public static function fetch_course_item($courseid) {
        if ($course_item = grade_item::fetch(array('courseid'=>$courseid, 'itemtype'=>'course'))) {
            return $course_item;
        }

        // first get category - it creates the associated grade item
        $course_category = grade_category::fetch_course_category($courseid);
        return $course_category->get_grade_item();
    }