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Synergy glitch TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A NEWS A1-A2 OPINION A3 FYE A4
SECTION B SPORTS B1-B2 FEATURE B3-B4
IN SECTION A
A2 AP CLASSES A3 ABSENCES A4 VACATIONS IN SECTION B
B1 WATER POLO B2 WRAP- UP B3 MEMORY BOX B4 ELECTIONS
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Will this be the final straw before switching to a new system?
tive grades, and 20 percent formative grades. When that HunterBostley system is taken out grades are NEWS EDITOR calculated by adding up all the points of the assignments, Synergy has caused some which changes the percentserious issues this school year. ages drastically. At the end of our third markThis teacher reported the ing period the school experiproblem to assistant princienced one of Synergy’s worst pal Trish Poelke and it was glitch yet. discovered just over twenty The glitch was discovered teaches had the weighting of when a student emailed her grades removed in at least one teacher about a random drop in her grade. It was after the grades were due, and at that time there is little a teacher can do to change the grade. The issue class. was looked into further, and “This was not a teacher it was discovered that the error, this was a system error,” weighting of the grades had Synergy building contract “disappeared”. Grades are Marie Baurmeister said. “We weighted 80 percent summastill cannot tell you why it
happened, we cannot pinpoint why it happened only to some teachers in some of their hours.” Once it was discovered that this error occured in a some classes of select teachers all class grades had to be checked and redone. The news of this error was released to students and parents and several complaints were filed with Poelke and Dr.
Hammond. “It is a difficult conversation to have with parents, because I wouldn’t want that to happen to my own kids,” Poelke said.
PhotoCredit: HunterBostley
Students and staff are angered by the major Synergy glitch affecting end of 3rd period grades. Dr. Hammond had addressed the teachers affected giving a certain amount of latitude in how teachers could address the situation. “By the time students had been informed that a glitch had occurred, teachers had already been given the opportunity to look at grade books and reach some conclusions,” English teacher Daniel Clark said. Clark and a handful of other teachers decided to let the students who were helped by the glitch keep their grades, and those who weren’t
Tis the season for fines Find out what movies will be big this summer
The end of the school year could cost you more than you think...
book I checked out two years for quite some time, which ago” senior Lena Yang said. was a break from traditional Head librarian Amy Schhigh school library policy.” NEWS WRITER weitzer explains exactly what Books aren’t the only You know that six pound is expected of students when thing you can be charged for. Humanities book your teacher checking out materials. Materials such as science makes you lug around? When “The current policy, as of lab materials, calculators or is the last time you saw that? borrowed class mateOr how about that copy rial can rack up a hefty of Wuthering Heights fine. In addition, when it for AP lit? It’s that time I don’t think i should came time to buy prom of year again to find all of those overdue books, be kept from walking tickets, several students but now there’s a price at graduation because were unable to buy their tickets due to fines. to pay. “Students do resolve of a 5 cent book fine. Recently, the library any overdue materials has begun enforcing by renewing or returntheir policy of overdue --Emily Benson ing the item and settling book fines, which hasn’t the overdue fine prior exactly sat well with stuto purchasing tickets.” dents, especially those Schweitzer said. who are avid readers. Some feel the reperStudents who frequently last October, is ten cents per cussions for not paying fines check books out from the due to the library may be too library have found it increas- day up to, but not exceeding, $5,” librarian Amy Schweitzer extreme. ingly difficult to keep up with said, “Prior to then the library “I think it’s dumb, they just the growing fines. had not assessed overdue fines shouldn’t be able to walk or “I was charged once for a
CorrinFrancher
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Senior athletes look back on their favorite moment this year
B4
Do you know how to write a proper thank you letter? Find out!
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they helped get back to their original percentage. Teachers were asked about their personal opinion of the Synergy grading program. “I personally really dislike Synergy, I have had several times where I will put grades in and it doesn’t save and they just disappear,” Baurmeister said. “We are looking to switch to Jupiter grades next year, we need to see if the system fits.” Clark agreed with Bauermeister in the fact that Synergy seems to be unreliable with grades. Several teachers, including Clark, still use programs such as Juno for class assignments and quizzes. This program is linked with Jupiter Grades, which would make the transition to Jupiter Grades much smoother.
something until they pay their fine, but not screw up buying their prom tickets, especially when we only had a couple days to buy them,” said senior Alli Stephen. But don’t think you’re getting off the hook now that prom has passed. Seniors are also required to pay any existing fines in order to walk at graduation. “I don’t think I should be kept from walking at graduation over a 5 cent book fine” senior Emily Benson said. Student adviser Kevin Keilitz says these policies were only implemented as a way to make sure all fines are paid by the years end. Schweitzer says the overall amount of fines owed varies year to year, and hopes it to be zero this year.