At last! We have the Progress Report database ready. Be prepared, however, it won't look and feel like the old form.

First, follow the link below, as you did last time; do not go to the Excalibur school website. Use the login and password provided, not the one you would use on the website.

LINK: http://excaliburschool.org/merlin/
USERNAME: {{username}}
PASSWORD: {{password}}

Second, when you are logged in, go to the "CLASSROOM" menu item and select "GRADES" from the dropdown list.

Third, you will see a list of your children. To the far right of each name, click the yellow "VIEW" button. This will show the current semester grades for the selected child. Since no grades have yet been recorded, you will select either of the yellow "NEW GRADE" buttons.

Fourth, under Grading Period, the "Grade Level" will default to the school grade level assigned on the "PEOPLE" screen. Change it if it is not correct. The "School Year" should be the present one, 2011-2012 and the "Semester" should be "Fall."

Fifth, under Course Information, you will enter the details for a single line in the Progress Report, i.e., one subject only.

• The "Course Grade Level" defaults to the grade level of the student, however, a fourth grade student, for example, may be pursuing a course at a different level such 3 or 5.
• The "Subject Area" box will be grayed out for all "Course Grade Level"s other than "Highschool."
  • Since a student could be taking a combination of courses that include both those carrying highschool credit and those that do not, only select "Highschool" if the course qualifies for HS credit.
  • If "Highschool" is chosen for the "Course Grade Level", then select a "Subject Area" from the drop down list.

• Next select a course name from the list that appears when you click the right arrow button to the right of the box.
  • Notice that the list changes based on previous selections. If you chose any "Course Grade Level" other than "Highschool," you will see a list of course suitable for grades K-8.
  • If you chose "highschool", the list will reflect courses corresponding to the "Subject Area" chosen.
  • If a course name doesn't seem to match what you are looking for, try a different "Subject Area." If nothing suitable is found, the choose the most appropriate "Subject Area" and type in a "Course Name" of your own that best describes what the student is studying.
• "Is Course?" is designed to help Excalibur better understand what our parents are choosing for curricula. The options are "Published Curriculum" and "Parent Created."
  • "Published Curriculum" refers to any educational materials prepared by others for the use of homeschoolers or classroom-based education. This would include guides that list preselected materials to use in pursuing a certain course.
  • "Parent Created" is any ad hoc course creation that an individual family puts together for its own use. "Source" and "Publisher" will not be available for this selection.
• "Source" will be either "Video" (usually DVDs today); "Satellite" (broadcast of actual classroom such as Bob Jones and A Beka provides; "Online" or computer-based instruction; and "Books Only" implying any kind of written material source not accompanied by any of the other three options.
• "Publisher" is a drop down list with a large selection of options. This includes the companies that publish or provide the "Source" chosen above. If your provider/Publisher is not listed the right arrow drop down list allows you to type in a new one.
• "Type" should rarely be changed from "Normal." Only the Registrar (currently Mrs. Bond) or a teacher can approve a course for "Honors" credit. "AP" courses are earned only be examination. Dual Enrollment are for courses taken at a college with the approval of the Registrar.

Sixth, Grade Information

• Enter the grade assigned from the drop down list for the Semester. If a course has not been completed, a grade of "I" or "Incomplete may be entered, though you may assign an actual grade.
• "Final Grade Earned" should only be entered when the course has been completed.
• "Credit" will only appear for Highschool courses and only after assigning a Final Grade. Select "0.5" for half credit courses and "1.0" for full credit courses.

Seventh, when you are satisfied that all fields are correct, click "ADD NOW" to lock in your grade. Add additional grade lines back selecting "NEW GRADE" again and following the same procedure.

Eighth, when all grades have been entered for the first child, proceed to additional children as necessary.