6- ACADEMICS

6.1             HOMEWORK POLICY
Homework is assigned as an extension of our daily school program. Students are expected to complete all homework assignments in a neat manner. It is helpful to students when parents provide a clean, organized home study area and establish a specific time each day for homework. Parents are a positive force in children’s education when interest in schoolwork and homework is shown. One additional practice that will positively impact educational goals and progress is to take the time each night to read to or to have your children read to you.

6.2             HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS
Good study habits are essential to every child’s success. The purpose of homework is:

• To encourage development of independent study habits, skills, and responsibilities.

• To reinforce, enrich, and extend learning by providing a variety of educational opportunities beyond the classroom.

• To provide an additional opportunity for family involvement in the child’s education.

Homework will be assigned at the discretion of the teacher for the sake of reinforcing the lesson, practicing a new skill, or supplementing the academic program through occasional projects and recreational reading requirements. Memorization of Quran and Arabic language homework is essential in addition to other subject matter homework. The amount of homework expected of students will steadily increase with the grade level of students and is as follows:

• Pre-K: Recommended activities will be sent home.

• Kindergarten: 15 – 20 minutes

• 1st Grade: 20 – 30 minutes

• 2nd Grade: 30 – 40 minutes

• 3rd Grade: 40 – 50 minutes

• 4th Grade: 50 minutes – 1 hour

• 5th Grade: 1 – 1 ½ hours

• 6th & 7th Grades: 1 ½ – 2 hours

Students who do not complete their work in class will also be expected to do so at home. This is in addition to their assigned homework. Parental involvement is essential to making homework an integral part of the education program. Parents are expected to encourage and monitor assignments and provide conditions that are conducive to their successful completion. While parents should never actually do the assignments for their children, parental assistance and supervision is important in establishing positive attitudes, good study habits, and supporting student success with homework.

6.3             ABSENCES AND HOMEWORK
When students are absent it is their responsibility to make up all homework. Parents and students should:

• Request assignments if the student will be absent for more than one day. (Parents may call the school to ask that work be sent home with another student).

• Complete assignments while confined, if he/she is well enough. The student’s teachers will determine the amount of time given to complete make-up assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what work is to be made up and to make the teacher aware of what has been completed.

6.4             LATE HOMEWORK

• Students will lose one letter grade on their homework assignment for every day it is late.

• If any homework assignment is more than five days late, the student is still to turn in the assignment, but no credit will be given.

• Students who miss more than two homework assignments in a nine-week period will be subject to the following consequences:

  • More than two times: A note will be sent home and need to be signed and returned the following day.

  • More than three times: One recess detention and a phone call to parents

  • More than four times: A meeting with the principal

  • Continued missed assignments may result in an in-school suspension.

6.5             PLAGIARISM POLICY
UAP strives to create an environment of academic integrity. Academic dishonesty is a very serious offense. Students are to respect the works of others and are not permitted to copy or use materials written by others without citing their sources properly. Students who are found plagiarizing will receive a failing grade on their assignment.

6.6             GRADING POLICY

• UAP will be utilizing TADS-EDUCATE for student grades. Parents will be able to monitor their child/ren’s assignments by logging into the TADS-Educate Parent Portal https://educate.tads.com/educate/household/default.cfm, where parents can find grades for projects, tests, homework, and classwork as well as identify missed assignments.

• Please see the Appendix for instructions on how to view grades and attendance records.

• All grades will be determined by a percentage of six main categories: homework, classwork, participation, projects, quizzes, and tests. Grade percentages for all grade levels will be in the following ranges:

Homework                                     20%
Classwork                                      10%
Participation/Behavior                  10%
Projects                                          10%
Quizzes                                           20%
Tests                                                30%

6.7             PARENTS EXPECTATIONS
Parents are encouraged to:

• Show interest in the schoolwork their children bring home.

• Provide a quiet place to study, free from disturbances and TV.

• Assist children with their management of time.

• Supply needed materials for completing homework.

• Offer to clarify instructions and answer questions.

• Ensure that the work is the student’s (do not do the work for them).

• Check to see that work is complete.

• Encourage their children to do their best work and praise them for a job well done.

• Stay in close communication with teachers.

• Monitor the amount and type of screen time their children receive.

6.8             AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
After school programs and extra-curricular activities should be an important part in the total development of each individual student. Students are encouraged to participate in athletics, clubs, class activities and other special events sponsored and approved by UAP. The list of activities will be announced upon availability and subject to change due to interest, funds, and availability of sponsors.

6.9             GUIDELINES FOR AFTER SCHOOL AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• UAP rules and policies will remain in effect for all school-sponsored clubs, activities, or events.

• Students must accept the responsibility for commitments once they join any club or activity and schedule their time wisely.

• Academic goals must come first since these are the primary purposes for attending UAP.

• Extra-Curricular activities are intended for UAP students. Other students of similar age may be admitted with the approval of the activity supervisor as long as that student has not been suspended or expelled from UAP.

• Students may not attend extra-curricular activities on days that they have been absent from school.

• Participation in extra-curricular activities is a privilege and as such may be denied to any student who fails to meet academic and behavior standards at UAP.

• Students who have been suspended or expelled may not participate in extra-curricular activities.

6.10        FIELD TRIPS

• UAP’s field trips represent a part of the school’s extended classroom approach to learning. It is the school’s practice to take the classroom to the source to enhance the learning process. Effort is made to provide field trips that reinforce our students’ various courses of study and subject matters.

• Activities in the school’s neighborhood are another form of field trips, which seek to emphasize the importance of community service. Additionally, UAP will host several in- house school visits by professionals to provide the necessary exposure to many occupations, thus widening students’ selections for career choices.

• Parents are expected to pay a small fee at group rate prices when applicable, and to sign a field trip permission slip. Parents will be given advance notice on all field trips. We ask that parents return permission slips by the due date in order to give the school ample time to plan for field trips.

6.11        OUTDOOR RECESS POLICY

• Students enjoy the outdoors and we wish to give them every chance to enjoy the sun during recess. As such, all students will participate in outdoor recess when the temperature is above 40 degrees, there is no rain or snow, and at teacher's discretion.

• If a child cannot participate in outdoor recess for medical reasons, please inform the office in writing.

• Teachers and administration reserve the right to keep students inside due to any other circumstances.

• Students in grades 4th through 8th will go outside for recess when the temperature is above 35 degrees. A permission slip will be sent home to students in the Middle School for parents’ permission to allow students outside in temperatures as low as 25 degrees and snowfalls.

6.12        STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
​Each student is responsible for being on time and prepared with materials and assignments for each class.

• The student is responsible for bringing books, homework, lunches, and wearing gym clothing to school.

• Permission to make telephone calls for such items will only be granted in rare instances.

• If lunches are brought to school by parents, they should be left at the office where students may pick them up during their regular lunch period.

• Books must be kept clean and neat.

• All students must have book bags; however, backpacks will not be used to carry books from one class to another in school. We are sensitive to the weight of textbooks and recommend that students take only necessary supplies along with books for homework. Book bags that can be hand carried instead of backpacks are preferable to alleviate back injuries and discomfort.