Looking for a way to find Attendance Totals after the Marking Period ends?

I've received many inquiries from teachers regarding finding attendance totals for the marking period after it has ended. In PowerSchool Teacher the only view a teacher is allowed is that of the present marking period. Once the start of the following marking period begins the dates are no longer visible. So other than asking the office to give the dates to the teacher what is an easier way to find them?


While training on the snowiest day in March at St. Bart's, we discovered the answer: using Attendance Totals from PowerGrade.

In order to use this function, you must be in the Homeroom section. The Homeroom is the only class from which daily attendance is recorded. Once in the Homeroom section of PowerGrade, across the top of the page, click on Windows. The third choice down from the list is "Attendance Totals." When this dialog box opens you will see the attendance totals on the left side of the page and the breakdown of the types of attendance codes on the right. At the top of the box you have the option to chose the dates you would like to view. From here you can change the dates to the previous or prior marking periods. Once the totals are available if you roll your mouse over the number in the attendance code box it will show you the dates of that code.

I also have a rudimentary video (my first try so forgive me until I get better at it) to show you how to chose the Attendance Totals. Let me know if any of this information is helpful.

Do you need PowerGrade to drop a lowest grade?

Some teachers drop the lowest grade for a student in the marking period. In order to schedule the lowest grade to be dropped you need to input the information in the final grade setup for each of the classes you wish to drop the grade.

This is also where you choose the weight of categories. To enter this area, either click on "Windows" then "Final Grade Setup" or "Windows" then "Categories." If you chose using the "Categories" section then chose "Weighing" and it will take you to the "Final Grade Setup" screen.

The third choice in the dialog box is "Drop." This is where you chose to drop grades. The number needs to go in the specific category in which you want to drop a grade. For example, if you want to drop the lowest homework grade, chose the "Drop" box on the same line as "Homework." The program will drop the lowest grade for each category you chose.

The next step is to chose the number of grades you wish to drop. If you only drop one lowest grade, then the number "1" should go in the "Drop" box. That tells the program you want to drop only 1 grade in that category (please do not put the parenthesis there - I used them to focus on the number.) If you drop 2 lowest grades in that category then use the number "2."

Questions? Call or email.

More information on the new Web-based gradebook

Taking a second look at the new PowerSchool Web-based gradebook here are more details:

First of all, those of you who are familiar with itunes, that is closer to what the new grade book looks like – it is easier on the eye than PowerGrade.

Here’s some cons:

*You will only be able to see one quarter at a time.

*The copy class information or assignment information from one class to another is NOT available in this first version.

*The “Fill Score” feature is also NOT available in this version.

*There is NO seating chart in this version.

*Attendance is not taken from the gradebook – not a problem for the Diocese since I have encouraged all of you to take attendance from PowerSchool Teacher anyway.

MORE PROs:

Midterm and Final Exam grades will be much easier to add to the quarter grades for a semester grade.

There are “sub” filters. You can view by Category and then assignments – i.e., Reading then broken down to tests, quizzes, etc.

You can create assignments that can be given a checkmark (no grade required) to show that it was handed in. You can also chose what assignments to make public to parents and which to hide from view.

There is a function called “Score Inspector” that allows you to do the above and flag an assignment as late or exempt. This is now where you can also type in comments related to that assignment.

Student alerts are now visible in the Grade book where they were only visible in PowerSchool Teacher in the past.

I will be testing the program probably in April. I will keep you informed. Schools already on PowerSchool for the 2006-2007 school year will have the option of choosing which gradebook they want to use for 2007-2008. New schools will start on PowerGrade for the first year.