Live Online Course Policies
This article outlines policies specific to live online courses.
Attendance Policies
Kolbe Academy realizes that there are times when a student has a legitimate reason for missing school (illness, family circumstances, etc.). However, students who are frequently absent should not expect continuous assistance from their teachers concerning out-of-class help, and can certainly put their grade and overall learning in jeopardy.
To encourage live attendance, which Kolbe Academy deems a very necessary part for success in the online classes, the following attendance policies are in place:
Grades K-12 Attendance Policy
Attendance is tracked and recorded in Schoology. If a student is absent from class, he or she is required to follow up with the teacher to ask how to make up anything from the missed class. If the student misses a graded live class activity, the teacher may either waive the in-class activity for the student or provide a method for make-up.
Students who have an excessive number of absences may be required to have a meeting with the Dean of Students to determine the best path forward for success and may be placed on academic probation.
Extended Absences
Kolbe respects parental authority and understands that there are times when students will need to miss school for a variety of reasons. We do, however, encourage families to be mindful of the challenge of keeping up in online courses and making up work when students are absent for a significant amount of time. On the occasion an extended absence is needed when the student will not be able to submit assignments on time, a parent should reach out to the Dean of Students to formulate a plan for this absence from school. Notification to the Dean should be made in writing with the expected dates of absence and giving as much notice as possible. Teachers are not allowed to make arrangements for extended absences. Assignment extensions are determined by the Dean of Students but may not extend beyond two weeks after the student returns to school.
Extended Absences that span 3 consecutive weeks or 4 non-consecutive weeks may not be granted and students may be asked to change course formats.
Tardy Policy
Absences and tardiness are tracked in Schoology. Students are asked to sign into their online course 10 minutes before class begins to do a mic check. A “tardy” is defined as signing into class for the first time after the teacher has begun class. In the online environment, it can be tempting to slip into class unnoticed by the teacher after class has begun. However, coming late to class is not only disruptive to the flow of the already limited live class time, but it is also disrespectful toward teachers and fellow students.
Students who missed more than 20% of live class are consider absent, not tardy.
Assignment Policies
Grades K-5 Assignment Policy
Assignment Availability: A Week at a Glance document will be emailed each Friday. This outlines the weekly workload. The week’s assignments will be posted before classes begin on Monday.
Pacing: Assignments are given recommended daily due dates to set a pace that improves student outcomes by spreading the workload throughout the week.
Assignment Types:
(CFU) Check for Understanding assignments are teacher-directed assignments designed to assess the student's mastery and are required to be submitted to the teacher for grading.
(PA) Practice Assignments are parent-assisted assignments designed to give practice opportunities to students while flagging areas of concern throughout the week. PAs in grades 2-5 may be submitted for grading to the teacher or completed at home orally with the family as desired. PAs not submitted by the student will be excused by the teacher.
Grades 6-12 Assignment Policy
Assignments in the Online School for Grades 6-12 are due according to the individual instructor’s due dates.
Assignments may come due Monday-Friday, not including holidays or breaks.
Late Assignment Policies
There are times when a student has a legitimate reason for turning in assignments late (illness, family circumstances, etc.). However, students who continually turn in assignments late should not expect ongoing or regular accommodation from teachers. Keeping up with deadlines is directly correlated to how successful a student will be in the course. Late assignments can have a “snowball effect,” causing the student to have an extremely difficult time getting caught up.
In order to aid in student success, Kolbe has adopted an intentionally strict late assignment policy for grades K-12. The intent of this policy is not punitive, but rather to reduce the incidence of student failure due to excessive late work. We strive to strike a balance between utilizing a declining scale for late work, including assigning a grade of zero for late work after a number of days, and providing a motivation for students to complete assignments so as to learn the material in a timely manner.
Students (or parents for K-5) MUST email their teacher if they need to make arrangements for an assignment extension. Additionally:
The teacher will decide how to accommodate the student’s request for an extension based on the individual’s situation.
Students who have received an extension should have a new agreed-upon due date that is no more than one week past the original due date.
Teachers cannot accept late work after the end of the term unless there is an extenuating circumstance.
In the case of extenuating circumstances (i.e., death in the family, natural disaster, extended illness), a parent should contact the Dean of Students who will work with the teacher(s) to set up something appropriate for the situation.
Teachers may choose to accommodate a student’s request for an assignment extension in the following cases:
Sickness
Family emergencies—death in the family, serious illness, natural disaster, or some unpredictable event
Grades K-5 Late Assignment Policy
Grades 2-5 Practice Assignments (PA) Late Policy
Practice Assignments from the current week that are not submitted by the following Monday before classes begin are considered past-due, and they will not receive feedback from the teacher. They will be excused.
K-5 Check for Understanding (CFU) Assignments Late Policy
CFU Assignments from the current week that are not submitted by the following Monday before classes begin are considered past-due and will incur the following late assignment policy:
Submitted after classes begin Monday: 10% grade reduction
Submitted Tuesday-Thursday: 50% grade reduction
Turned in after Thursday, a grade of ZERO is given.
Grades 6-12 Late Assignment Policy
If a student turns in an assignment past the due date without contacting the teacher and receiving an extension, the following applies:
The first day past due: 10% grade reduction
2-7 days past due: 50% grade reduction
More than 7 days past due: a grade of ZERO is earned.
Exam Policies
Semester Exams (Grades 6-12)
Semester exams for live online courses will be open for a multi-day exam period as indicated on the school calendar. Parents MUST proctor exams during exam weeks, so it is prudent for both parents and students to come up with an exam schedule that suits the individual family. Students who do not complete the exams during the set exam days will not be able to make up exams at a later date unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Quarterly Assessments (Grades K-5)
During quarterly assessments, K-5 students will have a modified live class schedule. Students will have review sessions during assessment week. Conferences are available during assessment week by request. Parents proctor exams during exam weeks, so it is prudent for both parents and students to come up with an exam schedule that suits the individual family. Teachers may balance exams between live class time and times that can be worked into the family’s schedule for the week.
Late Exam Policy
Students who are not able to meet the deadline for a semester exam must have a parent email the instructor before the deadline is missed and preferably before the exam is open. All exams must be made up within a week of the due date. If a teacher is informed about not being able to complete a semester exam after the due date has passed, the late assignment policy will be applied to the exam. In the case of extenuating circumstances, a parent should contact the Dean of Students.