High grades come with fringe benefits
Average grade point
is 3.076 at Marion High School
By CHELSEA ARNHOLD
MHS student reporter
The first nine weeks are over and Marion High School students have worked hard to keep up their grades since August. At Marion High School grades are very high on the totem pole.
In order to be eligible for school events, activities, and sports, students have keep their grades up. Students who have two or more "Fs" for two weeks or one "F" for three weeks are ineligible.
"It's not hard for me," said sophomore Michelle Miesse, "I don't have any hard classes."
At the end of every nine-week session the school provides an ice cream social which is served during seminar period (the last 25 minutes of the school day) as a reward to those who are on the honor roll. Marion Kiwanis, who sponsors the first social, will serve ice cream to 141 students Oct. 31.
In order to be on the honor roll students have to have a GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.0 (a "B").
The average student at Marion High School has a 3.076 GPA. "That is really quite good," said Wanda Williams, school librarian, "most of the students that come in the library work hard and stay on task."
Seniors and juniors who stay eligible get an extended lunch period every Friday. Their usual 30-minute lunch is stretched into an hour. Those who are not eligible stay for mini class to try to work on their grades. Those who take an unearned extended lunch find themselves making the time up on Saturdays.
Extended lunch is only one of the perks for keeping your grades up. Once a month students are allowed to take the second half of Wednesday afternoon while teachers have a work day. If students are failing a class they have to stay at school to work on homework.
Honor roll students are given a coupon that must be signed by their parents and two teachers which clears the way for a free half day. Students can take this half day off any time during the upcoming nine weeks.
Many students are encouraged at home also. "Some parents pay their students for high grades," said principal, Ken Arnhold. "Some give them more freedom and privileges."
Marion High School students have their priorities in order and the perks go beyond short-term rewards. MHS students realize they need to work on their education to reap long-term benefits as well.
