Grade 8

Attention Students and Parents: Beginning Monday, April 23rd, students in grades 7 & 8 will be taking unannounced online math quizzes on skills that need to be mastered by June.  Every two quizzes will be averaged into one score. Students WILL NOT be permitted to use a calculator for these online quizzes since they assess basic grade level skills. Scrap paper will be permitted. Please have your child practice the skills below daily to ensure high scores on these quizzes.
**Grade 7: All operations with positive and negative numbers, Substitution with algebraic expressions and equations, Using the percent proportion.
**Grade 8: All operations with positive and negative rational numbers, substitution into algebraic expressions and equations, calculating slope from a set of ordered pairs. 

Permission slips and payment for the Bronx Zoo trip is due by April 25th!!  No exceptions!!
Permission slips for the mandatory trip to St. Benedict's Church are due by 5/10
Permission slips and money for the Senior Trip are due by 5/10

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

The Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS) was given on Friday, November 3, 2017.
 
Students wishing to apply to Catholic High Schools must register for this exam either online or over the telephone. The website is www.tachsinfo.com.  The student handbook outlining all the details for the test can be viewed through this site. The online handbook was reviewed with the students on the first day of school.

The fee for the exam including the reporting of scores to THREE high school choices is $63.00. This fee must be paid directly to the company.  Please do not send the payment to school.  
Payment can only be made with a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card.
You may begin to register your child for the exam as of Monday, August 21st.

The deadline for registration is Monday, October 16, 2017.  

Students and parents will receive the application decisions from the high schools in mid-January.  TACHS exam scores will be attached to the second quarter report card.

The test will consist of multiple choice questions related to reading comprehension, written expression, mathematics, and reasoning abilities.

Any student who does not wish to apply to Catholic High Schools and therefore will not take this exam must submit a letter from a parent or guardian excusing them from the test.  

Students with an IESP must complete the form in the handbook and follow all the directions on the form to ensure your child is eligible for testing accommodations. This form is due by October 6th. 

Shadow Days:
Parents are responsible for contacting the high schools to set up a shadow day. Once arranged, a parent must send an email to Mrs. Vega (lvega@stlucys.org) stating the name of the school and the date of the shadow day. No verbal requests will be taken from students. No student is allowed to schedule a Shadow Day/Spend-A-Day on Thursday, October 19th due to the mandatory trip for Respect Life Day!! Students are responsible for any and all work missed due to a scheduled Shadow Day.  Students will be required to take any tests or quizzes scheduled for the day as soon as they return to school as per the policy in the student handbook.
 
 

All applications are due no later than Friday, December 1st!!

New York City Public High Schools
The NYC Public High School and Specialized High School brochures are now available online for the 2018-2019 school year! All students also received a hard copy of the directory.
Visit the link below to view the public high school information:
New York City Public High School Directory 2018


 
New York City Specialized High Schools
Students interested in taking the Specialized High School Exam (SHSAT) are encouraged to begin preparing for the test over the summer.
The link for the Specialized High Schools information and the SHSAT can be found below:
NYC Specialized High School Handbook
 
Students interested in auditioning for a performing arts school must inform me as soon as possible. Several audition schools require online registration prior to the December deadline for applications. Audition surveys were distributed on Monday, September 11th.
 
Researching the Best Options
Students and parents are strongly encouraged to research the public school option. Statistical information about each school can be found in the directory. You are encouraged to visit each school's website.  Additional information including reviews from former and current students and parents can be found at insideschools.org. Public high schools do not allow shadow days/spend-a-days.  You are strongly encouraged to attend the borough fairs and open houses.

Any student who wishes to apply to public schools must complete the permission slip that will be handed out in early September. 

Once the permission slip is returned, an application will be given.  Please return the completed application by October 13th. 

Specialized High School Test (SHSAT) will be given on Saturday, October 21st or Sunday, October 22nd depending on the number of applicants. Admission tickets will be given out the week of the test.
 
 
 

Cristo Rey High School is a rigorous college prepartory school in New York City. Any student who will be 14 years old by September 1, 2018 may be eligible to apply. Strong academic scores as well as an excellent attendance record are required.
 
Students who wish to apply to Cristo Rey must complete their application. You can view the admission requirements and download the application forms at http://cristoreyny.org/admissions/admissions. There are multiple application deadlines available.
 
Cristo Rey High School does not require students to take the TACHS exam. This allows eligible students to have an additional Catholic High School choice if accepted.
 

Assessment Policy
Math:
Tests are given at the end of every major concept.The frequency of tests will depend on the complexity of the topic. Two major tests will be given each quarter.
Review sheets/practice will always be assigned and reviewed prior to a test.
Quizzes will be given frequently, approximately every two to three weeks. Review sessions will take place in class.

Science:
Chapter tests will be given approximately every two to three weeks depending on the length and difficulty of the chapter concepts. Study hints will be given the day before the assessment. These hints WILL NOT be posted online. Any student who is absent (including absences for Shadow Days) must ask a classmate for these hints.
Quizzes will be given based on vocabulary and/or chapter sections. No study hints are provided for a quiz.
Projects may be given. Rubrics will be handed out in advance.  

Religion:
Chapter tests are given approximately every 1.5 to 2 weeks. Study hints are only provided verbally. Students who are absent or on a Shadow Day must ask a classmate for this information.
Quizzes are given at least two times per quarter. Quizzes may assess prayers or parts of the Mass. No study hints are provided for a quiz.

Points will be deducted on all tests/quizzes/graded homework assignments for incomplete headings. Missing or incomplete names up to -10 points, Missing date -3 points, Missing class and/or missing number -2 points. No exceptions!
 
As per the student handbook, the breakdown for grading is as follows:
Summative assessments 45%
Quizzes 25%
Classwork/Participation 20%
Homework 10%

Homework Policy
Written homework is given nightly except on Fridays. Students are given time each class to copy homework into their planner. Homework assignments are also posted online daily.  The homework assignments written on the classroom board are the most accurate.
 
Homework will be reviewed daily. Missing homework will be notated by the teacher. Three missing homework assignments in one month (per subject) will result in detention.

Homework will be checked often. Any student who does not complete an assignment in its entirety will receive a ZERO for that assignment with no chance to make up the work. It is the responsibilty of the student to complete all their assignments each night. Students who were absent will not be penalized. However, the homework must be completed and submitted the next day for a grade.
 
Lateness Policy
Ten (10) points will be deducted from a graded assignment for each day of lateness.  After the third day of lateness, the student will receive a grade of 0.  
Students who are absent will not be penalized.  However, once the assignments have been given upon the student's return, failure to hand them in will result in point deductions.
POINTS MAY ALSO BE DEDUCTED WHEN A STUDENT FAILS TO WRITE THEIR NAME ON GRADED ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS. STUDENTS MUST WRITE IN SCRIPT.

Discipline Policy
The students are expected to follow class and school rules at all times.  Failure to do so will result in a STRIKE. Three strikes will result in afterschool detention. A disciplinary referral will be issued when a student has received their sixth strike. Detention will be served as well. The strike board will reset at the beginning of each month. Any student who repeatedly breaks the same rule will receive a disciplinary referral or detention without the issuance of a strike.
Demerits are not issued in this grade level. Disciplinary referrals will be issued for any infraction stated in the planner.  
 
 
Please email me at mcgrath@stlucys.org with any questions or concerns.