ACADEMICS

Homework/ Assignments

HOME WORK

We hate to have to give home work in the sense that it is commonly understood. So let us understand its role and define the purpose.
Let the children not feel that class-work and learning are compartmentalised and confined to school. Relate class learning with what is happening outside, e.g. at home. In order to link these, ‘home-work’ will have to be designed.
Some drill-work is a necessary part of learning (not-rote-learning), e.g. learning tables, spellings, aspects of grammar etc.
We do give home work. However, an attempt is made to ensure that it is linked with classwork with guidance provided by the teacher. Variations in forms are introduced in an effort to minimize the boredom of repetition. It is to be done independently, using commonly available resources.

The Nature of Home Work

Let children do something at home; thus, school time can also be used for valuable activities that children cannot participate in, if left on their own. Such as-
Frequent tours to places of interest.
A great numbers of regular cultural activities as part of the weekly school programmes.
Compulsory games.
Compulsory art and craft.
Practicals’ and hands-on experience from Class II onwards.

Also doing a little home work on one’s own is a good habit to be inculcated in the pupil. It needs to be anything difficult; rather, it can take the form of drill exercises, or include a habit as simple (and yet as important) as reading lessons aloud. It may include an activity like making or observing something, collecting an item, looking around the market or asking questions to people in order to gather information from a primary source.
Such activities help children programme their time, teach them to interact with unfamiliar adults, work out strategies, learn to concentrate and be on their own. Their confidence and self-reliance develop with this, and their self esteem goes up as well. We have worked out a time table for home work for Classes I to V bearing in mind certain principles.

Test and Examination

Tests and exams are an integral part of any education system. However, at Heritage, we have endeavoured to make them stress free.
The school follows a semester system where the year is divided into two terms. The first term is from April to September (usually). The second from October to March. The tests in junior school are informal and gradually by class VI formal testing eg. unit tests are introduced. Testing is done a variety of ways and various tools and techniques used so that all students get an opportunity to perform.
Unit tests- Though the weekly test marks are not given any weightage in the final results, children hardly ever miss them. The syllabus for these tests is given out a week in advance so that there is ample time for preparation.
Terminal exams- The 1st term exams are held in the second half of September or the first week of October. The answer sheets are given back to the students after evaluation with appropriate comments and suggestions by teachers. This is followed up on parents’ day. The 2nd term exams are held in March.
Merit cards are awarded to the students in all the subjects. The cut off mark for each subject varies and the threshold is periodically reviewed and revised as necessary.
Scholarships- Our broad based merit system recognizes the exceptionally good and the needy. Scholarships and Freeships are awarded during the Independence Day function in the school to students who qualify the set norms.

Our School Moto - Teach each Child, Develop whole Child ....