HIGH SCHOOL
Building on the primary and middle school process and with student motivation in mind, and we have re-contextualize grading. We have designed our grading system to encourages progress and that human desire for efficiency. We have found that this method of grading is a far stronger motivator than the fear of falling further from the defined goals.
Spark employs a points-and-reward system. Students start at zero points and earn points as they go. Students earn points in three distinctive ways:
- Effort: students are rewarded for completing activities, whether they do it well or not. These points value effort, not performance.
- Performance: students also earn points for doing well certain activities. The better they do it, the more points they earn.
- Outstanding work: students also earn points for demonstrating outstanding work in certain core learning area and collaborative behavior, like teamwork, communication and any other behavior teachers want to foster.
Further, we have built-in other incentives that foster collaboration among the Nova’s and among the entire class. So, for example, if all Nova members achieve the individual learning objectives, the Nova gets a reward. Regardless, our grading system aligns with traditional evaluations but we come at the problem of validation of knowledge from a different perspective. Further, as requested or required, standardized testing is offered.
Our high school curriculum is based on US standards and the identical to the curriculum being employed by the large IB schools and private schools in the United States. Further, we are able to offer students fully transferable transcripts that can be utilized anywhere in the world and fully accepted in the USA. It is our proven methodology and our certified and tested approach to teaching that makes our environment wholly unique.