Academic Policies

Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting Policy

Assessment is an ongoing process that involves providing students with feedback on their performance towards course expectations to help them achieve full understanding. The purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. At times throughout the year, faculty evaluate student performance and make a determination as to where students stand with regard to achievement levels. The purpose of evaluation is to provide information on student performance at that particular time. Students receive an initial Approaches to Learning report card, then a mid-year report card in February and a final report card in June. In addition, there will be two sets of Parent-Teacher Meetings, which all parents are encouraged to attend.

At reporting time, students are evaluated on their most consistent performance of expectations in each discipline, based on a 1 to 7 scale. Detailed descriptions for achievement at each level are provided to students for every subject at the start of the academic year.

Final examinations and/or major culminating tasks are held in May or June in all subjects. These major assessments of learning are worth 30 per cent of a student’s final grade in all courses in Grades 9–12. In September, faculty will provide, for each course, a list of the assessments of learning. Students are encouraged to use these lists to develop a planning calendar for the school year. Ongoing review and long-term planning for major assignments is essential for success. Parents are asked to consult the school calendar and respect these dates when making vacation plans.

In addition to achievement reporting, students will also receive an Approaches to Learning (ATL) assessment in each report card. This assessment provides information regarding the student’s demonstration of key learning skills.

Missed tests: If a student is absent, she is responsible for making arrangements with her teachers on the day of her return, to complete the test. If necessary, she will be required to miss her co-curricular activities. Further information regarding missed work is available in the Code of Conduct.

Full Disclosure Policy: All Grade 11 and 12 courses, whether successfully completed or not, are recorded on a student’s transcript. In exceptional circumstances, a student will be given permission to withdraw from a course before the full disclosure date in early January 2020. If this permission is granted, the course will not show on the student’s transcript.

Additional Policies: Please consult the Senior School and Middle School Academic Program for additional policies: Independent Study Policy, Prior Learning Assessment Policy, Accessibility and Learning Diversity Policy, Substitution of Compulsory Courses Policy, Waiving a Prerequisite Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, and the Homework Policy.

Buccleuch Testing Room

If a student misses a test due to illness or an excused absence, she will write it after school upon her return, in the Buccleuch Testing Room. The testing room is open from 3:45–5:00 p.m. and is supervised by a faculty member.

Course Changes

It is the school’s policy that changes may be made in a student’s timetable until September 13, 2019, provided that:

After September 3, 2019 students are required to maintain a commitment to their full course load as stated in the Senior and Middle School Academic Program.

Honours and High Honours

Students receive Honours to recognize their outstanding achievements at school. This includes their work in their curricular subjects as well as their Personal Project (Grade 10), their Creativity, Activity and Service: CAS (Grade 11 & 12) and MYP-CAS: Middle Years Program-Creativity, Activity and Service (Grade 9 & 10), Principal’s Award (Grade 7 & 8), Extended Essay (Grade 11) and Approaches to Learning.

Honours and High Honours standing is determined by a combination of completion of particular Middle Years and Diploma Program benchmarks and academic achievement.

Textbooks

Textbooks for Grades 7–12 are available for purchase online from the Canadian School Book Exchange (CSBE). We recommend that this be done early in the summer to ensure that students have their books in good time for the first day of class. Used books should be ordered early, as there is a limited supply.

You should be able to access the CSBE site by visiting the Portal after June 15. Textbooks will be delivered to your home or business after the beginning of August. The CSBE uses a courier service which offers flexible delivery options to suit your needs. Only Boarding students may have their orders sent directly to Branksome Hall. Returns are accepted if a student changes courses, but the books must be in pristine condition to receive a full refund. If you need assistance or have questions, please call the CSBE at 905-828-7200. Textbooks are available and may be ordered throughout the academic year.

Tutors

The Professional Tutoring Program is a partnership between the student, her parents, the teacher and the tutor. Open communication between the teacher and the tutor is an important mandatory feature of this program. The professional tutors have been interviewed and hired as Branksome employees who provide a service for a fee charged to the students’ school accounts. Their role is to provide instruction to fill in learning gaps or guided practice to reinforce learning. All tutoring through this program occurs at Branksome. For more information, see the Professional Tutoring Policy available in the Portal.