January 22, 2010
Dear MCA Parents and Students:
We want our students to be successful academically and today have implemented a new Academic Improvement Plan to help those students at risk of failing one or more courses. Here’s how it works:
1. Every Friday students have an advisory period at the end of the day. During that period, on the basis of a master report run the night
before on Gradespeed, their advisory teacher will let them know if they have a current average in any class of 74 or below, putting them
at risk of failing the class.
2. At risk students are then required during the following week to attend 90 minutes of tutorials before or after school. They must
log in and log out of each tutorial they attend (in writing) in order to get credit towards their 90 minutes for the week.
3. Teachers offering tutorials will enter their tutorial attendance records for the week on the master report by the following Monday
morning. Advisory teachers will assign Saturday School Detention for the coming Saturday to any student not meeting the
90-minute requirement. Students will be required to serve 3 hours of detention at school that Saturday morning.
4. Students who fail to serve their assigned Saturday School Detention will receive a 1-day in-school suspension.
Here are answers to some questions you may have:
· What if my student is absent from advisory or the following week?
It is his or her responsibility to check with his or her advisory teacher immediately upon returning to school to find
out whether 90 minutes of tutorials are required that week. Your student must take the responsibility to contact his
or her advisory teacher about resolving any problems with meeting the week’s tutorial requirement.
· What if my student thinks there is a mistake in a reported grade?
Your student must talk to the teacher who reported the grade. If any changes are made that affect the student’s tutorial
requirement, the subject teacher will make a note on the master report.
· Does my student have to attend tutorials in the subject(s) where he or she has a 74 or below for the week?
Students may attend tutorials in any subject they are taking, whether they are “at risk” in that subject or not.
The purpose of this is to give them help with their studies in all areas and to give them focused time to study
(if they get studying done on one subject in the tutorial, they’ll have less to do later and more time to spend on
the other subjects they need to study). It also helps them fit the required amount of tutorials into their weekly
schedule. However, if your student’s advisory teacher finds that your student is continually reported as having a
74 or below in a subject and is not attending any tutorials in that subject, the advisory teacher may require the student
to attend tutorials in the specific subject.
· Is there any reason my student won’t get credit for attending a tutorial?
As long as he or she attends a tutorial session and is working on academics, your student will be given credit for the
time spent. The tutorial teacher has the right to ask any student to leave who is being disruptive during tutorials and
the student will not get credit for the tutorial in that case.
· Who do I contact with questions?
You should contact your student’s advisory teacher with any questions or concerns by phone at 713-643-2008
or email (see “Faculty and Staff” at www.mountcarmelacademy.us for the appropriate Email address).
· Is there any way I can check my student’s weekly class average?
If you haven’t already signed up for Gradespeed, go to www.houstonisd.org, click on “PSConnect” at the
top and register. Parents and students can each set up logins and passwords to access current grade information.
Any student who has an 85 average or higher in a class may make arrangements with his or her subject teacher to assist other
students during that teacher’s tutorial times. The student will receive credit toward his or her required service hours for time
actually spent and is responsible for having the subject teacher sign his or her service hours record. The student should turn all
tutorial service hours in to Mrs. Becker in the counselor’s office.
The tutorial schedule for this semester is listed below my signature. Parents, please help your students plan their schedules
to make it possible to meet this very important academic requirement.
Thank you for supporting our efforts to help every MCA student be successful and prepared for college.
Very truly yours,
Maureen Giacchino, Principal
MCA TUTORIAL SCHEDULE
BEGINNING 1/25/2010
TEACHER
|
SUBJECT(S)
|
TUTORIAL TIME (faculty meets Weds. 3:45-4:45 pm)
|
Mr. Arnold
|
Geometry, Algebra 2
|
Tues. & Thurs. 7:15-8:00 am
Thurs. 3:30-4:15 pm
Mon. 3:30-4:15 pm (Algebra 2)
Weds. 7:15-8:00 am (Algebra 2)
|
Mr. Bartley
|
English
|
Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.
3:30-4:30 pm
|
Ms. Bates
|
Reading and Study Skills
|
Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-4:30 pm
or by appointment
|
Mr. Davila
|
Art
|
Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-4:15 pm
|
Mr. Hammers
|
Algebra 1, Precalculus
|
Mon. & Tues. 3:30-4:15 pm
|
Mr. Kargou
|
IPC, Physics, TAKS Math and Science Prep.
|
Mon., Tues. & Thurs.
3:30-5:00 pm
|
Ms. Librojo
|
Biology, Math Models
|
Mon., Tues. & Thurs.
7th period & 3:30-4:30 pm
|
Sister Mai
|
Desktop Publishing, Italian, Calculus
|
Mon. & Tues. 3:30-4:15 pm
|
Ms. Mayse
|
Communication Applications, Newspaper, Debate, Yearbook, Journalism, Photojournalism
|
Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-4:30 pm
Before school by appointment
|
Mr. Rogina
|
Spanish
|
Mon. thru Fri. 7:30-8:15 am
|
Mr. Roy
|
Chemistry, Math Models
|
Mon. & Tues. 3:30-4:00 pm
Thurs. 3:30-5:00 pm
|
Mr. Takacs
|
World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Economics
|
Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-4:30 pm
|
Ms. Vasquez
|
English
|
Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.
3:30-4:30 pm
Before school by appointment
|
Coach Zeringue
|
World Geography, World History
|
Mon. thru Fri. 7:30-8:15 am
|
|
|