At least one parent of a Sooke School District (SD62) student thinks the current B次元官网网址淚-DaysB次元官网网址� system in the regionB次元官网网址檚 middle schools needs re-examining.
B次元官网网址淚-DaysB次元官网网址� is a three-day period after classes are over B次元官网网址� but before final report cards are issued B次元官网网址� during which students who have fallen behind or need to do extra work to pass a course or grade, are given an opportunity to do that work.
This year those days are June 22 to 24.
Students who have completed their work can stay home those days, or find other activities, but those with an B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址� on their report card are expected to attend and finish their assignments.
B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址橧B次元官网网址� as a letter grade means B次元官网网址業n Progress,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Sooke School District superintendent Jim Cambridge. B次元官网网址淚t means you havenB次元官网网址檛 failed, but that you have things you need to complete. This time gives those students who need a bit more time the opportunity to get all their work done.B次元官网网址�
Lara Allsopp enquired recently as to what her daughter would be doing for the week leading up to report cards, not knowing about B次元官网网址淚-Days,B次元官网网址� and was told to keep her home as she wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be needing the extra time to complete her work. This left her scrambling for a child care solution and prompted a call to the SD62 office.
Cambridge said that although the expectation is that only students who need the extra time to finish their work will attend school that week, exceptions can be made in special cases.
B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 a child care issue,B次元官网网址� Cambridge said, B次元官网网址渁s it seems to be in this case, we will definitely make arrangements for parents to be able to leave their children at the school. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not an issue at all.B次元官网网址�
That wasnB次元官网网址檛 communicated to Allsopp by the school itself, she said.
B次元官网网址淚 was told by my principal that my daughter was not to attend school those days,B次元官网网址� Allsopp said, after receiving this information from Cambridge. She had already found and paid for other accommodations for her daughter by the time she received the response from Cambridge.
She feels the system needs to be looked at, and, at the very least, if the current system is the best way to do it, better communication is needed.
B次元官网网址淭o be honest, I havenB次元官网网址檛 heard any other complaints,B次元官网网址� Cambridge said, B次元官网网址渂ut if itB次元官网网址檚 something we need to review, weB次元官网网址檒l certainly do that.B次元官网网址� He added that it will be added to the next principalsB次元官网网址� meeting agenda, since a complaint has been received.
AllsoppB次元官网网址檚 other concern is whether these days come out of the allotted instructional days that are mandated by the provincial government.
B次元官网网址淪chool District 61 (Victoria) and 63 (Saanich) have middle school students attend for the entire days listed and identified in the district calendar,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 am concerned that all middle school children in SD62 are not being provided the same required number of instructional hours/days outlined in the School Calendar Act (and) identified in the SD62 district calendar and that are provided to other middle school students,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 also have sympathy for losing instructional time, and thatB次元官网网址檚 something weB次元官网网址檙e going to be taking a very careful look at as we go forward,B次元官网网址� Cambridge said, adding that itB次元官网网址檚 very difficult to match schedules with other districts in terms of things like professional development and in-service days, as well as other breaks.
B次元官网网址淚 wish the government would just mandate it so itB次元官网网址檚 the same for everyone, instead of (individual districts) always having to move things around so people are off at the same time. WeB次元官网网址檝e managed to (co-ordinate) spring break with other districts, now, but the rest of it is a constantly-moving target.B次元官网网址�
While itB次元官网网址檚 up to each individual school to ensure that parents know whatB次元官网网址檚 going on in terms of attendance expectations, Cambridge said, the district will look at ways how that can be better accomplished.
