Desiree DeCoste
Beaver Staff
When the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Boards (ALCDSB) school year began, none of the staff or Grade 12 students could have imagined their graduating year to be so challenging.
The ALCDSB recognizes the unique position their Grade 12 students are in due to the challenges occurring in education in the past weeks.
“On behalf of everyone at the ALCDSB, we thank you for your dedication to your schoolwork and to achieving so much as you look to your future goals.” said David Desantis, director of education for ALCDSB in a statement.
A letter sent out to all Grade 12 students on April 30 from Desantis announced the Ministry of Education has provided more information to try and help with the many questions students and parents/guardians may have.
The information announced include:
– The Ministry of Education waiving two graduation requirements; a passing grade on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), and the completion of 40 hours of community service work by the end of the semester.
– Grade 12 students will receive a mid-term mark which will be sent to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre and the Ontario College Application Service. The Ministry has mandated the mid-term mark be determined based on evaluations conducted up to March 13, the day prior to the start of March Break.
– Grade 12 students will continue to be evaluated this semester in a manner that is reasonable given the current distance education environment in which they’re learning. The ALCDSB encourages their students to visit their virtual classrooms daily and strive to complete the work requested by their teachers. They also recognize there will be some limitations to the scope of learning in this environment.
– On April 26 Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced all remaining professional activity days and examination days will be used for the instructional program. On these previously scheduled days, students can expect to continue their learning program and the use of culminating assignments will replace the exam components.
Graduation ceremonies are still under consideration and further information will be provided later in May.
For more information and to stay up-to-date with the ALCDSB announcements visit http://www.alcdsb.on.ca/Pages/default.aspx#/=.