Upper School Academic Effort

The Kildonan School does not formally recognize its students’ academic performance using an Honor Roll nor Dean’s List; instead, we value our students’ efforts with the Academic Effort award given at the end of each term.  In order to be eligible for the award, students must be nominated by their Language Training Tutor as well as by at least half of their subject matter teachers.  Tutors are asked to consider the following when deciding whether or not to nominate their tutoring student: evening study hall behavior if applicable (i.e., consistent performance to the best of the student’s ability), positive attitude, completion and accuracy of written assignments, independent reading (i.e., a student must have read at least one book per term to be nominated), dedication, or at least desire, to improve phonics and word attack skills, and handwriting and posture.  Subject matter teachers are advised to consider several questions when deciding to nominate a student: Does that student seek out clarification during or after class?  Are they asking intelligent questions to further their knowledge?  Are they submitting assignments in a timely fashion?  Do their assignments reflect genuine effort?  In addition, math teachers are asked to consider how that student is using his/her daytime study hall.  Therefore, this award does not automatically go to the academically strongest students or the ones receiving the highest grades.