Lower School Academics

Academic honesty is at the heart of the Lower School and is always expected of all students. Accepting the responsibility and credit for one’s own work is the core of academic honesty. The Lower School is building a school community where everyone's best efforts are respected and celebrated. There is simply no need for academic dishonesty. Any instance in which there is conclusive evidence of such will be referred to the Lower School Head for review; the parents will be contacted. A developmentally appropriate consequence will be determined by the Head of the Lower School.

One of the most foundational aspects of Webb School of Knoxville is its honor system. The objective of this system is to instill in students the values that will enable them to conduct themselves with integrity.

Webb's Honor Code was established when Robert Webb founded the school in 1955 and continues to be at the heart of the Webb School experience in all three divisions. It is school's desire that the spirit of the honor system continue to grow and become a force in every student's life. For such a system to be effective, every member of the Webb School community – students, parents, faculty, and staff – must understand the concept of honesty in our lives and believe in and support the importance of that virtue.

The Honor Code and the honor system by which it is applied play an integral part in a student's life at Webb School. Our objective is to instill in students those values that will enable them to conduct themselves with utmost integrity throughout their lives.

Students are expected to live by the code:

"I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.”

By this code, a student accepts responsibility for their conduct and reporting circumstances in which they perceive an honor offense may have occurred.

The first trimester of each school year, the Head of the Lower School and the Director of Curriculum and Instruction will meet with students in grades three, four, and five to discuss and review the Honor Code and to explore its history and meaning.

Homework is an out-of-class task that a student is assigned as a preview for future learning or as an extension of classroom work. Homework is assigned regularly, Monday through Thursday. Students may receive homework on Friday as part of a long-term project, class activity, and/or learning contract.

It is important to know that each student is different and that the "time" varies. The following guideline is used by the Lower School faculty when thinking about how much or what to assign.

Average Expectation:

Junior Spartans: 10 minutes

Kindergarten: 15 minutes

First Grade: 20 minutes

Second Grade: 30 minutes

Third Grade: 40 minutes

Fourth Grade: 50 minutes

Fifth Grade: 60 minutes

This estimate is inclusive of classroom and Special Area homework. If your child requires significantly more than the estimated amount of time to regularly complete his/ her homework, you should contact the classroom teacher.

If a student does not turn in or complete a homework assignment, he or she will receive a Homework Report form to complete. Each trimester begins with zero Homework Reports. The list below outlines the action steps that will be taken after receiving subsequent Homework Reports.

First Homework Report Given to the Student

Hold a brief conference with the teacher. Complete the homework at home that evening and return the Homework Report and homework the following school day.

Second Homework Report Given to the Student

Hold a brief conference with the teacher. Work on the homework for an age-appropriate time of recess. Return the Homework Report (and completed homework if needed) the following school day.

Third Homework Report Given to the Student

Hold a brief conference with the teacher. Work on the homework for an age-appropriate time of recess. Return the Homework Report (and completed homework if needed) the following school day.

Fourth Homework Report Given to the Student

Hold a conference with the teacher to create an action/improvement plan. Work on the homework for an age-appropriate time of recess. Return the Homework Report (and completed homework if needed) the following school day.

Fifth Homework Report Given to the Student Conference with the teacher and Head of the Lower School. Work on the homework for an ageappropriate time of recess. Return the Homework Report (and completed homework if needed) the following school day.

Sixth Homework Report Given to the Student

Work on the homework during recess. Return the Homework Report (and completed homework if needed) the following school day. Meet with the teacher, Head of Lower School, and parents to develop a home-to-school homework contract.

Odds are that a child will forget homework at some point, and the school wants to assure your child (and parents) that we will help him or her through this in a gentle and caring manner if and when it does occur. Receiving a Homework Report is a teachable moment for your child. Consider the lesson you want to teach and how you want it to impact your child in future homework situations. Please read the following six points, which will serve as a reminder of the Lower School's Homework Policy. If you have questions or wish to discuss any area in greater detail, please contact the Head of the Lower School or the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

1. Recording Homework

Junior Spartans & Kindergarten

Homework may be assigned according to the activity and unit. Assignments/instructions will be sent home with the student.

First Grade

The homework routine follows a specific guideline each night, and any special assignments/instructions will be sent home with the student.

Second - Fifth Grades

The student is responsible for recording his/her homework assignments each day in the homework folder, agenda, or iPad (fourth and fifth grades). The homework is posted daily on the Webb School website by the classroom teacher by 4:00 p.m.

2. The student is responsible for collecting his/her homework, backpack, and supplies each day before going to the car line, after-school club, or After Care.

3. The Lower School building is open until 6:00 p.m. each day. The student will not be penalized for returning to the building. If the student does not have his/her homework, the student may arrive at 7:30 a.m. the next day to discuss the forgotten homework with the teacher; and if time permits, the student may complete the homework. Our goal is to develop open, honest student-teacher communication and allow the students to discuss this situation with the teacher if it does occur.

4. If the student forgets his/her homework, backpack, supplies, water bottle, or iPad (fourth and fifth grades) when he/she arrives at school, a Homework Report will be given. The Lower School faculty and Head of the Lower School view receiving a Homework Report as a learning experience for the future. The teacher and student will work through this situation together. We promise; all will be OKAY if the student receives a Homework Report.

5. If the student forgets his/her homework, backpack, supplies, iPad (fourth and fifth grades), snack, water bottle, after-school clothes/equipment, or any other item when he/she arrives to school, we are asking the parent not to deliver any of these items to the school after the student's arrival. We want our school to be a safe place to make a mistake and allow the student and teacher to discuss the forgotten items and review a plan to address the situation in the future.

6. At home, the student will develop a homework plan for himself/herself (with guidance from the parent):

• Determine where he/she does homework,

• Determine when (time of day) he/she will complete homework,

• Create a supply box that he/she has available (glue, markers, paper, etc.), and

• Develop a routine to collect and pack all materials for the next school day.