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Curriculum

God is the source of all truth. Man’s wisdom and knowledge come from God’s wisdom and understanding. SJCS students are discovering what God has foreordained. SJCS uses curriculum (most of which is written from a Christian perspective) that is compatible with biblical teachings. SJCS is divided by grade level, and certified teachers provide instruction in each classroom. SJCS fully meets the State of Missouri professional development criteria for teacher re-certification.

One way SJCS analyzes the effectiveness of the curriculum is by examining standardized test score results. The curriculum committee, the principal, and teachers review the test results each year and note areas where improvements can be made. Special attention is paid to the curricular area that will next be addressed on the curriculum review cycle. In addition, the curriculum committee examines state and national standards that have been developed in that curriculum area, as well as previews other school's curriculum guides to see if content, methods, etc. need to be adjusted.

*Non-Weighted GPA: Determined using a 4.0 scale.
**Weighted GPA: GPA's for weighted classes are determined using a 5.0 scale.
Students' report cards reflect quarterly, semester, and cumulative GPAs.
A home school transfer student must complete two semesters at SJCS before a cumulative GPA will be calculated.

Additional Secondary Grading Information
Academic Awards
The following academic honors are awarded at the end of the school year and are tabulated using semester grades:
(A home school transfer student must attend SJCS two semesters to be considered for academic honors.)
Principal’s honor roll - 4.0 GPA
Students received all As (or Bs in honor courses)
High honor roll - 3.90-3.99 GPA
Students received nothing below a B- (80%) or one C- (70%) in honors courses
Honor roll - 3.50-3.89 GPA
Student may receive one grade between 70%–79%. A student with two grades in or below this range is not eligible for honor roll
High Honor Roll Pin - Awarded to students who maintain honor roll level GPA all four quarters of the school year.

Academic Modifications Program
The Academic Modifications Program (AMP) was developed to assist students with the demanding academic challenges of St. Joseph Christian School. It is to be used for Discovery Program students and other SJCS students with learning difficulties as demonstrated by standardized test scores and/or identified by teachers and must be approved by the administration.

Grading for Suspended Students
A student who is in ISS (in-school suspension) will receive 75% credit for homework assigned and completed while in ISS; 90% credit for quizzes/tests.
A student who is in OSS (out-of-school suspension) will receive 50% credit for homework assigned and completed while in OSS; 85% credit for quizes/tests.

Academic Probation
A student whose semester grades fall below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 will be placed on academic probation until his/her grades improve. Should the student fail to bring his/her grades above a 2.0 GPA by the end of the following semester, s/he may be removed from the school’s enrollment as determined by the administration. In accordance with MSHSAA guidelines, students on academic probation may not participate in extra curricular activities.
Additionally, the administration may initiate academic probation for a student whose GPA falls below 2.0 in a core subject (Bible, Science, Math, History, English).

Christian Character (Responsibility) Grade
The Christian Character Grade is a tool which allows teachers and administration to work cooperatively with parents in accessing and developing personal responsibility and self discipline. It is used in tandem with disciplinary procedures (click here).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” -Galatians 5:22-23

The Christian Character Grade highlights the trait of personal responsibility/self discipline and the fruit of the Spirit in each student’s life. While it is impossible to “grade” a student’s total character, this system allows teachers and administration to work cooperatively with parents in accessing and developing personal responsibility; a discipline essential to success in all areas of life.

Transcript requests
Withdrawing student - Tuition and fees must be paid to date and the Withdrawal Record form completed through the admissions office before records and transcripts will be released.

Official High School Transcript - Juniors and seniors applying to colleges may request a transcript of their grades by completing the Transcript Request Form (available in the counselor’s office).

Transferring grades
Grades for students entering SJCS will be transferred as follows:
Home school students
Transfer grades (core courses) from home school students with an outside grading transcript from the student’s home school organization (i.e. ABeka books). will be accepted for grade points.
Transfer grades without an outside transcript (or elective courses) will be reviewed by the administration when submitted with appropriate parental documentation. These grades may be approved for general course credit and to meet graduation requirements, but will not be counted toward GPA.
Accredited schools
Grades from accredited schools will be transferred to the SJCS grading scale by first using percentages, when available. If percentages are not available, the letter grade will be accepted and the “middle” percentage of the grade range will be assigned (B+ = 88% = 3.8 grade point for example).

Course selection/assignments
In the spring, the school counselor issues a course selection catalog to each family. Students and parents are encouraged to carefully read and consider which courses a student wishes to request (some courses are required). The counselor meets with classes and individuals to share information and discuss course options. Incoming freshmen meet with the counselor to discuss a “rough draft” of courses they wish to take over their high school years. The counselor meets with each high school student again, each spring to be sure they are “on track” for graduation.
Course assignments are mailed to students mid-August. Students who wish to request adjustments in their course schedules may do so at registration, which is held just before school starts.

Dropping/Adding a course
The counselor may give approval for a student to add/drop a course anytime before the end of the first two weeks of a semester. The student must then complete an Add/Drop Slip (available in the counselor’s office).
• The Add/Drop Slip must be signed by a parent, the teachers involved, and approved by the school counselor.
• The student must remain in the original course until notified of approval by the counselor.
• Students are responsible to make up any assignments they have missed by joining a course late.

Weighted courses
Anatomy, Physics, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, College Algebra, Trigonometry, AP Calculus, Spanish III, IV (when offered), Accounting II, and French III, IV (when offered) are categorized as weighted classes.

Graduation requirements
St. Joseph Christian School provides an academic program that meets the requirements for students to receive the College Preparatory Studies Certificate, awarded by the Missouri State Board of Education.

*Students must pass the United States Constitution and Missouri Constitution tests given in American Government.
**Any two courses in foreign language, math, social studies, science, or fine arts.(Recommend two foreign languages)

Explanation graduation requirements

College Preparatory Studies

St. Joseph Christian School provides an academic program that meets the requirements for students to receive the College Preparatory Studies Certificate. These certificates are awarded by the Missouri State Board of Education. For a student to be eligible for the certificate, a student must meet these requirements.

1.      Complete a rigorous personal plan of study. The personal plan of study should be developed around a career path or cluster and must include at least three units of credit. The total credits should follow the outline stated above.

2.      Earn at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the combined subject areas of English, math, science, and social studies.

3.      Score above the prior year’s national composite average mean on the American College Test (ACT) or SAT.

4.      Maintain a 9-12 attendance rate of at least 95 percent.

Dual credit courses taken in high school for both high school and college credit may be counted toward satisfying the core curriculum requirements.

Homework policy
Homework is a vital component of instruction at SJCS and contributes to the development of student responsibility and independence. It is designed primarily to reinforce and practice regular class instruction. Second, reading assignments and other types of preparation homework are given to prepare students for future lessons or concepts. Less frequently, homework projects are assigned to enrich and extend regular course work and enhance individual creativity.
Homework begins in kindergarten with parent-child reading assignments and increases steadily through high school, when one to two hours of homework per night can be expected. St. Joseph Christian School considers it essential for parents to establish a regular time and place for their student to complete homework. It is critical for students to have a quiet environment where they can learn to concentrate and use time effectively.
Time spent on homework may vary from student to student. However, if your student begins to spend unusual amounts of time on homework each night or claims to never have assignments, please contact his or her teacher.

Make up work
Pre-arranged absence
Upon administrative approval of a student’s request for a pre-arranged absence (see Attendance section) s/he may request homework from teachers, which is to be completed before the student leaves, or presented to the teacher upon the student’s return.
Unexpected absence (illness)
Parents may request make up work for their student by contacting the school office by 9AM the day of the absence. Teachers will then send work to the office for parents to pick up later in the day. Students are permitted one additional day (for each day they are absent) beyond the assigned due date to complete make up work .
Special arrangements for a student with a prolonged illness may be made at the discretion of the principal.

When absent for any reason, THE STUDENT is responsible for securing assignments from his/her teachers.

Late work
At minimum, students who submit homework after the assigned due date will receive the following reduced credit (Individual teachers may have more stringent policies.):

Report CardsGo.Edustar Parents Online
Effective communication is a key indicator of a successful school. At SJCS we believe that open and clear communication between school and home is vital to the success of our educational program. Go.Edustar Parents Online allows parents online access to view student grades, attendance records, and personal information.

General Information
Parents Online Access Request Forms (located on the school website) must be signed and returned to either school office before access is granted.
Parents may check grades at any time; the date when the finalized quarterly report card may be viewed will be announced each quarter. Teachers use different grading techniques and policies. Please check with the teacher if you are unsure of the grading policy for a specific class. Some assignments and/or categories may be weighted differently than others. Therefore, simple arithmetic average of grades may not reflect your student’s actual grade.
Parent Online access is available to every legal parent/guardian of a student enrolled at St. Joseph Christian School.
Parents/guardians will not share their passwords with anyone. Each legal parent/guardian may set up his/her own secure account. Note: Your student (5th and 6th grades only) has been trained on Go.Edustar and will have his/her own account and secure password.
Students’ records for preschool, kindergarten, and first grades are not online and have no plans to do so at this time. Kindergarten and first grade students’ parents must check directly with teachers regarding achievement information.

Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Whom should I contact if I have a question about my student’s grades, attendance, schedule, etc.?
1. Your student’s teachers. Teachers email contact info is available on the school web site at www.stjosephchristian.com, or the school buzz book.
2. For general attendance questions and questions related to absences requested by parents/guardians, please refer to your Parent/Student Handbook. If you still have questions, you may contact the school office.

Question: Do all teachers post grade and attendance information to Parents Online?
No. Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade do not post grades, and some teachers (mainly primary grades) may choose to simply post the average from their traditional grade books.

Question: How often can I expect grades to be updated? Generally, daily grades are updated within a week from the time the assignment was due. However, special projects may take longer. Grade reports are typically posted within the week after the close of the quarter or semester. End of the year report cards/transcripts are finalized no later than the end of June. Parents will be notified by email when grades have been posted and are ready for viewing.

Question: What is required to connect to the Parents Online? Users need the following to connect:
1. a computer with a connection to the internet
2. an updated web browser: IE 6.0, Firefox 1.07 or later, Safari
3. a login ID and password

Question: What can I see on the Parents Online/Students Online site?
Parents and students (each using their own secure login) can access the following information on the Parents Online:
1. grades for current classes, as well as the assignments that make up those grades
2. attendance summary
3. student information
4. immunizations
5. class schedule
6. unofficial transcript

Most of the information may be printed at home utilizing the print button.

Question: Can other people see my son’s/daughter’s grades?
No. As long as you protect your ID and password, others will not be able to see your student’s information.

Question: What do I do if forget my login information or my password or my ID has been compromised?
Contact the instructional technology director. Security features in Parents/Students Online will allow only three mistyped attempts to log in. At that point, the account is locked and will require the I.T. director to unlock the account and assign a different password.

Question: How does one get a Parents Online login and password?
Complete the Parents Online Application form and bring it to the either office. You will receive email confirmation when your account has been activated.

Question: I know that teachers sometimes weight different categories of grades. How does this affect how a grade is calculated?
Some teachers calculate grades by total points and others use categories such as tests, quizzes, and/or daily work to organize and give different weights to grades; how teachers weight grades is an individual decision. To understand a specific grade calculation, please contact the individual teacher.

Question: How often can I expect attendance to be updated?
Attendance is updated daily. Unexcused absences may take a few extra days to be updated (if changed to excused), depending on the number of absences, promptness of the parent excuse note, and/or day of the week.

Here’s how you can begin via the internet viewing your student’s progress:
1. Log onto the school website at: www.stjosephchristian.com.
2. Click on “Parents, click here for a pdf "parents online" form” at the bottom of the school’s home page.
3. Print the form, fill it out, sign it, and turn it in to either school office.
4. You will receive an email from Go.Edu that will ask you to click on a link. If you do not receive this email, check in your spam for it; some have gone to spam. Click on the link, and it will take you to the login screen. This is all you have to do in this step. Do not try to login in yet; this step is only to activate your account. Close out of this screen.
5. Go to the St. Joseph Christian School website: www.stjosephchristian.com and click on the “Parents Online” button on the right side bottom of the home page (again, see below). Your login name will be your email address, and the password should be the birth date of your oldest child attending St. Joseph Christian School. Carefully type in your log in information.

***Due to security measures, you will be allowed only three unsuccessful attempts to log in before your account is locked. You will then need to contact the instructional technology director and request that your account be unlocked and have a new password issued.

Student Cumulative Files
Information kept in the students’ cumulative folders consists of admissions information (including previous school records and copy of birth certificate); achievement and aptitude test scores; past grades; and any special testing information. The health file contains immunizations, screening data, athletic physicals, allergy/asthma details, and parental release for medication administration at school.
In accordance with state policies and the Safe Schools Act, schools must use the student’s legal name as documented on the birth certificate on student cumulative files and official school records. (Parents may request that a teacher use a special shortened or nickname, etc. in the classroom.)
Professional staff has access to student cumulative records. Administration may release records to parents or forward them to a school district with a written request and after books are returned and fees are paid.

Testing
Final Exams
Final exams are given at the end of each semester.
• Seventh grade exams comprise one-ninth of the semester grade.
• Eighth grade exams comprise one-seventh of the semester grade.
• Ninth through twelfth grade exams comprise one-fifth of the semester grade.

Exemptions:
• Juniors who achieve a 100% (A+) average for the third and fourth quarters of any class are exempt from taking finals in that class.
• Seniors are exempt from taking second semester finals.

Pre-Arranged absences are not approved during finals. A student who requests an exception to this policy, if approved by the administration:
• will take their finals on a day to be determined by the administration.
• will be charged $10 per course test for the proctor.
• will receive only 75% credit.

Standardized testing
All students in grades seven through eleven take the standardized tests (ACSI testing program) in the spring. This ACSI testing program uses the Stanford Achievement Test (tenth edition) and the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (for select grades).