Report Cards
Report cards are issued twice a year. Check our School Calendar for exact dates when report cards are issued.
Assessment at Western Canada
Principles of Assessment
The Western Canada interpretation of the CBE Guiding Principles and IB Aims and approaches for assessment:
- Student citizenship, which may include student engagement, attendance, and behavior, may be assessed only if it is tied to curriculum objectives as per the program of studies.
- Academic deadlines are enforced, and students must understand that teachers will use their professional judgment to apply appropriate consequences. Department policy will be communicated on the course outline.
- Assessment standards/methods will be communicated and explained to the students prior to an evaluation. Precautions will be taken to ensure fair assessment in group work situations.
- Grades will be assigned according to the standards set by the Alberta (or IB) Program of Studies. Students’ progression of learning will be reflected through the weighting of assessments and will be course dependent.
- Marks are determined based on standards interpreted using professional judgment. From the outset, every effort is made to ensure the average accurately reflects students' abilities.
- Students are given task-based opportunities to demonstrate their understanding. When reasonable opportunity has been given, and students have not completed the assigned work, then a grade of zero may be assigned. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be contacted if the mark will lead to the student failing the course or significantly impacts their overall grade.
- Formative and summative assessments are used to inform students, the family and the teacher of performance and progress; not all assessments need to be graded.
Evaluation Expectations
At the beginning of the course, teachers will provide all students with a course outline including:
- course objectives
- a description of assessment criteria for performance and achievement
Delayed Assessment/Absence From An Exam
Students will have advance notice of examinations. Students are expected to write examinations on the determined date. When a student is required to be absent or is ill on the day of a scheduled evaluation, a parent must contact the teacher by email or voicemail prior to the scheduled exam being written. Another opportunity will be provided immediately upon the student’s return to school assuming that the absence is also explained by the parent through the Attendance Line. Failure to do so will result in a zero. Individual circumstances may merit consideration upon consultation with the student’s Assistant Principal and their teacher. Medical documentation may be requested by administration in order to grant permission for a rewrite.
While students will be required to complete all assessments, they may forfeit the opportunity to have a particular assessment counted at full value if they fail to contact the teacher about an absence prior to the assessment being given or if the reason for absence is deemed to be unacceptable. Parents will be contacted regarding students whose absences are not explained.
