor. Arguments of unfairness to those who did well during the first test are understandable; but the inner perspective of the school and this particular policy had been written not to accommodate competing honor pupils but to ensure that all pupils, be they average, above average or below average in their performance, be given another chance. Those who did well during the first test can always improve their scores. We see the situation from the point of view of humaneness and of the general good. Justice, equality and fairness can only be authentic if they are carried in the spirit of humaneness and charity. When one puts himself in the shoes of others, it is much easier to grasp what Blue Danube wants to convey all the time: Meticulously comparing scores of your child with those of others from the point of view of competition will only invite selfishness, egoism, inconsiderateness, malice, blind and baseless accusations of favoritism, envy, vanity, bad behavior, and unhealthy competition. Without looking through the eyes of humaneness and charity, arguments on justice, equality and fairness will only end up in cruelty and loveless ness. Let us embrace the spirit of generosity and consideration to others. God will smile upon us if we do this.
Likewise for the Elementary Department, FAILING GRADES IN TWO MAJOR SUBJECTS MEAN AN AUTOMATIC REPETITION OF THE PUPIL’S PRESENT LEVEL OR RECOMMENDATION TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. Promotion to a higher level is therefore not possible. EDUCATIONAL LAW PROHIBITS US TO PROMOTE ANYBODY TO A HIGHER LEVEL IF HE OR SHE DOES NOT MEET THE ACADEMIC STANDARD AND REQUIREMENTS OF OUR SCHOOL.
TO FAIL IN ONE MAJOR SUBJECT MEANS TO TAKE REMEDIAL CLASSES IN SUMMER (MAY). IF THE PUPIL STILL FAILS TO PASS THE REMEDIAL CLASSES, IT HAS TO REMAIN IN THE SAME LEVEL OR MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
For Pre-School pupils who would perform quite poorly, the school can only advise in such cases. WE CANNOT FAIL PUPILS IN THE PRE-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AS THERE IS NO EXISTING LAW REGARDING THIS.
FOR THE PRE-SCHOOL LEVELS, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES: 0-10 MISTAKES WILL BE AN “A”, 11-20 MISTAKES WILL BE A “B”, 21 MISTAKES AND ABOVE WILL BE A “C”. All Pre-School pupils will be given a reviewer prior to tests just like in the Elementary Department, whereby for elementary pupils, no reviewers will be given for quizzes. For oral or written tests, the same condition will be required: a witness must be in the classroom.