Making Headlines: A Message from the Academic Office
Middlesex has a system of grade reporting that balances the necessity of keeping families apprised of student progress and the obligation for teachers to focus on the needs of students in their respective classrooms.
Throughout the year, the School will formally communicate with families regarding each student’s academic performance in his or her classes. The first of these comes in mid-October when teachers will report a “snapshot” grade. These grades are intended to give an indication of how the year began for students; certainly, they are not predictors of future performance.
At the close of the School’s four marking periods in November, February, March and June, students and their families will receive formal grades and comments from teachers of the courses in which the student is enrolled. The marking periods in November and March serve as an update on the student’s current standing and the comments are personalized elucidation of the student’s performance in each course. The semester marks that are reported in February and again in June are the grades of record that will appear on a student’s transcript. The marking period and exam grades that underlie the semester grade are not shared outside of Middlesex (except for the first marking period grades of seniors involved in early applications to colleges).
If a student or parent has a question about a grade or comment, s/he should contact the student’s advisor.
Parents are able to view their son or daughter’s Middlesex academic information through My BackPack, the electronic portal into a student’s records. Parents may see a child’s schedule, attendance, grades and academic history using this application.
We will send reminders via the POND when grades and comments have been posted in My BackPack and have included a link to that calendar. Advisors will be in touch with families throughout the year as necessary.
Please note that information in My BackPack is only viewable while a student is enrolled at Middlesex. A student’s information is only available through the electronic portal until the end of June of the year of the student’s graduation.
For returning students, while course information, grades and comments are available after June of the current year, the advisor letter, dorm, music and athletics comments are not. If it is important for you to have copies of these documents, they can be printed from My BackPack prior to July 1.
View the schedule for posting grading and comment information to My BackPack.
--Michael Schaeberle, Director of Studies
