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Homework Policy

To enable students to balance work and life, we expect an overall average homework load of no more than 2.5 hours per night, which means that though there will be variations by day and students, teachers should not assign more than an average of 20 minutes of homework per night. 

Students should not receive any homework over the three major vacation periods, so that they may relax, rest and recharge. Homework should not be due on the day after Purim and the night of Yom HaAtzmaut. No written assignments/exams can be scheduled during the first two days after returning from vacation. No major assignments should be due in the time that they could not be reasonably completed after vacation (typically 2-3 weeks). Exceptions to this policy are AP coursework, English department reading assignments, and extra credit programs for voluntary Torah study.

Test Day Program

In order to ease the burden of testing and major assignments, and allow students to plan ahead, the Academy has instituted a “test day” program for all major subjects. The goal of this program is that all major assignments should be due, and tests scheduled on that subject’s “testing day.” However, if a test day is not available due to a holiday, assembly, or skip, an alternative day may be assigned. Tests may not be given on fast days.

Day of WeekJudaic Studies SubjectsGeneral Studies Subjects
MondaysBibleMath
TuesdaysTalmud/Advanced Jewish StudiesScience
WednesdaysProphetsHistory
ThursdaysHebrew LanguageEnglish
Fridays

Students who are not in attendance in the morning may not be allowed to take a test in the afternoon for full credit.  Rather, their score will be automatically reduced by 1/2 grade (5 points on a 100-point scale).  Make-up tests may be given on a different day than listed above.

Semester final make-ups will be given on the Friday of finals week (exceptions to this may occur based on the calendar year).

There is no testing on paper for seniors the week of October 30.

Quizzes

The above rules do not apply to quizzes, which may be given during any class period, announced or unannounced.  For these purposes, a quiz is distinct from a test in that it: addresses less than the past week of material, is completed in less than twenty minutes, and counts as less than a quarter of a test grade.

Grades Point Schedule

Ida Crown Jewish Academy assigns course grade points in accordance with the schedule below. Grade point average is calculated based on the final semester grade only. Minus (-) or plus (+) has no effect on GPA calculations. Valid transfer credits, while listed on ICJA transcripts, are not included in GPA calculations.

GRADEREGULARSHONORSAccelerated
A455
B344
C233
D122

Ida Crown Jewish Academy Guidance Department Director of Guidance – Rabbi Louis Fliegelman (773-973-1450 x 125)

ACT/SAT High School Code: 140-725

Auspices: Associated Talmud Torahs – A beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of Chicago

Grade Corrections & Changing “Incompletes”


Students receiving a grade of “Incomplete” at the end of a quarter or semester have 6 weeks to make up the required work. During that period, penalties, if any, are at the discretion of the teacher. After the allotted period, the student’s grade is changed to an “F”.


Students have 3 weeks (15 school days) from the receipt of their report card to contest grades. Once this occurs, a grade can only be changed if it was as a result of clerical or teacher error. The request should be made with the student’s teacher. The teacher will respond within one week of the student request. The teacher’s determination of a grade is final and not subject to appeal.

Request for Program or Class Change

Students wishing to change classes must submit a completed “class change” form by clicking here (co-signed by his/her parent) to the Guidance Dept. As a rule, students will have an initial response within 2 class days. All requests for fall class changes must be submitted by Sept 20.


In extraordinary circumstances a student may be allowed to drop a class after the drop deadline. In such cases a grade of “W” (for “Withdrew”) will be assigned. The grade will not be averaged in the GPA but will appear as the semester grade for the course.

Outside Coursework Policy

In order to ensure the quality of the ICJA academic program, the following is the policy on transfer credit.

  1. Students who are enrolled in ICJA must receive prior approval from the guidance department when taking outside courses for credit. This approval should be obtained at least 6 weeks in advance of the school year in which the course is to be taken. Approval requests can be submitted via the “Outside Credit” form by clicking here. Pre-high school credits are non-transferrable to ICJA.
  2. Transfer courses will be accepted at ICJA only for elective credit and not to meet core requirements. For example, if a student wishes to take a history course outside of ICJA, that course will not fulfill one of the 3.5 history credits required for graduation but will count towards the elective credit required for graduation. Or, a student who takes a regular level chemistry course in the summer, will still be required to take three years of science at ICJA, but may be able to advance to an honors level chemistry or directly to a regular level physics course.
  3. If a student failed a required course, s/he may, with the prior approval of the guidance department, be allowed to make-up that course outside of ICJA.
  4. Credits from other accredited schools will be accepted based on the number of hours completed. One year of credit is equal to 120 hours of in-class instruction plus any homework.
  5. While grades from transfer credits will be recorded on the ICJA transcript, they will not count in the student’s GPA or class rank.
  6. During the school year, an outside course may only be taken if it is in a subject that is not offered or cannot be scheduled at ICJA.
  7. Enrollment in online courses will be subject to review based on a student’s attendance and demonstration of the ability to work independently.

Students may be granted approval to take external credits under the following conditions:

  1. To move up to another level course for the following year.

  2. To take an AP course that is not offered at ICJA.

  3. To take a core ICJA course that we are unable to schedule. In such an instance, ICJA will bear the online course costs.

  4. Students with an IEP and receiving academic support may be eligible for online classes on a case-by-case basis. A specific recommendation from Academic Support and approval by ICJA administration. Course progress needs to be monitored weekly by Academic support.

Kollel Extra Credit Policy

Kollel extra credit will be available to students who study in the Kollel for 10 documented hours and will grant a grade symbol change only in the subject studied in the kollel. A maximum of one symbol change may be earned by a student each semester.

Kashruth

All food brought into the building must be Kosher in accordance with proper school-sanctioned certification (e.g., cRc, OU, Kaf-K, o-K).

A “K” is not necessarily a valid symbol of Kashruth and therefore is unacceptable. Home cooked foods are not permitted to be served to others during school. All food purchased off-campus during school hours must adhere to school standards of Kashruth, and all restaurants frequented must be under Orthodox rabbinical supervision.

Driving & Parking Privileges

Students with valid drivers’ licenses may use the ICJA parking lot under the following conditions:

  • For permission to park any vehicle in the parking lot, students must have their license plate numbers and vehicles registered with the office.
  • Drivers may never exceed 5 m.p.h. while on school grounds.
  • Do not park in any reserved spaces which are indicated with a sign.
  • Illegal parking may result in a warning or the student’s car may be towed. ALL towing costs and fines will be YOUR responsibility.
  • Unsafe driving practice is strictly prohibited and will result in suspension of parking privileges and/or detention.

Failure to comply with any of the above rules may result in suspension of parking privileges on Academy grounds, fines and detention.

Lockers

Each locker is equipped with a combination lock. To ensure the safety of one’s valuables, we suggest that students not give out their combinations and keep lockers locked at all times. (If you have any questions or have trouble opening your locker, see Mrs. Nylund.) ICJA lockers belong to the school and from time to time may be checked. Any decorations inside/outside must conform to school standards and writing on inside/outside of the locker is forbidden. The administration will require removal of inappropriate material with penalty for offensive material.

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