POLICY ON COURSE ASSESSMENT

Student Achievement will be based on the achievement chart categories outlined below and in individual demonstration for specific expectations.  Achievement chart categories will be posted in the classroom for greater awareness and understanding of assessment.  All major assignments will be evaluated using levels. Grades will be determined using the students’ most consistent and most recent level of achievements.

Outlines of all courses of study are available to students at the start of a course. Copies of those outlines are also kept on file in the principal’s office. Parents may schedule a time to meet with the principal and view those outlines.

Mindview does not offer substitution.

POLICY ON ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Examinations are given at the end of each semester. All attempts are made to allow for only one examination each day of the exam week. Exam accommodations for individual students are considered on a student by basis. No modification will be permitted for university courses.  The primary purpose of assessment, evaluation, grading, and reporting is to improve student learning. Assessment and evaluation is based on the student’s achievement of course expectations related to the four categories of knowledge and skills in the Ontario Curriculum Grades 9-12.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION STRATEGIES

Throughout the course students will be engaged in different forms of assessment; assessment for learning (diagnostic), assessment as learning (formative) and assessment of learning (summative). Assessment for learning will inform the teacher and student about the preparedness of the student for new learning.  Assessment as learning will inform the student, teacher and parent about the student’s readiness to demonstrate the newly acquired skills and knowledge. Assessment of learning will be performed to demonstrate the learning and to provide evidence of learning to be evaluated by the teacher to report a grade.

Term Work Evaluations According to the course offered. See specific course outline for more information.  But in general will constitute 70% of your final reported grade and will incorporate the following achievement chart category percentages:
– 20% Knowledge and Understanding
– 20% Thinking and Investigation
– 15% Communication
– 15% Application

End of Course Evaluations According to the course offered. See specific course outline for more information. In general it will constitute 30% of your final reported grade and will incorporate the following tasks:
– 5% Culminating Task
– 25% Final Exam

Teachers will use subject specific “Level of Achievement Charts” found in the Ontario Curriculum as the basis for all assessment and evaluation. Achievement is reflected as a percentage grade using the provincial guidelines:

Percentage Mark Achievement of the Provincial Curriculum Expectations
80 – 100 The student has demonstrated the required knowledge and skills with a high degree of effectiveness. Achievement surpasses the provincial standard. (Level 4)
70 – 79 The student has demonstrated the required knowledge and skills with considerable effectiveness. Achievement meets the provincial standard. (Level 3)
60 – 69 The student has demonstrated the required knowledge and skills with some effectiveness. Achievement approaches the provincial standard. (Level 2)
50 -59 The student has demonstrated the required knowledge and skills with limited effectiveness. Achievement falls much below the provincial standard. (Level 1)
Below 50 The student has not demonstrated the required knowledge and skills. Extension remediation is required.
I Insufficient evidence to assign a percentage mark ( for Grade 9 and 10 courses only)
W The student has withdrawn from the course
ESL/ELD – Achievement is based on expectations modified from the curriculum expectations for the course to support English language learning needs.
French – The student receives instruction in French for the course.
Course Median – The median is the percentage mark at which 50 per cent of the students in the course have a higher percentage mark and 50 per cent of the students in the course have a higher percentage mark and 50 per cent of the students have a lower percentage mark.

A final grade for each course is calculated using 70% of the grade based on the assessment and evaluation of the student throughout the course, and 30% based on final, course summative evaluation. This summative evaluation may be in the form of an examination, performance, essay, and/or other method suitable to the content of the course and according to the school’s policy. All students must be present for the final evaluation. There are no exemptions.

LEARNING SKILLS AND WORK HABITS

The report card provides a record of the learning skills and work habits collaboration by the student in every course, in the following six categories: Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative and Self- Regulation. The learning skills are evaluated using a four-point scale (E–Excellent, G–Good, S–Satisfactory, N–Needs Improvement). The separate evaluation and reporting of the learning skills in these six areas reflects their critical role in students’ achievement of the curriculum expectations. To the extent possible, the evaluation of learning skills, apart from any that may be included as part of a curriculum expectation in a course, should not be considered in the determination of percentage grades.