How to have a final semester grade with quarterly snapshot/progress report grades, as opposed to each quarter being a separate grade?

Question

We currently have it set up like this. Our school has 2 semesters / 4 quarters. Currently, each quarter has its own separate grade, and the final Semester 1 grade is an average of Q1 + Q2—for example, a student might have Quarter 1: C, Quarter 2: A, and then the Semester 1 grade is a B (average of Q1/Q2).

However we'd like to have it where Semester 1 is a true final grade for the course, so the Quarter 1 mark is actually a mid-semester snapshot, and then Quarter 2 IS the final Semester 1 grade. So perhaps the student has C on that Q1 snapshot, then is able to raise their grade to a B by the Q2/Semester 1 end.

Should I not use the marking periods? Doing it this way I notice it splits the gradebook for 1 semester into 2 quarter grades. But we'd like to change it to have it be a continuous progression until the end of the semester, so maybe there's another way to set it up or another grade setting.

Appreciate any help. Thank you!

Nathan Ong · Answer

@Geoffrey Goodfellow I think you are correct in that we would not use the marking periods, but just use post to Report Card or something so teachers are posting whatever is in the gradebook.

@Crystal Bruce Thank you, as I also talked with BB support on this and they said that marking periods will always reset the gradebook. I think Geoffrey's solution makes sense and I will implement that.

Thank you all!

Geoffrey Goodfellow · Answer

Perhaps, I'm oversimplifying the solution, but I believe you would just replace your Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 marking periods with a SEM 1 Mid-Semester Grading Snapshot, SEM 1 Final Grade, SEM 2 Mid-Semester Grading Snapshot, and SEM 2 Final Grade.

Crystal Bruce · Answer

Hi @Nathan Ong as we wait for members of the community to hopefully come forth with their solutions, I did reach out to my team. They recommend reaching out to Blackbaud support to discuss this further, they can gather your information and determine the best next steps. Thanks and let me know if you need any further assistance!