Ramapo started off this year with some very shocking news: no more quarterlies! Some were confused while others thought that the freshmen got incredibly lucky. For the most part, students were jumping with joy.
Quarterly week was known for being the most stressful week of the marking period. With an exam or project being worth 20% of your average, it had the ability to significantly drop or improve your grade for the quarter. Students would spend hours creating study guides, preparing for tests, and working on projects to ensure their grades stayed afloat.
Senior Shya Coello has experienced three years with quarterlies and looking back she reflects, “having no quarterlies is a bittersweet feeling.” She explains, “This year, it seems like your grades are relying on assignments, tests and quizzes which I feel like I got a lot more [of] […] I feel like having quarterlies lessened the amount of assignments teachers give since [teachers had] to teach specific amounts of things each quarter for the quarterlies.” Ultimately she concludes, “But, knowing that I don’t have to stress about them is a good feeling.”
This change has not only impacted students, but teachers as well. Our very own math and computer science teacher, Ms. Vitale, shares her experience so far saying, “I definitely feel like the students are less stressed. [There is] less of a rush to cram and it gives us more time to focus on content in class.” Ms. Vitale adds that another plus is that there is extra time for an additional graded assignment, something many students appreciate as a grade-boost.
Currently, there are no further updates on what cumulative assessments will look like in the future, although some students are predicting a resurgence of midterms and finals. Time will tell!
