Ridgefield High School 700 North Salem Rd. Ridgefield, CT 06877 (203) 894-5750 Fax (203) 431-2891

Stacey Gross, Ed.D., Principal Sarah Isaac, Assistant Principal Stephanie Parker, Assistant Principal Jarret Pepe, Assistant Principal Robert Slavinsky, Ph.D., Assistant Principal

Kevin Callahan, Dean Patrick Hughes, Dean Andrew Maccabe, Dean Michael Yagid, Dean

August 19, 2014 Dear Parents, We are providing the following summary regarding the online gradebook access. 

Logging assignments Generally, teachers will post assignments in the gradebook after completing the grading task for the entire class. The assignment posting will offer specifics in terms of the assignment weight, due-date, and a title that informs parents/students of the assignment’s general content.



Grading Together with their departments, as is currently in place, teachers determine how assignments are weighted and calculated. Please refer to teachers’ grading rationales for this information. Generally, teachers will post grades for a given assignment upon completing the evaluation of the assignment for the class. The time it takes a teacher to complete a grading task for a class will vary based on the type of assignment; long-term assignments may take longer for a teacher to assess.



Concerns about assignments and scores We wish to underscore the importance of a student’s self-advocacy skills. Students should communicate concerns directly to the teacher with regard to assignments or scoring. If proper resolution cannot be achieved, students or parents may elect to send a follow-up email to the teacher. We encourage students to be proactive as they work toward mastering skills and content.



How to interpret the gradebook Please understand that the gradebook is a snapshot in time; one assignment or grades based on a limited number of assignments can misrepresent overall performance. We encourage parents and students not to focus on individual assignments but general trends and patterns in the submission and overall quality of work. The information posted on a teacher’s gradebook is subject to change. The information posted is not the official Student Transcript.



Portal information Please make sure that all student and parent contact information in the portal is correct, especially the email address, so all parties receive timely communications from teachers.



Gradebook access and instructions Go to www.ridgefield.org, to access the PowerSchool link located under Quick Links on the left-hand side of the page.

Please be mindful that online gradebook access is just one of the tools available for teachers, students, and parents to communicate regarding student progress. Other tools include teacher websites and the different means and modes of communication indicated above. Again, more than anything, we encourage teachers and students to have honest and ongoing conversation about the student’s performance in the class. Sincerely, RHS Administrators