GRADUATION
Students are eligible for a Notre Dame diploma after successfully completing
requirements as follows: a total of 24-1/2 credits distributed to include
4 units of English; 3 units of Mathematics; 4 units of Religion; 3 units
of History, including World Civilization, American History and American
Government; 2 units of Modern Language; 2 Lab Sciences; 1 unit of Physical
Education, and the remainder distributed in electives. Students may
choose electives from the various disciplines. A list of courses offered
is submitted to students in the spring of each
year. The courses selected must have the approval of the Guidance Office
and must be signed by a parent. All attendance requirements must be
completed for graduation. Also, Notre Dame's "Service to Community"
program (10 hours of service per year) is a graduation requirement.
Seniors must remediate all failures in both required and elective courses
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
PER YEAR
Freshmen - 6 1/2 credits (High Honors - 7)
Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors- 6 credits
ACADEMIC FAILURE
Failure is not usual for the student who works to full capacity. Students
failing two or more subjects at the end of the first semester may be
placed on academic probation. At this time, a parent/teacher, counselor/student
conference may be held in an attempt to help the student resolve his/her
problems.
Students who fail a course(s) MUST make up the failure(s) in summer
school. This includes Religion.
Students with three or more failures will be withdrawn from Notre
Dame.
All failures in both required and elective areas must be remediated
before promotion to the next grade. Seniors must remediate all failures
in both required and elective areas before receiving a diploma.
INCOMPLETE
GRADES
Incomplete
grades on a student's report card signify that a student for a justifiable
reason has been unable to complete his/her work in that particular
subject. An extended period of two weeks may be given to the student
with administrative approval. At the end of this period, a mark will
be recorded in place of the incomplete grade. If work is not made
up during this period, a failing grade will be recorded. An incomplete
grade will be received if the junior research paper and/or senior
government projects are not completed.
GRADES AND COURSE
CREDIT
Grades earned
in any course shall reflect the student's daily attendance as well
as the fulfillment of academic requirements as established by the
teacher in conjunction with the department chairperson and school
policy.
To earn credit in any course,
a student must fulfill course requirements as established by the teacher
in conjunction with the department chairperson and not exceed the
allowable limit of absences as established by the school's attendance
policy. After 20 absences (school or class absences), a student may
be placed on attendance probation which can lead to loss of course
credit and withdrawal from Notre Dame.
ACADEMIC LEVELS (High Honors, Honors, College Prep 1 & 2)
Students are placed
in academic groups which reflect ability levels, course content, and
demands of the particular program. Placement levels of students are
often reviewed and subject to change at any time. Students performing
poorly (in one or more courses) in High Honors or Honors may be placed
in another academic group.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
The grades
of students who receive academic scholarships from Notre Dame are
reviewed in January and June of each year. Poor academic performance
may mean the loss of a student's scholarship.
PROGRESS REPORTS
A Progress
Report is an official notice from the teacher to parents that a student
is having difficulty in a course. Sometimes, other information may
be given. Progress reports are issued four (4) times* per year. Remember
that seeking extra-help is a student responsibility. The school mails
these reports home. Progress reports are due in the Guidance Office
in early October, early December, late February, and early May. Please check calendar for specific dates.
*Please Note: Seniors Only
- Progress reports will not be given to seniors during the 4th marking
period. However, any senior who is in danger of academic failure will
receive a warning letter in April.
REPORT CARDS
Reports
cards are issued four (4) times per year. The first marking period
report card must be picked up by a parent/guardian. Reports cards
are available at school on Report Card Night in November (see calendar for specific date) from 1:00 to
4:00 P.M. and from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Teachers are present to meet
with parents. Report cards
are mailed in late January, early April and at the end of June. Seniors
receive report cards on Graduation.
ATTENDANCE
When
a student accumulates more than 15 absences, he/she must make up each
day over the limit in a special program conducted after school closes
in June. All students who exceed the limit - no matter what the reason(s)
for the absences - are liable to make up the time lost from class. THERE
ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
Any student who accumulates more than 15 absences in a course during
the school year will not receive a grade or credit for that course
until all time is made up.
Please Note: Students who exceed the absence limit must make up the
actual class time in the special summer program. Each day over the
15-day limit must be made up. For this special session, it has been
determined that 3 hours will equal one school day. FAILURE TO
ATTEND THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN A STUDENT'S WITHDRAWAL
FROM NOTRE DAME. Students must make up time according to a DEFINITE
SCHEDULE established by the school.
Any student who accumulates more than 20 absences in the school year
may be subject to withdrawal from Notre Dame.
When attendance procedures are not followed (telephone the school
to report absence/return to school with a note), the student may be
withdrawn from Notre Dame.
Students who are absent and/or late excessively will be placed on
Attendance Probation and subject to withdrawal from school if absences
and/or lates continue.
If a lengthy absence - due to illness - is anticipated, a special
program (Homebound) is provided by local school districts. To be eligible
a student must first be absent 10 school days. Please contact the
Guidance Office at Notre Dame for information.
Please Note: From the day a student is officially placed on Homebound
until the day Homebound ends, the student is not recorded as absent
from school. Days absent before and/or after Homebound are recorded
as absent.
Whenever a student is absent from school for more than one day, upon
return he/she must make up all class assignments, tests, quizzes,
projects, etc. within a reasonable period of time - usually one week.
Excessive absences may
mean withdrawal from school. Parents and students must realize that
classroom instruction & the actual time a student spends in class
is very hard to make up. Teachers may give make up assignments to
replace classroom instruction only on a limited basis. In order to
obtain credit for courses at Notre Dame, your actual presence in class
is required. ONLY a reasonable number of absences are allowed. Excessive
absence from classroom instruction cannot be made up at home. Notre
Dame does not have the ability nor the wish to operate a correspondence-like
school.
Textbooks
In an effort to ease the financial
burden caused by the ever-escalating cost of textbooks, Notre Dame has
adopted a Book Rental Program. This program means a substantial saving
for every Notre Dame family.
Each student is assessed a Book Fee of $115.00 per school year. This
fee is included in your tuition billing.
The rental fee does not include the purchase of paperbacks and workbooks.
Also, if books are lost, damaged or defaced, students will have to
pay the replacement value of the book(s).
Textbooks MUST be covered
& remain covered for the entire school year. |