Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Day - Feb. 27th
Jessica Eaton, our Upper School Guidance Counselor, sent a letter to all parents discussing the all-day Alcohol and Drug Awareness Day that we will be having on Friday, February 27th. Click here if you would like to view a copy of the letter sent home.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
It Is OK to Brag Sometimes
Mr. Murphy wrote a letter recently reflecting on the strengths of Walker and answering questions like "Why do our students feel so prepared for college?" and "Do colleges know Walker? Do they know how challenging the curriculum is?"
The letter gives a good overview of the program that we have in the Upper School, and you can access it through this link.
The letter gives a good overview of the program that we have in the Upper School, and you can access it through this link.
Changes in Graduation Requirements
There are two changes in graduation requirements that were approved by the board recently. They both will take effect with the Class of 2012 (this year's freshmen class).
1. Students will now be required to take 4 units of science as a graduation requirement. Each yearlong class is 1 unit and semester classes are 0.5 units, and our current requirements is 3 units of science. This increase of 1 unit was made primarily because the University System of Georgia will begin requiring 4 units of science for admission. Additionally, this will not be a major change for our students because most of them exceed our current requirement anyway. 64% of our current seniors will be graduating with at least 4 units and 79% of our current seniors will be graduating with at least 3.5 units.
2. The total number of required graduation credits is being increased from 21.5 units to 23 units. This change adjusts our number of credits with our 7-period schedule that has been in place for the past several years. As a basis for comparison, a student could potentially earn 28 credits over the course of 4 years.
1. Students will now be required to take 4 units of science as a graduation requirement. Each yearlong class is 1 unit and semester classes are 0.5 units, and our current requirements is 3 units of science. This increase of 1 unit was made primarily because the University System of Georgia will begin requiring 4 units of science for admission. Additionally, this will not be a major change for our students because most of them exceed our current requirement anyway. 64% of our current seniors will be graduating with at least 4 units and 79% of our current seniors will be graduating with at least 3.5 units.
2. The total number of required graduation credits is being increased from 21.5 units to 23 units. This change adjusts our number of credits with our 7-period schedule that has been in place for the past several years. As a basis for comparison, a student could potentially earn 28 credits over the course of 4 years.
Honor Council & Discipline Committee
At the Parent Council meeting on Monday (2/9), one of the points of discussion was a description of how the school handles Honor Code violations or violations of major school rules. We discussed the role of the Honor Council and Discipline Committee as student-led recommending bodies. Here is a link to a one-page graphic handed out at the meeting that describes the process for handling violations of our major school rules or Honor Code.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
No More 4-point Scale GPA
As now approved by the Education committee of the Board and starting with 2009-2010 transcripts, we will only report a GPA on a 0 to 100 numerical scale (e.g. 88.5 or 96.4). Below are answers to a few of the questions this may raise.
1. How is this different from what we do now?
Currently, we report both a 4-point scale GPA and a 100-point scale GPA on student transcripts. Next year, we will not have a GPA based on a 4-point scale GPA.
2. Why is the change being made?
Essentially, right now we have two parallel grading scales. We feel that the 100-point scale gives a more accurate picture of a student's achievement at Walker because their grade is not simplified to four categories. Under a 4-point scale, a grade of 80 counts the same as a grade of 86.
Additionally, a 4-point scale more severely penalizes students who fall on the low side of a grade cutoff. As a quick and admittedly extreme example, suppose a student earns 3 grades of 98, 98, and 89. Under our 4-point system, his/her GPA would be a 3.75. Under our 100-point scale, his/her average would be a 95.
3. How will colleges view this change?
First, most colleges prefer the 100-point scale because of the more accurate picture it gives of a student's performance. Additionally, if a school would like to have a student's grades in a 4-point scale, then they will most likely calculate that on their own or we will provide one if asked.
4. When will this change take effect?
This change takes effect next year, beginning with the Class of 2010.
If there are other questions you have about this change that have not been answered above, please contact either Michael Arjona, Upper School Academic Dean.
1. How is this different from what we do now?
Currently, we report both a 4-point scale GPA and a 100-point scale GPA on student transcripts. Next year, we will not have a GPA based on a 4-point scale GPA.
2. Why is the change being made?
Essentially, right now we have two parallel grading scales. We feel that the 100-point scale gives a more accurate picture of a student's achievement at Walker because their grade is not simplified to four categories. Under a 4-point scale, a grade of 80 counts the same as a grade of 86.
Additionally, a 4-point scale more severely penalizes students who fall on the low side of a grade cutoff. As a quick and admittedly extreme example, suppose a student earns 3 grades of 98, 98, and 89. Under our 4-point system, his/her GPA would be a 3.75. Under our 100-point scale, his/her average would be a 95.
3. How will colleges view this change?
First, most colleges prefer the 100-point scale because of the more accurate picture it gives of a student's performance. Additionally, if a school would like to have a student's grades in a 4-point scale, then they will most likely calculate that on their own or we will provide one if asked.
4. When will this change take effect?
This change takes effect next year, beginning with the Class of 2010.
If there are other questions you have about this change that have not been answered above, please contact either Michael Arjona, Upper School Academic Dean.
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