Attendance is expected! Being on time to class is important at Herndon High School. When students arrive to class on time, teachers can start class with minimal interruption and maintain the momentum of their instruction. It is essential to student learning and achievement that absences, even excused, be kept to a minimum. 

Attendance is critical to student achievement. Students are fully responsible for completing any missed assignments. Each day of excused absence affords one school day of makeup work opportunity. Students have a maximum of ten days to make up work missed during an excused period of absence; however, the period of time allowed to make up work may be extended at the discretion of the teacher. Makeup work for excused absences is graded and recorded in the grade book by teachers without penalty to students. For an approved pre-arranged absence, a student may request assignments in advance of the absence. Teachers will provide regular or alternative assignments in advance of the absence, when feasible. Following any absence, including a prearranged absence, students should make arrangements with individual teachers for makeup work.

Grades can be found in SIS ParentVUE, and additional class information can be found on Schoology using the same ParentVUE login information. Grades will be recorded and updated in SIS within 7 school days of the assignment due date; major projects/papers may require additional time. Teachers will send detailed progress reports to families two times per quarter. Teachers will communicate directly with families of students who are failing their course in order to inform them of ways they can improve their grade. 

• Schoology: FCPS’s learning management system is Schoology. Schoology is a learning space that enhances communication, collaboration, and personalized learning for students, teachers, and families. Schoology will continue to be used division-wide. Click here for more information about Schoology including how to access your Schoology account. 

Instruction is planned, implemented, and assessed based upon prescribed learning standards in each course. Student progress is evaluated based on performance on each standard for each course based on expectations for the curriculum taught. Standards-based instruction and grading is a way to communicate what students know at a point in time rather than an average of performance over an entire period. It measures a student’s performance according to the standards taught rather than comparing student progress to other students. Depending on the course, the standards will be those from the VDOE, FCPS, the College Board, or a partner college (in a dual enrollment course).

A rolling gradebook is a cumulative document. Final grades are determined by a combination of all assignments and assessments. It is not an average of quarter marks. The grade posted at the end of each traditional quarter is a snapshot of a student’s current progress in the course. Increased opportunities for students to show mastery is the primary benefit of a rolling gradebook.

Retakes are available on most major assessments with a few exceptions (midterms, finals). The student’s highest score will be the score recorded in the gradebook. Practices specific to each class will be shared in the course syllabus. Prior to taking a reassessment or receiving a grade replacement, it is expected that students demonstrate growth on the corresponding standard(s). Alternatively, a grade for a standard can be replaced if a standard is revisited at another time during the school year.

Per FCPS policy, late work will be accepted to document learning/mastery. Work that is not turned in will be coded as “Mi” (missing) in the gradebook with a corresponding grade of zero (0); the deadline for turning in late work will be communicated to the student in the course syllabus. If the missing work is not turned in by the late work deadline, a grade of zero (0) coded Mi (Missing) will stand. Class-specific practices will be shared in the course syllabus. 

For students who pass an AP course, an additional 1.0 quality point will be added to the quality point value assigned to the final grade for purposes of calculating GPA. For example, a final grade of A in the course shall receive 5.0 quality points. No additional weight will be assigned to an F. 

AP students are strongly encouraged to take the AP exam(s). This standardized examination is designed to measure content and skill mastery, and a successful score may earn credit and advanced placement in college. 

• FCPS will pay for six total AP or IB exams during a student’s academic career in FCPS. After six exams, students will be assessed a fee for each exam. Information for students who choose not to participate in an AP exam for a course in which they are currently enrolled will be provided later in the school year. 
• AP Economics, AP US & Comparative Government, and AP Physics C (one-credit course): The curriculum for these courses is assessed through two separate AP tests. Because students are enrolled in one course that covers material for two tests, the related tests are considered as one test for the FCPS-funded test counts and fees. 

Grades are based on the Fairfax County School Grading Scale seen below. The year-end grading weights will be listed in the course syllabus.

A (93-100)

A- (90-92)

B+ (87-89)

B (83-86)

B- (80-82)

C+ (77-79)

C (73-76)

C- (70-72) 

D+ (67-69)

D (63-66) 

D- (60-62)

F (50-59)

SB - Scored Below (50)

Mi - Missing (0)

With the Student Information System (SIS), parents and students will have access to grades through SIS ParentVue and StudentVue. Students and parents are encouraged to access SIS on a regular basis to get an update on grades. If students have questions about their grades, they are encouraged to contact the course teacher. Parents are also welcome to email the teacher, who will respond within 48 business hours. 

• SIS ParentVue, additional information
• StudentVue, additional information
• Assessments that earn a grade lower than 50% will be indicated by SB (scored below) and entered as a 50%.
• Assessments that are not submitted will be indicated by Mi (missing) and entered as a 0% since no evidence of mastery has been shown. 

Please note that some of the books students will read this year may contain mature content and/or controversial material (i.e., offensive language, violence, and/or implied or explicit sexual situations). The resources listed below can be used to see book reviews and get more information about the books used in classes. 

• Fairfax County Library
• Book Reporter
• Book Spot

A parent or guardian can contact the teacher directly by phone or email if s/he would like to review any of these texts or request an alternate reading assignment.

The Herndon Writing Center (HWC) is a great resource for students seeking help or support with any and all writing assignments. Trained peer tutors are available to help you by giving you individual, personal feedback on your writing. Tutoring sessions are available during all lunches Monday-Thursday in the HWC, room A139 and after school on Thursdays. You can sign up in advance, and walk-ins are welcome based on tutor availability. Questions? Email Mr. Headen or Ms. Rigsby, or stop by room A139 for more information.

Participation

• Bring your laptop to school fully charged each day
• Use technology as, and when, directed by your teacher
• Create a positive digital footprint

Respect

• Give your full attention to the teacher and other students when they are talking
• Turn off distracting notifications
• Record/photograph others only with their permission
• Stay on task when using the laptop in class

Integrity and Diligence

• Be accountable for your device at all times
• Use your device for learning

Empathy

• Treat your device as if it is your own
• Keep food and drink away from your laptop

In general, cell phones, headphones, and earbuds cannot be used during class time. 

• Students will be able to use their phone during non-instructional time (passing times and during lunch time), but once class time begins, their phones must be turned off and put away. 
• There are a few exceptions to this rule, including the use of the phone to monitor medical needs and some specific documented learning needs. Beyond these exceptions, teachers are allowed to provide students with a five-minute phone break during class and they can also assign specific learning activities that might necessitate phone use (such as using the camera during photography class). 
• If a parent needs to urgently get in touch with his/her child, the parent can call the main office at 703-810-2200 and we will help the parent reach his/her student.

Students attending Herndon High School are expected to conduct themselves honorably in pursuit of their education. Cheating, misrepresentation/fraud, plagiarism, and theft violate ethical and moral rules of conduct and will not be tolerated at Herndon High School. Note - Both giving and receiving information is considered a violation of the Honor Code. The following table provides some examples these infractions:

Consequences for Honor Code violations remain on a student’s record until graduation. Read the updated Herndon High School policy on student violations and consequences.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to providing access to digital resources that respects and protects student privacy while maximizing learning opportunities for our students.

• Learn about Digital Resources in FCPS
• View the Approved Instructional Digital Resources
• Indicate through our Parent Digital Consent Application portal whether you agree (consent) or disagree (refuse) your student's access to digital instructional resources this school year. This consent needs to be given each school year. (Instructions for navigating portal)