Getting ready for the webbased gradebook!

Hi all!

We had a demonstration today of the webbased gradebook. It will be available for use in September and I will begin training at that time. Some news to note:

The webbased gradebook will be accessed through PowerSchool Teacher - you'll need to go to only one icon and both programs will exist on the web directly into the Diocesan server. The look of the webbased grade book is "cleaner" than the PowerGrade book and does have some easy to use features that capture the good portions of PowerGrade.

What's new:

- the ability to click on an assignment and then a student's grade in that assignment to highlight that student's information across the row.

-the ability to see a student's medical alert on PowerGrade, not just on PowerSchool.

-even easier way to leave notes for parents to view on individual assignments.

-you can create subgroups of students in a class. For instance, in your Language Arts class you may have three different groups of students; lions, seals, and turtles. These children can have different assignments assigned to just their group.

-assignments that are handed in but not graded can be input and only checkmarks to show the assignment was handed in are visible (daily homework as an example.)

-you can hide assignments from view and set a release date for the viewing in advance (nice feature!)



What's not there presently:

-the ability to view more than one quarter at a time. Although grades calculate for the year when you enter grades for the quarter, you will need to switch views to see the year.

What's still there:

-the same reports are available for printing.

-the same ability to override grades as necessary.

We are considering the option of allowing those who wish to still use the PowerGrade program to do so, however the decision must be a whole school decision, not teacher by teacher in the school. Also, you can not switch from one program to another during the school year so in September the decision will be final. Unfortunately, the decision must be made by the beginning of the school year before the students arrive. I will be in touch with your principals so decisions can be made at the returning faculty meetings prior to the first day of school for the students. I do not have access to share the webbased grade book to all until after the summer.

I will keep you posted, but start thinking now of which sounds like a good choice for you and your school.

Timing Out when working on Attendance or Grades

The connection to PowerSchool, either through PowerSchool Teacher or PowerGrade, like many other internet programs "times out" when not in use. If you leave the window open and come back to work later you will see the page, however the information will not be sent to the PowerSchool server.

Here is an example:

In the morning you open the PowerSchool Teacher website and click on your homeroom "chair" to prepare to take attendance. After the children come in and a number of other events take place you go to the computer and click on the choices for attendance codes to complete the attendance on the children. When you click the "submit" button the login page suddenly appears again. YOUR INFORMATION WAS NOT SENT. You will need to login again to complete the attendance.

The same could happen inputting grades. PowerGrade and PowerSchool are recommended to use and close when not in use. These guidelines will save your work more efficiently.

Interested in Hiding or Showing Other Quarters in PowerGrade?

If you are not interested in seeing all 4 quarters or year end in your PowerGrade, or if you are interested in seeing only those with grades, here are the instructions to do so:

Showing Other Quarters

Note: This has to be done for each class

1. Open a class
2. Go to Windows, Final Grades Setup
3. Use the drop down arrow and choose the quarter that you want to display
4. Check the box that says, Show on Spreadsheet
5. Click Accept
6. Your spreadsheet will now display a column for the quarter you chose

Hiding Quarters in PowerGrade

Note: This has to be done for each class

1. Open a class
2. Go to Windows, Final Grades Setup
3. Uncheck the box that says, Show on Spreadsheet
4. Click Accept
5. Your spreadsheet will no longer display a column for Q1

PowerSchool Teacher - what do you want to see first?

As we approach report card time again, you might want to check attendance records for your students. Schools that print the report cards directly from the PowerSchool program will have attendance automatically recorded on the form for them.

Schools who are still handwriting report cards at this time can use the following feature to determine absences and tardies.

On PowerSchool Teacher - click the "backpack" of your homeroom (at this time only homeroom attendance counts as daily attendance.) Click on the individual child's name on the right hand side. The page will have a drop down menu on the upper right section - to view attendance choose "Quick Look up" and attendance records should appear with class schedule and grades.

If the Quick Look Up is not the default page and you would like it to be, you can change the page appearance.

Click on the PowerSchool logo in the upper left hand corner to return to the opening page. On the left side chose "Preferences." Here you have the ability to change your password and your default student screen. Choose "Quick Look up" and submit. Now when you return to the classes and follow the above instructions the Quick Look Up page will automatically appear for each child as you choose their name.

Revision to the last blog regarding upgrade PowerGrade

Teachers - it has been brought to my attention that the upgrade is not available at this time on PowerSchool Teacher. The upgrade must be done from PowerGrade itself. In order to do this, open PowerGrade, Open any class, and then click on File -Close Class. Once you go to log off, a prompt will appear and ask you if you want to upgrade to the newest version - say "YES." Follow the instructions from there.

For some reason it was taken off of the PowerSchool Teacher site. I will let you know when it's back.

Adele