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Report Card Pilot Project Draws Positive Reviews

Feb 21, 2018 | 10:55 AM

A new initiative to explain how kindergarten to Grade 8 students are doing in school in the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District is going over well with parents.

Official trustee Mike McKay says the Communicating Student Learning initiative being piloted in 12 schools involves a student-parent-teacher conference with a report card that clearly indicates the students progress.

” It speaks to the areas that have been focused on this term and some of the successes the student has had and some of the areas that are going to be for focus and are going to be priorities going forward.”

McKay says it also identifies what parents can do as well to support learning at home.

As it evolves, students themselves can take ownership.

” To have kids participate. They’re not just the subject of this. They are a partner in this as well. and it’s about them so for them to hear their teachers and their parents talking and to contribute to that as well and provide their perspective is really important.”

A survey of 300 parents showed 78 per cent like the new format and 85 per cent felt it was specific and individualized to their child.

Seventy-seven per cent of parents were also in favour of having the conferences continue  even if it meant early dismissal from classes.

Director of Instruction, Carl Cooper,  says the comments  and suggestions from both parents and teachers will assist the Assessment and Reporting committee, which will improve and tweak the report card and conference process.

After that is completed, it would be brought back to the board for discussion and consideration for approval.