E-Learning Grading Update...

Greetings Charger Families,

We hope you are all doing well and taking care of yourselves.

As a result of E-learning and school closure, we have made some changes in our weighting of grades at Blythewood Middle School for Semester Two.  We would like to provide you with the reasoning behind these changes:

1.     Why the change?

○      Our first change after Spring Break combined all assignments from Quarter 3 (Q3) and Quarter 4 (Q4) to create the overall semester 2 (S2) Grade. The combining of these grades resulted in some grade changes.

○      Please know that this was not an error on the part of teachers.  It  had to do with the weighting of each category and the number of grades the teachers had in each category for each quarter for Semester 2 (S2).  Due to us not returning after March 16th, Q3 and  Q4 did not have an equal number of assignments in each category. 

2.     How did we determine the best way to make these changes?

○      The Administrative Team consulted directly with our PowerSchool specialist at the district office and we were presented with two alternatives.

                                          i.         Change the weighting categories to encompass all assignment types for S2.

                                         ii.         Give all teachers a minimum number of grades to enter per category for Q4.

We believe it was in the best interest of all students at Blythewood Middle School to go with option 1.

3.     What did we change?

○      There are now two categories:  all grades have been combined into one category that totals 90%.  The other category, 10%,  is homework, which stays at its usual weighting.

By making these necessary changes, all students who are working and submitting assignments now receive a grade that is reflective of the work that they have submitted.

We  apologize for any inconvenience and frustration these changes may have caused.

If you have any questions and/or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.

BMS Administrative Team Contact Information:

Principal: Karis Mazyck: kmazyck @richland2.org Cell Phone: 803 292-2440

Grade 8 Asst  Principal: Greta Carter: gcarter@richland2.org Cell Phone: 803 361-6852

Grade 7 Asst Principal: Rahim El-Amin: relamin@richland2.org Cell Phone: 803 542-6240

Grade 6 Asst Principal: Robert Ratterree:  rratterree@richland2.org  Cell Phone: 803- 606-8072

Let’s continue to work together to ensure our students are safe and are getting the support they need.

Kindest  Regards,

The BMS Administrative Team