Pastoral Bulletin

Teaching and Learning

Janet Ross

Academic Excellence at St Mary’s Catholic College

Next Tuesday we acknowledge and celebrate the academic excellence and dedication to learning exhibited by many St Mary’s students over the course of Semester One. 

 

For students to receive an Academic Excellence award, they must meet certain criteria:

  • In years 9-12, they have achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 13 or more. (An average of A- for all subjects).
  • In years 7 and 8, they have achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 12.5 or more. (An average of B+ for all subjects).
  • Or, students have achieved five A's across their subjects, and have failed none.

 GPAs are calculated by attributing subject levels of achievement a point value using a 15-point scale. (See below)

Level of Achievement

A+

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

D+

D

D-

E+

E

E-

Points awarded

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

 The sum of all subject results is then divided by the number of subjects studied – providing a Grade Point Average. 

(Certificate courses are not included in these calculations.)

 

We lower the GPA in years 7 and 8 because these students study twice as many subjects as their peers in years 9-12. This means it is much more difficult to maintain exceptional standards.

When we calculate the number of A's achieved in a semester, we use semester results for full semester subjects, and term results for elective subjects completed in Term 1.

 

Congratulations to all students receiving awards on Tuesday.

 

Kind Regards

Janelle Santolin

Assistant Principal, Learning and Teaching 

jsantolin@cns.catholic.edu.au